The great Christmas hamper dampener

Christmas-hamper

Hampers are a great Christmas gift, but the extortionate price tags for what you get will leave your wallet not feeling very cheery.

New research from Mozo shows Christmas hampers from the likes of Gourmet Basket, David Jones and Myer are marked up by as much as 90%.

For a Gourmet Basket costing $179 – the actual product value is just $91 – representing a staggering 96% mark up.

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A $160 David Jones Christmas hamper, meanwhile, contains goodies valued at just half that amount – at $82.

And the list goes on. A Pamper Hamper costing $196 is worth just $111.

So, its safe to conclude it would be cheaper to make the hamper yourself – and still have plenty money left over.

However, not all hamper are made equal.

A Christco hamper costing $434 is worth the money – containing festive goodies worth over $380.

“While a beautifully assembled Christmas hamper can make for a wonderful and time-saving gift for family or friends, think twice about the price you’re paying for the convenience of a preassembled hamper.

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Three out of the five Christmas hampers price checked charged nearly double the value of the contents inside,” says Kirsty Lamont, Mozo Director.

If you buy a Christmas hamper, take the time to check the prices of products inside to avoid getting slugged. Alternatively, you can make your own hamper.

A basket can cost as little as $10, add some cellophane and ribbon and your construction costs won’t amount to more than $20, she added.

However, if you’re willing to pay a premium to avoid the hassle, then go ahead.