Lottay.com - Online Gifting Made Easy

How Lottay Works

Giving Gifts
Who Handles the Money?
FAQ
Making Wishes
My Friends' Wishlists

First, create a gift for someone special. A Lottay gift is cash transfered via PayPal. The gift you create is a customized web page that suggests how to spend the money you're going to give. For example, a massage! or a vacation! or a new dress!
Next, add a personal message to your gift by choosing an ecard and adding a note. You also can include images and photos.
Almost done: Use PayPal or a credit card to instantly send the money for the gift. The recipient receives the money directly and can spend it on anything they like. If the recipient doesn't already have a PayPal account, they can create one to redeem their money after the gift is sent.

How Lottay works with PayPal

To use Lottay you and the recipient don't need to have a PayPal account in advance. PayPal allows you to send money instantly to someone else in the world safely and securely. As the gift giver when you send your gift, PayPal will tell the recipient that the money is waiting for them.

Once your recipient claims the money they can transfer it to their checking account or ask for a paper check to be sent to them. So when you send them the gift it's like they instantly have the money. If the money is not claimed for some reason it will be returned to you by PayPal so it's never lost, unlike a gift card.

Q: How do I choose a gift?

With Lottay, the gift you choose can be literally anything. Dinner at their favorite restauraunt or money toward voice lessons are a couple examples.

Q: Does the recipient have to spend the money on the gift I choose?

Nope. They can use the money on the gift you chose or something else entirely. It's like a gift card to anywhere but way more personal!

Q: Can I use Lottay for group gifting?

Of course! Invite others to contribute by clicking on "Make it a Group Gift" on the final page of the gift giving process.

Q: If this is free, how does Lottay make money?

Lottay is completely free for our users. We try to help match you with retailers who carry your gift. If we find a match, the retailers pay us.

Q: How does my recipient get the money?

PayPal makes the money available to your recipient whether or not they have a PayPal account. Unlike a gift card this money is never lost and will be returned to you if it remains uncollected.

Q: Do I need a PayPal account?

Not to get started. If you don't have one you'll create one in the process of sending a gift. All you need is a credit card. This allows us to guarantee that you transaction is safe, secure, and will get delivered with PayPal.

Q: Does the recipient need a PayPal account?

They do not need to have a PayPal account in advance. However, because the money is sent through PayPal they will need to create one. If they choose not to create a PayPal account, the money will be returned to you through PayPal.

You can wish for anything with Lottay. Wish for what you really want – yoga lessons, lunch at your favorite restaurant, an iPhone, whatever! Share your wishes with friends and family – for your birthday, the holidays, just because! Your friends and family can give you money toward your gift. (It's safe: We're partners with PayPal!)

Know what they really want. Invite your friends and family to make their own wish lists. Keep track of what they want. Give them gifts with an eCard and money to help them get their wish. Or just buy it outright. Give the most fashionable and versatile gift of all – money! – with a wonderful e-card and the security of PayPal. Or you could buy the gift.

About Us | Press and Raves | Our Blog | My.Worst.Gift.Ever | We're Hiring

Lottay's Mission

Lottay.com helps you give better gifts. Lottay.com is a web site that allows you to give money through PayPal as a meaningful and fun gift. We make sending money a great gift experience. Your online gift includes an e-greeting card, a personalized message, pictures and photos, even group gifting and wish lists – delivered as a surprise via email and Facebook to the unique Gift Page you created. Here’s how it works.

At Lottay.com we love giving. We love the human connection, the warm and fuzzy. We love that, through gifts, girlfriends show their boyfriends (and girlfriends!) how well they know them. We love that mothers show their children how much they care about them. We love that dudes do a solid for their buddies. A boss says “thanks”. An aunt says “I’m proud of you”.

What’s a virtual gift?

How many gifts have you received that are off the mark? Life is busy, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle when you’re giving or receiving gifts. Perhaps the worst culprit is a virtual gift. C'mon – a virtual gift? What is a virtual gift aside from a way to make Facebook rich?

Why gift cards suck

Gift cards may be simple, but you know why stores love gift cards? Because many people never redeem their cards. Those VISA and AMEX cards are expensive because they charge fees on them. Others agree: Gift Cards Will Never Trump Cash

Cash says “I love you”

Lottay.com believes you can give better by giving money. It’s the thought that counts and a Lottay gift is thoughtful and personal. And giving as a group is easy when you set up a group gift and have many people contribute.
Instant gifts with personal delivery, no hidden fees, no crowds, no shipping & handling and no re-gifting! The entire Lottay.com experience is online. Safe and secure (that’s the power of PayPal).

If you’re skeptical, make someone’s day with a $2 gift. “What kind of gift can I give for $2?” How about a cup of coffee, two lottery tickets, a song for their MP3 player, a new ringtone, an ice cream or start a group gift.

Look who's lovin' Lottay

Ventura County Reporter, Mar. 4, 2010
Sing Tao Daily, Jan. 27, 2010
TechCrunch, Jan. 28, 2010
VC Star, Jan. 29, 2010
SoCalTech, Jan. 27, 2010
The Mayor of Ventura California, Feb. 1, 2010
USA Today, Dec. 24, 2009
AOL: WalletPop, Dec. 10, 2009
AuctionBytes, Dec. 6, 2009
Our Users! We love our users! Our users love us! It's a love circle!

And here's a little Lottay love back to the universe (okay, aimed at Google).

The obligatory Company Blog

We call our blog "Hints Don't Work" because, well, hints don't work! Tell 'em what you really want!

My Worst Gift Ever

We're glass-half-full kind of people here at Lottay, but sometimes, you just gotta vent about that lousy gift someone gave you. Which is why we also proudly offer "My Worst Gift Ever"! Behold a treasure trove of UGLY and FAIL, all awaiting the Re-gifting Fairy.

Wish you had a fun job? Work for us!

Lottay is hiring! We especially need a web designer. Join our startup cult, er, team in Ventura California, where surfboard storage comes with the gig (and plenty of stock options).

Send your resume (and questions) to jobs -at- lottay -dot- com.

Much Lottay love,

Andy Elliott, Founder & President

Harry Lin, CEO