Gift Registry Service to AVOID

Hi all. Thought I should post this just in case - do NOT use www.thegiftregistry.co.uk!

I wasn't even going to do a registry, but enough people asked that I figured if they're going to buy us a present anyway, it wouldn't be such a horrible thing to get stuff we need. And since I can't presently afford to ship most of my 35 years worth of accumulated life stuff over here, and am marrying a man who owns little more than his clothes and a few CDs, we do actually need things (and I broke one of our 4 plates the other day, too!)

Anyway.... My recap (more a rant, really) I found these guys online and was impressed by the concept. Basically, you go to various stores that they're partnered with (impressive list including Homebase, Cargo, Pier, John Lewis, etc.) and note the product number of the stuff you want which you then add to an online list and people can shop for you in various stores all from one list. I was bummed out that I couldn't use the Wedding Channel which allows you to similarly link all of your registries together, but only has American companies (and I don't want to deal with customs or international shipping.) This was the perfect solution - my American family could use it online as could Jamie's family here, shipping would be reasonable, and I wouldn't have to worry about duties. So I sent for their registration pack and was very impressed - very expensively printed materials, wire bound book to write down gifts in, postage paid envelopes to mail things back in, cards to include with invitations... the works. So I spent a good two or three days running around compiling my lists and sat down to enter them all in.

Here's where the trouble starts. First, a good half of the items I wanted came up as being added to a separate "non-stock" item list but there was no explanation about what that meant. When I wrote them an email via their "concierge" service (touted as being fast response to questions) I got no reply. A couple of days later I went back to the site, logged in, clicked on "manage my list" and was told... to log in. So I did. Again. Same thing - log in when fine, but when I tried to do anything at all, I was told... to log in. AAGGGHHHH. Again, I emailed them. Again, no reply. Repeated the whole thing again this morning - log in loop happened again.

So I give up. I wrote them a nasty note telling them to take my list offline and now I'm going to try to save other brides the hassle - don't bother with them. It'll just end up wasting time better spent on other wedding things....

I'm off to John Lewis tomorrow to do a normal registry. Anyone have any idea if there are services like the Wedding Channel over here that allow you to link several lists together? I've seen Wrap It but I don't particularly like picking stuff out online - I don't mind putting the list together that way, but I would rather actually see what I'm registering for....

Girlfriend, you are singing my song! Registry has been a huge issue for us and we were going to do The Gift Registry! Will rethink though.

First, however, let me say that the log-in issue could actually be a problem on your computer and not with them. I actually had this same problem with this very site (UKY) when I used computers at my Uni. It could be them, too. Especially if they aren't responding to email which could be a whole server/web site crashing issue.

They could be totally useless though. Spent too much money on printing and not enough on follow-thru!

Did you actually phone them with your problems? I hate to say this, but I have found that many UK sites like this - including the UK dept stores - are way behind what is done in the US.

My whole problem with just John Lewis is what I think you are experiencing. They don't have enough choice for what we want. Call me materialistic or whatever but if I'm gonna register, I do think we should get what we want or need! And I'm not aware of any similar Wedding Channel thing in the UK. *sigh*

First, however, let me say that the log-in issue could actually be a problem on your computer and not with them. I actually had this same problem with this very site (UKY) when I used computers at my Uni. It could be them, too. Especially if they aren't responding to email which could be a whole server/web site crashing issue.

Did you actually phone them with your problems? I hate to say this, but I have found that many UK sites like this - including the UK dept stores - are way behind what is done in the US.

My whole problem with just John Lewis is what I think you are experiencing. They don't have enough choice for what we want. Call me materialistic or whatever but if I'm gonna register, I do think we should get what we want or need! And I'm not aware of any similar Wedding Channel thing in the UK. *sigh*

Yeah, you really are right - I should just call them to make sure I'm not being overly harsh. I guess I'm just really irritated 'cause the whole premise of the company revolves around the website and yet for well over a week I haven't been able to access my account or get an email returned. Grrr.

Where do you live, balmerhon? Some John Lewis stores are miles better than others. There's one near me (the High Wycombe store) that has nothing but home stuff - no clothes or anything - and I found that it was pretty good. Others are dismal though - some of the smaller stores are really limited and their website has next to nothing...

I'm actually job hunting right now - maybe I should approach the Wedding Channel and get one up and running over here! 

If you get the Wedding Channel to come here, can you get Crate & Barrel, too?! Please? 

I live in Devon near Exeter. There is no John Lewis here. There's a small Debenhams. If I register at the Debenhams I can only register for items in their store, or, if I push it, at Plymouth. This is because they will only ship items carried in the regional area. The Gift Registry however, deals with the main ordering offices so you aren't limited in choice. This means I can go to Bristol or even Reading and get what I want, not what my local store has room for. With them I can also order from shops that aren't in Exeter (The Pier, etc) and have it all at one source.

