the problem is to provide a business method and business operation / management apparatus intended to promote merchandise sales through an increase in the customer attraction and enhanced appeal of the gift - forwarding service by allowing the customer to exchange or deposit the value of the received gift merchandise . the solution includes a means of accepting an order through the internet for the simple purchase and delivery of merchandise , for the purchase of merchandise as a gift not accompanied by an option to select , or for the purchase and delivery of merchandise as a gift accompanied by an option to select ; a means of making an unconditional delivery upon acceptance of an order , either for the simple purchase and delivery of merchandise or for the purchase and delivery of merchandise as a gift not accompanied by an option to select , in which the necessary data is processed to deliver to the recipient the merchandise , as designated by the orderer , without granting the recipient an option to select ; a means of informing the recipient of the contents of the gift , upon acceptance of an order for the purchase and delivery of merchandise as a gift accompanied by an option to select , in which the recipient is informed , through the internet , of the contents of the gift as originally ordered ; a means of querying the selection , whereby the intent of the recipient relative to the offer of the gift is queried through the internet , in the form of giving to the recipient a choice between the “ take ” and “ credit ” relative to the gift as originally offered ; and a means of responding to and processing a selection , where upon selection of “ take ” by the recipient , the necessary data is processed to deliver the merchandise designated as a gift by the orderer ; or upon selection of “ credit ” by the recipient , the necessary data is processed to post a credit to the account of the recipient according to the price of the merchandise designated as a gift by the orderer ; wherein the credit posted to the account of the recipient may be applied to all or part of the amount of an order , either for the simple purchase and delivery of merchandise or for the purchase and delivery of merchandise as a gift not accompanied by an option to select .