June 2005
Wedding gift registries
Registering for your wedding can be the ideal way to get gifts that you need and avoid items you don't want. Whether you register online or in person, at a national chain store or a local specialty store, you should know what you are getting into. Here are some questions to ask that can help you evaluate online gift registries before you sign up:
Registering for your wedding can be the ideal way to get gifts that you need and avoid items you don't want. Whether you register online or in person, at a national chain store or a local specialty store, you should know what you are getting into. Here are some questions to ask that can help you evaluate online gift registries before you sign up:
- Does the store offer gift cards?
If your registry fills up, or if some of your guests want to allow you to select your own gift, some store registries let users choose gift cards--a very nice option. - What if you didn't get everything you registered for?
Some stores offer a completion program that allows the couple to buy any remaining registry items at a discount after the wedding. - Does the store offer a written agreement on the terms of the registry?
To find out, read the fine print on the store's Web site. That will protect you from any nasty surprises once your friends and family start ordering gifts. - Is it easy for guests to order from the registry?
Stores you choose should be accessible to guests via a toll-free order line or online site, and should be willing to fax your registry list to out-of-town guests. There should also be a gift-wrapping option. - How quickly will a store deliver items?
Ask if the items you are registering for are in stock. For in-store shoppers, ask if the department or chain store will search other branches for an item on your registry. - Is it easy to return items that are delivered damaged or broken?
Ask the store how it packs items for delivery. While you can't change a store's shipping practices, you can register for your fine china at a store that prides itself on a clean shipping record, rather than at a store with a more haphazard policy. Either way, make sure the store will replace any item that arrives damaged or broken. - How is the registry list updated?
Ask a store representative how you can add items to your registry (or delete items previously chosen). Also, when an item is purchased (whether in the store, by phone, or online), how quickly will your list be updated and what does the store do to prevent duplicate sales? Be sure that your registry list will remain active for at least six months after you've tied the knot. Some guests will wait until after the wedding to send you a gift, and they'll want to be able to buy you something from your registry. - Is it easy to replace duplicate items?
It's quite common: Your Aunt Mary may order the blender you registered for on the same day your best friend from college sends you the same one. If that's the case, the store should allow a store credit or a cash refund. - Can items be returned without a receipt?
It's a bride and groom's prerogative to change their minds, so you want to make sure your registry has a flexible return policy--even if you don't have the receipt or the name of the buyer. Also, make sure an item can be returned for the full price paid, even if it has since gone on sale.