Please do phone them if you can bear it, as if they really are horrible, I'm totally up a creek!

Please do phone them if you can bear it, as if they really are horrible, I'm totally up a creek!

Well, I did just phone them and didn't really get anywhere. I very sweetly explained that I haven't been able to get into my account and that no one had responded to emails, so they talked me through a couple of potential fixes which didn't work. That seemed to exhaust their bag of tricks and now I'm waiting for someone else to call me back....

They were nice enough, but didn't apologize that I'd been having trouble or that they hadn't been answering emails. When I get a call back I'll let you know what happens. Fingers crossed....

So I just happened to see an article in the Daily Express in the break room at work (or was it the Daily Mail? Not sure - it was a tabloid I don't normally read) that said the Gift Registry had gone out of business and totally screwed everyone who was using them. Gifts aren't going to be delivered and it will be up to the people who bought them to challenge their credit card providers to get the money back!!!!

I'm SO SO SO glad I didn't use them - I just got a very bad feeling about them. But now I really and truly hope that you didn't either, balmerhon!!!!! I'll pm you now to make sure you see this!!!!

Good luck with your gift list, Anne. What a pain....

Here are some links I found off of confetti:

http://www.confetti.co.uk/giftlist/features/marks_and_spencers/default.asp

http://www.confetti.co.uk/giftlist/features/john_lewis_04.asp

http://www.confetti.co.uk/giftlist/features/wrap_it/default.asp

Andy and I are registered only at Crate & Barrel. We're getting married here in NY and settling in America for the time being. His mom liked our gift list online and said it would not be a problem for anyone on their side if they chose to give a gift from there {they do int'l shipping.}

Thanks, but it's actually balmerhon I was (rightly) worried about! We only used John Lewis. We were also trying to avoid having to have stuff shipped other countries and trying avoid customs issues on the more expensive items. Worked great, and like you (only in reverse) NYUK, we had no trouble with people in the US buying stuff off of the website. The only thing I don't like is that everything is held at John Lewis until 3 weeks after the wedding and then sent in one big shipment. It's like being a little kid and having to wait for Christmas morning!!! 

 :\\\'( :\\\'(

John Lewis had a nice website! Too bad that they hold all the gifts till after the wedding. Are the guests charged at the point of buying or until it is shipped?

for the us gifts, we used the ones off the wedding channel( crate and barrel, william sonoma and macys).  It all went awesome, they were great and got a ton of stuff. 

Now, over here we used Marks and Spencer and oh my GOD are they TERRIBLE!  We get gifts with no indication of who they are from.  We've gotten some repeat gifts.....from the same people (hey they aren't charged for it, so we get the credit!).  What a disaster.

I wish we'd gone with john lewis, but our flat is so tight as it is....there is hardly anything we need now.  All of our wedding and shower gifts are filling my basement in the states!

Just an update for those of you wondering.... it would so far appear that none of our guests have been charged for the gifts they have purchased. Everyone also seemed to be waiting until the last minute, too, so only about 7 people had done anything yet!

So we've had to send out 2 awkward emails... the first to those who did buy and tell them what happened and what to do if they DID get charged and the second to those who hadn't done anything and suggest alternatives. Horrid because gift giving is so touchy anyway.

I actually had my MIL-to-be tell me that English people get offended by gift registry info. I already know I'll have several people just buying us whatever the want - all for the kitchen because they know that's what we like/need. Whether we already have it or not.

I don't mean to be ungrateful, but why do some people get so bent out of shape by gift registries? *sigh* 

some people like to feel like they give you a piece of them when you get married.

i can tell you, in my hometown, a piece of them equals some Simon Pearce Glass which is AMAZING and simple and so me (and quite $$) BUT there are so many vases and candleholders we need!!!!!

*sigh*

I agree, if you want to get creative....buy something off the registry and add something else as a taste of you.  like a mixing bowl and a cute apron you pick out.

 

Balmerhon,

For a short while, I was on this big UK bridal message board... and there were UK brides there that put the gift registry info IN THE INVITE!!!!!! Ouch! When I asked if that was tradition, some girls responded that it was common place and guests expected it; others said it was rude.

I would never have my gift list in the invite... I would be offended if I got an invite with the gift list included--- come to my wedding, make sure to bring a gift! 

ahh the difference between the us and uk weddings.

my MIL put M&S notes in every invite that went out to people over here for the wedding. I was really against it, expecially since it is a representation of my parents and my family at that point, not theirs.  But they did it anyway.

But bygones.....