Survey: 8% of shoppers will push adult, child for perfect holiday gift

Survey: 8% of shoppers will push adult, child for perfect holiday gift

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Would you be willing to go to extreme lengths to get that perfect gift this holiday season?

If you answered yes, you're not alone. Nearly one in four Americans would be willing to "play dirty" to get their hands on this season's hot holiday gift, according to a new survey. The survey, conducted by supply chain insights company FusionOps, asked people what they thought might happen if they came home from holiday shopping empty handed, as well as the lengths they'd be willing to go, to prevent fallout.

The results may put a damper on your holiday cheer.

Of parents with children younger than 18, 17 percent said they'd lie to other shoppers, compared to 7 percent of parents with no children under 18. Sixteen percent of parents with under 18 children said they'd be willing to cut in line, while a troubling eight percent said they'd knock down an adult. An even more troubling eight percent of the same group admitted they'd push a child over if it meant walking out with the last coveted toy.

The percentages were notably lower among parents with children 18 and older, suggesting that people were more desperate to fulfill holiday wishes when child tantrums were at stake. In fact, parents with children under 18 proved to be the most ruthless when it comes to scoring the must-have item this year, according to the survey.

If there really is a holiday gift shortage, what would the likely fallout look like?

The No. 1 response? Temper tantrums. Forty four percent of parents with young children predicted massive fits over missing toys and goods, 43 percent felt a gift shortage would result in tears, 31 percent felt Christmas Day would be ruined and 10 percent predicted their kids would threaten to run away.

About one in five feared increased burglaries and 15 percent expected to receive the cold shoulder, according to the survey.

Interestingly enough, students who responded to the survey felt the fallout would be even more extreme — with higher percentages predicting each repercussion.

What items would be most likely to incite a holiday war among shoppers, should there be a shortage? Respondents pointed to smartphones as the gift that would fan the most dangerous flame.

Video game shortages came in second, tablets third, Star Wars toys fourth and smart watches rounded out the top five.

The online survey was conducted in October and involved 2,014 American adults.

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Jessica Ivins

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