[McheleM]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

I agree! My furbabies don't "speak" baby-talk just as my skin kids never spoke in baby talk. So that just isn't something I would feel comfortable participating in. The hints are also something that, for me personally, are way too time consuming. I enjoy a teaser or two along, but the daily hints and having to follow ALL the GE threads that are started became more of a job than a joy. I almost hate to say that because I was one of the first members to do hints when I posted a picture of a dress that my buddy was going to receive. It was a lot of fun and boy did I enjoy teasing my buddy -- who happened to be blissfully unaware of my teasing because she didn't read the my thread . After that hints started, but were random as were teaser gifts. But as time went on there was a lot of debate about the GE hints and some members went so far as to say if a member didn't want to participate in the hint activities and/or teasers then they shouldn't participate because it spoiled the fun of others. I kinda quit doing GE's after that because I definately didn't want to spoil a GE participant's fun and I just don't have the time and/or energy to follow all of the hint threads.

Having a spending cap is completely on the honor system. If the members participating aren't going to be honorable and follow the GE rules then having a cap is purposeless.

Then there are the many questions like:

1) I made this item - do I count the retail price I sell it for or do I count the cost to make the item?

2) What about if I barter with another member for a product? Do I count the full retail price of the product or the "cost" to me to acquire the product?

3) I shop sales - again does the regular retail price count or can I just count the $$ I spent on the item at a huge % off?

The GEs that I enjoyed the most were the simple ones - the gifts were more from the heart than the pocketbook. My favorite gifts have always been those where my buddy read my posts to get to know me and found those few little items that would mean the most to us. Handmade gifts have always been our absolute favorite - I would always rather someone spend their time on me rather than their hard earned $$.

Anyway, sorry for the long post.... I voted for a cap, but I don't know what a fair spending cap would be.

Exactly...some of your questions are my own. Because if I joined a GE, my SB would get a handmade quilt and those can be valued from $100.00-$400.00.

I shouldn't have to change my gift because of a cap. And if I chose to go over that cap, am I then on a sh*t list? Do I get banned from further GE's? And like I asked before, who is going to police it?? Who's going to make me prove that my quilt is only a $100.00 quilt as opposed to a higher priced one? Who would know anyway unless they were a quilt appraiser????