I wholeheartedly agree with Nancy 1999...:thumbup:Start small and work up to a larger size. Try it as a test run and work out the kinks as we go along. I Love the pics idea, That way the donater would see the joy their contribution made for someone else! I think this is a great idea and if we work together, We can make it work. We all have things that our pups don't use or out -grew and this is a fun way to re-home it and meet members from other states we talk to on here!

I'm really loving the Virtual Treasure Box concept. I had actually thought the Physical Treasure Box sounded fun, but not ideal, and was only going to share in the fun through the readings/postings. I would not have participated for various reasons including the fact that I live in Canada, though I can possibly work through USPS (I can receive from a US address so that the one shipping to me can use USPS flatrate, however, I would be shipping out through Canada, or even through USPS as well but I'd need an invoice for that :p) so I wouldn't know what to "declare" as the value of the "gift" box still since no matter what, a value needs to be entered, "used" material or not. This is also why I had not posted earlier as it would not have involved me at all.

However, if it's the Virtual Treasure Box, I may very well be participating. It sounds fun and very much do-able. I love the idea of lusting over goodies posted when it's far from being my turn to pick! This way, it might even open this up for members overseas. They might be able to take their turns and choose from the members/items posted which states "international shipping friendly (Disclaimer: all within reason which includes all countries less Bangladesh--not to discriminate, but you know, be reasonable! LOL)".

How we take our turns should perhaps be like drawing a number out of a hat with the help of a neutral party like one or several of the admins who may not be participating. I think the VTB is the most practical way to handle cross-country and even international participation. Otherwise, I guess, sadly for me, I would have to just sit at the sidelines and only enjoy looking in at your American fun. :(

I like the physical treasure box idea if it was amongst a smaller group of friends/strangers, although, I, too, wouldn't mind passing along a box after having pulled nothing out of it, but not everyone burns money the way I do :rolleyes: so I understand the other side of things perfectly.

Also, I would be one of those only participating in the clothing and accessories chain. I do not feel comfortable with washed or unwashed gently or barely used chew toys. :p

I'm starting to warm up to the Virtual Treasure Chest idea. :) One thing that would be nice is that it would be much easier to have multiple chests going for toys, carriers, M/F - S/M/L clothing.

Here is another question: what happens if you list something, it sits there for a while, and then three months later, someone asks for it? And you haven't logged in that week? Do we have rules that things must be shipped by a certain time, or do we rely on people's good nature (and attentiveness to YT) to ship it out at some point?

With a real box, you know when you are next in line, and it's clear when you need to send it along.

I'm still envisioning that people take turns so that there are no arguments about who gets a hot item.

I like BOTH ideas....the "traveling treasure"...and the virtual one....ALot of good points have been brought up about clothing size...

I have 2 different size clothing that I can share...and maybe someone out there with MED....has several too...

HMMMM wonder if to start the box for each sex...if several people pull together and put their various sizes in the box...before it ships out....that way the first person getting it has several sizes to choose from...it doesn't cost hardly anything to ship a couple light items in an envelope...like maybe $2.00...And when the box goes around if its sent to people according to their sizes then it would be more likely that others that get it down the line will recieve sizes they need too...

When everyone signs up...they can specify sizes they are looking for ...and sizes they have to donate....

That's just an idea....:rolleyes:

And the Virtual one sounds fair for all those outside of the U.S. that wanna play too....:D

as far as the virtual treasure chest...it could be set up on a website and everyone can post their items with details...when someone sees something they want they add it to their cart and pay the shipping cost by paypal which goes into a paypal account set up for the treasure chest.. the person with the item contacts (the keeper of the site ) who aranges to pay the postage out of the paypal account and then the poster ships it...noone is out any money and the person getting the item only pays postage for the items they want...

Now we would need to raise funds to buy the domain name and pay for lifetime hosting (approx a total of 60-75 dollar for initial setup then the only recurring cost would be the yearly domain name fee...

hope this helps...of course someone has to be the keeper of the flame so to speak..
:)

Maybe IF we truly take turns even in the case of a virtual chest, it would encourage the sender to ship it out ASAP and the recipient to post of his/her reception of it. Although with the case of an overseas parcel, depending on location, it can take weeks or months. This would then mean the next ones in line would have a long wait before they can resume this "tag" game.

So I'm still not sure how that should work. If maybe we make exceptions for the ones located further out after we do a head count of how many international members sign up for this, we can perhaps make the exception for their turns? In that the next in line can go on with their turn without having to wait for the overseas recipient to confirm the arrival of their parcel first?

