Giftiki helps users pool their funds together to send group gifts to friends, family coworkers and anyone else they want to give to. The application works through Facebook. After logging in, the user can see all upcoming birthdays (taken from their Facebook contact list). Users can gift friends on Facebook and Twitter. After choosing a friend, the user selects a monetary amount to apply to their gift (up to $10). The user can also add a virtual gift from the collection presented by Giftiki. The last step asks the user to add a credit card to pay for their gift. Each person that donates increases the recipient’s Giftiki received gifts amount. The user can choose to cash out whenever they want. Each person’s small donation adds up to a larger gift amount so the user can purchase something they really want.

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Giftiki was founded in June of 2009 by Bryan Jowers and Justin Stainislaw. The application was intended to make it easier to give someone a higher dollar amount gift without spending a lot by giving as a group. The user can encourage others to send a monetary gift to a friend through Giftiki. Each donation is added to the recipient’s Giftiki total. The current version works through both Facebook and Twitter.

A number of applications are available the help users set up and manage group gifts for various occasions. Giftiki is similar but varies in the way it handles the task. Rather than choosing a high dollar amount item as a goal, the user simply donates any amount up to $10. The application seems to limit what the user can give. Rather than selecting a special item the recipient wants, the user is merely donating a few bucks to add to their pool of money. The application may work better for some gift givers than others.

Giftiki has an attractive style that is evident in the fine details. A textured background provides a hint of trendy spice while a blue and dark grey color scheme create an eye-caching contrast. The site utilizes beautiful graphic images to explain how the process works (though not in any great detail). For the most part, the user can find their way around despite the severe lack of easily accessible instructions.

To begin group gifting with Giftiki, a new user can click the blue “Get Started” button near the bottom, center of the homepage. A pop up box will appear and ask the user to sign in to Facebook and give Giftiki permission to access their profile. After doing so, the user is asked to create a password and click the large “Join” button. The user is logged in and can begin creating their first gift.

Giftiki offers its services to all users for free. The gift giver can send money and pay with a credit card with no extra fees. The entire amount goes to the recipients account. The recipient can choose actual gifts or cash out with a gift card without paying a fee, either. The user will have to pay for any funds they send to others, but this is limited to the exact amount sent (no more than $10).

Giftiki.com is an appealing group gifting alternative for people who do not know what to get their recipient. The application gives the recipient the option of choosing a physical item or a gift card. This may be appealing to some however others may find it less personal than actually taking the time to choose a present. Giftiki does not charge a fee, making it a great option for anyone who was only interested in giving a small amount of money. On the upside, gift givers who are financially limited will not feel obligated to contribute a large amount.

• No fees are required when sending or receiving money gifts
• Gift recipients can choose an actual item or a gift card
• Friends and family can donate to give the recipient more money to spend
• Users can add a small note to their gift to make it a little more personal
• Gift recipients can be chosen from the user's Facebook or Twitter contact lists

Visit www.giftiki.com

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