Frequently Asked Questions
Please also see How The Bottom Drawer works and How The Bottom Drawer compares to other gift list companies for additional information.
For an example honeymoon style gift list, and the text you need to copy and paste to recreate this for your own honeymoon gift list, please visit our example honeymoon gift list page.
If you have registered and need instructions on how to create your gift list, please see the section below on "...creating your gift list" for a step-by-step guide in Adobe pdf format or
click here.
More about…
…registering for The Bottom Drawer
…choosing gifts to add to your list
…creating your gift list
…your guests and your Bottom Drawer gift list
…closing your gift list and buying your gifts
…guests – how to choose and buy an item from a gift list
...registering for The Bottom Drawer
Where can I see an example gift list?
Just enter gift list number 363 and surname Bottom or Drawer in the View a Gift List box to the top left of every page, click on "Find gift list" and you will see a fully functioning list in operation, as viewed from a guest's point of view. You can also see an image of how one may look by clicking here.
How do we register for The Bottom Drawer?
Simply follow the “Register your details” link beneath the picture above, or click here. You’ll be asked to tell us who you are and how we can contact you. We’ll then send you an email containing all the information you need to access and manage your Bottom Drawer gift list.
How much does it cost to use The Bottom Drawer?
Often it costs neither you nor your guests a penny! There is no charge to register and set up your gift list either. Only if your guests use us, or you order gift list notification cards, does our admin fee become payable and this is simply deducted from your gift list funds (unless we are able to waive it for you).
We charge as standard just our low flat rate admin fee, not a percentage of the value of funds raised on your list (like other flexible gift list services do). But often this is waived/refunded in full to give you a completely FREE service (click here for more information). For information on your guests using our service please see the section below.
Logging in to the Couple's homepage area
Once you have registered you will receive an automatic email with your password. Please use this with your preferred registration email address to log-in to the Couple's homepage area where you can start to create your perfect gift list. Please make sure you CLICK on "Log-in" rather than press return (as on some systems this thinks you are trying to view your list as a guest rather than log-in as the couple!)
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…choosing gifts to add to your list
How do we choose our gift?
The best place to start is our gift pages, where you can choose from garden makeovers, holidays, state-of-the-art TVs and much, much more!
If you would like a gift that requires advice and consultancy from an external supplier, such as a garden makeover, then please contact us and we will arrange for one of our partner companies to contact you, discuss your requirements and provide a quote/design.
The links to your affiliated suppliers don't seem to work?
Our website uses cookies to track your gift list number when you click through to our affiliated suppliers. This enables us to confirm with those suppliers that you have bought via their online stores and so offer you our free gift list service. If your computer's security settings are very high you may be preventing cookies on your computer which would mean our links, and therefore our free gift list service, won't work on your computer. Please try enabling cookies and then seeing if the links work. If they still don't, then please let us know.
What if I want to choose a gift which isn’t listed on the Bottom Drawer gift pages?
That’s absolutely fine. You’re more than welcome to pick a gift from somewhere else. If you do decide to pick a gift or gifts from a supplier other than those currently listed on our gift pages, just let us know what you would like and we will see if we can get it set-up for you at The Bottom Drawer (that way the admin fee may be refunded to you!).
If we can't do this, then we simply transfer the money collected on your gift list at The Bottom Drawer to your own UK bank account, all of which is included in our standard administration fee for no matter how many other suppliers you wish to use.
Can we add more than one gift to our Bottom Drawer gift list?
Of course! Many of the couples who use The Bottom Drawer choose one big gift such as their honeymoon or a garden makeover and break it down into lots of little gifts, but you’re welcome to add as many individual gifts as you like.
Can we have items on our list from more than one supplier?
Yes! With The Bottom Drawer, what goes on your gift list is entirely up to you, no matter who supplies it.
If I choose more than one gift from a supplier not on your gift pages, do I have to pay an administration fee for each supplier?
No. If you add any gifts to your list which are not available from the suppliers on our gift pages and that we haven't been able to add for you, the administration fee is a one-off charge– no matter how many gifts you add.
Remember the time lag!