Also with the virtual box, if the size really doesn't fit and their babies really can't stand the style or choice of clothing mommy/daddy has picked out for him/her, well, that can always be posted up again for the next round or the same round as their own contribution? I mean, just because we will be taking turns with the choice, it wouldn't stop others from ADDING to the chest throughout this "game" of treasure tag or what have you. By the end of this, maybe the virtual chest wouldn't have any more or perhaps will have even less "unwanted" items left unclaimed because they happen to be the least desirable to most eyes/mind. With a physical chest, it would really have to make a lot of rounds before someone might found the leftover "trash" to be their very own "treasure" sort of like a restaurant sushi bar with the conveyor belts, or even a buffet style setting. Yes, I'm likening everyone's treasure to food--I apologize if I'm offending anyone. :p

But with either the physical or the virtual, I hope participants would practice patience. I can imagine how strained it would be because everyone would be refreshing the YT page daily or even hourly if not more frequently to look for the good news to see when the game will progess to its next stage/person. I can imagine this getting as crazy as the normal GE that I've read... and mostly avoid reading... but I hope that with this discussion and brainstorming, people will just relax for this one and wait... and wait... and wait... quietly or maybe accept that the recipient will post an update of whether or not the parcel arrived safely upon the ETA stated by the shipper. Then we get maybe one update a day ever after and not expect more than that? That seems reasonable to me, but maybe not to others.

yeah there would need to be a page with the list of participants...then when you choose something you need to add something at the same time...then go to the list page and post your name and date you chose this triggering an e-mail to the next person to let them know it's their turn ...that would mean that the next person in line has 2 days to make their choice and add their item...if the don't do it in the time allowed they miss their turn and it goes on to the next person till it comes around again...

One of the rules to participate is that you must login once a week to check on things..


just ideas..;)

Also, with the virtual idea, having the organizer or trusted/neutral party (well, I trust QuickSilver as the organizer but am open to giving more work to the admins), gather from every participant the pictures and descriptions (sizes for clothes/carriers/accessories, material of toy if it's not obvious) then compile an album either on YT or another site would be ideal. Of course, maybe leave room for the owners of the items to post notes or edit/correct notes to state where they'd ship to and so forth if such information hadn't already been submitted in the first place. I think an album type of setup is ideal.

After the one(s) responsible for compiling this "catalog" finishes, we'll have it figured out by then the order of pickings, then comes the day of reveal! That's when all participants get to see what goodies there are to choose from! Then perhaps, say, make the start date 3 days after revelation. That gives everyone a chance to peruse the inventory including the person first in line. Again, I think it would be great if participants are allowed to add more to the catalog as items vanish at their discretion.

IF "fair trade" is really that important to the majority, then maybe "ticket numbers" or something to that nature can be arranged. Like a list of people who will be picking through the "accessories" treasure pile vs the "clothing" pile and next to their names, perhaps a number indicating how many they're entitled to. But I guess this is when a physical chest prevents some ugliness and/or discontent, at the same time, would be the cause of some disappointment. :( In either event, both virtual and physical need to be played with some faith in our peers. :)

Sorry for taking over this thread with my long and numerous posts! My thoughts just keep coming in spurts. :p

For how many items to take and such... I'm thinking maybe for the ones who love giving, they can give as many as they want and add that to the initial compilation while that shouldn't stop them from adding more as the game progresses. However, the "takers" each only get to choose, say, 2 of each type of item at a time. Like, 2 articles of clothing (I'm just inserting a random/safe number) and maybe 2 units of toys and 2 accessories or 1 big accessory (i.e., carrier). It doesn't matter how many items they contributed, but hopefully, they contributed something at the start as a minimal of some contribution or other should be a basic requirement to participate. The real numbers should be decided upon receipt of everyone's "entries". Whereupon, the organizer can do the quick math and figure, with the assumption that no one will be adding any more to the pile during the playout, how many units can we say each person gets to choose so that when it comes to the last person in line, there will be at least one more or two more items than the maximum s/he can take out left so that even s/he has a "choice"... albeit a very limited one, nonetheless, a choice still. I have a feeling this wouldn't be a real concern since the givers will always enjoy giving more and the takers will maybe catch on to the fever and want to give some more within reason too. Since this will undoubtedly stretch over quite a period of time, there would undoubtedly be more "things" to contribute later on as our pups grow out of their things and so forth.

This also works well with participants who have younger pups. If they're not yet fullgrown, they can still participate and pick from the sizes available to them that better fit the current size of their pup by the time it reaches their turn. Some pups grow quick, some rather slow. So it's a bonus that you don't have to commit to a size until it is your turn.

