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Whether you’re the type of person who relishes the quest for the perfect gift or someone who panics at the thought of giving gifts, tech can improve your gift-giving experience. Tech tools can not only make the process easier, but can also increase the chances that the gift you give will be appreciated.
Gift giving can be challenging: deciding on a gift, purchasing, wrapping and then delivering the gift can all be stressful. These apps and websites can offer solutions to make each step of the gift-giving process easier.
Gyft
Gyft is a free app that lets you purchase gift cards from hundreds of merchants and send them to your friends via Facebook, Twitter, text message or email. Choose from retailers such as Amazon, Sephora, Bath & Body Works, Build-A-Bear, GameStop, Gap, Toys “R” Us, among many others.
Download the app and then sign in using Facebook, Twitter or Google. If you link the app to your Facebook account, it can remind you of your friends’ birthdays. You can also add your contacts to the app.
Choose a friend to send the gift card to, then choose the merchant. You can select the amount of the gift card in different denominations. You can include a personalized message. Next choose your delivery options, either Facebook, email, text message or Twitter.
Gyft also stores the gift cards you receive. You can scan a gift card into the app so you have it handy whenever you visit a store. Gyft even lets you re-gift a gift card you have received.
This service only works in the US.
Gyft is helpful for: giving gift cards and keeping cards you receive handy when you shop.
You can download the Gyft app for free for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch at the iTunes App Store. Gyft gift cards can be redeemed on an Android phone by using the web browser. An Android app is planned soon.
Giftly
When I first wrote about Giftly last year in Giftly – The Next Generation of Gift Cards, this gift-giving service was only a few months old. Since then, Giftly has grown both in sales and in the number of features they offer.
Giftly lets you purchase gift cards to any store that accepts credit cards. If you want to send a far away friend a gift card to a restaurant in her hometown, Giftly can suggest the best rated restaurants in her area.
To redeem her gift card, she doesn’t need to show anything to the merchant, the value of the Giftly card is added directly to her credit card when she uses her Giftly. You can be notified when your friend uses her Giftly.
A Giftly can be used anywhere in the world.
Tim Bentley, CEO of Giftly, recently told me about the many changes to their service. Giftly has launched an iPhone app so you can give a Giftly on the go. You can also connect the app to Facebook to be reminded of birthdays and send a Giftly through Facebook. The app can also notify you about new Giftly giving opportunities and help you keep track of the Giftly gifts you’ve sent. You can send a photo of the gift you’re sending by using the Giftly app.
You can choose a gift based upon the item or the location where the receiver lives. You can include a custom icon with the type of gift, color of icon and location where it can be used.
Bentley also let me know that two weeks ago the company began offering printable versions of Giftly gifts and that 40% of customers are now choosing that option. He also said that the most popular Giftly gift is dinner at a local restaurant.
Giftly is especially helpful for: giving gifts to local stores and restaurants.
You can send a Giftly by visiting the Giftly website or from the Giftly app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, available at the iTunes App Store.
Wantful
Since I wrote about Wantful in October Wantful – Giving Gifts in Style, the company has been busy upgrading its gift giving service.
With Wantful, you choose 16 gifts that are included in a high-quality gift book that is sent to the receiver who can then select the gift they want to be sent to them. By popular demand, Wantful has added a feature that lets you send a gift directly without sending a gift book first. Wantful also is launching an iPad app due out next week.
In celebration of the launch of their iPad app, Wantful is offering free shipping until December 24.
Wantful is helpful for: giving high-quality gifts when you aren’t certain what the receiver would like.
You can give a Wantful gift from the Wantful website. You can download the Wantful app for iPad from the iTunes App Store now and stay tuned to The Wonder of Tech for news of the official launch!
Facebook Gifts
Soon after Karma: Your Gift Connection! was published, Karma was acquired by Facebook. In September, Facebook launched its gift-giving service based on Karma so you can send a gift directly from Facebook to any of your Facebook friends.
To use Facebook Gifts, go to Facebook and head to a friend’s Timeline either from your computer or from the Facebook app on your mobile device. When you post on their Timeline, you will see an option to give a gift. You can select from a variety of gifts in different categories.
You can choose the color, style, etc. or leave the choice up to your friend. After you send the gift you can post the “wrapped gift” on their Timeline. The actual gift isn’t revealed until they are notified about it.
You don’t have to know your friend’s address to send a Facebook gift. They can fill in the shipping address when they receive notice about the gift.
Facebook Gifts are helpful for: sending gifts to Facebook friends, especially when you don’t know where to send a gift.
Bottom Line
Don’t stress about giving gifts. Let tech help make the process easier.
Have you used any of these tech tools to give a gift? Do you wish someone would give you a gift using one of these services? Let us know in the Comments section below!
