The Macy's Dreamfund?

Aray82 · December 2013

I've just started to register and Macy's does this Dreamfund, which is a space on the registry to donate to a card they've given me--apparently so I don't have multiple gift cards to keep track of. However, when I viewed my registry online, the Dreamfund is the first thing that comes up and just feels a little too close to a Honeymoon/gofundme/blatantlyaskingforcash kind of deal--and something I'd side-eye if I saw it as a guest. So I took it off.

When I mentioned it to my mom, who is also not a fan of cash registries, I thought we'd both scoff at it...but I was surprised by her response. She basically said it would be ok to keep since it was convenient for guests who didnt want to spend time going through the whole registry and picking out a gift. Fair enough, but no one really has to pick out anything!

Anyway, I'm keeping the Dreamfund off the site because it just looks tacky to me, but I'm curious of what others think of this type of thing. Is it in fact different from a cash registry, or is it just dressed up to look different? I've often given gift cards from the stores where folks we're registered because it was quite convenient...but no one ever needed to tell me this was an option.

Aray82 · December 2013

And that should be "where folks WERE registered." Sorry, currently binge-watching Hallmark movies and a bit distracted :P

KeptInStitches · December 2013

Sure seems dressed up to look different. I'm glad you're skipping it -- it looks tacky to me, too.

LizM61409 · December 2013

It probably wouldn't be terrible if it were at the bottom of the page, but I agree having it at the top looks cash-grabby

MairePoppy · December 2013

It's tacky. Guests already know they can give you gift cards or cash. I'm curious about the fine print. What if your Dreamfund exceeds the value of your registry gifts? Will they cash out the remaining funds for you, or, must you spend the total amount at Macy's? As a guest, I'd rather give a check so the couple is free to spend it as they wish.

misssunshine17 · December 2013

If people want to get a gift card, they will. They can even print them online, sometimes. Don't worry about it, I think taking it off was a good choice.

melbelleup · December 2013

When I registered in the store, the lady was full on pushing this. If there's extra funds you still get it. It's just one big gift card versus numerous cards to keep track of. It's a neat idea, until they put it at the top of your registry... I took mine off immediately too.

jessicabessica · December 2013

I am not a fan of stores that will indicate that the couple will also take gift cards to the store. It's just a way for the store to make more money. The couple should accept any gifts given, and guests know that gift cards to a store where the couple registered are a nice idea for a gift on their own.

Macy's did not have this option when we registered there. I would not have had it on my registry either, though.

audubonbride2013 · December 2013

I think it's tacky. I've seen it on other people's Macy's registries and it bothers me that it's always at the top. At least other stores put their gift card options at the bottom of the registry page.

Inkdancer · December 2013

Sounds like a Honeyfund put on those wacky mustache glasses and hoped nobody would see through its disguise.

Aray82 · December 2013

Thanks all! Glad my instincts were correct!

KickAssMOH · December 2013

If someone takes the time to locate your registry online or go to the store asking to see your registry, then they've probably made the decision to buy you a gift rather than a gift certificate. If they change their mind after viewing your registry, it's SO easy to click two screens away and gift a GC instead. It's so easy nowadays to buy a giftcard anywhere - in fact, all of my local grocerystores carry Macy's gifts cards. You were smart to take that off your registry.

NYCBruin · December 2013

melbelleup said:

When I registered in the store, the lady was full on pushing this. If there's extra funds you still get it. It's just one big gift card versus numerous cards to keep track of. It's a neat idea, until they put it at the top of your registry... I took mine off immediately too.

I agree. I think it's a good idea in theory, but then saw it at the top of my registry and was like "NOPE"

Weesh · December 2013

melbelleup said:

When I registered in the store, the lady was full on pushing this. If there's extra funds you still get it. It's just one big gift card versus numerous cards to keep track of. It's a neat idea, until they put it at the top of your registry... I took mine off immediately too.

The woman at my store pushed this too, and the cards that you can stick in to just "let people know where you are registered--so convenient!" I said no, and told her to make sure it wasn't online either.

aRachel21 · December 2013

We also just registered at Macys, and the lady was pushing for me to have the dream fund, even after I told her no. I think I am capable of keeping track of multiple gift cards, if I get them. I took it off of the online registry and threw away the card.

vt&dt · December 2013

You're absolutely right. People know that people like cash/gift cards, and I don't think having multiple gift cards of different denominations is a problem. That just seems very strange to me.

lizandmark2014 · December 2013

I would have removed it too. Good call.

photokitty · December 2013

No offense to your mom, but if I've pulled up your registry I fully intend to look through to whole thing to find you a gift.

