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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions regarding the usage of the site.

Please make sure that you have updated your "Add to thethingsiwant" browser button since October 1st 2006. This new browser button is much better and gives you much more functionality - it's way better at getting pictures of the items too.

You can update your browser here.

Ask a Question not covered in the FAQ, Report a Bug, Make a Suggestion

If you have a question, that is not covered in our FAQ, you can contact Customer Support. We will answer your question promptly.

Something not working as it should? Please make a report here. We'll see that it gets fixed immediately.

Would you like to suggest something? Do you believe the service should work another way. All suggestions are much appreciated and given the utmost consideration.

Contact us here.

If you want to keep track of where the site is going or contact the development Team, Please go to TTIW Development Blog (EN)

F.A.Q.

General

How does it work?

TheThingsIWant.com allows you to add items from any site directly to any of the Lists you have set up. You don't have to add any software. All you need to do is register and add TheThingsIWant special browser button to your Links, Favorites or Bookmarks. After that you can browse the web as you normally do. When you find something you want at any web site you can add it to your list by simply clicking on the "Add to TheThingsIWant" browser button. The page you are looking at will still be there. A new small window will open up in front of it. You just choose the list you want to save the Item to and click to add the Item. Then click to go to your lists or close the small window and continue browsing normally. It's that simple..

If you are still in doubt, please visit How do I add stuff to my lists? Explanation.

How do I start?

  1. Go to the registration page and follow the instructions. It only takes a minute of your time now and it will save you (and others) hours later trying to re-find (or guess) what exactly you wanted. TheThingsIWant.com will automatically open a Private Shopping List and a Public Gift List in your name.
  2. During registration you will add a little button on your browser list of Favorites or Bookmarks that'll allow you to simply add things to your list of TheThingsIWant.com. Then, when you're shopping around the Internet, at any site, you can add anything you want to one of your lists by just clicking on the button.
  3. Once registered you can go to Manage My Lists to Create New Lists, Move things between lists, change Access Levels or Password Restrict your Gift List(s).
  4. When you're ready you can start to share your gift lists with friends and family easily use the simple Share Lists options.

Why should I have a list at TheThingsIWant.com?

You'll want to set up a list at this site if:

I already have a "wishlist" at one of the big retail sites, do I need another?

Most of the wishlists at the big stores have two problems. Firstly, they don't have the built-in security that TheThingsIWant.com does. Many of them are open to the public and you can't set the security you want. Secondly, they only work for that store so if you want to have a shopping list and/or a gift list that includes items from more than one store they're not useful. If you have wishlists at lots of stores all over the Internet your friends won't thank because they'll have to go to all those places to get an idea of what you want. TheThingsIWant.com allows you to have one single, secure place that has your Shopping List and Gift List(s) for all the places you shop or want things from on the Internet.

If you're using one of the big sites that has their own (closed) wishlist systems remember that if you click on their button at their site that says "add to wishlist" it won't go into your universal list at TheThingsIWant.com. You should always use the "Add to TheThingsIWant.com" Button.

Can a family with young kids use this service safely?

We are very concerned about the privacy and protection of kids on line. All parents should know about the Children's On-line Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA). The Center for Media Education also has an excellent Parent's Guide to Online Privacy and useful Tips for Guiding Children Online.

We've built into our system in a way to protect kids, but it requires parental assistance, the way it should be. Children under 13 may not register by themselves.

The management of the account should be controlled by someone 13 years or older. As the main registrant at the site you can set up lists for each of your children by going to Create New Lists. However whenever children under 13 want to add an item to their lists they should do it with the consent and help of parents.

Is the service available in any other languages?

When we started (five years ago), We used to have a Spanish and Portuguese version of the site. Unfortunately we had to scale down the project and we are only maintaining the English one. Some pages have a machine translation version to help users from other languages.

The development is still language independent so if we keep growing we might bring other languages back.

Which browsers and operating systems does it work on?

TTIW is pretty much platform independent. We have tested it on all major browsers on all mayor platforms. If something is not working on your OS-Browser combination please report it at our : contact form.

We have had problems reported with Netscape 8+ under Windows XP. If you use this OS-Browser combination please try using TTIW with IE or Firefox.

What is TTIW's backend technology?

I want to deactivate my account.

I want to turn off the Adult Filter when browsing the Shopping Ideas Section.

Only Users which are older than 18 years old can turn off the adult filter. To turn off the adult filter:

You will need to be logged in after that to be able to browse tag pages with Adult Filter off.

Registration (Start your Lists)

Why do I need to write My Personal Information (geographic etc)?

