Leigh Zarelli | vice president of merchandising | Sony | Motorola

34% regifted something they got as a gift.

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The Solution

We turned to Leigh Zarelli, vice president of merchandising for Gifts.com, to find out why choosing the perfect gift can be such a difficult task and what we're doing wrong. Here are a few common mistakes.

Procrastinating. "When you wait too long, you make it that much harder to pick out something they will really like - at a reasonable price!"

Playing it too safe. "Some people are so afraid of getting the wrong gift, they pick something too generic. A gift says a lot about you, so make sure it shows how thoughtful you can be."

Throwing money at the problem. "Sometimes people are at a loss for a good gift idea or just wait until the last minute and get stuck, so they overspend and overcompensate. A great gift doesn't have to cost a fortune."

Buying something too personal or practical. "Unless you have a great sense of someone's style or you can ask someone who does, stay away from home decor like artwork, and avoid clothing that is too fashion-forward. And unless someone has specifically asked for a new vacuum or Tupperware, don't give it! Gifts are supposed to be little indulgences - not something work-oriented."

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The Execution

When all else fails, here are a few of the hottest items on store shelves this holiday season.





-Sony DCR-SR40 30GB Handycam Camcorder with built-in hard drive, $599

-Motorola Red Motorazr V3m cell phone, $305

-PlayStation 3, from $499