i ditto this admin love this group and i tell everyone every where i go about yorkietalk if they have a yorkie so thanks for all your had work and we LOVE the GE met a ton of new friends and always look forward to it and always have a blast :)

woo hoo we will have fun we always do - so glad you are joining in this time - you will not be disappointed :)

I've just sat here and read this entire thread. :eek: It was a long read :p but even through the drama it was an interesting and pertinent read. Even though I've been on YT for about a year I am not yet a donating member, and therefore have never done a GE. (GE seem like a TON of fun and I'm always a little saddened when one passes, and we aren't able to participate, and I see how excited people are.) I've struggled with wanting to sign up, only for financial reasons. (Though GE or not I want to eventually donate since I really appreciate YT as the AMAZING resource that it is).

As a grad student living solely off of student loans (and about to move, so I need to find the money for moving costs and things) adding the numbers up is daunting. $25 to donate, $20 (min) of gifts, and then shipping the box (probably $15+), for some one in a tough financial position like myself $60+ (especially all at once) is A LOT OF MONEY!

That said, I completely understand both sides of the spectrum on this.

There is a min. spending amount and the GE is done on good faith, without the assumption that your GE buddy will spend as much as you. But I'm sure it would be really difficult to get a box and see that it is clear your GE SB only spent the minimum, while you spent way beyond that. It's not technically part of the GE but I would imagine it would be disappointing if you put in a lot of time and money to your SB and in return your SB was unable to do the same for you.

I know that if I were able to find the money to donate and then sign up for the GE I would automatically feel bad because all my gifts would HAVE to total under $25! And no matter how you swing it there are far more people that spend WAY beyond the limit than those that spend right around the limit. And I'd hate to be the one SB that did my best but that my package would be lackluster!

So it is daunting to read the "do's" and "don'ts" in the sign-up thread. Sometimes I contemplate being able to make this GE work, and then I read the specific requests (beyond just health limitations) and I fear that for a lot of these potential SB I wouldn't really be able to give them a package they would be happy with, as it just couldn't be overflowing and/or super amazing (I would try my best though). And yet even as I say this I desperately want to donate and sign-up, as this GE falls right around Zoe's first birthday, so while I can't get her that much, whatever her SB would get her would be birthday presents. (But then I think, $60+ to donate and participate or $60 towards a washer/dryer that we'll need in the new place, etc....)

In the end, it is important to get both sides of a story/issue. I too had been overwhelmed and a bit upset at some of the specifics in the sign-up thread but reading through why people have listed what they have sheds new light on things!

I hope all those that are signed-up have an amazing experience! (If I'm lucky enough Zoe will in this GE, I just don't know if I can make it happen this time.)

-Vicky

I think the concept of a GE is a wonderful idea. The excitment of receiving
as well as giving to someone you don't know is adventurous.
I have only been in one and that one didn't turn out too good.
I followed the rules and was mortified when our package arrived.
It was so loaded up with goodies I was embarrased that I only spent
1/2 that amountbutover the amount required. Plus I never got a thank
you. I guess I didn't spend enough for the receiving party! Although I
purchased the colors and things her little girl requested.
Personally I think too much is spent on gifts. One special gift is enough
to get excited over IMO. One specific item, color and size is enough
IMO for a successful exchange. It's fun shopping for the opposite gender
as well. We don't go in it any longer. I think it's just gotten out of control
in the way of spending and requesting items. Food allergies of course
need to be told to prevent receiving items not usuable.
I am glad so many still enjoy the exchange.
I wonder just how many no longer do it for the reasons mentioned above.

Just to be clear, and I believe I'm speaking for most people who have signed up already, I would love to get something I specifically asked for, or something similar, but I would never expect it. And when I list a lot of stuff, I assumed that someone would take one or two items from the list and use that as a starting point for things to make/buy. I listed a couple of things I liked from go-fetch, so maybe someone will see that and get some belly bands, but from a different vendor. Or they do something completely different. It's all good. I would feel terrible if someone spent money they didn't have buying Thor an expensive gift.

I don't want to squash the people who do love putting together incredible boxes... maybe we can make a collective pact to oooh and aaaah over EVERY gift box and appreciate the thought that went into it?

I can see also splitting the GE ranges, maybe from $20-$50, and $50+. Assuming that's not too much of a headache for admin.

As for me, I am not creative, and can't make anything. All I can do is spend money. :p

Archie, isn't it against the rules not to thank your SB? I mean, the SB who didn't thank you?

that is too bad as i have put both of my yorkies in each time and have done 4 or 5 times and have never been disappointed and do not think i disappointed anyone else so really too bad and have had such a great time with the threads and made some new friends I would have never met before and have a ton of laughs each time. I just feel bad for the ones that had a bad experience as luckily I have not at this point and why i continue to do them.

I've been reading this thread and wondering where it would all lead.

First, thank you Admin for all that you do to keep both this site and the various things we do here running. I'm sure the GE is a lot of work. I don't think we can tell you often enough how much your hard work is appreciated.

Second, I , loved, loved, loved participating in the gift exchange in the past, and both times spent more than the minimum $20. I loved shopping for someone elses furbutt, posting pics of the bounty we received each time, and hoping our SB liked their gifts. But in all honesty, I have more recently been a little deterred by the amount of money that is being spent. I would NEVER want to try to stop those who can afford to do so from spending as much as they want...but I do like the idea brought up in the previous post of splitting the GE into ranges. I don't know how much work that would create for admin, but it seems like a viable alternative that might allow more to participate.

i am not creative either but i am a good shopper lol - I think it would be too hard to do the two exchanges and people should just do what they can do and what might look real expensive may not always be if people are finding real good deals. I think the whole idea is for it to be fun and to meet people we normally would not meet and have some laughs and try to be creative and I know for me i like buying doggy stuff and love to spoil the fur butts. I am always amazed at all the creative people. I have had a great experience each time. I would be hurt too if someone did not post a thank you as that is just disrespectful but most people always post a thank you thread. No one should feel pressured to do it as it is suppose to be fun and only if you are in the place financially to do it as this is a hard time for alot of people and this is one of those extras so if it is not the right time then there is always other exchanges when times are better.

Aww how sweet!!! I just know somewhere someone is going to find them OR someone is going to give up their used ones!!! :D

Thank you for looking!!

lol i was so bummed as tried so hard - i am not giving up though :)

Amanda, I sincerely appreciate you starting this thread. It has been a wonderful sharing of information and I sincerely appreciate Admin for his/her:confused: contributions and clarifications. Since reading Admin's post it has really encouraged me to think about doing this exchange.

GO FOR IT, GIRL! :p

One of the reasons why I don't do the GEs is that we do have a long list of don'ts and I feel like it would just be too hard for our buddy. At the same time, I am not willing to compromise on what Ellie gets and if it is all going to end up being donated anyway, I'd just go to the petstore and fill up a box to send. If I am sending a box to someone for their Yorkie and the understanding is that in return we get a box for Ellie, I wouldn't want to just go and donate all of the stuff.

I kind of like seeing long don't lists because I like that people are picky about what their dogs get. Now in Ellie's case I just feel like it is way too excessive and unfair because we do no food, treats, chews, etc. and the rest of what she does get I am very picky about.

I will tell you that the long lists intimidate me, and it makes me uncomfortable to get a name where they have listed specific expensive items. When I started doing the GE's the intent and purpose was for people to send small fun gifts (remember the suggested $20.00 spending amoung) to someone you don't know. This isn't a direct quote from Admin, but close.

So with the original intent of the GE in mind, I have decided that I will most definately participate this go 'round. :D I sincerely hope that who ever receives my gift will be well pleased and will understand that I had a BLAST shopping for them.