Survey Says: Dads Are Easy to Shop For

Last-minute shoppers scrambling for the perfect Father's Day gift are in luck: What dads want most can be quick, cheap and easy to find.

Fathers polled by Discover Card(DFS Quote - Cramer on DFS - Stock Picks) listed dinner out at a restaurant, a handmade present and a gift card as their top three choices.

John Tebbel, a 56-year-old father of one, will get one of those presents this year from his wife: a dinner out at his favorite Italian restaurant, Trattoria Oreste, near his home in New York City.

Typically, Tebbel's wife and son buy him CDs, DVDs and books.

"My family knows what I like, and they have interesting thoughts on variations on that theme," he says.

However, most intended gifts are often misaligned with what dad actually wants, according to Discover's survey. "Sports- or hobby-related gift" was most frequently cited by shoppers as what they intended to purchase, while that category ranked sixth on the dads' list. Those who planned to buy a new golf club, tie or a toolbox might want to rethink their strategy.

"Dads certainly can be creatures of habit, as they're hoping to receive the same gifts as last year," says Ryan Garton, director of customer insights at Discover Financial Services. "Yet interestingly enough, our data showed that what people plan to give isn't necessarily what dad is looking for."

Give Dad Stocks, Not Socks

Tebbel's favorite Father's Day gift of all time was fairly pricey, though he doesn't expect that type of "swag" again.

"The favorite gift I think I got was an iPod(AAPL Quote - Cramer on AAPL - Stock Picks)," he says. "I didn't know I needed one and it turned out I liked it a lot."

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