anyone registering online?

I know, standard protocol is a BRU registry.... but there's sooo much nice stuff out there that they simply don't stock!

I decided to register in 2 places... my primary registry is on amazon, since you can pick from hundreds of vendors and have one concise list.... but I worry about the older family members who don't like computers, or who have a phobia about purchasing online... for them, I have a smaller BRU registry... mainly little stuff like bottles, but a few larger items too. I intend to tell my mom to send the invitations out a couple weeks earlier than normal to allot for shipping issues...

Did anyone (or one of your friends) ever do an online registry? how did it go? did people actually go for it?

Re: anyone registering online?

In my honest opinion, I be annoyed that I would have to pay for the shipping, unless the site had free shipping for some reason. Sometimes those sites charge so much money for shipping. I would end up spending less on the gift itself because I would have to pay $$ for shipping.

Re: anyone registering online?

Message edited 3/31/2008 4:14:43 PM.

Re: anyone registering online?

I didn't for the exact reason you said.....older family members barely know how to turn on their computers.

Re: anyone registering online?

shameless bump....

No one is registering online? I'm really the only one who isn't exclusively BRU?
I guess my rationale is that there is only 1 or 2 people who would be invited and are computer-phobes. Everyone else shops online. I'm mainly wondering about the habit where people wait until the last second to buy a gift... is that becuase they have to make the time to schlep to BRU and put it off? Or is that just becuase they only think of getting a gift at the last minute (in which case an online registry would be a disaster!)?

Re: anyone registering online?

Nope, I am registering on Amazon!! When I compared the two (cause like you, I was annoyed BRU had a monopoly) I founs Amazon to have a much bigger selection and a lot of the prices were actually cheaper. I think most of the items are free shipping also. For the older people, which I really don't have that many who will be invited to my shower, they can purchase off the registry if they want to. I will also be registering at Pottery Barn. In reality, we live 1 1/2hours away from BRU so most of my guests will be ordering online anyway.

Re: anyone registering online?

yay! I'm not alone

yeah, I also found the prices to be cheaper on many items... once you tack on the free shipping and no NYS sales tax, it was frequently 15% or so.... Also, they often have less expensive options than BRU.....

So you're not worried about the last minute gift purchasing issue? I'm pretty concerned about that. another member of my group of friends is having her shower very soon, and I went 3 weeks ago to get a gift, and I swear I was the first person to buy from her registry. EVERYTHING was there.

With amazon, you need a bit of foresight. I wonder if my friends and family HAVE foresight! That's my primary concern

Re: anyone registering online?

Well I dunno, I guess that could be a concern but then if they wait till the week before they will be paying a LOT for shipping Honestly, I compared today a bunch of stuff I had put on Amazon and BRU didn't have anything comparable (especially colors). And if people wait till the last minute then they might just buy off the registry which is fine with me too. I'm trying to only register for the big stuff that I absolutely will need and I figure people like to pick out the little stuff. All my bedding will be at Pottery Barn so that will be an option too. The only thing that bothers me about Amazon is that the registry may be a bit tough to find for those that are computer savvy AND it doesn't group some of the things on the registry, a ton of things end up in the "other" category. However, the biggest gripe I have with BRU is all the stuff that is not available online or not available at all so I think Amazon is the lesser of the evils.

Re: anyone registering online?

I only registered at BRU but I like what Amazon has to offer. I didn't go with online only though b/c I was afraid of last minute buyers (my shower is two weeks away and I think many people still have yet to shop) and returns (not that BRU is the best). I didn't want to ship returns back. For my shower, according to Mom, everyone wanted to see the items on the online BRU website but nearly all have gone/will go to the store to buy.

Re: anyone registering online?

heh, you know, I didn't even think of returns flaky, I know....

I guess that says something about how well bloomies handled my wedding registry, huh? I had no returns/duplicates!

well, I hope there isn't too much of an issue with that. I was debating registering at target (my linens are there), but I realized this weekend that they have practically nothing in stock for the set I selected in my local store So, once again, amazon.com registry for all of the target items Similarly, there are a few items I wanted from BRU, but it was online only I swear I can't win.

I am worried about people prefering to pick something up in a physical store..... just as you said your mom mentioned...