Amazon wish list - yes or no????

If you can't afford anything on your daughter's list then buy an Amazon voucher at what you can afford and she can spend it as she likes. This system works well for my family and Grandchildren. I know nothing about electronics so that solves the problem.

I like the wish lists. I read a lot and enjoy receiving books as a gift. The list means I get titles I want and not something have already read. Tokens are not quite the same. I enjoy choosing from the list for others as well knowing its something they really want.
You can always buy a small surprise gift as well.

good if gifts are £20,00 or less. What really annoys me is the wedding list that says money for the honeymoon please

No no no I m with you Boheminem all the way I don’t like this style at all We do tell each other hints what we would like say a certain perfume, piece of make up, book title etc but it’s only a hint an Amazon list is so lacking of any feeling I think they seem materialistic and a yes bit greedy
My kids or grandkids would point something out online to give me a clue or even send me a link to say something like this but never a shop list that is so sterile I dislike that way intensely just like I dislike weddings asking for money for honeymoons I also dislike crowdfunding for pets or funerals etc I don’t like the way it’s going at all

So, boheminan, even if you saw an item you would like to give, on the wishlist, and were able to buy it in a real shop, your main objection would be to the use of an online list in the first place?

I've no problem with wishing lists, but I do have a problem with people who only wish for expensive presents that are quite unreasonable for my purse!

Is there no-one who you could get to join you in a present from the list?

if not, buy a gift token for an amount you can afford.

I'm going to stick my neck out here (never fear. I usually end up winding it back in again very quickly).

The Amazon wish list (to me) is an example of where we're heading. I think people are becoming more isolated now just about everything is catered for online - from everyday groceries to cars.

The town I shop in is now a ghost town., no one goes to the little bookshops (so two have closed down) clothes shops are empty, the toy shop's closed, the market's closed - even the big 'superstore' up the road is nowhere as busy as it was a few years ago.

I appreciate online shopping for a lot of people is an essential blessing - and being able to buy the one off rarity from eBay's useful but (going back to my original point) being given a list of items to buy online feels very impersonal, almost unhuman. I've no objections to being given a written list of ideas for presents to buy from wherever I want, but my objection and worry is that the internet is coming through the backdoor and isolating our communities and interactions as human beings.

We have been using wish lists for a while but have always insisted that there be some things in the lower price range. This helps the less well off members of the family. It’s lovely to get something that your really like,that you would not always buy for yourself.

I would choose something affordable from her list, and also buy a small extra gift as a surprise, perhaps some pretty earrings as it's a special birthday.

As we live so far away from our children and grandchildren and don't always see them on their birthdays we usually send money or gift cards. At Christmas our grandchildren email us their wish lists (usually compiled from the Argos catalogue!) and we don't tell them what we've selected so it's still a surprise. We also give them some money as they all enjoy shopping. I go to enormous lengths to package gifts in an interesting way even if the contents is just a gift card and they often keep the pretty boxes I have made.

In our family adult birthday celebrations are all about the food, the cake and the company. We usually give things like flowers, a nice wine or a keepsake such as a framed (vintage) family photo.

At Christmas we exchange categories and this way we don't lose the element of surprise (i.e. kitchen stuff, art supplies). We tend to splurge more on our GC as the lists are usually very long and very detailed, and we dare not disappoint .

I like it when my children have wishlists, that way I'm sure my gift will be appreciated. Still, sometimes when I see something really special, I buy it if I feel sure it's just so perfect for daughter (or in law) or son (or in law) ? Let me add that these improvisto gifts are usually very affordable.

You could always buy Amazon Vouchers.

We always ask now what family would like, DM is 89 so I shall take her shopping for her Birthday/Mother's Day Present(s) when I visit next month otherwise it's money.

DD & her OH it's usually money & a small gift.

DGSs, I ask my DD for a list of ideas, books (Nan always , buys book(s) for Birthday/ Christmas) & toys.

I either get money & a small gift or DD asks me for ideas, usually practical, for Christmas my main present was a new toaster which I needed

I too hate "lists" on Amazon as I take great pleasure looking out for unusual presents

I alway ask for a list of ideas of things they'd like for Christmas and birthdays as I'd rather buy something that I know is wanted. I do resort to "boring money" at times too.

