Okay, maybe it isn't completely offensive. I might have to take that back. If you're a 20-something and your parents don't know about your love for novelty t-shirts and origami star strips, you want them to know where to get that kind of stuff. If you're into odd collections like wacky socks and weird mugs, perhaps you want to save the gift giver the challenge of guessing what to get you. This kind of registry is great for specifics that aren't all together on one web site. On one hand, I guess it would be safe to say it's better to be direct and get what you want than to get something you can't really see yourself using.
How are wish list sites any different from ones we see on Amazon, Overstock, or any other online site housing such a feature? If you make these lists public, the links can be sent to family and friends. You get what you want in the end. Is it different because the site itself serves that one purpose, or is it different because of the potentially impersonal factor? Keep in mind people also use wish list registries for more than birthdays and Christmas. They could be for gift ideas, baby showers, or wedding registries.
There are a lot of wish list registry sites online. I decided to test MyRegistry.com to see exactly how different it was from my experiences with Amazon's wish list system. Are there a lot of differences? Well....
- When you first sign up, you have to specify what kind of account you're making. (Personal, Non-Profit, Small Business.) With Amazon, there's no such option. It only applies to the kind of registry.
- Second, you're asked what kind of registry you're creating. (Wedding, Baby, Wishlist)
- Then it's the typical form with your name, address, phone, e-mail, and password.
- Next, you're deciding whether or not you want a password for your list, if you want the best prices for your list's visitors, and two more options. (Cash fund, Concierge call.)
The next step may vary from browser to browser. Basically, you're supposed to drag and drop the "Add To MyRegistry" button to the top of your browser's bookmarks bar. It's supposed to work on any site. I tested ThinkGeek. Results:
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| Step 1-Drag 'n Drop. |
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| Step 2-Found item, added item. |
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| Item added! :-D |
So there you have it--easy wishing for anyone with a particular gift in mind. The only difference between MyRegistry and Amazon would probably be the slightly different addition of gift/list specification and the ability to add a "tasteful" cash gift request. Amazon offers only gift cards. Amazon also offers a similar service of outer-site item adding to wishlists. It's available as an add-on for most browsers.
As I've learned over the years, gifting can be tricky. You don't want the person receiving the gift to know what they're getting. There's supposed to be an element of surprise, right? You want that person to feel honored you know what they'd like. With this direct method, it's hard to disappoint. I would consider this a useful tool for anyone in a situation where people usually don't know what to get them. If the list is updated, it's a straight shot. No more gifts under the bed or stuffed in the closet!