Curios on parent and non-parent's opinions on this...
About This Page:

5SOXFNZ · 10-21-2009, 12:16 PM

I received an e-mail this morning from ToysRus announcing their new "Wish List" service. It's basically like a wedding or baby registry. Kids can go online or into the store and mark what they want. The part that gets me is the "And you can e-mail it to all your friends and family!"

Toys"R"Us Wish List a gift registry for Birthdays, Holidays & special occasions

I'm just curious what people's thoughts are?

For me, I think it's pretty disgusting! Now, it's one thing when Aunt Gerdy asks little Tommy what he wants for Christmas and he rattles off a list o stuff, I thik it's a total other situation when little Tommy starts e-mailing out his list to people. I totally understand the train of thought of some people "Well, it does make it easier to know what to buy them" but what happened to A. giving a git that relects the person and B. personal communication? Could you not just call mom or dad and ask "what does Tommy want?"

Some of my best gits as a child were not on my "wish list" (Which would be carefully thoought out ater hours of pouring over the Sear Wishbook). And yes, my children write a wish list and letter to Santa, I just don't photocopy it and mail it out with the Christmas cards!!!

jenifermg0 · 10-21-2009, 12:21 PM

I agree - it's one thing if Grandma or Aunt So and So asks and you give them some ideas, but it's entirely different when you say - Hey - just in case you were wondering, this is what I want.
When dealing with baby/bridal registries, it's voluntary to go see what they want...you don't typically e-mail people with the list. I would feel almost obligated to purchase something if my niece sent me something like that. I guess if Grandma asked what Grandkid wanted, it would be okay to say - hey, he/she signed up here, why don't you take a look? But to e-mail the link/list - no I don't like that.

**Colexis Mom** · 10-21-2009, 12:26 PM

I would never let my kids do it!

jimmymac · 10-21-2009, 12:29 PM

That is just awful

Joanne929 · 10-21-2009, 12:29 PM

I wouldn't let my kids do it either.

Diz · 10-21-2009, 12:32 PM

I would have never left my Dgang email anyone -- but me!

I'm so busy during the holidays with work, a list of Christmas Wishes was always a necessity! If they would have found some things they wanted from a place like ToyRUs, I'd be happy for them to send it so I'd have the specifics. But those days are past for me.

Otherwise, it's just a little tacky sending it to anyone else!

**chezp** · 10-21-2009, 12:47 PM

Not something I personally approve of and I know my parents would never have let me do this.

:

dj1028 · 10-21-2009, 12:50 PM

No no no! I work constantly to keep my child from thinking she's entitled to everything she wants. This would not be something that would reinforce that.

Danielle Harmon · 10-21-2009, 12:51 PM

That has to be the tackiest, most impolite promotion I have ever heard of...

I would like to think most people will feel this way, but something tells me that in today's "entitled" society, most people will think this is a good thing.

The Harmon family will NOT be participating. In fact, we have discussed making homemade gifts this year for Christmas, instead of buying things.

5SOXFNZ · 10-21-2009, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danielle Harmon

The Harmon family will NOT be participating. In fact, we have discussed making homemade gifts this year for Christmas, instead of buying things.

Good for you Danielle! I think that's a great idea!

Mickey Mama · 10-21-2009, 01:05 PM

I try to teach my son to be grateful for any gift he receives, whether it is something he was wishing for or otherwise! I would never let him send out a glorified gift registry!

kimberlym322 · 10-21-2009, 01:23 PM

As someone with NO KIDS, just nephews, I see it two ways. First i do think it is kinda tacky because as others have said your should either right a letter or pick up the phone and call the person. That is the down fall of computers and email...forget basic wirting and calling skills...and dont even get me started on the whole teen texting 50 people at one time at dinner thing! I think that wirting or call to see what someone wants is more personal. And in the end if the person cant come up with an idea because "little tommy or betty lou" has everything then they could either donate it to a good cause or give them a savings bonds.

But on the other hand i do see where it is a good idea if you have family all over the country and they need a list. I would do it as well if you lost the list that the child gave you on the phone then it is at toys r us in their system. It is also good because if all the grandprents, aunts uncles and such have the same list then if it is on file at toys r us then when say aunt cindy buys the OMG I have to have singing barbie and if uncle jack gos and says well i know she wants the singing barbie let me get that...uncle jack and check to see if anyone else got it.

If I had children i would make then write a list from the adds and catalogs and then I would go and put the stuff in that they want. I would make it a wide rage of prices because aunt cindy may be able to spend 200.00 on each child while uncle jack may be only about to do 20.00. I would not add things over a set amount and i surely would not give the child the scaner and tell them to go scan everything they want because what would be on the list...EVERYTHING IN THE STORE and then some. To me this is no diffrent then a wedding or baby registry. Just hope parents use it in a good way and not well I cant give this to my child so i will get someone else to spend 500.00 on the gameing system.

This year like Danielle, I will be making most of the gifts for the people I am buying for or donate money in their name to either the cancer charity or the alztimers charity in memory of our family members that passed away of these things. I dont see the need, exspecily this year when money is so hard to come by for alot of familys, to go spend it on things that will be played with for a week and then go to the bottom of the toy box until it comes time to clean it out for a birthday or next christmas.

But that is just my thoughts on the subject.

Lemap760 · 10-21-2009, 01:28 PM

I let DS do their wish list for his birthday, but only after a few people had asked me what he wanted. Since what he had been asking for was fairly expensive I did the wish list with him and kept it to a certain dollar amount. Then I only emailed it to those who had asked what he wanted.
With some parental controls I think the wish list is fine.

SarahJ · 10-21-2009, 02:09 PM

Each year, I write up an email for family who we exchange gifts with and list out some of the things DD's have asked for and their clothing sizes, favorite book series, characters, etc. So I guess I don't see a problem with letting them create a wish list and sending it to the same people (grandparents, aunts & uncles). My girls understand that they're not going to get everything on their lists and they're never disappointed.

With so many gifts to purchase and other things to do around the holidays there is nothing I hate worse than not having a clue what to get someone. So I guess I appreciate knowing what someone wants ahead of time.

tkm1005 · 10-21-2009, 02:32 PM

I do think its pretty tacky and way over the top for things like birthdays and Christmas. Quite honestly though I'm sort of over the gift thing altogether. It just seems as though kids have wayyyy too much. Occasionally they receive something really important to them that they get excited about, but generally its all a blur and they spend about 15 minutes playing with any one thing and it is soon forgotten.

I think gift registries should be saved for once in a lifetime events like weddings and new babies...When people really "need" certain items.