Good Question: What Should You Do With Unwanted Gifts?

ROSEVILLE (WCCO) - One of the most awkward parts of the holiday season is that moment when you unwrap a strange gift and try to act like you love it.

A survey by the online retailer Rakuten found that 71 percent of Americans expected to get a gift this year that they wouldn't like.

Many shoppers at Rosedale said it's an annual occurrence, and they've learned how to react.

"Just fake a smile," said Danielle Scott of Minneapolis. "Say, 'Yay, thank you!'"

"I try to look surprised and happy," said Nick Wright of Arden Hills, "but then in the back of my mind I'm like, 'I really didn't want this.'"

In the Rakuten survey, 44 percent said they put their unwanted gifts away somewhere and forget about them.

Another 35 percent admitted taking a gift they didn't want and wrapping it up for someone else, while 27 percent said they've given a gift to charity, and 14 percent said they've turned around and sold it.

No matter which option they chose, most agreed that it's important to make the gift-giver feel appreciated.

"It doesn't actually matter what you get," said Efren Aguilar of Circle Pines. "It pretty much matters that you're with the people that you actually care about."

There's one more option that will be very popular in the coming days for those with gift receipts: the return counter.

The National Retail Federation said the average person returned nearly four gifts in 2013.

Various stores have different policies, but among the gifts that usually can't be returned are electronics, swimwear and underwear.