I would maybe by a gift card if I could not find anything I wanted to give in my price range, but I would never pull up a registry and see an ad telling me to by a gift card and think -- "Phew, that saves me the trouble of having to personally select a gift from this list right in front of me. Thank you bride & Macy's for simplifying my life!" :-p

I think you made the right choice taking it down. GL!

RebeccaB88 · December 2013

Glad you took it off. I would be offended as a guest to see that on a registry. If I've gone to the trouble to find your registry, then I'm there specifically to read it and select a gift. I can get you a gift card without doing any of that.

misshart00 · December 2013

I keep hearing that Macy's is pushing this pretty hard. I wonder if there's some other catch with it that makes them more money (other than people just buying gift cards).

tammym1001 · December 2013

I registered at Macy's a few weeks ago and they asked me if I wanted to add that to my registry. I immediately said no and luckily the woman helping me didn't push it (she wasn't the normal registry person so that's probably why). I also don't think people need to be told they can buy you gift cards. That's a pretty standard gift these days.

majesty318 · December 2013

They mentioned it to us in the store when we registered, too. I sort of didn't get the point - it's not like I can't handle having 10 separate gift cards.

I didn't realize it showed up online until my mom asked what it was, and then I immediately took it off. For real, if someone is looking at your registry, I am pretty sure they want to get a boxed gift!

NYCBruin · December 2013

misshart00 said: I keep hearing that Macy's is pushing this pretty hard. I wonder if there's some other catch with it that makes them more money (other than people just buying gift cards).
-------------------------------------------------------------
Stores make a ton of money off gift cards so they have every reason to push them.

1. They get money up front. Because of the time value of money, the $50 gift card that you buy today and the couple uses next year makes them money.

2. People tend to spend more with gift cards. Rarely do people spend exactly the gift card amount. So if I were going to buy something for $25 at a store but have a $50 gift card, I may end up spending a total of $80 because I'll buy a $55 thing I don't really want/need because I'm playing with "free money."

3. A not insignificant amount of gift cards go unclaimed. The store gets to keep the money for the gift cards that were never used.

Gift cards=gold mine for stores.

ETA quote boxes are stupid.

Kauris · December 2013

Thanks for the heads up! I might change my mind about registering at Macy's now...

WildMagelet · December 2013

I think I've seen these as suggestions on the bottom or side of registries for other stores when shopping before and didn't think anything of it, but front and center at the top is a no-go for me.

winelover123 · December 2013

They pushed it on me when I registered. They didn't explain it well either (I think this was when they just started the dreamfund) so I was pretty confused as to what exactly it was. I ended up taking it all my registry.

huskypuppy14 · December 2013

I also took it off my registry. I hated that it was right at the top. If it was on the bottom, I wouldn't have cared, but it just looked bad front and center. Also, you can't even do it online, you have to call the number anyway, so what's the point.

Aray82 · December 2013

kasmith1 said:
Thanks for the heads up! I might change my mind about registering at Macy's now...

I had read good things about Macy's from other TK posters and overall I've been happy with them other than the Dreamfund thing--which is probably something every store has their own version of. That said, there might be someplace less pushy. I started one at BB&B online but told them not to contact me for an in-store consultation since all I've heard about them is how pushy they can be.

Aray82 · December 2013

photokitty said:
No offense to your mom, but if I've pulled up your registry I fully intend to look through to whole thing to find you a gift.

I would maybe by a gift card if I could not find anything I wanted to give in my price range, but I would never pull up a registry and see an ad telling me to by a gift card and think -- "Phew, that saves me the trouble of having to personally select a gift from this list right in front of me. Thank you bride & Macy's for simplifying my life!" :-p

I think you made the right choice taking it down. GL!

Yes, this is exactly my thinking. I've gotten gift cards when there was nothing left in my budget range, but if I'm going to the site I prefer to get a tangible gift if I can.

kgd7357 · December 2013

I almost always give gift cards to one of the places the couple is registered at (especially if they do completion discounts), but I don't even click the registry link. I would never even see that on the registry. If people take the time to look at the registry they probably want to get a boxed gift.

Amyzen83 · December 2013

On the tacky scale, it would rank slightly higher than the honeyfund because at least you aren't lying to your guests, and it's better than straight up asking for cash, but all of this isn't saying much. If it's at the bottom of the registry, I suppose I could live with that, but I don't really see the point. Like pps said, if people are going out of the way to see where you are registered, then they are clearly wanting to give a physical gift, and I'd be even more pissed if all I saw on a registry was the dream fund. I'm not doing it, I've already received some very generous checks from a few family members, and I just started setting up my registry, and haven't asked anybody for anything.

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