If there was enough interest from these members, I'm sure the rules would change, especially if the compensation is the same as with Canada.

Re: Brackets. That's definitely a psychological win, ha ha! Spend $40-$100 is the same as setting a cap for $100. :) But I agree it would be better to do that. Say, the minimum remains at $40 and the max cap is then $80-$100 would be good. Or $100-$150 being the cap :D

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 :D. 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.

I read the stickies and this is written in the rules and regulations:

"5. Shipping and Receiving - Please allow 1-2 weeks shipping time! If you are participating, we are putting all our trust on you to get your buddy's gift and to send it out on time so that your buddy on the other end and their Yorkie will not be waiting for their presents for too long! It is in your hands to ship it and since we are all trusting each other, please do not forget to ship it out! If you do not ship out your gift, you will be held responsible for it. Again, this is based on TRUST so if you believe that you may not be able to ship it out on time or that problems may arise, please let us know as soon as possible! If your buddy does not receive their gift for any reason, you may not participate in the next Secret Buddy Gift Exchange and there may be other consequences as well!

PLEASE READ THIS IF YOU ARE SHIPPING TO CANADA OR A NON-USA ADDRESS:

We suggest you use the US Postal Service to mail to Canada or a non-USA address (as UPS and Fedex charges additional fees).

Also, please note to mark your item as a gift, and please do not claim it as more than $60, otherwise your Secret Buddy will have to pay import taxes on it. If you have any questions about this, please contact us. Thank you!

Please read the links below if your Secret Buddy lives in Canada:
Mailing Gifts to Canada - Stay Clear of Duties and Taxes When Mailing Gifts to Canada
Canada Post - Customs Requirements
"
Does this mean that I, for example, can be part of the GE?

This is exactly what I was saying. I know that there's no way I could stay within a cap because I shop too many sales and will definitely make an item or two. Most of the hand-made items are from things I already have so I can't provide a cost. So would that be considered as free when someone else who may purchase something similar would pay $40 for it?

The point of having the cap, from the arguments I'm seeing, is that people feel like that need to "out-do" someone else. Or feel obligated to purchase more than the minimum amount. But if we get someone who makes their own clothes/etc, and they send out 10 new clothes because they had all the fabric on hand, it still appears that this person spent more than the (let's say) $80-$100 cap.

In the end, I don't think that anything is really going to make everyone happy.

I never noticed that part you highlighted. For some reasons, I always thought it was only USA and Canada. Good question!! If a Mod or Admin don't respond here, you should PM one of them and let us know the answer ok? :)

I will do that :)

Thanks Terri....I missed the Canada part...lol! I'm a little slow, or too fast sometimes! :)

So, so far we have 46 people who have voted and 37 of those (an overwhelming majority) thinks we should have a cap of some sort. Very interesting..keep those votes coming!!! :)

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????

I dont participate in the gift exchange because I dont make anything home made and Im saving for my daughters college so theres only so much money I could spend. I know I would seek out cute things but I still dont think what I could do would be adequate. It may be silly but thats always what has held me back and if someone said that I didnt spend as much as them (not saying they would) or viewed my gifts as inadequate I would be crushed

I voted..thanks for putting the poll out.

We have discussed this several times before... IMO, even if you set a cap, it would be ignored by many. But, on the other hand, if it would get more people to sign up then great! I hate that people do not sign up in fear they will not make their buddy happy. It's not about the $$ to begin with! It's about fellowship and fun with other Yt members!

;);)Thanks Kendra...my thoughts exactly!

I have been in two of them and absolutely loved it. I have trouble with the baby talk so we tried. But we speak normal and never did the baby talk with the dd. But that being said I don't mind people doing it. My second buddy was Ahi from Hawaii. And that being said the shipping did cost a little. Of course it's hard to send a little box when you do the GE. She shipped two boxes. I sent one and I did put a little insurance on it so it cost. If you put a 80 dollar limit including shipping it wouldn't leave you a lot of money to spend. She sent some very cool things from Hawaii and my dh loved the teas and coffee. We loved both our buddies and will join again. Dh has been out of work for 18 months so had to sit a few out.
It is a lot of fun and have missed it.

The homemade items were my concern about the cap. Not sure how to handle that either. I liked the idea of a cap but this does raise a concern. I make fleece blankets which is nothing compared to your quilts. However, the issue s the same. Do I look at what I paid or the material or how much I would sell it for? Very good point to discuss.