What not to buy this Christmas

It may be the thought that counts when it comes to Christmas presents, but an Australian consumer magazine has issued a "useless" presents list to warn shoppers this festive season.

A Choice magazine survey of nearly 12,000 people found the worst present to give was an electric ice shaver, joking that "apparently hairy ice isn't a big consumer issue".

Said one person who owned a shaver: "It never really worked properly and we always ended up with a big mess and not enough crushed ice to be worth the effort."

A close second on the useless gift list was an icecream maker, followed by a foot spa.

"If you are tired and have tired feet the last thing you want to do is run around, put towels down, fill up the foot spa, try not to spill it. Then it goes cold in 10 minutes," said a disgruntled owner.

"Too much work for a few minutes' comfort."

Also on the 40-plus list of what not to buy were: electric can openers, vertical grills, aromatherapy diffusers, epilators or hair removal appliances (apparently they were too painful), heated rollers, hair curling wands and deli-slicers.

- REUTERS