If you’re in sales, marketing, or revenue ops, you know sending gifts can open doors that cold emails just can’t. The problem? There are a ton of B2B gifting platforms promising “seamless engagement” and “delightful experiences.” How do you pick one that actually helps your sales team connect with real prospects—instead of just adding busywork?
Here’s a no-nonsense guide to comparing Postal with other B2B gifting platforms, so you can make a smart, practical choice that fits your workflow (not a vendor’s pitch deck).
1. Get Clear on What Actually Matters
Before you even look at features or logos, ask yourself: What are you really trying to fix or improve?
- Is it about saving reps time? (Automation, fewer steps, less manual tracking)
- Getting better response rates? (Personalization, delivery tracking, follow-up options)
- Proving ROI to your boss? (Analytics, CRM integration, spend control)
Write down three must-haves. Ignore everything else for now—shiny features are a distraction if they don’t move your numbers.
Pro tip: If you’re not sure, ask a couple of your top reps what slows them down or what they hate about your current gifting process. Their answers will save you hours.
2. Put Postal and the Alternatives Side-by-Side
There are dozens of platforms—Postal, Sendoso, Reachdesk, Alyce, and more. Don’t get buried in a spreadsheet. Instead, compare the basics:
Core Areas to Check
- Gift catalog: Variety, quality, global reach, digital vs. physical gifts
- Integrations: Does it plug into your CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot), sales tools (Outreach, Salesloft), and marketing automation?
- Ease of use: Can a new rep figure it out in 30 minutes? Or will you need a training session?
- Sending options: Batch sending, 1:1, automated triggers
- Branding: Can you personalize the experience or is it “Powered by Vendor” everywhere?
- Support and SLAs: How fast do they respond if something’s broken or a client’s shipment gets lost?
Warning: Every vendor says they “integrate with Salesforce.” Dig deeper—does it actually write activity back to the right record, or just dump data somewhere useless?
3. Test the Buying and Gifting Experience Yourself
Don’t just watch a demo. Use the platform like your reps and prospects will.
- Sign up for a trial or ask for a sandbox.
- Send yourself and a colleague a few gifts: Try both digital (e-gift cards, donations) and physical (swag, snacks, whatever fits your brand).
- Track the process: How many steps? Is it clunky or smooth? What does the recipient see?
- Look for red flags: Delays, confusing emails, impersonal packaging, pushy vendor branding.
What you’re looking for: Does it feel like a thoughtful gesture—or a marketing automation tool pretending to be thoughtful?
Postal-specific note: Postal has a strong focus on local vendors and experiences, not just Amazon stuff. If you want to send something unique (not just another Starbucks card), that’s a real differentiator.
4. Compare Real Integrations—Not Just a Logo List
Integrations are where B2B gifting software either makes your life easier, or adds another place for deals to fall through the cracks.
Key Questions
- Is the integration two-way? (Can you send gifts from inside your CRM, and does gift status/ROI show up on the contact or opportunity?)
- Can you automate based on triggers? (e.g., send a thank-you after a demo is completed, or a gift when a deal hits a certain stage)
- Are there permissions and controls? (Can you limit budgets or approvals for your team?)
Postal’s take: Postal’s Salesforce and HubSpot integrations are decent, but you’ll want to test them with your actual data. Some platforms have “integrations” that are really just Zapier workarounds.
5. Look at Pricing—and the Surprises Under the Hood
No one makes this easy. Pricing for B2B gifting is usually a mix of:
- Platform fee (monthly/annual)
- Per-gift costs (sometimes marked up, sometimes not)
- Shipping and handling (often hidden)
- “Warehouse” or storage fees (for physical swag)
What to watch for:
- Minimums: Some platforms require you to commit to $X per month, which is fine if you’re running big campaigns, but a waste if you’re just testing.
- Add-ons: Want branded packaging? Custom curation? That’s likely extra.
- International: Shipping outside the US can get expensive fast.
Ask for a sample invoice based on your expected use—not just the “starting at” pricing page.
6. Measure What Matters (And Don’t Get Distracted)
Vendors love to talk about “engagement” and “delight.” That’s nice, but you need hard numbers.
Track:
- Gift acceptance rates: Are people actually redeeming what you send?
- Meetings booked or responses after gifting
- Pipeline influenced (not just “touched” by a gift—did it help move the deal?)
- Rep time saved (qualitative, but ask your team)
If the platform can’t report on these, or only gives you vague “engagement” scores, be skeptical.
7. Check What Happens When Something Goes Wrong
This is the part no one wants to talk about—until it happens.
- If a gift gets lost, who handles it?
- Can you recall or replace a shipment?
- How fast does support actually respond?
- Are there SLAs?
Search for real reviews, not just testimonials. Check G2, TrustRadius, Reddit. Look for complaints about support, delays, or surprise fees.
Postal’s reputation: Generally, Postal is solid on support, but every platform has horror stories. Ask for examples of how they handled a fiasco and see how honest they are.
8. Don’t Get Sucked in by Gimmicks
You’ll see features like AI-powered suggestions, “gamified” gifting, or recipient address confirmation flows. Some are useful; most are just noise.
What actually helps:
- Easy recipient address confirmation (without being awkward)
- Personalized gift selection (not just generic mugs)
- Simple workflows your reps will actually use
Ignore the rest unless you have a real, specific use case.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple (and Don’t Be Afraid to Switch)
Switching gifting platforms isn’t fun, but sticking with a bad one is worse. Start with your real needs, test with your team, and don’t overthink it. The best platform is the one your reps actually use—and that your prospects appreciate.
You can always start small, measure, and change course if it’s not working. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. And remember: a thoughtful, well-timed gift beats a fancy platform every time.