How to choose a gift without leaving home, through a live stream

Gift shopping often lands at the busiest moment: the birthday is tomorrow and there is no time to walk around shops. A live stream makes it much easier. You see the item live, ask the seller questions and send the gift straight to the recipient’s address. Here is how to choose a gift in the Dona app without leaving home, step by step.

Start with the idea#

First decide who the gift is for and what kind it should be: something useful, a keepsake, or something tied to a hobby. Then set a budget. With those two things clear, you will not get lost among the streams.

If you know a shop that sells what you need, tap “Follow” on the shop page. When the shop goes live you may get a notification, so you will not miss the stream. Add items you like but have not decided on to your likes list: choosing among them later is easier.

Look at the gift closely in the stream#

With a gift, looks matter, and this is where a stream helps. Ask the seller to show the item closer and from every side. Check the colour, the material and what comes in the box: nothing should be missing when it is unwrapped.

Some questions are worth asking for a gift in particular:

• What is the packaging like? Ask to see the box the item comes in. Whether gift wrapping is offered is up to the seller.
• Will there be a receipt in the box? If you do not want the recipient to see the price, say so in advance.
• What if the size is wrong? If you are giving clothes, ask about return or exchange terms first.

Ask these in the stream chat or later in a separate chat with the shop. The conversation is kept in “Messages”, so the agreement will not be forgotten.

Send the gift to another address#

On Dona you can save several addresses: home, work, your parents’ place. Add the recipient’s address as a new one. You can mark it on the map or type it in. Write a clear hint in the “Landmark” field and leave a note for the courier. For example, if the gift is a surprise, “Call before coming” is a useful option.

Checkout has a step called “Who is this order for?”. The courier calls the recipient chosen at that step. Check the address and the recipient once more before you confirm: the app usually fills in the address you used last time.

Leave enough time#

The seller arranges delivery, and the timing depends on the seller and the region. So do not leave the gift to the last day. If the date matters, ask the seller when they will ship. After you order, you can follow the status in the app: being prepared, handed to the courier, on the way, delivered.

Several gifts at once#

Before a holiday, when several people need gifts, make a list: who, what budget, which address. Add the options you like for each person to your likes list, then place the orders one by one. Check the recipient and the address separately on every order: two gifts swapped by mistake is the saddest slip of all.