Method and system for universal gift registry

A gift registry computer system configured to enable a gift giver to make a contribution towards a gift on a gift list of a gift recipient, the gift registry computer system comprising:

• a communications interface for communicating over a communications network, the communication network being accessible to the gift giver and the gift recipient;
• a memory in communication with the communications interface for storing the gift list;
• and
• a processor in communication with the memory and the communications interface, the processor configured to:
• retrieve the gift list from the memory;
• generate a web page comprising gifts of the gift list;
• transmit the gift list web page to the gift giver over the communications network;
• receive a commitment from the gift giver for a monetary contribution towards any desired portion of the uncommitted balance of a gift's purchase price, wherein the gift is included on the gift list web page;
• and
• generate a substitution request to provide the total of a plurality of gift givers' monetary contributions to the gift recipient as a substitution if the total is less than the gift's purchase price.

A method implemented on a gift registry computer system for enabling a gift giver to make a contribution towards a gift on a gift list of a gift recipient of the gift registry computer system, the method comprising:

• retrieving the gift list from a memory of the gift registry computer system;
• generating a web page comprising gifts of the retrieved gift list;
• transmitting the gift list web page over a communications network to the gift giver;
• receiving a commitment from the gift giver for a monetary contribution towards any desired portion of the uncommitted balance of a gift's purchase price, wherein the gift is included on the gift list web page;
• and
• generating a substitution request to provide the total of a plurality of gift givers' monetary contributions to the gift recipient as a substitution if the total is less than the gift's purchase price.