So essentially, an example, but if I were, say, to put in 10 Monkey Daze suits and 10 PetFlys carriers, I mean, no matter how many "less attractive" or cheaper dollar store (they have cute clothes too, but just giving an example!) suits and carriers the first buyer decides to purchase or "cheat" with or to contribute from their own unused pile, the next person still gets a chance because this potential "cheater" can only get away with taking, say, 2 of them.

Just want to say again that I really, really like this idea! Thanks Quicksilver for initiating! It's a refreshing concept and recycling/giving in general especially in these times is a plus in my book! The virtual idea really is sounding a lot more manageable and I might suggest your looking into Freecycle if only to glean from their rules and guidlines, which are pretty strict and straightforward. It is run by Yahoo and managed by regions, I think. The only difference in this case would be that we would be mailing the items whereas here, people come and pick them up. We either post: "Wanted" or "Offered." The one who "offers" an item naturally has a bazilliion replies but it is they who chooses who they would like to give or "recylcle" the item to. So, in a sense, it is first come first serve, but not always.....just a thought....:rolleyes:

I'm only using those brands as examples, as I can just as well say, 10 chattiesmom harnesses and 10 tinkerbells closet clothing as they're all gorgeous!

(Sorry for yet another post, the other one wouldn't let me edit yet another unfinished thought. :p)

Wow, I like that thought too. LOL. But I know I'll be biased to my favourite yorkies! Haha. And I only have their looks to judge them by... ;)

Well....not really...I'm sure we all are holding on to some teeny tiny things (I am...for some reason...hmmm :rolleyes:)...but there's always newbies with new babies needing clothes!:D

You know, it's fun just to read the thinking processes and planning that goes into something like this. I can foresee something like the following working and other than the virtual "catalog," a simple spreadsheet should do the trick.

Suppose you ran a catalog based on the seasons? Assume that each season has 3 months... Summer: June, July, August ; Fall: September, October, November ; Winter: December, January, February ; and Spring: March, April, May. I would suggest planning and setting up and the actual beginning of the virtual shopping starting in June.

If, between now and May 31, each person participating vitually donated 2 items classified as summer by sending a picture with description/size, etc. to the organizer then the shopping could commence by June 1. The organizers could then "draw names" or use a random computer selection to determine the shopping order. As the item is selected, post either the number, code, or nickname of the shopper with the item. I would limit the shopping to one item so that the last person in the lottery pick would still have a selection. (Since it is virtual, no one is having to store the leftover stuff at the end of a quarter.)

During that June-August time period, shoppers would also be sending 2 items for the fall selection. At the end of August, the items left would become the clearance rack and be pushed to the bottom of the catalog while the new season's selections become the items of choice on September 1 with a new list of shoppers unless the first rotation has not been completed. However, beginning with the second shopping tour, the shopper would have the option of choosing 1 of the new fall listings or 2 of the clearance (last quarter's) items.

In this theory, no one would ever be left with a small inventory to shop from and although in a year you would be contributing 8 items, you would be receiving 4 items chosen from a rather large selection. As the Yorkies outgrew items, they could be recycled through this system and yet no one has the physical problem of storing or shipping large amounts of items.

The contributor of the item would pay the shipping of the item(s) to the shopper. While it would eliminate the ability to "try" the item, there is still the option of putting it back in stock another time.

This would require the organizer to keep a record of those participating, the two items donated by that person, a lottery of shoppers, and a catalog of a virtual store. If arranged by seasons with the next season superceding the last, the items not chosen would still be in view albeit in the clearance (out-of-season) rack.

Assuming there would be more American shoppers than international, the seasons would follow American seasons in their classification. This would only be totally out-of-sync for one rotation for some of our international friends since they could shop from the out-of-season racks if they wish.

All of this is just my take on what suggestions you all have been giving. This would allow those who wished to donate toys, etc. their Yorkie did not like/use but would not mean that someone opposed to such would have to choose them. To also help the fairness of the selections, one could put more inexpensive items into a "lot" and make the entire lot one selection.

Just my two cents...

.....sitting here thinking more about the Freecylce thing...but this of course would be GUGE....what if we just had a GUGE thread and posted either things "Offered" (with pics if poss.) or "Wanted" and PM from there? That way, no one's feelings get hurt, and the person offering can choose who they want to send the item(s) to? Once something is taken, we must post "Taken".....and the item that has been taken so everyone is aware. If a "Wanted" item has been met, and the person is so fortunate as to have found it, then they must post "Found" .... item ? It takes away from the treasure chest idea but it sure does illiminate a lot of red tape/sizes etc.....we still would need a thread moderator or manager like on Freecylce....again....just a thought???:rolleyes: