How does an Amazon registry work?

If you’ve got a big occasion on the horizon, you might be wondering where to create your registry. 

Amazon is a popular choice – but how does an Amazon registry work? 

Here, we’ll explain exactly what you can expect from an Amazon registry and walk you through how to create one step-by-step. But first…

What is an Amazon registry?

An Amazon registry is a list of items that you’d like to receive as gifts, created on Amazon.

Usually, you’ll create a registry ahead of a special occasion. You can share it with friends and family so that they can tick items off your list and feel confident that they’re getting you gifts you’ll actually want and use.

This can be helpful ahead of all sorts of events that might call for gifts – such as birthdays, housewarmings, holidays and graduations.

However, wedding registries and baby registries are particularly popular. 

Amazon wedding registry

If you’re getting married, a wedding registry can be a great way to direct your guests to the gift ideas you actually want. 

Traditionally, wedding registries have been used to help set newlyweds up for married life and often include items for the home.

However, nowadays you can add whatever you like to your wedding registry – including fun gifts and experiences (although bear in mind you can only add physical products to your Amazon wedding registry).

Amazon baby registry

Despite being so small, babies need a lot of gear – which can be expensive!

A baby registry can be a great way for parents-to-be to get help from their loved ones – whether it’s with small items like swaddles and nappies or bigger-ticket products like a pram or car seat.

Often, couples will share their baby registry ahead of a baby shower.

How does a registry on Amazon work?

Just like other registries, an Amazon registry is designed to direct loved ones to the gifts you actually want to receive – whatever the occasion.

Here’s how it works.

1. Set up your Amazon registry

2. Add items

3. Share with friends and family

4. Wait for friends and family to browse and buy items

5. Let Amazon automatically tick items off your registry once they’re purchased

6. Receive gifts directly to your address

What are the benefits of an Amazon registry?

There are lots of benefits to creating a registry on Amazon. Here are the main ones.

• Free!

• Easy to navigate

• Large selection of gift items

• Tracking for checklist progress and thank you notes

• Free returns on gifted items up to a year

• Group gifting options

• Discounts on items not purchased

• Perks for Amazon Prime members – such as a welcome box if you create a baby registry

Are there any downsides to an Amazon registry?

As you can see, Amazon registries are pretty great. But there are some downsides.

The main downside is that the Amazon registry isn’t universal.

That means you can only add items that are sold on Amazon – unlike universal registries like Moonsift, where you can add items from any store in the world.

It’s true that Amazon has a huge selection of products, so this may not restrict you too much.

However, it will mean that you won’t always be able to add your favorite items to your registry.

Plus, you’ll only be able to add physical products rather than experiences and cash funds.

This can be a problem if you’re tying the knot and you were hoping to get contributions towards your honeymoon or experiences to do as a couple.

How to create an Amazon registry: Your step-by-step guide

So, how do you actually create an Amazon registry? 

Don’t worry, the process is quick and easy.

Here’s what it involves.

Step 1: Navigate to ‘list and gifting’

First things first, log into your Amazon account and use the drop-down menu under ‘accounts & lists’ to head to the ‘list and gifting’ section of the site.

Step 2: Select your occasion

Next, select your occasion. Some popular choices include baby, wedding, birthday, holiday, housewarming, graduation and pets. If you can’t see your event type listed, simply click ‘other occasions.’

Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions

Now it’s time to go through the steps required to set up your registry. Amazon will ask you to fill in details such as:

• Your name

• The name of your gift list

• When you’re celebrating (or your due date if it’s a baby registry)

• Your country

• Address where you’d like items sent

• Whether you want to see what items are purchased (or keep it a surprise)

• Who can see your gift list

Step 4: Customize your registry

Now that you’ve set up your Amazon registry, you can customize it to suit your tastes. Upload a cover photo or start organizing by creating gift tags to group gifts under.

Step 5: Browse gifts

Click ‘add gifts’ to start browsing gift ideas. Find inspiration under the ‘most gifted’ categories or search for items you already have your eye on using the search bar.

Step 6: Add gifts to your registry

Once you’ve found an item you want to add to your registry, select your gift list in the drop-down menu beneath your buying options.

Step 7: Organize and hone your registry

Organize and hone your registry to make sure you’re happy with everything that’s on there. You can easily add, remove and edit items – as well as leaving messages and marking gifts as ‘must haves.’

Step 8: Share your registry

Update your privacy settings in the righthand corner of your registry and choose how to share it with friends and family. You can also click the link icon to get your registry’s unique URL.

Step 9: Wait for your gifts!

Now all that remains is to wait for those gifts to start arriving on your doorstep! You can keep track of who’s bought what and even arrange to return items using the ‘thank you and returns’ tab.

Registry alternatives to Amazon

Remember, you can only add items that are sold on Amazon to your Amazon registry.

If you think you’d find this restrictive, consider opting for a universal registry instead.

Here are some top registries that will let you add items from any store in the world – including Amazon if that’s where your favorite products happen to be!

• Gift Whale

• Giftster

• Things to Get Me

• MyRegistry.com

• Listery

• Moonsift!

While these are all great options, we believe that Moonsift is a cut above the rest.

It’s 100% free, with no fees or product mark-ups ever. 

Plus, it’s easy to navigate, allows you to save items directly from the store’s website, is available on both mobile and desktop, and will even let you add cash funds so that loved ones can contribute towards bigger-ticket items.

The sky’s the limit!

Create your registry on Moonsift today.

Amazon registry FAQs

Does an Amazon registry tell you who bought what?

Yes, an Amazon registry will tell you who bought what. However, if you’d rather keep it a surprise, you can also choose not to reveal this information until a date of your choice.

Does the Amazon registry automatically mark items as purchased?

Yes, if you add an item to your cart via someone’s gift list, that item will automatically be marked as purchased. However, the item has to be purchased via the gift list – if you add it to your cart outside of the gift list, it won’t be updated.

When someone buys something off your Amazon registry, does it disappear?

No, when someone buys something from your Amazon registry, it won’t disappear completely. Instead, it will move to the purchased section of the gift list.