*Gifts image by ammer from freedigitalphotos.net
Hi Carolyn
At times it becomes very difficult to choose the gifts and because of which we are unable to time the gift. Really, tech helps us everywhere.
GYFT, I think is the good one.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful tech tools.
Sapna
Hi Sapna, You’re right, giving gifts takes a lot of time, but with these tools, we can spend more time on other things while still getting thoughtful gifts for others.
I’m glad you like Gyft, Sapna. Happy giving!
Nice round up Carolyn, i like the Gyft app, it looks so easy and yet so complete for all our gift needs. What more can you expect.
I didnt know the Karma was taken over by FB…of course it looked promising and FB is a shark when it comes to acquiring new prospective companies and businesses, no surprises there 🙂
Thanks for sharing this.
Hi Praveen, Yes, Karma was taken over by Facebook about a month after my article was published. I think it’s a great fit for Facebook because Karma was such a high quality app with a very friendly feel to it.
I’m glad you like the Gyft app, Praveen. That app would be very handy for keeping track of gift cards and giving them as well.
Happy gifting, Praveen!
A great post about gifts, Carolyn! It would take off the ‘gift’ worries from anyone’s mind and save time on the process of decision making and the rest of the process. I’ve now come to understand that the tech way is the best way of gift giving.
I like the ideas of Gyft, Giftly, and Wantful. You’re right – there’s no need to be stressful about giving gifts. Though I haven’t used any of these tech tools, as they aren’t yet available in my area, but I’m sure these tools and services will go global sooner or later.
Thanks for keeping us updated. 🙂
~ Harleena
Hi Harleena, Yes, they are very convenient ways to send thoughtful gifts. I wish they were available worldwide. Perhaps some day!
Thanks so much for stopping by and letting us know your thoughts, Harleena!
What is amazing to me about your posts is how you find so many things I’ve never heard of before. All of these sound brilliant and they make me marvel at the age we live in. For someone who doesn’t like to shop, these are amazing.
Hi Brian, Thank you. That’s what I love about tech, discovering amazing new inventions that improve people’s lives. It’s really a slice of the future, isn’t it?
I hope you find these tech tools very useful, Brian!
Hi Carolyn
I love tech so it would be great to be able to give a gift using an app. I’ll be honest though, my wife does most of the Christmas shopping!
And there’s even options to use some of the apps in the UK. Maybe I’d better start buying the presents afterall!
Thanks for sharing Carolyn.
Hi Tim, Yes, since gift shopping has become so much easier, maybe more people will join in on the fun. Happy shopping, Tim!
Hi Carolyn
I hate US only services, but it does sound smart. I heard the other day that 1 out of 6 gift cards are never used because people simply forget they have got them. I love to get gift cards and are always using them, but some people are for some reason not.
Hi Thomas, I agree with you, US only services are frustrating. When I lived in England I was always upset when something wasn’t available there yet.
Giftly gifts are available outside the US, both to give and to receive, but a US credit card is required due to US banking laws, according to Tim Bentley.
Perhaps someday global marketing and sales will be much easier! I’m sure all developers would prefer to have worldwide sales.
I guess I’m lucky because my wife does almost all of the Christmas shopping, but I do love the options presented here. Gyft, Giftly and Wantful have great options and it looks like these are business models that have some serious staying power. It really is amazing was is available to us, and it’s getting easier every year, with just a few clicks we are golden. Just have that credit card handy 😉
Hi Craig, Yes, you’re right, it is amazing how innovative gift giving has become. These tools have benefits for both the gift givers and receivers, so they really can help people. 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
This month is all about gifting and it’s nice to see how you find new ways 🙂
I’ve never used these tools, but I’ve seen my friends using Facebook gifts though.
Seems Gyft is very convenient in gifting. Isn’t it available for Android? Hope they will expand their service worldwide later on.
I like the concept of Giftly very much and its features 🙂 That’s quite a win-win business model. It’s nice how it shows the recent giftings of their website. Oops… Printable versions of gifts? A screenshot of received gift?
Cheers…
Hi Mayura, Gyft isn’t yet available on Android but they hope to get it on there soon and then onto worldwide availability!
Yes, the easier gift-giving can be the happier place the world can be, don’t you think, Mayura? 🙂
Hi Carolyn
Wow ! That is amazing. We mainly buy for our grandkids these days and not many others so it is still fun to go and buy presents for small kids. But this is awesome.
Thanks for letting us know about this one.
Sue
Hi Sue, Yes, when you’re buying for little ones, you may want the experience of actual in-store shopping. But when you’re pressed for time or need gift ideas, then these tools may come in very handy!
Ah, another great post just in time for the holidays. You always share the best stuff with us.
Those are some cool ideas for giving gifts. I mainly just send money to my out of state family and the others give us a list. Although I do shop mainly online but they’ve already picked out what they want. It makes it that much easier.
But this is a great way to give gifts.
