Need a Last-Minute Gift? This Hidden Amazon Hack Is a Lifesaver
The holiday season is a busy time of festive gatherings and end-of-year deadlines, and last-minute holiday shopping happens to the best of us. Here at Good Housekeeping, Amazon is often our go-to for finding a thoughtful present that can still arrive within two days' time (thank you, Prime shipping).
Better yet, we recently discovered a genius Amazon hack that guarantees that your gift will actually be appreciated and won't go to waste. Amazon has a feature called "Gift Now" where you select a gift, and before it ships, it sends an email or text notification to your recipient. From there, they can "unwrap" the gift and either accept it or receive an Amazon gift card for the amount the gift costs instead.
"I used the feature recently, and it's particularly great for last-minute gifts, because the person get notified right away — meaning, they'll know a gift is coming or they'll get an instant gift card if it's not something they want," said GH Digital Content Director Michelle Manetti.
How to use Amazon "Gift Now"
Using the feature is easier than you think. When you're ready to check out, follow these simple steps to take advantage of Amazon's "Gift Now" feature:
On the checkout page, scroll down to click on "Add gift options." (Hint: You can locate it under the arrival date and before the "place your order" button.)
Under the delivery method, toggle "Gift now." Enter your recipient's email address or phone number.
Hit "Continue." Your recipient will receive an email or text within the next 30 minutes. They'll be able to view the gift, and if they choose to accept the gift, they can provide their address to receive it. Otherwise, they can opt to get an Amazon gift card for the amount of the gift.
In the email or text, your recipient will be given a deadline by which they need to make their decision (typically within a few days — in my test, I was given four days). If you still haven't finished your holiday shopping, I highly suggest you make some moves today. If you need help, check out our obsessively curated gift guides to spark some inspo.
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