By Lucy NotarantonioShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberAfter selling a Christmas-themed puzzle on Vinted, a man was left in shock by what the buyer asked next.
Rather than sending a simple thank you for the $2.65 (£2) bargain, the buyer asked for the jigsaw to be wrapped in gift paper, prompting Martyn, 46, to share the message on Instagram Threads (@its_mcoll).
“I was in disbelief," he told Newsweek: "I had to re-read it a few times. Then I saw the funny side, laughed and posted the item as is.”
According to Gallup, at least 86 percent of consumers are planning to buy gifts this year. About a third (31 percent) anticipate spending up to $499, 18 percent say they will spend between $500 and $999, and 37 percent predict spending $1,000 or more.
...Some may look for a bargain by shopping second-hand, but a 2024 YouGov survey found U.S. consumers are more likely to buy second-hand products offline (50 percent) than online.
British people like Martyn, from Liverpool, England, are the opposite. They are more likely to buy second-hand items online (45 percent) than offline (37 percent), helped by vibrant digital marketplaces like Depop, Vestiaire, Vinted, and eBay.
Usually, when people's belongings are sold online, they are wrapped in a plastic bag or an envelope. But this buyer had a different preference. Martyn shared the message on online, where it earned 264,000 views and 2,200 likes.
His post said: “[I] sold an item on Vinted today (for £2) and I [got] a message from the buyer as follows: 'This is for a secret Santa so please wrap in good quality Christmas/gift paper before packaging it and also include a BLANK gift tag. Thanks.'”
He added in the comments: “There’s absolutely no way I’m complying I just thought I’d share and let’s be honest you have to admire their audacity.”
He told Newsweek: “I thought about responding but chose not to and only respond if they kicked up a fuss upon receiving the item and finding it unwrapped!”
So far, the internet can’t believe its eyes, and some commenters have suggested what to do.
“The audacity is absurd .. be as petty as possible .. maybe wrap it in a plastic bread bag with a bow made from pet hair,” said one user.
Another wrote: “For £2 I'll wrap it in a bin bag or a blue bag from the corner shop. I couldn't care less about your secret Santa.”
However, not everyone agreed. A third commenter said: “I would, in the spirit of Christmas. It’s given us all a giggle.”
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