Gifts: how to find an idea and buy at a good price with a request
Start with the person and the occasion, not the product
The most common problem with gifts is not the price but not knowing what to look for. So before writing your request, answer three questions: for whom, for what occasion and how much you are ready to spend. “For a colleague's milestone birthday, up to AED 88” and “for my girlfriend's anniversary, something unusual” are two completely different requests.
On BlaBlaPrice you don't have to go round shops and craftspeople one by one. You describe the situation in your own words, and sellers offer options themselves: what exactly, at what price, how quickly they can deliver. It is free for buyers.
Which section to choose
It is handy to divide gifts by recipient or by occasion, and what you write in your request depends on that.
- Gifts for men — state the hobby (fishing, cars, coffee), because universal sets rarely hit the mark.
- Gifts for women — tastes, favourite colours and scents, and any allergies matter.
- Wedding gifts — write whether you give in an envelope or are looking for an item, and whether the couple has a wish list.
- Edible gifts — baskets, sets of sweets, tea or coffee; be sure to state the shelf life and any dietary restrictions.
- Bouquets — the occasion, preferred flowers and the height of the arrangement, time and address of delivery.
For wrapping and presentation also look at gift boxes and packaging: sometimes nice presentation matters as much as the gift itself.
What to put in your request
- For whom and for what occasion — age, relationship, hobbies.
- Budget — if you want to name it, sellers will find it easier to pick an option.
- Date — when the gift must be in hand, not just dispatched.
- City and way of receiving — pickup, courier, post, delivery to another person's address.
- Presentation — gift wrapping, card, message, anonymity.
- What to avoid — alcohol, perfume, bright colours and so on.
About budget: a gift “up to AED 44” and “up to AED 260” are different worlds: the first means a nice little thing, a set or a bouquet, the second already means gadgets, jewellery or a custom order. If you name a sum, sellers won't waste time on irrelevant options. If you don't want to name it, describe your expectations in words: “something symbolic” or “something substantial”.
How to compare offers
Gifts are hard to compare head to head, so look at the contents and quality: what it is made of, the dimensions, whether there is a photo of the real item and not a catalogue picture. Check whether packaging and delivery are included in the price. For handmade items, ask about the making time: if the festival is a few days away, the maker may not manage it.
BlaBlaPrice shows the offer with the best value first, with reviews of the seller next to it. Sellers see where they stand among the others and often improve their terms to win your request. Your phone number is hidden, and only the one you choose will see your contacts. More is on the “How it works” page.
Think also about how the gift will be handed over. If you are not nearby, ask about same-day delivery on the date, a photo before dispatch and the option of adding a card. For surprises it is handy to ask the courier to call the recipient, not you.
Common mistakes
Ordering on the last day: the best options disappear and delivery gets more expensive. Taking a gift without knowing the person's size or tastes. Forgetting that festive dates (the festive season, Valentine's Day) push demand up, so it is worth creating a request in advance. A request stays active for 7 days, and you can edit and extend it.