This is for users of the site to differentiate you from people with the same name. You can modify that info later.

I see no field for "Identifying Trait" that I saw when searching for someone else?

You can add that after you registered by going to my lists > Profile > Edit Personal Profile

I have registered but I can't login to the site.

First, please check if you are using the correct password, go to Password Retrieval and mail yourself your Username and Password.

If you are using the correct Username and Password, please check that you have Cookies enabled in your Browser. Cookies are needed to maintain state while using the site (ie: to know you have logged in).

If you are using IE explorer, the site should work under every Privacy Setting (Including Medium High and High) except for "Block All Cookies". For a full description of how and why we use Cookies please review our Privacy Policy.

Browser Button Setup

I am already registered, I have upgraded my Computer / Operating System / Browser and I want to setup the Browser Button on my new System.

Go to Browser Button Setup to setup the Browser Button in your Computer.

I want to setup the Browser Button on more than one computer.

Go to Browser Button Setup to setup the Browser Button in your Computer.

I am trying to setup the Browser Button on Internet Explorer but I get an error when Clicking on the Link.

You need to have Javascript Enabled for Setting up and Using the Browser Button. To enable Javascript on IE 5+:

  1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu of IE.
  2. In "Internet Options" dialog box select the "Security tab".
  3. Click "Custom level" button at bottom. The Security Settings dialog box will pop up.
  4. Under "Scripting" category enable "Active Scripting".
  5. Click "OK" twice to close out.
  6. Hit Refresh.

I have Setup the Browser Button but Nothing happens when I Click on it.

First, please check that you have javascript enabled on your browser, see . Javascript is needed to use the Browser Button..

If Javascript is enabled, the most common reason for this problem as reported by users is having an old version of a Pop up Blocker installed. Some Pop up blocker Software mistake the "Add New Item" window as a Pop Up Ad. If you are using a Pop Up Blocker, have javascript enabled and the button still doesn't work, you need to check what is the mechanism for allowing the opening of a new window from a click, for example, If you are using Google's Toolbar (and some others), you need to press the "Ctrl" key while clicking on the button.

We don't use Pop Up Ads at TheThingsIWant.com.

Managing Profile

I want to add My Address or Gift Preferences but I want them to be available only to friends.

If you want to make your address or Gift Preferences only available to Guests, just change its Access Level to Guest. That way only people you invite to your lists or are guests to your lists will be able to see this info.

You can change the Access Levels by logging in > Go to My Lists > Go to Profile > there you can change the access level to your Address with "Modify Address Access" option or to your Gift Preferences with the "Modify Gift Preferences Access" option. Address and Gift Preference are access level independent. You can make one Public and the other Guest.

Modify Access

What are Access Levels?

Public When you choose to make a List or Profile Info (Like Address or Gift Preferences) Public, it will be available to anybody that accesses your lists. Whether they found you through searching the site, following a direct link or you have invited them by sharing your lists. People that find your lists by searching for you in the site, always have public access.

Guest When you choose to make a List or Profile Info (Like Address or Gift Preferences) Accessible only to guests, it will be available only to people that have Guest Access to your lists:

Private When you choose to make a list Private, only you will have access to this list (for example your Shopping List).

How do I change my Account's Password?

Go to My Lists > Profile > Edit Password/Account Options

How do I change my Account's Email?

Go to My Lists > Profile > Edit Password/Account Options

How do I subscribe/unsubscribe from your "Upgrade to Service" emails? [Max 2 per year]

Go to My lists > Profile > Edit Password/Account Options. Uncheck the first option of "Email Acceptance Options". We send Email very sparingly, and always about modifications of upgrade to the service (maximum of 2 times per year), we strongly suggest you keep this.

I have 2 accounts with the same name, I want to keep just one.

You can always deactivate any account you are not using, by going to Profile -> Modify Account Options -> Delete Account. Do this for the account you are not using anymore.

Managing Contacts

What are Guests?

Guests are other Users of TTIW that have Guest Access to your lists, and if you have filled them, your Address and Gift Preferences. You can access their lists directly from here and if you want they can be listed among your "Friends and Family" in your TTIW Homepage.

How do I get to be a Guest to some friends Lists?

What is that thing that says "Pending Guest Requests" when I go to my Guests?

This is a list of people that have added you to their Guests. You now have guest Access to their lists, Address and Gift Preferences.

They are asking you to add them to your Guests too, so that they can get Guest Access to your lists and be in your "Friends and Family" listing when somebody visits your lists.

