Secret Santa Web Service

This was such a good idea, I hesitated before putting it on this blog.

A multi-product shopping site, such as amazon.com or walmart.com could institute a great secret santa service for organizations or families doing a secret santa during the holiday season.

First, each person in the group signs in and lists a bunch of items they want. Then they list the amount that they're willing to spend on the secret santa item they will be sending.

A computer randomly assigns each person a secret santa recipient. Then it randomly assigns (within the price range) a gift from that recipient's list. Then it ships the item off and charges each person in the group the appropriate amount. It would save all the time of finding out what the person wants, drawing the names out of a hat, and having to actually go shopping. No effort at all! It may not be the complete holiday spirit but it sure is in the American spirit!!

Updated 12/11/04: Another great feature of this service could be if you participate in numerous secret santa circles, such as family, office, it could coordinate to ensure that you don't ge the same gift twice! Once Amazon perfects their "you might like this too" technology, one could imagine a scenario where you list a few things and then the secret santa bot will be able to "think" of something else on its own for you.