Please remember that as some months may pass between creating your list and ordering your gifts there is the possibility that some items or companies may no longer be available, or the price may change. If there is something you MUST have then it may be best to buy it now (using the unique links in the Gifts pages of The Bottom Drawer) and think of your gift list as a way of recovering some or all of the money at a later date!
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…creating your gift list
Please click here for a pdf step-by-step guide!
How do we add items to your list?
You have complete flexibility to describe the items on your gift list as you wish. Just go to "Edit your gift list" from the couple's homepage area once you've logged in and start adding text to the gift list items. You can also set the value of each item and how many of them are available.
What happens when we fill up all the blank gift list spaces that are provided initially?
No problem, just save the information, then go back into "Edit your gift list" and you will see more blank entries magically appear! Just keep doing this whenever you fill up all the blanks and need some more.
How do we turn one gift into a whole gift list?
By breaking it down into manageable chunks! There are two ways to do this. The first way is the simplest – just divide up the total cost of your gift into smaller amounts of cash. For instance, you might split a plasma screen TV costing £1,000 into 100 units of £10 each.
The second way to turn your gift into a gift list is a bit more work, but a lot more fun! Instead of splitting your gift up into units of the same price, you can break your gift down into different components – and set a different price for each part! So if you pick a garden makeover, you can break it down into a gift list that contains all the plants, paving stones, and decking you need – and even the man-hours to lay it all! In reality, you’re still just asking your guests to make a cash contribution to your big gift, but this way it means you can devise a list suited to everyone’s budget, and your guests get to feel like a specific part of your gift is thanks to them.
How many gifts should we add to our list?
We would suggest you make sure there are a several different items on your list, with a reasonable quantity of each, but all at slightly different prices. That way no matter what amount a guest might want to give they can select a combination of items that comes close to that amount. So having lots of items at £10, lots at £12.50, £15.00, £17.50 and £20 means your guests should always be able to select several items that in total comes to any amount to the nearest £2.50 above £10!
You could also have a few items that you don't split down into smaller units but which remain as higher value items as some guests will want to select something for you that is more of a special treat!
Can we add pictures to our gift list?
Adding pictures to your gift list is easy. Just log into your account with us, then go to "Edit your details" to add photos and welcome text that sits above your gift list when your guests view it. To add photos to individual gift list items, go to "Add photos to individual gift list items "and upload your photos against each item you have already created. Your guests will then be able to look at these when they view your list. To make sure your photos always appear next to your gift items, rather than just when clicked on, please view our step-by-step guide for instructions, or ask us to do it for you if you are using our Bespoke service.
Can The Bottom Drawer put together my gift list for me?
Of course! With our Bespoke service, if you are having trouble or need some inspiration on how to break your list down into interesting gifts, just let us know and we'll be glad to help.
How do I make our list visible to our guests?
Once you are happy with your list, you need to click on the "Activate" button in your couple's homepage area so that your guests will be able to view your list when they log-on using your gift list number and surname.
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…your guests and your Bottom Drawer gift list
How can we let our guests know about our Bottom Drawer gift list?
You can order a pack of Gift List Notification Cards (approximately business card size), which tell your guests how they can view your list – perfect for sending out alongside wedding invitations. You can order up to 150 cards at no extra charge – and they’re really rather stylish, even if we do say so ourselves! Simply log-in to your account at The Bottom Drawer and order the cards from the section on that page.
How do guests view our gift list?
Your guests will require your gift list number AND ONE of your surnames to access your list. They will need to enter these in the upper two boxes on our homepage and then CLICK on "Find Gift List". They will then be taken straight to your list.
How do our guests make a contribution to our gift list?
Your guests can pay online with most major debit and credit cards. We may add a small transaction charge to their contribution if they pay by credit card, purely in order to cover the payment charge levied on us by the credit card companies. Your guests can also opt to pay by cheque or debit card, which avoids this transaction charge completely. You can also select to pay this charge yourself if you'd rather your guests have the ability to pay by any method without facing any surcharges themselves. Other gift list companies often charge a very high transaction charge on credit and debit cards and don't allow cheque payments. For those guests who don't have internet access, we can post out a copy of your list and they can reserve and pay for an item over the phone.