I have just registered to the site and I have friends I would like to add to my Guests.

I don't want some friend to be on my "Friends and Family" Listing but I still want him to be a Guest.

Easy, go to your Guests and click on Edit. You can set there if he shows on your "Friends and Family" Listing when somebody visits your lists.

Managing Lists

How do I create a new list?

Log in, and select Create New List in the Managing menu.

What are the different types of lists?

Wishlist IconWishlists: A Wishlist is a general, all-purpose list of things you want. You can share it with your friends. And you can use them as a Wedding Registry, Baby Registry or general Wishlist.

you can also choose to be surprised and not know what items have been bought for you until a date you choose (for example christmas or your birthday).

Recommendations List IconRecommendations / Owned Lists : This type of lists are not lists of stuff you want. But of stuff you own or that you would recommend to other users of TTIW.

I want a list to be available only to friends.

Easy, go to the List click on "Modify list Access". And change its access level to Guest. Then only people with Guest Access will see this information.

List Access

What are Access Levels?

Public When you choose to make a List or Profile Info (Like Address or Gift Preferences) Public, it will be available to anybody that accesses your lists. Whether they found you through searching the site, following a direct link or you have invited them by sharing your lists. People that find your lists by searching for you in the site, always have public access.

Guest When you choose to make a List or Profile Info (Like Address or Gift Preferences) Accessible only to guests, it will be available only to people that have Guest Access to your lists:

Private When you choose to make a list Private, only you will have access to this list (for example your Shopping List).

How can I Password Restrict a list?

Independently of whether a list is accessible to guests or public, You can password protect it. This way, people that see this list won't have access to this list and content (like photograph or explanation) unless they fill in the password. ie:

Public List, Without Password IconPublic List, Without Password: everybody that accesses your lists can see it and check its items.

Public List, Password Restricted IconPublic List, Password Restricted: everybody that accesses your lists can see it, but to check it's items, they must first fill in the password.

Guest List, Without Password IconGuest List, Without Password: Only people with guest accesses to your lists can see it and check it's items.

Guest List, Password Restricted IconGuest List, Password Restricted: Only people with guest accesses to your lists can see it but to check its items, they must first fill in the password.

This way, for example, you can further separate who can and who cannot access your lists. You can have your General Wishlist (that you have in your Blog ) be Public; your Wedding Registry be accessible only to Guests you have invited through sharing or that are Synchronized Contacts; and your "Secret Wishes" be accessible only to your loved one that knows the secret password.

How can I add an explanation or Picture to my Lists?

Go to the list and choose Edit this List's Explanation. Pictures must be suitable for an audience of all ages.

How do I delete a List?

Log-in. Go to My Lists. Click on the list you want to delete. Then you'll see the fist line of options: "Modify Lists" … "Delete Lists" … Click on "Delete List". There is no going back.

Managing Items & Purchases

How do I delete an Item?

Easy. Log-in. You'll see a list of your lists. Click on the list where the item is. Highlight the item(s) you want to delete by clicking on the little box on the lower left hand side of the item. Then go to the top of the list and click on "Delete Item".

Delete Item Visual Explanation

How do I move an Item to another list?

Log-in. You'll see a list of your lists. Click on the list where the item is. Highlight the item(s) you want to move by clicking on the little box on the lower left hand side of the item. Then go to the top of the list. You'll see "Move selected to" and a menu of your other lists. Simply select the list you wish to move the item to. The item will move to that list automatically and appear at the bottom of that other list.

Move Item Visual Explanation

How can I add an item manually?

Go to the List and click on Add Wish Manually. Remember that, Items added manually are not automatically linked to a specific web page. You can suggest a site where the item could be found and this will be suggested to visitors of this List. We will also present Visitors with a list of possible sites where this item might be found, based on the Classification you provide.

Alternatively, if you want to select a precise product and location use the "Add to TheThingsIWant" browser button.

How can I add a picture to an Item?

Most sites automatically get a picture for their items. You can change the picture very easily by clicking on the "Change Image" text that appears below the picture.

Please make sure that you have updated your "Add to thethingsiwant" browser button since October 1st 2006. This new browser button is much better and gives you much more functionality - it's way better at getting pictures of the items too. You can update your browser here.

How do I get the URL of the picture of an item?

For this you will need to go back to the page on the site where the Item is. You can do this by clicking on View Item. Then Right Click on the picture of the item, select "Properties" and copy the complete line that the dialog shows after "Address (URL)" (It may be a few lines). This is what you'll then paste into the Photo URL space. It's really very easy.

How can I change the order of Items on a List?

