Amazon wish list - yes or no????

We always ask now what family would like, DM is 89 so I shall take her shopping for her Birthday/Mother's Day Present(s) when I visit next month otherwise it's money.

DD & her OH it's usually money & a small gift.

DGSs, I ask my DD for a list of ideas, books (Nan always , buys book(s) for Birthday/ Christmas) & toys.

I either get money & a small gift or DD asks me for ideas, usually practical, for Christmas my main present was a new toaster which I needed

I too hate "lists" on Amazon as I take great pleasure looking out for unusual presents

You could always buy Amazon Vouchers.

I like it when my children have wishlists, that way I'm sure my gift will be appreciated. Still, sometimes when I see something really special, I buy it if I feel sure it's just so perfect for daughter (or in law) or son (or in law) ? Let me add that these improvisto gifts are usually very affordable.

In our family adult birthday celebrations are all about the food, the cake and the company. We usually give things like flowers, a nice wine or a keepsake such as a framed (vintage) family photo.

At Christmas we exchange categories and this way we don't lose the element of surprise (i.e. kitchen stuff, art supplies). We tend to splurge more on our GC as the lists are usually very long and very detailed, and we dare not disappoint .

I would choose something affordable from her list, and also buy a small extra gift as a surprise, perhaps some pretty earrings as it's a special birthday.

As we live so far away from our children and grandchildren and don't always see them on their birthdays we usually send money or gift cards. At Christmas our grandchildren email us their wish lists (usually compiled from the Argos catalogue!) and we don't tell them what we've selected so it's still a surprise. We also give them some money as they all enjoy shopping. I go to enormous lengths to package gifts in an interesting way even if the contents is just a gift card and they often keep the pretty boxes I have made.

We have been using wish lists for a while but have always insisted that there be some things in the lower price range. This helps the less well off members of the family. It’s lovely to get something that your really like,that you would not always buy for yourself.

I'm going to stick my neck out here (never fear. I usually end up winding it back in again very quickly).

The Amazon wish list (to me) is an example of where we're heading. I think people are becoming more isolated now just about everything is catered for online - from everyday groceries to cars.

The town I shop in is now a ghost town., no one goes to the little bookshops (so two have closed down) clothes shops are empty, the toy shop's closed, the market's closed - even the big 'superstore' up the road is nowhere as busy as it was a few years ago.

I appreciate online shopping for a lot of people is an essential blessing - and being able to buy the one off rarity from eBay's useful but (going back to my original point) being given a list of items to buy online feels very impersonal, almost unhuman. I've no objections to being given a written list of ideas for presents to buy from wherever I want, but my objection and worry is that the internet is coming through the backdoor and isolating our communities and interactions as human beings.

I've no problem with wishing lists, but I do have a problem with people who only wish for expensive presents that are quite unreasonable for my purse!

Is there no-one who you could get to join you in a present from the list?

if not, buy a gift token for an amount you can afford.

So, boheminan, even if you saw an item you would like to give, on the wishlist, and were able to buy it in a real shop, your main objection would be to the use of an online list in the first place?

No no no I m with you Boheminem all the way I don’t like this style at all We do tell each other hints what we would like say a certain perfume, piece of make up, book title etc but it’s only a hint an Amazon list is so lacking of any feeling I think they seem materialistic and a yes bit greedy
My kids or grandkids would point something out online to give me a clue or even send me a link to say something like this but never a shop list that is so sterile I dislike that way intensely just like I dislike weddings asking for money for honeymoons I also dislike crowdfunding for pets or funerals etc I don’t like the way it’s going at all

good if gifts are £20,00 or less. What really annoys me is the wedding list that says money for the honeymoon please

I like the wish lists. I read a lot and enjoy receiving books as a gift. The list means I get titles I want and not something have already read. Tokens are not quite the same. I enjoy choosing from the list for others as well knowing its something they really want.
You can always buy a small surprise gift as well.

If you can't afford anything on your daughter's list then buy an Amazon voucher at what you can afford and she can spend it as she likes. This system works well for my family and Grandchildren. I know nothing about electronics so that solves the problem.

I understand your feelings, but presumably, you will be hurt when she exhibits no pleasure in the gift she didn't ask for but which you know she will like? If you can't afford the present she wants there is no point in buying something else just because you want to buy it - either club together with someone else or explain to her you can't afford what she has asked for and just send a nice card. She may be unaware of your financial restrictions and so has not included more affordable options.

The OP hasn't said she can't afford the wishlist presents.

FarNorth. I'm struggling to put into words my feelings on this. Like BlueBelle the concept of people asking for wedding money, crowdfunding, etc, leaves me cold.

If there was an item on the wish list that I'd like to buy, then I would do so but it seems a sad state of affairs when a list has to be displayed in this way - I thought it was the sort of only royalty did! I'd much rather be given pointers, or a little personal written list. I think wedding lists have been around for a long time, but birthday lists somehow smack of greed. I wonder how those of us who are not computer literate (a bit like me, it took ages to work out how to find the list) fare? What's wrong with doing a bit of personal detective work to suss out what they'd like.

I think it takes some of the enjoyment out of it, for those who like to choose things.
I wonder if everything will end up on a wishlist at some point?
Easter egg wishlists..

If you don't want to buy something from the list you could buy the vouchers as suggested by others. My mother always ruined my birthdays as she handed over a gift she would say I know this isn't what you wanted but I like it ( she always thought she knew better! Grr)

Give money towards something ....tell her this is given with love and is all you can afford !!!! Just had my 70th ...not even a card from the husband ! never mind, I did buy myself some perfume and flowers .....so I got what I wanted ! Oh, and a big mac for a treat !!!

My daughter had always been ‘out there’ as far as fashion and presents are concerned . I have never got it right although she would never say so. She’s forty now and I asked her (started last year) to post in her Amazon wish list! Why would that upset anybody. I’d rather she had something she wanted then ‘pretend’ to like what I’ve gotten her. Anyway it works both ways ...once my kids were out of childhood , present buying has been agony.Long live the wish list. I do the same to my kids ...give them a list and they pick a pressie.

We have hand written wish lists that we hand around for Christmas and birthdays. It spoils the surprise but as others have said,avoids the awkwardness of an unwanted pressie. As well as a pressie from the wish list, if she is sentimental, would she appreciate a small family heir loom, maybe a special photo or peice of jewellery that was her grandmothers? She doesnt have to wear it and it wont take up much space in a draw. Hope she wouldnt sell it though!

Crowdfund something your daughter really wants with others or give her cash as a contribution. Don’t buy her some gift she doesn’t want just to make a point.

Do you like your daughter?

I get the impression from the posts that everyones house is full of 'stuff'. When I am asked what I want for Xmas I cant think of anything that I really need. I give cheques with tiny token presents that wont be wasted (chocs, flowers) as none of my family have the same taste as me or as each other. I get pleasure from giving them small unexpected gifts for no particular occasion so they know that I am thinking of them. Am not comfortable with materialism. They are all very happy with their cheques.

Why not start making a list for your next birthday/anniversary/ Christmas and make sure that everything on the list is over £40?
See what she buys for you.
Two can play that game.

Millie8

Why on earth give jewellery if it would be put in a drawer?