Remorse over pandemic purchases

Buyers show regret - 6th December 2021

One in ten people say they regret buying something during lockdown. A survey of 4,000 people showed a boom in sales of items that people could enjoy in their homes and gardens.

However, many regret their purchases. Things such as gaming equipment, DIY tools, home gyms, bikes, musical instruments and hot tubs are now not wanted.

The survey showed people had used the money they usually spent on travelling or socialising. Many people had intended to begin a new hobby. But now, they wanted to sell or give away their purchases.

Nicki Charles is a customer and marketing director at the insurer Aviva. She explained, "So much has changed since the start of 2020. The way we work, how we interact with others, and ... the contents of our homes too. Faced with weeks or months at home, many of us made purchases to entertain ourselves, often costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds."

These new purchases have caused some issues. In March, Aviva reported a 188 percent rise in damage claims for hot tubs in 2020, while in August, another insurance company, Zurich, said the number of fires was rising.

Fires in outbuildings, such as garages and sheds, went up by 16 percent in 2020. It blamed the increasing numbers of firepits and pizza ovens, as well as home offices and gyms.