To choose between two gift ideas, compare each one with the person rather than with each other. Ask which they would still be using in six months, which could only have been chosen for them, and which fits something they have actually said. If it is still a tie, ask two or three people who know them, not strangers, and let their votes decide.
Being stuck between two ideas feels like a problem, but it is a good sign. It means the hard part is already done: you know enough about the person to find two things that suit them. All that is left is to pick one.
Why asking strangers rarely settles it
People post their two options online all the time. "1 or 2? It's a gift for my girlfriend" drew 68 comments. "Is this a good gift to my best friend?" drew 462. A request for feedback on a white elephant gift drew 534.
Strangers are good at judging the object. They can tell you whether a thing looks well made, whether it is good value, and whether it is in fashion. What they cannot judge is the fit, because they have never met the person. When both options are good, fit is the only question left.
Three questions that settle most ties
Which will they still be using in six months? Research on gift-giving (Galak, Givi and Williams, 2016) found that givers tend to judge a gift by the moment it is opened. Recipients judge it by how much they use and value it afterwards. The option they will still use in May usually beats the one that gets the bigger reaction in December.
Which could only have been chosen for them? Imagine giving each option to one of their colleagues instead. If one option would please anyone just as much, it is the safer gift. If the other only makes sense for this person, it is the one that shows you were paying attention.
Which fits something they have actually said? A passing comment, a thing they mentioned wanting, a hobby they keep coming back to. Something they said is better evidence than a guess. If one option connects to something they said and the other does not, that is usually the answer.
If both options pass all three, you have two good gifts, and either will do. Pick the one you are more excited to give. Your excitement will show when they open it.
Ask the people who know them
When it is still a tie, ask the people who know the person. That could be their sister, their best friend, or a group of friends you share. Two or three votes from them are worth more than five hundred comments from people who have never met them.
On Giftsnatch, this is how the basket works. Add both options to your basket, open Saved, and tap Ask friends. You get one link to send by message or email. Friends open it and vote on each gift without signing up. They choose whether to give their name or vote anonymously. You see how many voted for each, who voted for what, and a "Friends' pick" label when one gift is clearly ahead. You can set a deadline, so the vote closes before you need to buy.
When to just ask them
Sometimes the right person to decide is the person you are buying for. If the options are practical, such as two sizes, two colours or two versions of the same thing, asking costs nothing and avoids a return. If you want the gift to be a surprise, ask a few weeks ahead about the type of gift, not the gift itself: "do you prefer leather or canvas bags?"
If you do not have two ideas yet, tell us who they are and swipe. Every gift you like goes into your Saved list, ready for you to narrow down.
Questions people ask
What is the best gift list app?
It depends on what you need. If the person keeps a wishlist, the best app is the one your family already uses, so everyone sees the same list. If there is no list and you need ideas, a list app cannot help, because it only holds what they asked for. Giftsnatch starts from the person instead: describe them, swipe, save what fits, and ask friends to vote.
Is it rude to buy something not on their wishlist?
Not in itself, but the list is the clearest signal you will get of what they will use. Recipients value a gift by how much they use it afterwards. So a gift that is not on the list needs to fit at least as well. In a family or a Secret Santa where everyone agreed to buy from lists, stick to the list. Buying something else can look like ignoring the rules.
How to do a Secret Santa draw online?
Collect everyone's names and email addresses, and agree the budget and the exchange date. Then use a draw tool that sends each person their name privately. Set exclusions first, such as couples who should not draw each other. Check that the tool assigns each name exactly once and keeps the results hidden from the organiser. Giftsnatch does not run draws, but it helps once you have a name.
How to keep track of gift ideas?
Write ideas down the moment you hear them, in one place for each person. A passing comment in June is a better clue than anything you will think of in December. On Giftsnatch, save gifts you like to your Saved list as you browse. Sign in to save their date, and we will email you before it comes round, so you are not starting from nothing the week before.