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Swiss crack the art of gift giving

Fewer people have been trying to exchange unwanted Christmas presents this year, Swiss retailers reported on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Coop stores told the Swiss news agency that this was because nowadays people tend find out in advance what would be acceptable.

When buying clothes, for example, they make an effort to buy the right size in the right colour.

In the experience of Migros, another major Swiss chain, children today often look in the internet or at brochures and tell friends and relations exactly what they want. The number of children’s gifts being exchanged has dropped sharply, said a spokesman.

Other stores have had similar experiences. They say that not only are givers better informed about what recipients would like, but also that many people choose gift vouchers in order to avoid mistakes.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR