Yes, you have to sign up. It is kinda like Secret Santa almost. You are assigned a buddy and someone is assigned you. It is just as much about the giving as it is the gift received. They are a lot of fun. As far as posting pictures and computer stuff, if you ever need help let me know. I have a masters in educ tech. :)

I have to say I agree with being a member longer. Maybe change the 250 posts to 500 posts and at least six months as a member. That way you can see and learn more about new members by their posts and if they are a member at least six months, they can observe how an entire Gift Exchange works.

Yes! You taught me how to start a thread! Thank you! And I have your name "in my book" so I can "use" your knowledge and pester you for help if I need to!

Haha. I didn't even remember that!! :):) Any time! I don't mind at all!!

I loved the two times I did the ge. I felt bad the second one as my husband got hurt and I was not home to get one of the teaser gifts. But I did let my sb know I had received it just was not home to open and post pictures. So life can change very fast. I was still able to get my box out in time but I made a special trip home to get the things and get it. So I understand sometimes things come up..

As more of an observer, my thoughts are, there were only 12 GE participants this last time. That's one of the smallest groups I've yet to see participate. I would hate to see another rule (or extension of a current rule) that would make it difficult for more members to enjoy.

It's a shame when there is a problem with the GE, but I don't know if it's possible to prevent all problems with continual rule changes.

I don't think the rule changes would have changed the number of participants. I've been on YT for almost 4 years now. In all that time what's kept me away is my personal budget. The packages that are sent out and the number of custom made items sent out must cost a lot of money. I can't compete. While logically, i know i dont have to spend as much as the next person, that's not the point of the GE. Regardless, it's incredibly intimidating, and I prefer not to participate. I'll sit on the sidelines until I can feel I can put together a box worthy of a SB.

I have been thinking about this for a bit and wanted to add 2 more cents into the mix. Forgive me in advance as it goes against most people's thought trends...and it will probably get me on "list" but...

1. I feel terrible that Riley and Theresa's extra hard shopping efforts and thoughtfulness haven't been acknowledged yet. Part of the fun of giving is seeing the recipient's pleasure in getting.

2. I don't think this is a "new member problem" - It's clear that her SB has been in a previous GE. It's clear that her SB participated wholeheartedly up until recieving her box - she did a very nice box for Riley from the looks of Theresa's Smilebox.

3. I would like to think this was a matter of circumstance - perhaps she had too much on her plate and a vacation planned and things got out ofcontrol or there's been a death or illness in the family? I think she made a choice I would not have, but truely if she was a planner, like me, she would have expected the GE to be over with by the time she got the box which was on the 8th... after the deadline. So yes 10 more days is alot but it's not like she didn't acknowledge how excited she was and it's not like she didn't send a box out herself.

4. Not throwing stones but things happen. I feel bad for Theresa and Riley but I also hope that we don't make this into a bigger thing than it needs to be and start throwing the baby out with the bathwater...

I also hope her SB is able to step up apologize and we can all move on. HOpefully there hasn't been an emergency either.

Please don't think I am pointing fingers at new members. That is not my intention here at all. I am just thinking if the guidelines were strict than maybe the more serious would participate. As a matter of fact, I know of one incident where the member was a long time member of YT. So that is not what I want to do. I am not sure if it would be best to increase the member time or what. I just can't imagine, as a former participate in the GE, how the person must feel to 1) Not receive their items or 2) Not receive a thank you from the person. I was blessed with great buddies on the giving and receiving end. Simply just wanting to get some suggestions from members for Admin to help prevent some of these issues in the future. I am really not trying to cause problems.

I also agree that things do happen. It is called life. We all have problems that come up. However, I am also a person who would try to get a message to Admin so my buddy would know what is going on. Even if it required me to get someone else to contact in my place. It is in the rules that you have to post a thank you thread. I truly hope it is nothing serious with the member. And I am not just talking about Riley's buddy at all here. There have been other issues in the past as well as this one.

Just hoping that we could come up with a few suggestions for Admin to consider to possibly prevent these type of things from happening. I know that you can't cover every issue by any means. But my feeling is if there were stricter eligibility requirements it might help.

First, and foremost, this thread doesn't just have to do with Mine & Riley's Box. There have been issues in every Gift Exchange.

As for this part of your 3) like me, she would have expected the GE to be over with by the time she got the box which was on the 8th... after the deadline. So yes 10 more days is alot but it's not like she didn't acknowledge how excited she was and it's not like she didn't send a box out herself.

[I'm not quite sure I am understanding this.....]

I sent my box on February 29, which is within the GE Rules and Regulations. Idaho being so far from DC..... It was scheduled to be delivered on the 6th. Well because of all of the tornados, etc. FedEx sent a notification that it would be delivered on the 7th... which it was, but Nobody was home to accept it.....She went and picked the box up herself on the 8th, sending me a PM verifying that she received it and Promising a Smilebox that night. Nothing Since.... and She last logged on, on the 10th.

Everybody who is receiving a box from anybody who is mailing the last week, or the last day is expecting to receive their box, after the deadline. That deadline is a deadline for Sending boxes.... not that the box has to be Received by that date.

Also the GE Rules and Regulations does not state that you are to: Acknowledge How Excited You Are.
It actually says:

If members do not post "Thank You" threads, their accounts will be suspended or banned and they will no longer be able to participate in any future Gift Exchanges.


Perhaps this is Exactly why the rules should be changed to members of 6-months or a year. So that people can get to know the other members and people can get to know how the GE is supposed to work.

As I have stated before, I really really hope there is nothing terribly wrong!

I have also stated that Admin has been notified and it is in their hands, now.
I have more important things to focus on.

Theresa, that section was not aimed at you at all. My only point was perhaps since it was coming after Feb she hadn't planned well with a busy beginning of march. I have no idea - i was just putting it out there that there could be other circumstances AND that it's not like this person was a total flake since she had been participating up until that point - you did get a box.

I'm not arguing with the rules or for your SB. I just wanted to point out my thoughts on changing the length of membership and that I didn't feel this was a solution to this particular problem.

Further I respect people's opinion who have been around longer than I - that it might be.

Sorry you took my point personally - it was in NO way intended to offend or point a finger at you - and I will say I know about packages from the NW, as I'm in the NW too. That's why I two day mailed mine. Besides having other carrier problems.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: fair enough and truth is you've seen this happen more times than I have.

Oops, I posted this suggestion on the wrong thread. Duh. Here is what I posted on Theresa and Riley's thread:

Last summer was my first GE, and I tried to just follow others and learn from how they were doing it. Maybe Admin could ask an older member to "mentor" the members who have been here less than six months to help them through their first GE?

I have not participated since then bc I have had a lot of health problems, and I just was not sure if I was going to be well and able to participate or sick in bed. I figured it was not fair to my buddy in case I got sick during the GE. I would wait until my health was a little better. -- Another idea is maybe there could be a "disclaimer", so to speak, to have ppl make sure their calendar is free during the time of the GE and that they are capable of meeting the "obligation" of being someone's buddy timewise? I realize unplanned things do happen, but sometimes these problems seem to stem from lack of planning. It seems like they are excited to participate in a GE and do not think about what it will entail to be a good buddy.

It is so sad to see such nice, generous ppl feel so unappreciated and uncared for as a result of a GE.

You all have been through more GE's than I and have seen a lot more problems, so maybe these suggestions would not help at all. It's just so sad to see someone left out when they are so generous and so look forward to these GE's. I remember how badly I felt for Shinja being left out of the last GE.

If that section was not aimed at me then why was my name, Riley's name and/or our situation brought up in every numbered paragraph??

I've been researching this since it was brought up. It looks like most of the issues that have happened with the current and past GEs has all involved members who've been with YT for longer than 6 months, and many for longer than a year.... So I'm confused on how restricting the requirements to those who have been members longer than 6 months or a year will resolve these issues.... Also this last GE was much smaller than previous, restricting will just make participating that much smaller, what would be the fun of that?