How do we know when someone has made a contribution to our list?
You can log into your account at any time and see who has made a contribution to your gift list. You will also receive an email alert each time someone makes a contribution.
How can guests with no internet access find out what’s on our list?
Our gift list notification cards include a phone number your guests can ring to find out all about your list. Debit and credit card payments can also be made via this number. And we are happy to post a copy of your list to them.
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…closing your gift list and buying your gifts
When does our gift list close?
That’s entirely up to you – though most couples choose to close their gift list one or two weeks after their big day. Just de-activate your list from the Couple's homepage area and then drop us an email from your registration email address to let us know you are ready for us to finalise your list.
What happens after our gift list closes?
Fistly we check to make sure that all guest contributions have been paid and cleared. Then we can confirm the final balance on your list. You then finally decide what you wish to use your gift list funds for. If you’ve chosen a gift or gifts that we supply then we will liaise with you to arrange delivery of your gifts (or service if a garden or home makeover for example). If you have opted for gifts from one or more of the "affiliated" suppliers on our gift pages you simply log-in to our site first then follow the links to those companies you find on our site and buy your final selection of items from them direct whilst we transfer the funds collected to you. Let us know once you've done this and we may be able to refund or waive our admin fee! If you’ve chosen a gift or gifts supplied by somebody else, we simply send you the total amount of money your guests have contributed (less our admin fee), leaving you free to spend your gift list funds as you wish.
What happens if our guests don’t contribute enough money to buy the whole gift?
That depends. If you’ve chosen a gift or gifts from The Bottom Drawer or one of the suppliers on our gift pages, then you can “top up” the outstanding balance yourself – just like couples who don’t receive every item of a dinner service on a conventional gift list will buy the “missing” items themselves. Or you can select alternative items from us or our affiliated suppliers that you can afford with the funds collected. Alternatively, we’ll transfer the money that you have received direct to your bank account, for you to spend however you like (less our administration fee).
If you’ve chosen a gift or gifts from someone that we've not been able to set-up on our site, then we simply send you the total amount of money we have received on your behalf (less our administration fee) – just as we would if you receive all the money you need.
How do we buy from the affiliated stores?
When you are ready to buy from any of our affiliated stores (typically after your list closes but possibly before if you are booking a honeymoon through one of the travel company affiliates) you just do as follows:
- log-in to our site first as this records your gift list number in the background
- follow the links on our Gifts pages to the store you wish to buy from
- buy direct online using your own debit/credit card.
Please do not visit any other websites in-between point 2 and before placing your order (eg google or price comparison sites – please visit these before if you need to!) as the other websites can “hijack” the commission we would normally earn!
We transfer the funds collected on your gift list to your own bank account after your list closes. Please make your purchases and send your notification of these to us within 3 months of closing your list.
Can we transfer out some of the money collected in our Gift List account before it has closed?
Yes, at The Bottom Drawer this is entirely possible and may be quite useful if you are using your Gift List to pay for a honeymoon for example where the travel agent will almost certainly need paying before your wedding day. We charge a small transfer fee for each additional transfer over and above the final closing one (please note we can only transfer out cleared funds, and as most guests contribute to a list in the final stages before the wedding day there may not be a large amount of cleared funds available several weeks before the day).
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… guests – how to choose and buy an item from a gift list
Some larger value items may be broken down into smaller size 'parcels' so that it is easier for several people to make a contribution towards one item. For example, if an item has a quantity of 5 next to it, it could mean that there are 5 of those items wanted OR that 5 units need to be bought to contribute towards the overall cost of that one gift.
Some items may also have been highlighted as a 'Favourite' under the "Fav" column. These are the things that are really wanted most!
Please follow the order process through by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of each page - you will get the opportunity to leave a message as well as choose to pay by card (where you will be taken to a secure server) or reserve your items to pay by cheque.
Any other questions?
If you haven't found the answer to your question yet then please contact us and we'll be happy to help further.
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