Items are added to the list in the chronological order that you add them. The most recent additions are added at the bottom of the list. You can use the Order Option on the Items Menu on the right hand side of each item. This allows you to move individual items up and down the list. Alternatively you can use the menu buttons at the bottom of the list that allow you to re-order the whole list by Price or Alphabetically. The order you see is the same order that visitors of the list will see (but of course they can't move things around)

I have chosen to not see which items, I am getting on a Birthday or Christmas List, but now I want to see.

Sorry, but you won't be able to see that till the day you have selected. No exceptions, it was your choice.

Somebody I don't know says he has purchased me a gift, but it has never arrived.

Please remember that we don't actually sell or deliver products. If you are exchanging gifts with them, and you need to be sure, you can always ask him for the email receipt of the site where they said the item was purchased.

Managing Tags

What are Tags?

Tags are a simple way to categorize and sort your wishes. They also help for finding Items tagged by people with similar interests as you.

How do I delete a Tag from an Item?

Log in, got the list where the item is at, click on Modify, and delete the tag you want to delete in the tags field. When you update the item, the tag will be gone.

Managing - Share, DirectLink, BlogList, External List

How do I invite people to my lists?

The easiest way to get more visitors to your lists is to use the Share feature. To share your lists. Just select the list you want to share, write a message to them, add the emails of the people you want to share your lists with and click on Share. The people you have decided to share this list with will receive an email that will include a special link that points directly to your list. Visitors that access your lists through sharing will always have guest access.

Remember that if you share a Password Restricted List they will have to fill in the password on arrival.

How do I make a link to my lists?

If you have a homepage or a blog, you can add a link to your lists by going to Create Links to List at the top of the list page. You can choose whether visitors that arrive from this link get Guest or Public Access. If you have a blog and don't want to use a Blog List (see below), you can choose this link to be a Blog Sticker.

Remember that if you link to a Password Restricted List they will have to fill in the password on arrival.

How do I add the Direct Link to an Email?

If you are planning on Creating Links to send through email we suggest you use the Sharing features. If you want to create a link to use in your own email you can do it easily. Go to the list you want to link to. Then click on Create Link to List. Then go ahead and paste the link in the email to your lists.

How do I add a List to my blog or Homepage?

Go to "Add List to Your Blog/Site" on the list page, to create a blog list. A Blog List is a simpler version of your lists that you can add to your Blog or Homepage. You can choose between different styles to suit your Blog or Homepage design and change the level of access visitors get. Once you have created the Blog List code, all you have to do is paste that code into your Blog Template or Homepage HTML code and that's it. Your list will now appear in your Blog. Your Blog List will automatically be updated when you add or delete an item or somebody purchases something from your List.

Remember that if you create a Blog List of a Password Restricted List they will have to fill in the password.

I don't like your styles for my Blog List, how can I create my own.

An explanation of the styles used can be accessed here. You will need to create a new stylesheet that includes a definition for the Classes Blog List uses, upload it to some site and provide us with the URL. We will link this new style to your Blog List.

If you are new to CSS you can always modify that Explanation Stylesheet.

I have added my own Style to the Blog List but it just looks plain white.

Please check that your CSS style definition is done According to the Classes and Elements that Blog List uses, a CSS stylesheet that works in your site, won't necesarily work in your Blog List. You must create a Stylesheet that includes a definition for the Classes Blog List uses. An explanation of the Classes and elements used can be accessed here. If you are new to CSS you can always modify that Explanation Stylesheet.

I have a really good stylesheet I have created for my Blog List and would like to share it with the TTIW community.

Send us a link through our contact form if we really like it we will add it to the available styles.

Why can't I customize the external lists?

External lists are being kept out of compatibility with version 2 of TTIW, we would rather you use Blog List.

What are Access Levels?

Public When you choose to make a List or Profile Info (Like Address or Gift Preferences) Public, it will be available to anybody that accesses your lists. Whether they found you through searching the site, following a direct link or you have invited them by sharing your lists. People that find your lists by searching for you in the site, always have public access.

Guest When you choose to make a List or Profile Info (Like Address or Gift Preferences) Accessible only to guests, it will be available only to people that have Guest Access to your lists:

Private When you choose to make a list Private, only you will have access to this list (for example your Shopping List).

What are Statistics?

Statistics show you how many times someone, apart from you (not logged in with your account), has clicked on the View or Buy Link of an item on the list you are viewing. This can give you a broad measure of the exposure of your list. Nobody but you can see this.