PS you could buy her a little something of your choice as well which is what I do with my daughters but don't risk it with grand daughters as their generation too far removed from me!

I give all my lot "boring money" as I put it but they are pleased with that so they can buy what they want rather than something they don't want that I buy them. Why don't you give her money towards things on her Wish List -- as you say some of the things they want these days are unintelligible to us.

I'd stick to the list but also buy her some flowers on the day.

My DD is very picky so we usually give her a voucher of her choice - M&S for Christmas just gone - but also a small something wrapped up. Maybe a necklace, a book, some perfume, a new toilet bag etc. It seems to work.

The DGD all ask please could they have cash or occasionally a clothes shop voucher. Again I give them something small to open on the day. It's certainly easier than searching for something they may not want or like!

As your daughter has been so clear that she wants you to choose from her wish list, doing something else may stir up her feelings a bit. "Mum , why don't you listen to what I really want?" is not going to make her birthday happy for you, and less happy for her. I understand about wanting to choose, but your relationship with your daughter is surely more important. And you don't have to know what the item is on Amazon - you can just click on it and buy it. But of course you should not be spending more than you can afford - though this is not the key issue here. Maybe staying off your bike and going along with what she has said she wants will make you and her happier in the end.

Celebrate the gift of life life, the day of birth. The day another being opened their eyes to the world.
The day you and your daughter met each other.

Wish lists? No.
I'm not a warehouse ordering system, I'm a person .

Gifts are a joy to receive because it means that someone has cared. I'm not bothered what the item is, the fact is they thought enough of me to make the effort.
No need to use Birthdays etc as an opportunity to fill ones needs. I can buy myself the things I need.

I’d be biking into town too. Or sending flowers, if a DD. Don’t see birthdays as an occasion for giving or acquiring ‘stuff’, as with weddings or new babies. Like others I do keep a modest list wh I circulate once a year, and my three DDs compare notes. Last year my list included a pinky-brown lipstick, and by some failure to compare notes no doubt I received three lovely ones. What could be nicer?

Call me old fashioned but apart from a wedding list the words 'wish list' raises my hackles. I have always sent a cheque with what I can afford. Never had any objections
So far so good.

We tend to just give cash which they can put towards something they really want. It has the added advantage of you being able to control the budget!

Now my two daughters are all grown up I wouldn’t dream of guessing what they would like. Much prefer to have a few ideas and then know that they really love the present.

There are only 4 of us left - MIL (85), DH - severely disabled and not expected to have many years still with us, DS (35, with Aspergers Syndrome) and me. For birthdays and Christmas we always ask one another long in advance for a list of gifts across a range of prices and agree how much we can each afford. If a really expensive present is wanted/needed, we may club together to buy, but try to have a "stocking filler" type unexpected gift of some sort for each of us. That way, everyone gets what they really want. DH is usually easy, as he's a serious mathematician with a love of history and philosophy and always happy with advanced maths texts and history books. DS always asks for CDs, DVDs, Computer games and fantasy literature. MIL usually wants perfume or jewellery with a who-dun-it or two. I've generally absolutely no idea, but can usually come up with a computer game, CD or book, but suspect I'm the difficult one. It means that no matter what we suggest, we tend to get most of our wishes gratified.

My family use Giftster instead of Amazon to make our lists. We add little things (and big ones) to it whenever we get ideas and it allows you to say "something like this" without it having to be a specific item. My daughter has just added a big woven laundry basket on her list for example but the photo is of the sort of basket she likes, not the actual one.
I've also said things such as "new beach towels" without specific instructions as to the type. For these reasons I prefer it to Amazon.
Also, it doesn't let you see what people have bought for you and the items stay on the list till you remove them. Other people in your family can see the item's been bought or reserved (as it has a small symbol next to the gift) but not the list-maker.
It also sends you a message 3 weeks before a birthday as a reminder.
I love it.
Still lots of surprises, plenty of choice, no wasted, unwanted gifts and also no dupicates!