Published by Gbaf News
Posted on February 19, 2015
Flowers, chocolates and even car air freshener top list of panic-bought presents, Hertz survey finds
Half of men admit they would give their partner a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift bought at a service station, research* by the Hertz Corporation (NYSE:HTZ) reveals.
One in 10 men leave it to February 14 to grab presents, with many resorting to flowers, chocolates and even car air freshener from petrol stations, the poll discloses. And women are almost just as likely to do the same, with more than 40% saying they would stop at a garage to panic-buy a card or gift for their lover.
Despite the apparent lack of thoughtfulness, both sexes expect a gift on Valentine’s Day. Two in five women feel disappointed if they don’t receive anything, compared to one in five men.
But the survey of more than 1,000 Britons also reveals that a third of people never buy Valentine’s cards or gifts. Those aged 16 to 24, and the over-55s are the least romantic, with 44% and 51% respectively shunning February 14, compared to a quarter of people in other age groups.
Those who do buy presents should avoid the typical gestures such as cards, flowers and champagne as they satisfy just 16% of women, the results indicate. Instead, almost half (46%) of women would rather have a surprise, 28% favour something they can share with their lover, and 26% would prefer a memorable experience.
Half Of Men Would Give Their Partner A Valentine’s Gift From A Service Station
“We all know how difficult it is to find the perfect gift for someone special or the feeling of panic when we realise we have forgotten to buy it,” said Michel Taride, Group President, Hertz International. “But with only a few clicks, those who love sharing have the opportunity to experience together our attractive Fleet Collections and hit the road with the car that fits their taste and needs. And for those who are really thinking about going the extra mile for their lover, with Hertz Rent2Buy they can test drive the car of their dreams with the option of buying it afterwards!”
Hertz offers its car rental customers the possibility of exploring romantic destinationsthis Valentine’s Day behind the wheel of a sporty, quirky car from the Fun Collection; a luxurious vehicle from the Prestige Collection; or a breath taking model from the Hertz Dream Collection. Elite models such as the Aston Martin DB9, Bentley Continental GT or Jaguar F-TYPE, part of the Hertz Dream Collection, are available at selected locations across Europe to surprise a loved one and have a shared experience of a lifetime.
The survey found that 45% of men and 41% of women would do their Valentine’s gift shopping at a service station, with the most popular presents named as chocolates (67%), flowers (54%), wine (32%), cuddly toys (18%), lottery tickets (18%) and CDs (17%). A miserly 6% confess they would buy their loved-one a car air freshener for Valentine’s Day, while 4% say maps, windscreen wash, engine oil, brake fluid or antifreeze would be acceptable presents.
Men are less organised with 17% admitting having completely forgotten Valentine’s Day at least once, compared to 14% of women. The Censuswide survey found 61% of men leave gift buying to the week before and 12% buy presents on February 14, compared to 51% and 8% of women respectively.
Top 10 service station Valentine’s gifts:
Detailed information about Hertz’s suggested top 5 romantic destinations in the UK available from https://www.hertz.co.uk/p/on-the-road/uk/five-of-the-most-romantic-destinations-in-the-UK-this-valentines-day. More information about Hertz Collections and Hertz Rent2Buy available from www.hertz.co.uk and www.hertzrent2buy.co.uk respectively.
* Survey of 1,000 UK residents over the age of 16, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Hertz, January 2015
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