YorkieTalk Gift Exchange - Open for Suggestions!

[MrsPeanut]

I'm only suggesting this because I guess i get two cents too
What do you ladies thinking about asking for hint threads because the whole point of the GE is to get involved and have fun. The hint threads are the best part I think.

Pictures-
Maximum-Minimum-
Thankyou thread-

[admin]

Thank you for all your feedback, we apprecaite it and will take each post into consideration.

In no way did we mean to imply that handmade gifts are worth any less at all than store-bought items, as they are very special and meaningful. We at YorkieTalk have gotten handmade items and appreciate them dearly! If we were to institute a maximum, then the sender (and maker of the item) could then send "more" goods if they hand-made them, as it would count less towards the maximum amount. Also, because there is no way to value home-made items that aren't for sale, the cost of the materials is the only way to determine value.

All members (international or not) have the same amount of time to shop. We generally give approximately 4 weeks of shopping time. We believe this is enough time to shop, and if you special order an item, and it doesn't arrive by the shipping deadline, you may ship it later in a separate box. The same shipping deadline applies to everyone.

The next Gift Exchange signup will start July 1, 2009.

[jencar98]

Originally Posted by Wabbit

I honestly don't think anyone meant to "devalue" handmade gifts!! Yes they are MORE valuable to me than store bought items...however for some that want to spend ALOT more.....but have a CAP (spending limit)...put on the GE....then counting just cost of materials...allows them to spend more...however on the flip side.... if someone wants to value a handmade bed or quilt etc....at "fair market price' that should be up to them as well!!


I also still like the "tier" idea....not sure how others feel about it...but that gives people the option...without guilt either way..

Allowing me to spend more on my GE's box is exactly why I like to send my handmade gift (s). I can donate my time, count material cost and still purchase store offered items. It's a way of further spoiling my GE and not breaking my budget

I'm of the mind that too many more added rules will complicate things unnecessarily. But, I'm willing to go along with what the majority and admin determines as best.

[Breeze]

I would like to add this again as I saw today one buddy is still waiting for their gift from the last exchange.



I suggest tracking numbers MUST be sent to Admin by the shipping deadline (on this exchange May 31st).

If not everyone who is participating has sent a PM with this info by then, then Admin and the wonderful YT members who ship out the replacement gift so every yorkies receives one would know to send the package sooner.

Then receiving buddy would not have to wait weeks after everyone else got their gifts and perhaps get it before the two weeks were up when others were still getting their gifts.

I really feel bad for this buddy.

[Wabbit]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I would like to add this again as I saw today one buddy is still waiting for their gift from the last exchange.



I suggest tracking numbers MUST be sent to Admin by the shipping deadline (on this exchange May 31st).

If not everyone who is participating has sent a PM with this info by then, then Admin and the wonderful YT members who ship out the replacement gift so every yorkies receives one would know to send the package sooner.

Then receiving buddy would not have to wait weeks after everyone else got their gifts and perhaps get it before the two weeks were up when others were still getting their gifts.

I really feel bad for this buddy.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE!!!!!!! I think that TRACKING NUMBERS SHOULD BE MANDATORY and required to be sent to ADMIN..when gifts are sent out!!!! That way when the deadline has hit...ADMIN will know who has shipped and who hasn't!!!!

VERY GOOD SUGGESTION!!!

[Breeze]

Thank you Tammy.

[linda44]

I too agree with the tracking numbers. I feel so sorry for Anne.

[twalla]

I have organized many Secret Santa, Boo Buddies, Office parties, etc. and know that Admin surely has their work cut out for them on each and every GE. I know that no matter what you do or how much you try, you cannot make everyone happy.

I know whatever decision is made that Admin will make the most appropriate one that is best for the YT Community.


ETA: I forgot to add my opinion


I like the idea of having a max limit and a required thank you thread.

[JMuedog]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I would like to add this again as I saw today one buddy is still waiting for their gift from the last exchange.



