Have a drink on me, on the Internet
Where to find it: Give Real – www.givereal.com
Who runs the site: The site was founded in 2007 by Princeton graduates Patrick Ledbetter and Adam Ludwig. The site came about when Patrick and Adam wanted to share real drinks with friends and family across the country.
Who is likely to use the site: People who want to buy a drink or a meal for a friend from another state or another country.
Pros: Once when I was home for a break from college I went out with a bunch of high school friends and another friend joined us by phone. He was miles away at school and couldn’t make our impromptu gathering. But he told me to buy a round of drinks on him. A week later a check turned up in my name to cover his debt.
Now there is an easier way for people who live far away from their friends or families to share a drink or a meal without having to mail anything. The way Give Real works is that users sign up for an account and register their credit cards. Then when one person wants to buy a drink for another, they purchase a credit on Give Real. Users can suggest a drink or place, but they money can be used in any restaurant or bar in the United States that accepts credit cards. The friend or family member will receive an e-mail notice that they have received a drink or meal. When they go out to a restaurant and use the registered card, the drink credit will be applied when the transaction posts to the card.
The site is compatible with a variety of networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.
Cons: It’s a cool idea, but I’m still a little unclear on how the money works and the thought of my credit card linked up somehow with a bunch of my friends makes me a little uncomfortable. Try with caution.
