Last-Minute Gifts

An Update About the Future of the Gift Card from GiftYa CEO Jason Wolfe

Where do we go for the last-minute gifts? Head to Google and type in ‘last minute gift ideas?’  That’s what I do. I then go page by page reading blog posts and articles such as ‘The Top 24 Gift Ideas For Christmas’ or the other titles that seem to stand out to me. I try to click on a few of them only to be directed to a website with tons of ads or nothing I’d remotely buy. None of the sites look familiar and I’m afraid to make a purchase from any of them. I think to myself, “What website do I know that has last minute gift ideas?” My next thought is Amazon…quickly I pop over to Amazon.  

Now that I’m at Amazon I’m more comfortable. I see my name in the upper corner...I know I’m logged in and safe. I type ‘last minute gift ideas’ and bam – over 10,000 results. Ugh, I don’t have time to go through all the options. I ALWAYS sort by consumer ratings and then go to the left menu and click 4 starts and above.  My next reaction is…man I hope I didn’t take out any good ideas. I wish I could sort by number of votes but I can’t. So I start to scroll and then change the category to electronics. I now have 172 results which is WAY better than 10,000. Although there are still a lot of options there’s nothing I like and especially nothing I can get today!  

Ahh...I see the category for gift cards. Love it. So now I have a page with 49 results.  All national merchants. I click ‘get by today’ and that gets me down to 10 options including 5 different Amazon eGifts, Lowes, Texas Roadhouse, Forever 21, Outback and Ulta. The problem is, I don’t like any of them!

So now what do I do? Hmm…I look at the screen and think, “Where else can I go for last minute gifts to send my mom who isn’t here in Pittsburgh?” It needs to be delivered by email. Then I think ‘’’Hey, maybe a gift I can text!”  I go back to Google, type in ‘text a gift’ and I see an advertisement glowing…reading just for me! It said:

‘Text a GiftYa as a Last Minute Gift for Christmas
GiftYa the next generation gift card enables you to text a gift for any merchant in the USA to any person in your phone contact list.’

I click it. I think this is too good to be true. I read around a bit. The site looks good and I see some decent merchants. I then search for ‘Leonis Italian Pizza’ which is right down the road from her and she loves it! Bam…the results come back and there it is. Ok I’m totally excited. I get out my credit card and buy a $50 textable GiftYa to Leonis Italian Pizza for my mom and all I needed was her cell phone number. I add a short video clip from me telling her I wish she was here (or I was there, it’s way warmer in Tampa!) and I send it. Literally took me 30 seconds or less.    

Other than GiftYa I couldn’t find many other options. Okay so you know I am the founder of GiftYa and I’m biased but this is how it goes for me in my mind. I believe the ‘last minute gift’ area is largely vacant. You can email a gift card, but I needed my mom’s email and she doesn’t use email just her phone. Plus the choices for gift cards are limited. I cannot get a gift card for the Italian place on the corner there let alone personalize it with a video. 

While my mom will now need to get the GiftYa and figure out how to attach it to her debit card, I am able to call and walk her through it but that’s better than the alternative in my mind. Once we get the redemption part of GiftYa ironed out and a larger reach of merchants, we will really have a solution for a void. Last minute gifts and ‘gifts in the moment’ (smaller gifts of thank you). 

Stay tuned!

Written by Jason Wolfe, CEO

Trae Bodge

Trae Bodge is the shopping expert here at GiftYa. Trae helps people find the best deals and ideas on popular new items to purchase.

Latest Posts

No items found.
No items found.
No items found.
No items found.

Latest Posts

Top 7 Best Places to Get Ramen in NYC 🍜

From tonkotsu to shoyu, ramen shops across New York City serve up steaming bowls of comforting noodles that bring authentic Japanese flavors to the Big Apple!

Visa Gift Cards 101: Your Complete Guide to Buying, Using, and Maximizing Value

Sending and receiving gift cards has never been easier than with the convenience of text message through your favorite retailers!

Can I Send a Chipotle Gift Card Via Text?

Sending and receiving gift cards has never been easier than with the convenience of text message through your favorite retailers!

How to Text a Dunkin Gift Card

Say Goodbye to the Physical Gift Card With the Convenience of an eGift from GiftYa

How to Send Visa Gift Cards by Text

Your ultimate guide to the perfect last-minute gifts

How to Send an Apple Gift Card Via Text Message: Your Easy Way to Gift Giving

Apple gift cards can make a great gift for anyone with an iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or any other Apple device!

How to Send a DoorDash Gift Card Via Text

Easily Send a eGift Through Text & GiftYa’s Simple Process

Amazon Gift Cards 101: Answering Your Questions About Using, Buying, and Cashing Out Your Balance

Check Out This Beginner’s Guide to Amazon Gift Cards and Enjoy all the Great Benefits That Await!

How to Send an Amazon Gift Card by Text: All Your Questions Answered

Breaking down the in’s and out’s of Amazon gift cards and how you can send them via text!

Gift Card FAQs
Top 7 Best Places to Get Ramen in NYC 🍜

From tonkotsu to shoyu, ramen shops across New York City serve up steaming bowls of comforting noodles that bring authentic Japanese flavors to the Big Apple!

Gift Card FAQs
Visa Gift Cards 101: Your Complete Guide to Buying, Using, and Maximizing Value

Sending and receiving gift cards has never been easier than with the convenience of text message through your favorite retailers!