Worst North Carolina Christmas gifts ranked, with alternative fail-proof gifts
We've all experienced it, especially as kids: Unwrapping those Christmas gifts where you have to look as if you're happy to get them — like socks, for instance — but what you really want to do is toss them to the side, just like Ralphie and Randy do year after year in the movie "A Christmas Story."
This year, Merchoid.com, which calls itself the online gifts store for geeks, set out to reveal the truth behind the country's gift-giving gaffes with a nationwide poll, ranking the worst Christmas gifts in each state.
Books made up a majority of the list of worst gifts in North Carolina's top nine ― the absolute worst? A diet book that the recipient didn't ask for.
The Times-News reached out to Hendersonville's newest bookstore, Off the Wall Books on Spartanburg Highway, to find out alternatives to books listed as the worst Christmas gifts. Owner Megan Kerr said there was a simple solution.
"We always say a gift certificate to the store makes a great Christmas gift," she said on Dec. 22. "That way, they can get their favorite books."
More: The Emporium on Main offers variety of gifts and free parking on Main Street
Kerr said her best-selling books for the holiday season have been those written by local authors.
"We've had a lot of our donation books go. We've got a lot of local authors, too. A lot of the books that have been selling are all local authors," she said.
Kerr said donation books are those donated by customers, and if they're sold, a portion of those sales goes to local charities.
The Times-News also reached out to Mast General Store on Main Street to find out other fail-proof gifts. Like Kerr, Mast General Store Manager Sarah Crane said the easiest gift that is sure to please is a gift card.
"You can give them the whole store. We've got a little something here for everybody," she said.
Crane said one of the best-sellers right now is the Stanley mug ― which keep hot chocolate or coffee hot and cold drinks cold for hours.
"We still have some of the Stanley mugs with the handles. We don't have all the colors left, but we still have some," she said.
More: What to know: Hendersonville downtown shops offering unique holiday gifts
Merchoid.com's survey had 3,000 respondents in each state, and listed below are the top nine worst Christmas gifts for North Carolina, along with a comment on each from Merchoid.com:
No. 1: A diet book or weight-loss program membership
Nothing encapsulates the holiday spirit like a booklet that questions your every culinary choice since Thanksgiving.
No. 2: Personal hygiene products
Nothing screams "Merry Christmas" quite like a stick of deodorant or the subtle hint of mouthwash. More aptly put, "Merry Freshness" isn't quite the season's greetings we had in mind.
No. 3: Self-help books that I didn't ask for
Unrequested self-help books that make you question your life choices as you question the choice of the giver.
No. 4: A donation made in my name to a cause I don't support
Perhaps surprisingly, donations made in recipients' names to causes they don't champion are not particularly welcomed. But it's the thought that counts ... unless that thought completely misses the mark.
No. 5: A book on improving social skills or manners
Books on improving social graces nudge their way into our lives, suggesting we might be one faux pas away from social pariah status.
No. 6: Cleaning supplies or a vacuum cleaner
Nothing says "I care" like an appliance that sucks up more than just holiday cheer.
No. 7: A bulk pack of something mundane, such as socks or batteries
Bulk packs of the mundane — socks, batteries, the works — because when in doubt, buy in bulk?
No. 8: Office supplies
Office supplies remind you of where you'll be heading back to once the holidays are over.
No. 9: A cookbook for beginners
Ideal for those who find boiling water a culinary challenge and consider toast to be avant-garde cuisine. This gift is perfect for the "chef" who thinks a three-course meal includes a microwave and two different flavors of instant ramen.
In addition to its list of top worst gifts, Merchoid.com provided these insights from its nationwide survey:
The Thought That Doesn’t Count: Nearly a quarter of people (24%) feel that their partner's gifts are selected with a lack of thoughtfulness. The sentiment seems clear: It's high time for an upgrade from autopilot gifting.
A total of 63% of survey-takers say the presentation influences their perception of a gift. A well-tied bow, it seems, ties strongly to the heartstrings.
Nearly half (47%) equate the monetary value of a gift with its emotional value. The investment in a gift might just translate to the investment in the relationship, it seems.
Two-thirds (65%) have received a gift that's led to a long-lasting change in their perception of the giver. It's not just about what’s inside the box, but what message it carries.
Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Top 9 worst Christmas gifts in North Carolina
