Shopping for the guy or gal who seems to already have everything? Or perhaps you're a little clueless and not sure what to give someone you don't yet know well. Use the internet to your advantage. People are leaving online trails everywhere with their wants and wishes, making it easier than ever to gift others exactly what they've always wanted...
Search for wish lists at big retailers. Your giftee might have an Amazon wishlist already, and all you need to find it is their email address. This could be a great way to get your sister, friend or boss exactly what they want without havign to ask. Alternatively, if your giftee has recently gotten engaged, married, had a baby, or hosted a housewarming, they probably still have empty items on their registries. Even if they were married months ago, they might still appreciate recieving that cool kitchen gadget they picked out.
Glance through their social networks. Take a peek at any recent links they've posted to Facebook or Twitter to see if there's any good gift ideas. Or go through their StumbleUpon, Digg or Reddit history to find product links they liked or upvoted in the past. And if your giftee uses Pinterest, you've got it made! Find their profile to get dozens and dozens of great gift ideas that they're guaranteed to love.
Do you use the web to help you pick out great gift ideas? Share your sneaky tips in the comments!
(Images: Shuttertsock, Amazon, Pinterest iPad App)
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Or just break into their computer and look at their browser history!
The first paragraph is a bit creepy to me, I think a lot of us are already worried about our 'online trails'.
Well.... I think you are better off asking instead of sneaking around.
I have items on my (Amazon) wish list that aren't for me, they are gift ideas for other people. I put them on the list so I could easily order them when their birthday/Christmas comes up. If you don't know me well enough to be able to buy me something without help, you probably also won't know that a particular CD is meant for my brother.....
I am with @HHRI on this one. You have to be very careful about this as people tend to create gift or wish lists as a way to remember things for others. I clarify when possible. For example, I have a Pintrest board called "For Me" for everything I'd be happy to receive and another called "For You" as gift ideas for other people. Just make sure to get a gift receipt if you are not sure!
Ditto HHRI. I often "wish list" things so I can find them again for someone else, or because I thought they were hilariously awful, or some other reason that has nothing to do with my actually wanting to own them. Or I forget to take them off my list even though I already bought them elsewhere or decided on a different model after all.
yeah, this is creepville.
Agree with the others. Just because it's on my "wish list" doesn't mean I want it for myself.
Although I agree with the sassy comments above I do want to say I think the Pintrest idea is fantastic. Looking on someones pinboard is a good way to get an idea of something they may life.
You may want to separate. Amazon has the abity to do multiple wish lists, so if its something you don't want, but want to remember- create a different wish list for those items. It will ask you each time which list you want to put it on. Also- you can make your lists public or private, so the list you WANT people to see- just make that one public.
Yeah, be careful with this one. I put all sorts of stuff on wish lists and on Pintrest that I am just thinking about for various reasons, not that I actually want. In fact, I once had a "gift ideas" board on Pintrest where I put gift ideas for other people, not really expecting any of them to find my board. The most unlikely one to look at a Pintrest board did -- my teenage son, who came to me all excited and said "wow, I had no idea we both were hoping to get the same phone for Christmas!"
I think I'll just ask.
I actually think this is a great idea if you know the person well enough. My boyfriend produces music, and I know that there are some technical things that he'd want but I have no idea what they're called or how to find them. Looking at his wishlist is a good way to find out exactly what he wants without ruining the surprise by asking. And since I know him well enough to know that the coffee maker and wine decanters on his list are probably for his parents, the guesswork is taken out of the equation.
You know, this *is* creepy, but it's also a good reminder- the internet is forever, people. Be careful about the trail you leave!
If you don't know what to get someone, don't give them anything. Simple.
I've been using Pinterest to get ideas of what to get for my hard-to-buy for sister. It's been somewhat fruitful, although she pins way too many pictures of puppies and shirtless guys, which she is not getting for Christmas.
Yup. Creepy.
And precisely why my lists are stored offline. Also why I don'thave a fb acct.
I think it's a good idea! I think it's a perfectly legit way to get a sense for what someone might like. Pinterest especially - you could see colors, decor, food tastes, etc. I mean, it's not like someone is going to find their boss's amazon wishlist and go get them an automatic screw driver for xmas just because it was listed there. But they may see that their boss is into wine or cooking or whatever, and be able to find a nice foodie gift.
And obviously, if having an online presence creeps you out, simply don't have one. Don't make wishlists that are public, don't have a pinterest account associated with your known email address, don't join facebook. But if someone DOES choose to have an online presence, then they can't possibly be surprised or creeped out that an acquaintance checked out their lists when shopping for them.
IMHO
hahahaha could get a lot of us in trouble