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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Absolutely! The recipient becomes a real shareholder of the company entitled to anything a shareholder gets like annual reports, declared dividends, invites to shareholder meetings etc. That's what makes this gift so unique!

    Except for a handful of companies that no longer issue paper, you can opt for the authentic stock certificate.

  2. Glad you asked! We give you exceptional value because our business focus and processes are all geared toward delivering 1 share of stock packaged as a gift. We are easier, faster, cheaper, and less bureaucratic than a stock broker plus we provide custom framing and other gift oriented items. Many brokers come to us or refer clients to us.  We do not provide investment advice.

    As of  2009, brokers CANNOT deliver the authentic paper stock certificate because of an industry-wide push toward electronic ownership (see stock certificates). We are still able to get them for most companies because we work directly with the transfer agents.  In the rare cases where a broker can provide a physical certificate, they charge commissions PLUS a $500 certificate delivery fee. See better than a broker.  See also: ?

  3. Yes. We sell one share ownership at the price stated on the website.  You can buy multiple single shares but the price remains the same for each one and you would get that many one share certificates in whatever frame you chose. For those wanting to buy multiple shares under the same name, if your primary purpose is to buy as an investment, you should consider going to a registered stock broker.

  4. Yes.

  5. No. No accounts, no hassles - fast and easy!

  6. The legal stock registration process normally takes 3-7 weeks but you have several options to get something fast:

    - Authentic Stock Certificate orders ship in 3-7 weeks but you can get a framed placeholder which leaves our AZ office in 1-2 business days (see 2 Part Delivery).
    - Replica w/ Electronic Registration orders leave our AZ office in 1-2 business days (more...)
    - Non-stock orders usually leave our AZ office in 1-2 days.

    We also offer Gift Announcements and expedited USPS/UPS shipping. Contact us about your gift deadlines and we can help you determine the right course of action.

  7. It's easy! Go to our stock list to look at our growing list of companies or if you want one that is not on our list, go to custom stock page. We have many ways to search for just the right stock - by recipient, by occasion, by price. Once you have decided on the stock you want, select it and you will be given a chance to customize your order (frame type, color, plaque engraving, gift-wrap, kids package etc.). The shopping cart guides you through the process.

  8. In order to legally register the recipient as a shareholder, we normally just need his/her name, address, and adult custodian name if the recipient is a minor. A custodian is a parent, guardian or some other responsible adult.Depending on the transfer agent for the company you are buying, we may need the recipient's tax ID # for registration (): If needed, we ask for it on the page. If you don’t have this information, you can select our 2 Part Delivery option and we will include the request with the shipment of the first part.

  9. No, but we do offer an attractive cardboard frame for  $1.  Note that most stock certificates are an odd size (generally 8" X 12"). See price comparison.

  10. Our stock list has over 100 stocks (and growing) that we inventory. We do have the ability to get other NYSE or NASDAQ stocks that are not on our list. See custom stock page.

  11. Yes. We require the recipient's address in order to register the stock, but during the ordering process you will also be asked to provide a 'Bill To' and 'Ship To' address that can be different, giving you all the flexibility you need.

  12. See 2 Part Delivery page.

  13. See our Gift Announcement page.

  14. See Important Shipping Information.

  15. Each company has a transfer agent that manages their stockholder activity. GiveAshare.com works with these transfer agents to get the stock registered in the recipient's name. Once registered, the company whose stock is purchased, may send the shareholder correspondence such as a welcome letter, dividend check, request to participate in the dividend reinvestment plan, or a W9 Form. In certain circumstances, this can even occur before receipt of the physical stock certificate. The reason is that the registration happens first and then the physical certificate is issued to GiveAshare.com for quality review, framing, packing and shipping.

    We have developed a patent pending process that enables you to get a tangible gift without spoiling the SURPRISE. During checkout, you must select 2 Part Delivery and then put in your Gift Date and we will adjust the registration process to ensure nothing gets sent to the recipient.

