Guests' guided tour

Introduction

So, your friend (we'll call him Bob) has given you a gift list number and you want to buy something from the list? This quick tour takes you through the process step-by-step to get you started. You will need your Gift List Number handy.

[image of gift list e-mail and cards]

Step 1: Entering the Gift List Number

On the home page you will see a box like this.

1. In the first box enter the Gift List Number that Bob will have given you.
2. In the second box enter the password (if one has been set, otherwise leave blank).
3. Click the 'go' button.

Step 2: What's in the list?

If you've entered the right list number and its password you should see a page like this, showing some information about Bob's event and a list of items he is asking for.

Gifts are listed in various categories, and then by order of preference, as shown by the stars - things Bob really wants will be shown at the top.

You will see from this example that Bob really wants an iPod for his birthday, and has listed it with a whopping 5 stars. He has also helpfully told us roughly how much this normally costs, and given us a link to a web site selling that item.

But the beauty of GLC is that you don't necessarily have to buy the iPod from that shop - if you can find it cheaper elsewhere you can buy it there instead! We don't sell anything to you at any point, we just tell you what Bob wants and leave you to buy it wherever you feel most comfortable. If you trust Bob's judgement, feel free to click the link he's provided and buy the item from that web site.

Step 3: Pledging to buy something

When you've decided what you want to get Bob, indicate how many items you're getting with the drop down menus next to each item. For this example, we're going to pledge to buy 1 iPod Touch.

Now, at this point I expect you're wondering what it means to "pledge", and how that differs from buying something. Because we at GLC don't actually sell you anything, we let you buy items wherever you like, even if they're not available online. 'Pledging' an item marks it off the list so that no one else buys it. You then have time to go away and buy the item, whether that's online or whether you take a trip into town.

1. Indicate how many items you're pledging.
2. Click the 'Pledge' button.

On the confirmation page, enter the information it asks for. This will allow you to log back in later, once you've actually bought the item, to confirm that you've bought it. It also means that if you go shopping and couldn't find that item you can remove the pledge and allow someone else to buy it instead.

Step 4: Buying something

Having pledged to buy something from the list, go away and buy it, anywhere you like. You can use a link to an online shop if Bob has provided one, or find it elsewhere on the web, or go into town and buy it from a 'real' shop, or even make it yourself (although in the case of the iPod, you may wish to buy one...)!

When you're done, come back to GLC and enter the Gift List Number to log back into the list. At the bottom of the page, enter your e-mail address and password you used to pledge your item(s) and click the 'Continue' button.

On the next page you'll be shown all the items you've pledged.

To confirm that you've bought an item, click the icon.

To remove your pledge on an item, either because you couldn't find it or decided to buy something else instead, click the icon.

Step 5: Go to the party!

That's it! All done. Go and wrap that present and go to the party, safe in the knowledge that you've bought something Bob really wants, and no one else will have bought it for him (unless of course he's asked for several of them).