Lingerie or diamonds this Valentine’s Day?
I don’t know about your spouse, but mine spends countless hours on the computer searching eBay for collector’s items, sports memorabilia, n-scale trains and vinyl records from the ’70s.
With Valentine’s Day approaching on Feb. 14, wouldn’t it be nice to find out that he’s also been searching for something special for you?
According to a recent analysis of pre-Valentine’s Day spending on eBay, there’s a 21 per cent spending increase on diamonds and engagement rings in Canada. As a matter of fact, those items were being bought every 2.3 minutes.
While diamonds are one of the hot gift items this year it appears purchasers north of the border are passing on the frilly stuff. I’m not sure if it’s our chilly climate but data from eBay shows that purchases of lingerie are down 59 per cent compared to last year.
However, from province to province the results differ in our buying patterns on eBay.
Take Quebecers for example, they spend twice as much on panty purchases while Ontarians are big on bras — checking out with 36 per cent more purchases than any other provinces. And even though lingerie sales were down across the nation, it seems our friends from The Rock, a.k.a. Newfoundland, are stocking up on the sexy undergarments but trending down by 40 per cent in sparkling rock purchases.
The biggest buying power on diamonds and engagement rings is in Saskatchewan where consumers are spending 55 per cent more over last year. Not only that, they spent 66 per cent more per item over the national average.
I’m not sure what all this data means, but I am hoping my spouse will be thinking about me while he’s on eBay tonight.
-- Donna Donaldson, MSN Money
Posted by: Jenn | Feb 1, 2022 6:16:13 PM
Great article! As for me I would be happy with some mars bars from my husband! I doubt he would even get me those though! Looking forward to more posts.
Posted by: No Way | Feb 3, 2022 11:02:58 PM
This article is a load of crap. Let's take a look who wrote it and who it's aimed at. Diamonds ? Lingerie ? on Valentine's Day. Hmmm ?? Wonder who would get those types of items ? I wonder what Donna is going to buy her spouse ? Hmmm, funny she didn't mention THAT !! Maybe a bottle of after shave ! Here's a hint. Forget about ALL the commercialism and marketing of this made-up "special day" of the year. When you love someone, EVERY day should be special... not just one. You shouldn't have to wait for some trumped up day to buy a gift (whatever size and/or value) for your partner. Or maybe just go out for a nice romantic dinner and then spend a quiet, romantic evening together... with NO gifts involved... just the heartbeats and caresses of two people who enjoy being together.
Posted by: karra | Feb 4, 2022 12:38:50 PM
Lingerie and diamonds -yuk! Cut flowers - no thanks. Cards -forget it.
Not all women want that kind of stuff. You've heard know your markets - well know your partner.
I'm planning on cooking a very special meal, which I hope will be followed by a chocolate indulgence and a nice evening by the fireside. No gifts required (if he must get me a gift then maybe an updated hiking guide or GPS map chip or outdoor gear - he knows me well, but he also knows that can wait for my birthday). We over commercialise everything whilst forgetting what we're really celebrating.
Posted by: Nope Jones | Feb 4, 2022 1:12:14 PM
Diamonds or lingerie? That's the choice? What happened to my annual roll in the hay?