Facebook, a very useful reminder of the many birthdays you may have forgotten, is now enabling users to send real, physical gifts to friends via these reminders or from a friend’s Timeline. Watch out, Amazon, as Facebook is making strides into the e-commerce market.
Facebook Gifts offers a range of treats to send to friends, such as teddy bears, sweet treats and socks. Users simply select the gift they want to send and a notification can be posted on their friend’s Timeline or sent privately. The friend can then unwrap a preview of the gift, which will be delivered to them later on.
Users don’t even need to know their friend’s address as Facebook will request this from the giftee themselves. They will also be allowed to select the colour, size or flavour that they want before the gift is shipped, or, if it’s just not what they wanted, they can even exchange it for something of equal value.
Users can pay right away for gifts, or choose to delay payment until after the gift has been accepted.
Facebook says there are hundreds of gifts available now with more to be added later – though I doubt we’ll be able to get cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery delivered fresh to friends in Ireland (unfortunately).
Facebook Gifts will roll out to users in the US first, with other regions to follow. If successful, Facebook will have added another revenue-making string to its bow, and possibly become a threat to the likes of Amazon and eBay.
