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04-17-2006, 02:27 AM | #1 |
Love my Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New Port Richey, Florida
Posts: 2,339
| Not too many gift exchangers! I was looking at the gift exchange thread, and noticed there aren't many participanting this time. I think its because of the $20 donation fee. I love this site, but I don't think that we should have to pay a $20 donation fee to join the gift exchange. Maybe $10 would have been enough. What is everyone elses thoughts?
__________________ Karen~ Bell, Lilly and Peter's Mom Rest in Peace <3 |
Welcome Guest! | |
04-17-2006, 02:42 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Brittany France
Posts: 2,420
| Yes i agree, although if i understand correctly this is because of people not sending their gifts out, so it has ruined it for others. Now the $20 is to make sure people are serious about it. Please correct me if im wrong
__________________ Anne, Pippa, Jake Woody |
04-17-2006, 08:34 AM | #3 |
Out to Spoil the World! Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Palm Springs, California
Posts: 2,709
| Unknowingly, I exceeded that donation request before the last gift exchange, which was the only reason I was able to participate without having 500 posts. I totally understand the thinking behind it... Someone who is willing to invest in the site is likely to stick around for a while. Someone who is not willing to contribute... well they may not feel as obligated to follow through, they don't have that sense of ownership and pride that comes with donating. It sucks to be on the short end of the stick... when you've shopped, wrapped, packaged, written your card and shipped your package.... And nothing comes for you... It sucks! It is an awful feeling and its not fair! I spent weeks shopping for our Valentine buddy, I would have been so hurt if I had been paired up with some flake member who did not finish their job and never posts again.... I need to make a small donation to bring mine up to the full 40 for both of my girls to participate... but thats no prob, I have gained so much from this site! Its worth every penny!!!!! Thank you admin for protecting a very fun and exciting event for me! I love the Gift Exchange! I want it to continue! And I think that with safe guards you have in place, I can look forward to many exchanges to come!!! As for the low sign up rate.... I need to get measurements on my girls before I sign up... But I agree, its much lower... But thats ok! I love the names I see in that list! I know that each one of them will send out! I am so excited!!!! I feel like whoever Admin gives us, we will have a blast shopping! I sat and scrolled through the names this morning and shopped in my head! lol I'm so ready for this one!!!!! All I can say is.... Details!!! Give lots of details!!!
__________________ Kathryn, Pixie and Chynna |
04-17-2006, 09:00 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member | not everyone can afford $20 plus $20 for the gift shipping insurance i think its very unfair to the people that did send out there gifts last time i feel like there trying to force people to donate at the beginning it was said it was ok to even donate 5-10 dollars now your being told to pay $20 this is supposed to be a free site not everyone is made of money |
04-17-2006, 09:23 AM | #5 |
Out to Spoil the World! Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Palm Springs, California
Posts: 2,709
| They are not "forcing" anyone into donating, anymore than they are "Forcing" them into joining the Gift Exchange. I agree, there have been times when I would not have been able to make the donation. I also know that during those times... I might not have needed to be participating in such activities... ( please don't grill me for that one ladies, or gents! ) This is a free site! And it is a free site because of the DONATIONS! And the Gift Exchange is not something that EVERY member particpates in... Its costly, especially if you have more than one dog I will easily spend 50 to 60 on each of my buddies... I would like to think that the other members in the exchange are just as excited about it as I am... do I expect them to over spend like me?? no, will some?? yes! But do I want someone who can't afford to contribute signing up and realizing that they can't do it because they simply cant afford it, thus leaving someone without their gift? Not really. It sounds harsh... I know. But it protects them too. They won't be put in the position to have to back out. Just my thoughts....
__________________ Kathryn, Pixie and Chynna |
04-17-2006, 09:29 AM | #6 | |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member | Quote:
its very unfair i know there are a few people like me that cant pay that much but have joined in the other ones and HAVE sent there gift its not our fault that people backed out but im sure they had a good reason too | |
04-17-2006, 09:41 AM | #7 |
Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa
Posts: 12,552
| There are always a few people who ruin things for everyone else. But I don't think asking that you make a donation is unreasonable. If you can't afford to do both at this time, then make your donation this time and wait til next time to do the gift exchange. You don't have to make the donation every time. I am not doing the exchange at this time, because Ollie is only 16 weeks and doesn't need a thing, and I'm buying another puppy so money is a little short right now. It's no big deal, maybe next time. I'd rather have the new puppy than a gift. I do think the gift exchange is a nice idea and I believe it helps us to get to know each other better. I wish I could participate this time but I can't. |
04-17-2006, 09:41 AM | #8 |
Just me 'n my boys Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Murphy, TX
Posts: 4,596
| I see both sides. But I don't think $20 is a lot of money for donating. I thinks it's admins way of making sure you are serious and will follow through. If someone can't afford the $20 donation, then they probably can't afford to do the gift exchange. Seems like they've had some problems in the past. One could always use the $20 to donate now, and then participate in the next gift exchange. That way you don't have to dish out a ton of money all at once.... just a thought.
