Hampers, filled with luxury foods, drinks, and other goodies, make convenient gifts. Many of us remember when saving all year for a hamper at Christmas was commonplace. But then, in 2006, hamper company Farepak shockingly ceased trading, and its customers lost their savings. This somewhat dented the Christmas hamper industry, and even Britain’s best-known hamper company, Park, switched from food hampers to vouchers. While hampers remain popular gifts, in many cases, they are poor value for money.
Convenient, but Hampers Are Poor Value
Hampers are attractive, filled with goodies, and packaged beautifully. If you placed the same items in a carrier bag, they wouldn’t have the same appeal. However, when added up, the individual items often cost a lot less than the price of the hamper.
A few years ago, retailers Waitrose and Marks and Spencer were criticised for offering hampers that were extremely poor value for money. One of the hampers was a £100 hamper, but the items added up to less than £50 if bought separately. Since then, things have improved slightly, but there are still big markups for packaging and convenience.
Hampers Contain A Fixed Selection of Items
Hampers are typically pre-packaged, so the contents can’t be personalised to the customer’s tastes. There may be items in the hamper that the recipient doesn’t like or, worse, is allergic to. Create your own hamper companies do get around this by allowing you to select individual items they pack into a hamper. However, the costs of picking and packing the items will be passed on to the customer.
If you want a really personal gift, select the items you know the recipient loves and package them yourself. This shows more thoughtfulness but can also save you money.
Inconsistent Quality
The quality of products in hampers isn’t always consistent. While some items may be from quality brands, others might be generic or less well-known products included to bulk up the hamper. Some of the products selected by hamper companies can be pretty random!
Overpackaging
Hampers often come with a lot of packaging, including layers of plastic, cardboard, and cellophane. At a time when many people are trying to reduce waste, a hamper covered in fancy packaging with bows and ribbons seems like an excess. You can create an attractive gift without excess waste by purchasing items individually and wrapping them yourself using minimal, eco-friendly wrapping.
Seasonal Markup
During festive periods like Christmas and Easter, retailers often increase prices on hampers. This seasonal markup means you might pay more simply because of the time of year.
Hidden Costs
Delivery charges, particularly for larger or heavier hampers, can be steep. And if the hamper contains perishable items, there may be concerns about freshness upon arrival. If delivery of the hamper is delayed, as can sometimes happen in busy periods, items can go off or become unusable.
Considering all these factors, commercial hampers are poor value for money. So, what are some alternatives?
Alternatives to Store-Bought Hampers
1. DIY Hampers: Creating your own hamper allows you to choose each item carefully and ensure that it’s of good quality and relevant to the recipient’s tastes. You can even make gifts to include such items as these homemade beauty products.
2. Gift Vouchers: Consider giving a voucher to a favourite store or restaurant for a more versatile gift. The recipient can choose exactly what they want.
3. Subscription Boxes: A food, drink, or lifestyle box subscription can provide a more personalised and ongoing gift experience. These subscriptions often offer better value and the excitement of receiving a monthly surprise.
4. Experience Gifts: Instead of a physical gift, consider giving an experience, such as a cooking class, wine tasting, or spa day. These gifts create lasting memories and can be more meaningful than a random selection of products.
It’s tempting to fall for the charm of a hamper packed with delicious items, but for the savvy shopper, pre-packaged hampers are poor value for money. Choosing alternatives such as DIY hampers, gift vouchers, subscription boxes, and experience gifts makes a more thoughtful, personalised, and economical gift.
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