  16. We can complete the stock registration process without a SSNO for most stocks (see list).  The company (or their transfer agent) will send the new shareholder a W-9 form (W-8BEN for non-U.S.) after the fact.

    There are some companies that require a SSNO (only for U.S. citizens) in order to for us to register the stock. We only ask for this information for those companies that require it (see list). We take great care to protect this information with strict internal processes and policies that include not collecting or storing this information on web servers and properly destroying the information after use.  If you do not have the SSNO or if it would ruin the surprise by getting it from the recipient, we recommend selecting 2 Part Delivery which allows the shareholder to provide their SSNO after the gift (color copy 1st part)  is given.

    In the special case where the new shareholder is a foreign citizen who temporarily resides in the U.S., we will need a completed W-8BEN form from the shareholder to register the stock. We recommend choosing 2 Part Delivery and contacting us so that we can send the correct W-8BEN request to the shareholder with their 1st part.

    All banks and financial institutions (like transfer agents) are required to get this information which is used to verify identity and prevent money launderers and terrorists from gaining access to the stock market.

  17. Yes, but only under adult supervision. The name of a custodian must be provided for stock that is being bought for a minor. A custodian is a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult whose name will also appear on the registered stock. Only one minor child and one adult custodian name can appear on the stock certificate.


  19. Yes. However, we cannot register the stock until we have a name for the child (and an adult custodian). What you can do in this instance, is purchase a stock using our 2 Part Delivery. We will send the 1st part of the order out without a name, and hold off on registering the stock until you or the new parents have provided us with a name for the child - after he or she is born. See our baby shower packages.

  20. At GiveAshare.com your satisfaction is extremely important to us. Many of our processes (certificate registration information and plaque engraving information) use exactly what you enter so it is critical that you double check the information you provide so that you end up with exactly what you want. You get both an on-line confirmation and an email confirmation. Please see our return policy for more specifics.

  21. Yes. Go through the normal checkout process to make all of your selections to price out your order including shipping (select "Phone Order" as the payment method). Then print out the order and call us at the contact numbers provided.

  22. This is the fee that we charge for providing our service which includes stock purchase, legal registration, and gift processing. We offer one-stop-shopping at a terrific price. See how we price and  price comparison to see the value that you get.

  23. You are entitled to everything that any shareholder gets. This can include annual shareholder reports from the company's management, declared dividends, invites to shareholder meetings, and any special shareholder perks (examples: Starbucks has given coffee cards in the past, IBM has given computer discounts, Willamette Valley has given wine discounts etc.). All of this makes for an everlasting gift that can be extremely educational and enjoyable.

  24. Scripophily is the hobby of collecting of old stocks and bonds. The word is made up of the English word "scrip" which represents ownership or right and the Greek word "philos" which means love. This is considered a hobby for some and an investment by others and in recent years it has exploded in popularity. Collectors are attracted by ornate artwork, printed signatures, historical significance, and aesthetics. The movement away from paper stock certificates has made this even more popular.

  25. Yes.

  26. You can buy any number of one share stock certificates but we cannot sell a multiple share certificate because of rules established by the SEC. For example,  you can buy five 1-share certificates at our price but not one 5-share certificate. Generally if you want to buy more than a few shares on one certificate, you should probably consider a broker. Contact us for help in deciding.

  27. Yes.  We can squeeze a few more characters on a line or add a fourth line, just contact us.

  28. The price on these publicly traded companies is constantly changing. We generally update our prices once a week (more often if the market is volatile). Note that our prices reflect the stock price, our fees, transfer agent fees, and any other fees required to register the stock as well as any adjustments necessary to meet SEC pricing requirements.   See how we price.

  29. GiveAshare is not a registered broker or dealer. We are allowed to do what we do by adhering to criteria established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We have structured our business, product and pricing to be in full compliance with the SEC guidelines such as selling stock only in 1-share increments, adhering to minimum prices (2x market price), and marketing our product as a gift or collectible and not as an investment. The intent of the SEC requirements is to steer those whose primary purpose is to buy as an investment to a registered stock broker. GiveAshare has been in business since 2002 and our stock list has grown from two to over one hundred world famous companies.

