CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Have you ever opened a gift and wondered what sort of message the sender was trying to convey by giving you that self-help book or a pair of socks? It turns out that subliminal messages, passive-aggressive behavior and forced smiles are commonplace during the holidays, according to a new survey. Groupon asked 2,000 people about gifting trends during the holiday season and found that one of out five Americans have received a gift they felt carried a hidden meaning.
Survey participants said their moms are the biggest culprits when it comes to trying to tell them something with their gift choices followed by their spouses and mother-in-laws. According to the results, some of the top hidden meanings of gifts included: becoming more productive or organized, making diet improvements, increasing trips to the gym, learning how to cook and spicing up the sex life.
“These results give us an indication of just how much people read into meaning behind their gifts and show that it’s worth making the extra effort to get everything right,” said Aaron Cooper, president of North America, Groupon. “Connecting a gift back to something meaningful is always the best and easiest way to make sure it goes over well.”
The survey, conducted by market researchers OnePoll and commissioned by Groupon, found that men are 67 percent more likely to receive a passive-aggressive gift from their mother than women and are three times more likely than women to throw out a bad gift within 48 hours of receiving it.
Groupon’s gift-giving study also discovered a significant amount of stress results from trying to give the perfect gift. More than a quarter of respondents, 28 percent, have suffered genuine anxiety at the thought of getting the right gift and four in 10 experience nerves when handing over their purchases. One in five said the worry over what to buy even causes them to lose sleep.
Insect repellant was named America’s most unwanted gift this holiday season, followed by a self-help book, cleaning supplies, wrinkle cream and fruitcake. The average American expects to receive at least one gift they won’t like, which they’ll get rid of in about 13 days.
Whether it’s a passive-aggressive gift with a hidden meaning or something else they’ll truly love, the Groupon Holiday Gift Shop is available 24/7 with curated items and experiences for everyone in your life.
Top Deals
Luxurious Massage and Spa Packages
Amazing Restaurant Offers
New Ways to Explore Your City and Neighborhood
bObsweep Standard, PetHair, or PetHair Plus Robotic Vacuum Cleaner and Mop––from $199.99
MUK LUKS Women's Slippers (Groupon Exclusive)––from $13.99
Sega Genesis Classic Game Console with 81 Built-In Games––from $39.99
Quirky Stocking Stuffers
Beer Belly Fanny Pack (1- or 2-Pack)––from $14.99
Aduro AQUA Sound Bluetooth Shower Speaker––from $21.99
Star Wars Herb Grinders––from $12.99
Happy Man Bottle Opener, Stopper, and Corkscrew (3-Piece)––from $8.99
Cat Eyeliner and Eyeshadow Stencil Template Applicators (2-Pack)––from $6.99
Wireless Bluetooth Beanie Hat with Built-In Headphones––from $14.99
Poo~Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray––from $8.99
Electronics
Jamsonic DJ-Style Light-Up Cat or Panda Headphones––from $14.99
Home
Vitamix LED Touchscreen 780 Blender (Manufacturer Refurbished)––$399.99
Dyson V6 Motorhead Cord-Free Stick Vacuum (Certified Refurbished)––$229.99
Microfiber Luxury Home Ultra Soft Sheet Set (6-Piece)––$12.99
Personalized Gifts
Custom Photo Products from Shutterfly––up to 50% off
Custom Faux-Mink Photo Blankets from Printerpix––up to 89% off
Popular Brands
One Language - Two-Year Subscription with Optional Download from Rosetta Stone––up to 40% off
$25 for $50 to Spend Online at Sharper Image
To view Groupon's entire collection of holiday gifts, visit the popular gift shop here https://www.groupon.com/occasion/gift-shop. In addition, Groupon has put together gift guides for everyone in your life, including ideas for men, women, kids and BFFs.
"Groupon" is a registered trademark of Groupon, Inc. All other names used may be trademarks owned by their respective holders.
About Groupon
Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) is building the daily habit in local commerce, offering a vast mobile and online marketplace where people discover and save on amazing things to do, see, eat and buy. By enabling real-time commerce across local businesses, travel destinations, consumer products and live events, shoppers can find the best a city has to offer.
Groupon is redefining how small businesses attract and retain customers by providing them with customizable and scalable marketing tools and services to profitably grow their businesses.
To download Groupon's top-rated mobile apps, visit www.groupon.com/mobile. To search for great deals or subscribe to Groupon emails, visit www.groupon.com. To learn more about the company’s merchant solutions and how to work with Groupon, visit www.groupon.com/merchant.
Groupon holiday TV spots can be found via the Groupon YouTube channel.
