Gifts Men Don't Want For The Holidays

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Figuring out what gifts to buy the men in your life this holiday season can be tough.

CBS 2's Cindy Hsu hit the streets to find out what men don't want.

"We don't like cologne," said Leonard Thomas, of Brooklyn.

"Lamps or like decorative items," said Michael Muchmore, of Queens.

"Keep the ugly sweaters to a bare minimum," Thomas Lewis, of Murray Hill, suggested.

"I probably have better taste than my wife when it comes to ties. I rather she didn't get them for me," added Andrew Keith, of Rye.

Sachin Bhola, a senior editor with AskMen.com, said ties top the the list of predictable gifts to avoid, along with shaving kits and slippers.

He added that guys can be picky about tech gifts, so don't buy any unless you know exactly what he wants -- down to the brand and model. And don't waste money on presents to try to change your man, which are really for you.

"Opera tickets to, 'Here, read "50 Shades of Grey,"' and the guy really has no interest in that," Bhola said. "So stay away from projecting your vision onto him."

So what do men want?

"I like sports stuff -- tickets to the games, anything like that," Keith said.

"If he's really into a band and they're in town, get him concert tickets," Bhola said. "If he loves traveling, get him a weekend getaway package."

"You can never have enough underwears and socks," Thomas said. "It's always an awesome gift."

Buying a gift card is usually a safe bet, too.

Of course, you can always just ask your man what he wants. The element of surprise is not a big deal for a lot of men, and it could save you a lot of time.

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