~Adrienne
P.S. I don’t know if anyone else is having this issue but Apple is not letting me access my account. Keeps telling me access is denied yet no one will help me resolve this issue. I’m really losing my patience with them. Has this happened to you?
Hi Adrienne, I’m so glad you like these gift-giving ideas. Yes, you can give money, everybody loves getting money. But if you want to get a bit creative, these tech tools may inspire you!
So, is it your iTunes account that you can’t access? I have had excellent customer service from Apple with iTunes issues. Here is the link to contact Apple about the issues you are having. Also, you can head to an Apple store if you have one close by, they can help you there.
Hi Carolyn,
You have solved my problem in this post. I thank you for introducing me to GYFT.
Just as I was running around to stores to purchase gift cards for those who are miles away from me, the solution is right here!
I have so many nieces and nephews that I need to send gift cards to and was so unsure as to what place. I am tired of giving the same old Amazon card to them. Now it can be more fun and personalized.
Yippie….I’m going shoping!
Donna
Hi Donna, I’m so glad this was helpful to you. You’re right, Gyft is a very convenient way to give gift cards. You don’t even have to mail them out. 🙂
I hope you enjoy your Gyft shopping, Donna!
Those are all neat services. I used to browse through Karma when it was just an app and didn’t belong to Facebook. I still hesitate to buy through Facebook because I’m sure I’ll be bombarded by ads and “stories” for the rest of my life! But I really like the idea of digital gift giving, and especially gift cards because sometimes you just want something small and personal without all the stress of figuring out what someone might like… oh, and then the wrapping and shipping! I’m going to check out those other apps, thanks for the info!
Hi Carol Lynn, Yes, I was a big fan of Karma before it was bought by Facebook. I’m happy to report that a lot of the essence of Karma is retained in Facebook gifts.
Facebook gifts does make it easy to give a Facebook friend a gift. You don’t even need to have their addresses!
Wow, Carolyn,
That’s really amazing how much is out there!
My favorite as far as I’m concerned is the Gyft one. It’s so true that those gift cards are either lost or forgotten, so that is a great tech tool right there.
Thanks for sharing all these with us 🙂
Hi Sylviane, Great point. Even if you never buy a gift card, Gyft is a great app for keeping track of your gift cards and keeping them handy when ever you’re out shopping. How many of us get to a store only to discover that we’ve left our gift card at home?
Wow! Love, love, love it! How cool is that? This is a life-saver if you hate the malls like I do during Christmas time. But just in general, this will save me a whole lot of trouble cause I really hate shopping LOL! Is that bad? 🙂 Anyway, what a fantastic idea. Downloading the app today so I can finish my Christmas shopping. Yeah! Thank you for sharing this.
Hi Barbara, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Great point. Even people who love malls at other times of the year often hate them during the holidays due to the crowds. I hope these apps save you a lot of time and aggravation, Barbara! Happy shopping. 🙂
Hi Carolyn
It can be so stressful trying to choose & buy gifts especially this time of year so this shows a great way of taking all that stress away!
I had not heard of any of these sites so thanks for sharing I will check them out!
Have a great day
Pauline
Hi Pauline, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re right, these are definitely tools that can reduce the stress of gift-giving. These tools save time and help you find a suitable gift for even people who are difficult to buy for.
Happy shopping, Pauline! 🙂
The Gyft app is a superb thing to give as a gift.I was not aware of it and good at the right time i dropped in to your post.I wanted to gift my friend as his birthday is approaching next week and as he is a tech lover this gift will surely benefit him.Thanks for sharing this post and it has been quite useful to me.
Hi Steve, I’m glad this article was so useful to you. Gyft is a very handy app so you can send gift cards to friends. I’m glad they made it available on Android too so that they can use this great app too.
Thanks so much for stopping by and letting us know that this was helpful to you, Steve!
Hey Carolyn, refreshing post! Even I think Gyft is a brilliant idea that is changing gift cards and turning that idea into a practical reality with the seamless passbook integration. Apart from this, there are even more reasons to download Gyft- The company has secured over $5 million worth of free gift cards this holiday season from its retailer partners and is now sharing those cards with consumers. Throughout the holidays, promotions ranging from $5 to $250 are being made available in Gyft.
Hi Joseph, You’re right, Gyft really is changing gift cards. This will be a handy app to keep on your smartphone!
Hi Caroly, These are some great stress-relieving gift giving ideas! I love Gifly, and I’m glad they’ve added the print option. I personally prefer to give a paper-version. Just like having something to hold. 🙂
I am not so familiar with Gyft or Wantful. Going to have to check them out – I still need to get a few more gifts, and they will be gift cards, for sure!
Hi Carol, Yes, I think it was very wise for Giftly to add printable gifts, and I like how you can design your own icons. Very cool!
Gyft will come in very handy for last-minute gifts as Christmas draws near!