Searching

I can't seem to find my friend lists. (Searching tips)

Gifting - General

What is that thing that says "Public" or "Guest" at the bottom of the menu on the left?

It represents the Access Level you have been given to your friends Lists and Information. If you arrived at his Lists by searching for him in the site, you will have Public Access. If you have been invited to his lists through an email or if you are registered at the site and you are in your friends guests, you will quite surely have Guest Access.

I am at my friends contacts list yet I still have public access to his lists?

Make sure you are logged in at the site with the account he has added you to his contacts list.

What are restricted lists?

Those are lists that your friend has restricted to only people that can fill in the password.

What if I want to buy something for someone, but I don't like what they have in their Gift List?

There are two things you can do. Either you can send them an email or call them and tell them to put more items on their list and go back later and see what else they have listed. Or you can check their Profile page from the left menu. This is where people can tell you what they like to do, what their hobbies are, what their sizes are and what their favorite brands and colors are. This may help you choose something else that's not on their list. Having looked at this you can then use our helpful Shopping Ideas links to find interesting on-line stores where there may be things they want.

Gifting - Buying

What guarantee do I have that products I buy, or others buy for me, will arrive? Or I bought something and it hasn't arrived.

TheThingsIWant.com does not actually sell or deliver the products. TheThingsIWant.com acts as a service for you to make a Shopping List and Gift List(s) and then share the Gift Lists with your friends. The actual purchases are made at the online store that the item is at. Customers should check the delivery guarantees given by the store they are buying from. Most big name stores have very good delivery and customer service guarantees. If you have any problems with purchase or delivery you should contact the (online) store directly.

How do I know if an Item has already been reserved?

Looking at the Item on a list, if it has a box that says Reserved it has allready been reserved by someone else. If the wisher asked for more than one this box will show you how many of this item have been reserved.

How do I let someone know that I've purchased something for him or her?

When you go to someone's Gift List and then use the one click system to see the item and buy it, we'll ask you to leave a message to say if you reserved it or not. If you reserve something for someone you can leave them your name and the quantity you bought for them.

Alternatively, if you buy something off line or in some other way you can still leave them a "purchased message". Go to their list, find the item and click Buy or View. You'll be taken to the page of that item. Check that that is what you purchased for them. Then, at that page, click on the I Purchased It phrase at the top. You'll then be given the chance to leave them your name and the quantity you bought for them.

How can I Un-Reserve an Item?

There isn't a way for gifters/visitors to unreserved an item. The only person who can reset an item is the list owner. A list owner can do this by logging in to their list, going to that item and click on "Edit Purchase Status". They can change it there. Since only the owner of the list can change the purchase status, a visitor who has mistakenly reserved an item (or changed their mind) might want to email/ tell the list owner so they can then re-set it.

Why do some items say "Search for this item" instead of View/Buy?

Those are items that have been manually added by your friend, those items have no direct link to them. You might try to find it in the site he/she suggested or you may try to find it in some of the places we suggest. If all fails you can search for the item through Google or Amazon.

What is an Offline Reservation?

If you intend to buy an Item on a Brick & Mortar Store, you can still reserve the item by clicking on "Offline Reservation".

I click on View for an item and the top frame disappears and is replaced by the Item's page. How do I reserve this item?

Some sites ( ie: walmart.com, play.com ) are not compatible with our normal reservation process. You can still reserve the item by doing an Offline Reservation. Just click on View, buy the item and then go to Offline Reservation to inform other visitors of the site that the item has been reserved.

We would really appreciate it if you Send us an email with the name of the site through our contact form so that we can investigate how to make our technology better.

Wishing

How do I stop having to log in every day?

Choose Remember Me when logging in either at the Add to TheThingsIWant button or through the site at the home page.

What is Advanced Mode?

When you choose advanced mode, you can see the URL of the item, and If it's not added automatically you can add the Product Code.

How can I add a picture to an item (Advanced)?

Most sites automatically get a picture for their items. You can change the picture very easily by clicking on the "Change Image" text that appears below the picture. For the sites that don't get an image or a list of images, you can add a picture yourself; adding the URL of the picture in the space provided. The software will automatically resize the image.

Please make sure that you have updated your "Add to thethingsiwant" browser button since October 1st 2006. This new browser button is much better and gives you much more functionality - it's way better at getting pictures of the items too. You can update your browser here.

How do I get the URL of the picture of an item (Advanced)?

Right Click on the picture of the item, select "Properties" and copy the complete line that the dialog shows after "Address (URL)" (It may be a few lines). This is what you'll then paste into the Photo URL space. It's really very easy.