In a snap poll of 1,500 Australian shoppers, an outstanding 92% revealed their purchases from the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales were for their immediate personal or family use - leaving only 8% for Christmas presents.

The survey, conducted by Gift Card Express, also found that 45% of Australian Shoppers will be buying Gift Cards for Christmas presents so that their family and friends can buy they want at the Boxing Day and January Clearance sales.

Just over one third (35%) indicated that they would be buying toys, clothes, electronics etc, 15% were going to give cash, and a very small 5% were giving a donation to Charity as a present.

Commenting on the results, founder of Gift Card Express, Greg Smith said “The Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales may have looked like a great success for retailers; however, they have further trained Australian shoppers to shop only at sale events. That’s why Santa’s sleigh this year is going to be a few presents lighter, as it appears from the survey that he will be loading in more plastic and digital Gift Cards. Shoppers are super smart now thanks to these sale events and they know that a $100 Gift Card as a Christmas present can be worth up to $150 in purchasing power at the Boxing Day or any other sales event year-round.”

Other interesting facts from the survey include:

• 40% of respondents will be spending an average $50 on Gift Cards for a Christmas present
• Children, tweens and teens aged 5 to 18 are 65% more likely to receive a Gift Card from their relatives
• 25% of husbands/partners are going to buy a Gift Card with an average value $100 for their wife/partner 
• Under 5% of wives/partners are going to buy a Gift Card for their husband/partner
• 65% of all respondents preferred to buy and give a Physical (ie Plastic) Gift Card compared to 35% digital (eGift) cards
• 60% preferred to buy a Gift Card online rather than queue in a supermarket or store
• 90% of Shoppers did not know that Gift Cards now have an expiry of 3 years.

The top five most popular Gift Cards respondents indicated they will purchase this Christmas are:

1. JB HI-FI. 
2. The Ultimate Teens Card (which has Rebel, Boost, JB HI-FI, City Beach and Zone Bowling all on the one card) 
3. Endota Spa 
4. Westfield Gift Card 
5. Ultimate Her Card (which has David Jones, Seed, Swarovski. BrasNthings, T2 and Lorna Jane in one card).

Gift Card Express is Australia's largest online retailer of plastic and digital Gift Cards from most retailers in Australia, and shares 50% of its gross profits with Charities, Schools and Foundations across Australia to help them raise much needed funds.

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