  30. The transfer agent begins with company-generic certificates pre-printed with the company logo and design and then runs them through a printing process to record the registration and authentication information. In rare cases, this printing process may leave slight creases or blemishes on the certificate. Each transfer agent has a slightly different process, some of which are more conducive to blemishes/slight creases on the certificate (generally Mellon, contact us for more info ). This process makes it the real deal!

    We perform a quality review to ensure that the certificate condition is consistent with what the transfer agent normally delivers to all registered owners.

  31. Yes! Generally you will be able to use a credit card but in some cases we may require a wire transfer to protect us from fraudulent orders.

    Please note that when shipping outside of the U.S., some countries like Canada and the U.K may charge additional taxes or custom duties/fees upon delivery which are not included in the price. Also, for international orders: UPS shipping methods provide tracking and are insured. With USPS: Express Mail International, and USPS:Priority Mail International, limited insurance is provided, and tracking is limited once the package leaves the United States. All other USPS options do NOT provide any tracking or insurance, so if you choose this option, you assume the risk of loss.

  32. Some companies have opted to record all shareholder ownership electronically instead of issuing paper stock certificates (see list). The recipient still becomes a real shareholder of the company entitled to annual reports, declared dividends, invitations to shareholder meetings and anything else afforded to shareholders. See how we handle these companies.

    The whole industry is moving to electronic registration in order to save money. Right now, 90% of the companies on our stock list still offer paper but at some point they will all switch so get them while you still can. See more about stock certificates.

  33. There is a movement in the industry away from physical paper certificates which adds to the collectible value of certificates. Although improbable, it is possible for the underlying company to either stop issuing paper certificates or charge a disincentive fee after an order is placed. In the unlikely event that this occurs, we will frame a personalized replica of the company's certificate and register the ownership electronically. This will look like the real thing and will represent the fact that the recipient owns one share electronically.  In addition, the shareholder will receive a Direct Registration Statement (DRS) showing his/her account number and proving ownership.

    In the unlikely event that the company you buy significantly changes the design of their stock certificate after the order is placed, the buyer will have the option of getting a mock-up copy of the original designed certificate with the recipient's name printed on it along with the real registered certificate (new design).

  34. You are a true shareholder and can do anything you want with your stock. You can sell your stock through a broker .  In addition, some transfer agents (who handle shareholder activity for your company) allow you to sell shares through them so this is another way to sell if available.

  35. We accept credit cards on most international orders. We perform a fraud check that flags high risk orders for more information or a different payment method like a wire transfer. The flags consider high risk countries like Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia and other high risk countries in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. If your order has been flagged for Wire Transfer payment, we will review your order and follow up with an email with wire transfer information.  It is unfortunate that a few bad apples can ruin it for everyone. We apologize for any inconvenience but we are a small company that has been burned by fraud in the past.

  36. These pertain to foreign companies that trade on a U.S. exchange. Introduced to the financial markets in 1927, an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) is a stock that trades in the United States but represents a specified number of shares in a foreign corporation. ADRs are bought and sold on American markets just like regular stocks, and are issued/sponsored in the U.S. by a bank or brokerage. ADRs were introduced as a result of the complexities involved in buying shares in foreign countries and the difficulties associated with trading at different prices and currency values. For this reason, U.S. banks simply purchase a bulk lot of shares from the company, bundle the shares into groups, and reissues them on either the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), American Stock Exchange (AMEX) or the Nasdaq. The entire issuance is called an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) and the individual shares are referred to as ADSs.

  37. Some customers who use Kaspersky Anti Virus have experienced error messages with payments on our site, but the payment goes through.  In order to avoid this problem, we recommend either:  1: Disable Kaspersky before placing your order; or 2: Place your order as a Phone Order, then call in with your credit card information; or 3: If you receive an error when placing your order, call or email us after your order is placed so that we can confirm if payment went through.