Half of Americans anticipated that it would be "harder than ever" to find the perfect gifts for people in their lives this holiday season.

A new poll of 2,000 US adults found 65% compare looking for the right gifts to hunting for treasure.

71% said it's exciting to hunt for the right gifts, with 52% claiming the hunt is just as fun as purchasing. Fifty-five percent find it "extremely satisfying" to find what they've been looking for.

Commissioned by BJ's Wholesale Club and conducted by OnePoll, the random double-opt-in survey study found the average person is willing to wait three weeks for their hard-to-find items before giving up. In that case, 57% have a backup gift in mind.

The items deemed to be the hardest to find this holiday season include gaming consoles (31%), video games (29%), smartphones (23%), clothing (20%) and food items (20%).

Four in five (80%) have been successful in getting hard-to-find items—and finding these rarities creates a sense of happiness (55%), satisfaction (54%), relief (52%) and pure bliss (20%).

For 56%, hard-to-find items aren't just thrilling to look for—they're also more meaningful.

"There's an undeniable amount of excitement that is associated with holiday shopping," said Rachael Vegas, Chief Merchandising Officer, at BJ's Wholesale Club. "It goes beyond just getting a great deal. People seem to really enjoy the process of selecting a special gift for everyone on their list."

Results also found 44% often plan ahead for pre-released items they call "worth" the wait.

HARDEST ITEMS TO FIND THIS HOLIDAY SEASON • Gaming consoles – 31% • Video games – 29% • Smartphones – 23% • Clothing – 20% • Food items – 20% • Smart home devices – 19% • TVs – 17% • Accessories (i.e., hats, gloves, watches, etc.) – 16% • Large home appliances – 15% • Shoes – 15%