__________________ "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone is fighting some kind of battle." Alphy 's Roxy |
04-17-2006, 09:53 AM | #9 | |
Donating YT 10K Club Member | Quote:
You could donate now and then you would be eligible to participate in the next one. It's unfortunate a few bad apples spoiled it...... PS I've exchanged gifts without admin's knowledge or permission. Perhaps you could do that with one of your YT friends?
__________________ Deb, Reese, Reggie, Frazier, Libby, Sidney, & Bodie Trace & Ramsey who watch over us www.biewersbythebay.com | |
04-17-2006, 09:57 AM | #10 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hesperia, CA
Posts: 741
| Originally Posted by Kathryn_V They are not "forcing" anyone into donating, anymore than they are "Forcing" them into joining the Gift Exchange. Couldn't have said it better myself!!! YT is like a free library of information. You can come here ANYtime you want. It's always open, and for the most part, you can get your question answered, pictures shared, or just let off steam! Who else can you turn to and ask some of the questons that are asked here? Anything from "How to do Easter Eggs?" or "Where is the "Boom-Boom Tree?"!! I think Admin is doing a great job managing this site, and if they feel it's necessary to put limits or restrictions on things, then so be it! After all, if it weren't for them, where would we all be RIGHT NOW?!?!? JMHO!! Suz
__________________ Suz The more people I meet... The more I love my dogs!!! |
04-17-2006, 09:59 AM | #11 |
Donating YT 14K Club Member | I can understand the need for it. How would one feel if they went out, bought gifts for their secret buddy and then got nothing in return? That is NOT right! I also feel that members that have done this should be banned. A lot of time is spent driving around, finding those perfect gifts and for someone to take advantage of it...
__________________ As always...JMO (Just My Opinion) Kimberley |
04-17-2006, 12:18 PM | #12 |
Administrator | We're sorry if anyone is upset at the minimum donation amount required to participate. The $20 amount is in combined donations (and one-time only), so you could make a donation of $5 per month for four months if you would like. We've always said it's okay to donate whatever amount you can afford to YorkieTalk, but we've never said any minimum amount would be okay to enter the Gift Exchange until just a few weeks ago. We have never changed the minimum required donating amount to participate in the Gift Exchange, which is $20. If were were only out to make money from the Gift Exchange, we would require a fee for every Gift Exchange a member partcipates in, but this is not what we are doing nor do we plan on requiring a fee each time to participate (unless a member is not in the USA or Canada). The donation would also allow you to enter one Yorkie in all future YT Gift Exchanges. YT remains free to everyone due to donations and a few advertisements. Without it, we couldn't survive at all and YorkieTalk would be shut down. Thankfully, we have quite a few Donating Members and we do get a bit of revenue from the ads, which helps us tremendously. A member can search, post, share, get free advice, and upload pictures, all for FREE after a person registers. Our original goal of a free, public Yorkie community still remains intact to this day. To show our appreciate to our Donating Members, we do give them a little something extra. Again, the Gift Exchange is something "extra" and no one is required to take part in it. We have had several people take advantage of our kind YT members in the past, which we feel is ridiculous and wrong. We have happily made a gift box (and paid for it ourselves) for those that did not get gifts from their scheduled Secret Buddy, however, we believe it is a lot more special and fun when a member gets a gift from a Secret Buddy, rather than from YT itself. It is simply unfair to those that have spent a great deal of time shopping and making the Gift Exchange fun. We don't "force" donations on anyone, but we simply can't take the risk of anyone not sending a gift any more. Hopefully, this will ensure that everyone that signs up will send out a gift. Members always can exchange gifts with other members or friends on their own if they would like. We're quite happy with our Gift Exchange signup rate, we've already had 38 Yorkies sign up in just a few days. We had a total of 73 Yorkies in the last Gift Exchange, which was the biggest one yet! Last edited by admin; 04-17-2006 at 12:24 PM. |
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