It will no doubt shock and disappoint some of my Stay Free! readers to learn that I don't despise gift registries--quite the contrary, I embrace them! ... both as a giver and as a receiver.
Still, the annoying thing about registries is that you're generally limited to chain stores that I otherwise wouldn't frequent. So I've been wondering if there's a DIY registry online that allows you to list things from local stores, and I've found it: FindGift.com. This site allows you to list anything, be it from a local indie store or some website. You can specify as many or few details as you want: "model X lamp in X color from Cog & Pearl at 190 Avenue in Park Slope" or simply "a boombox." Thus, it not only allows your people to buy from local, independent businesses, it allows them, in some cases, to comparison shop.
The downside: gift-givers will need to remember to click off the item they bought or else you'll end up with duplicates. Since you usually get duplicates from regular registries anyway, I'm not sure how much that matters, but if the store doesn't have a customer-friendlly return policy, it'll be a real hassle. Perhaps the best way to use this, then, is to make sure any store you include has a decent return policy. And you can always use it in conjunction with standard registries (which is what we'll be doing).
