I learned about this interesting new app that extends the real world into FaceBook. Yes, you read that right. The GetThemIn app lets you buy friends and acquaintances of legal drinking age booze and snacks that they can pick up at participating retailers.
Here's how it works, from their site:
STEP1: CHOOSE A GIFT...
We have many gifts to choose from including several beers, wines, spirits and champagnes. Simply choose the brand and product you'd like to send.
STEP2: CHOOSE YOUR FRIEND...
We make it easy for you to select a friend from your current Facebook friend list.
STEP3: PAY...
By using Google checkout, one of the world's largest and most reputable payment systems, we can take secure payments from almost every major credit and debit card.
STEP4: WRITE YOUR MESSAGE...
Simply write the content of your Facebook message to your friend and off it goes...
STEP5: THEY RECEIVE GIFT MESSAGE...
Your friend then receives an instant notification and SMS message (if you entered their mobile number - which is free) informing them that you have bought them a drink.
STEP6: THEY COLLECT THE PHYSICAL GIFT...
When they add the GTI application, their gift becomes instantly available in their account as an egift. They can redeem this at any time by selecting the 'redeem gift option' which sends out a secure product voucher in the post. The voucher can be taken to their local GetThemIn participating store and used to collect the physical product.
The service launched in the UK, and booze and nibbles can be redeemed at over 1500 locations across the nation:
According to the app page, service in the US is "just weeks away."
DOing anything with alcohol nationally in the US is a nightmare, as we have states from practically anything goes California to the state sells it Pennsylvania. Wanna hear war stories? Talk to the people at Wine.com who have spent a huge amount of time putting together a national distribution system amid an environment of more than 50 state and local regulators.
I like the ida of this service -- both as a business and a social outlet. Given that soc nets are essentially becoming subinternets, having easy buying opps in these environments seems a good idea.
But before you send me any booze, don't, as I am in recovery. ;-)
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
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