Abstract: A system and method to enable a gifter to surprise a recipient with a gift. The gifter, having access to certain information about the recipient, is able to set up a gift to the recipient via a gift web site, setting criteria for the gift. For example, the gifter may provide a gift for a predetermined amount that is redeemable at any merchant or merchant website. Alternatively, the gifter may provide a gift for a predetermined amount that may be redeemed only at a specific merchant or a specific merchant website. Still alternatively, the gifter may provide a gift the permits the intended gift recipient to purchase a predetermined number of items from any merchant or from a specific merchant. In this way the gifter provides a surprise gift to a gift recipient.