NEW YORK — Are you ready to impress that special someone with roses and a box of candies this Valentine’s Day? Well think again because “being cliché” may do you no good. That’s according to a survey that finds more than one in five Americans in a relationship (23%) have considered leaving their partner after receiving a cliché gift. So if you’re looking to impress your partner this year, go-to gifts like chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne won’t cut it.
The OnePoll study of 2,000 Americans in a relationship examined the biggest V-Day clichés couples say have got to go.
Flowers no longer a must on Valentine’s Day?
While 14 percent of respondents objected to being serenaded as a Valentine’s Day gift and 18 percent said a “love coupon book” would get little love from them, neither topped the chart as the least desired gift on Feb. 14. Instead, furry handcuffs (34%), flowers (28%), and the classic heart-shaped box of chocolates (22%) top the poll as the Valentine’s Day gifts respondents said they would be most disappointed to receive.
Over half of respondents (53%) even agree that the oft-pedaled heart-shaped box of candy is a “cop-out gift.”
Commissioned by Angara.com, researchers also examined the gifts and gestures that actually do make respondents feel appreciated in a relationship. Nearly half the poll (47%) say it’s “extremely important” to them that their partner remembers their likes and dislikes.
A lucky 35 percent say that their significant other is, in fact, “extremely” attentive to their preferences. Another 41 percent reported that their partner is “very” attentive to their tastes. With that in mind, it’s not surprising that when it comes to the gifts which make someone feel most appreciated, a quarter of respondents want a present that keeps their tastes (like color or finish) in mind.
It’s the thought that counts
Sometimes our significant others just need a little help to pick the right gift. Several respondents said having their hints get picked up makes them feel most appreciated. Nearly three in 10 people said they left clues about an experience they wanted to go on. One in five said they dropped hints about a physical gift that they wanted.
“The results of the survey couldn’t be clearer: tuning in to your partner’s wants and preferences is the best way to make them feel appreciated with a gift this Valentine’s Day,” says Angara.com CEO Ankur Daga in a statement.
While many would-be Valentines may fret over the price tag of a potential gift, the data also indicates this is less important to the recipient than many would assume.
Nearly eight out of 10 Americans agreed that a gift that shows that your partner pays attention to your preferences and feelings is better than one that’s extravagant or expensive.
“Particularly when it comes to classic Valentine’s day gifts like jewelry, keeping an eye out for details about your partner’s likes in terms of appearance, shape, color and size, as well as specific items they express interest in, can help you to avoid overspending on a costly gift they won’t like,” Daga adds, “And will also help to ensure that your gift is received as you intended it to be – a gesture of your appreciation for that person.”
This is an updated version of an article first published on February 8, 2021.