ShopAtHome.com Survey: Shoppers are clear on what they want for Valentine’s Day this year

Jan. 23, 2013 – ShopAtHome.com, the largest coupon search engine that connects upwards of 12 million consumers each month to the best deals and cash back savings, today released the results of ‘Avoiding the Valentine’s Day Doghouse.’ A survey of ShopAtHome.com’s 4.3 million Facebook fans unlocked keys to surviving this oftentimes stress-filled holiday.

“Valentine’s Day is one of those high-pressure holidays. The stakes of finding the perfect gift are high, and that can be problematic when disposable income is low,” said Marc Braunstein, co-founder and CEO of ShopAtHome.com. “Fortunately, we have ways to save through coupons and cash back on traditional gifts like jewelry and chocolates, but also local deals on restaurants and activities.”

The study found that, while love may be in the air, many don’t believe their significant other will succeed in making the holiday successful. While 69 percent of females plan 1-3 weeks in advance, 56 percent of females expect their significant other will plan two or less days beforehand.

Among the findings, 23 percent of ladies are looking for a romantic night out on the town, but 38 percent believe what they’ll actually receive is a gift that appears last-minute. Nearly 26 percent of respondents have either forgotten the holiday or choose not to celebrate. More than 88 percent of respondents believe that using a coupon on a gift is appropriate, with nearly 60 percent indicating buying anything without a coupon is a major “don’t”. When it comes to the date itself, 88 percent believe it’s thrifty, not tacky, to pull out a coupon.

In addition, 95 percent believe that evidence of time and thoughtfulness spent on the gift is far more important than the price tag. 23 percent of respondents said they want a gift card to their favorite store this year, and less than 4 percent want a household appliance this year. 38 percent of women think you’ll get them flowers and chocolate, but only 11 percent indicated it’s what they want this year.