At first glance, Webgiftr can seem a bit lacking in substance. If you’re interested in an Amazon-sized venue for product ideas shaped around birthday celebrations, wedding anniversaries, graduations, etc., you’ll probably be disappointed with this engine. Yet, give it an extra bit of attention, and it can be surprisingly worthwhile.
It doesn’t have tons of things to show. Just browse it for a minute and this will become evident. Instead, it is about finding an easier way for people who know one another (and are willing to forge ties across the Web) to make better buying decisions for those special occasions.
A Diamond in the Rough
You’ll need to forgive the service for not having the best performance among gift giving aids in operation today. It’s somewhat slow-going, and the front page isn’t as well developed as first-timers might wish it to be - some buttons seem completely useless, for instance. And as you proceed to subsequent stages, you may find yourself waiting and waiting some more.
But there are things I like about Webgiftr that you too may find worth the quirky character and the idle time. If you enjoy smart design, you’re likely to warm to the layout very quickly. And from your account dashboard to your friends roll (which you’ll need to fill if you want to make any good use of the service) to your profile of interests to the search features for retailers, restaurants, and charities, everything is intuitive to use. It’s the small things that really make you recognize the value of Webgiftr.
Worth the Effort
It may take a while for users to establish solid member networks of their own on top of the tools provided by Webgiftr to make social and holiday calendars more easily managed. But if you along with friends and family happen to have the “sticktoitiveness” to assemble a system in which you’re not scrambling for ideas as your BlackBerries or iPhones or whathaveyou alert you to special occasions, this service can offer a more streamlined and less haphazard approach.