Four in Ten Canadian Gift Givers Choose to Give a Gift Card When They Want to Provide Options (37%) or Aren't Sure What To Buy the Recipient (36%)

Toronto, ON - When deciding on what to buy their loved ones this holiday season, Canadian gift givers often turn to gifts cards due to their versatility, according to a new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of RBC. Four in ten Canadian gift givers say they choose to give gift cards when they want to give the recipient options (37%) or when they're not sure what to buy (36%). One in ten (8%) Canadians planning on giving gifts this holiday season say they always or almost always give gift cards while just one in ten (13%) never give gift cards. The following table outlines various reasons Canadian gift givers choose to give gift cards:

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While gift cards can be a versatile option for Canadian gift givers, some Canadians can be frustrated by them. When it comes to multi-use or multi-purpose gift cards, the biggest frustration or reason for not buying gift cards amongst Canadian gift givers relates to different fees potentially associated with gift cards. Gift-giving Canadians cite expiry (25%) and activation (20%) fees as the most bothersome, while three in ten (31%) cite no frustration or reason for not buying gift cards. The following table outlines in full the biggest frustrations/reasons for not buying gifts cards amongst Canadian gift givers:

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These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between October 1st to 10th, 2012, on behalf of RBC. For this survey, a sample of 2,804 Canadians who plan on giving gifts this holiday season from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls are measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is considered accurate to within +/- 2.1 percentage points of the entire population of Canadians who plan on giving gifts this holiday season. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Sean Simpson
Associate Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
416.572.4474
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 84 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,363 billion (1.897 billion USD) in 2011.

Visit www.ipsos-na.com to learn more about Ipsos' offerings and capabilities.