I suggest tracking numbers MUST be sent to Admin by the shipping deadline (on this exchange May 31st).

If not everyone who is participating has sent a PM with this info by then, then Admin and the wonderful YT members who ship out the replacement gift so every yorkies receives one would know to send the package sooner.

Then receiving buddy would not have to wait weeks after everyone else got their gifts and perhaps get it before the two weeks were up when others were still getting their gifts.

I really feel bad for this buddy.

I think this is a great idea!

[Ellie May]

I have never done a GE and probably will not in the near future but I would like to see the minimum of 100 posts needed to paricipate raised much higher. Someone can come on YT and have that within a couple weeks and nobody really has had time to get to know them or their Yorkie(s) at all. I forgot exactly how long you have to be a member to join the GE but isn't it like a month? I think that could also be changed to a maybe two or three months. Nothing against newbies but I think we should spend more time getting to know them first.

A thank you thread should be required. Pics should be strongly suggested but I don't think it's fair to make them mandatory. Not everyone knows how to upload pics and not everyone can get someone to do it for them.

[admin]

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yt-...gulations.html

We have added a few additional rules as we have gotten a lot of great feedback from our members in the past few weeks regarding our Gift Exchanges.

The minimum spending amount has been raised from $20 to $25. We are requiring that members include pictures of the Yorkie they are entering in the YorkieTalk Gift Exchange, as there have been several instances of members not knowing "who" they are giving to.

Since we are requiring photographs, we are also requiring members post pictures in the "Thank you" threads. YorkieTalk would be happy to help you with inserting pictures in threads, or if you want to mail us print photographs, we can scan them for you as well. Just let us know.

If members ship their gifts out substantially late and without reason or warning or notice to us, their accounts will be suspended for two weeks and they will not be eligible to participate in the next Gift Exchange.

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

We have decided not to implement any different tiers or levels of Gift Exchanges nor did we decide to implement a maximum spending limit. Please note that you should not expect to receive any more than $25 worth of gifts if you do participate. Some members may spend more, but that is completely at their discretion.

It is a requirement to send the tracking number (if it's available, sometimes there are no tracking numbers when you ship overseas or to Canada) to us after you ship your item.

Please do not complain about not receiving a gift until two weeks after the shipping deadline. We will look into it for you if you PM us and let us know you have not received your gift, and YorkieTalk does guarantee that you will get a gift. If your Secret Buddy is in Europe, it may take as long as three weeks to reach you. Thank you.

Starting with the 18th YT GE (November 2009), we will be requiring members that participate to be on YorkieTalk at least three months and have at least 250 posts. This will not apply to the 17th YT GE because there are several members who have signed up in the past month asking about their eligibility in the upcoming GE and we have told them they are eligible for the next GE. So we believe it would be unfair to "change" the rules on them at this time.

Please remember that YorkieTalk Gift Exchanges are purely optional and that while we wish we didn't need a long list of rules, these rules are designed so that everyone has a fair and fun GE, and that these rules were implemented after much thought and input, as well as through our GE experience.

We look forward to your participation!

[chattiesmom]

Admin -- Thank you so very much for taking on the huge task of organizing and overseeing the Gift Exchanges. They are such a great opportunity to get to know at least two YTers better -- the buddy you are shopping and the buddy you are receiving from PLUS others by reading their fun teasing posts.

I am so glad to see the new rules that you implemented. I can't wait for the next exchange!!!!!

[Weneebug]

I'm kind of new to the forum and would like to know how you get involved in the Yorkie talk gift exchange...and exactly what it is.

[TOY]

Well, I'll jump in and start the conversation since I have all of ONE whole GE under my belt...LOL

The others can tell you much more than I but here goes...

You'll need 100 posts and you need to be at least a $25 donating member to yorkietalk. Note that the rules are changing with the November GE (gift exchange).

If (when) you qualify, we sign up a month prior to the gift exchanges. If you miss one, there will be another one shortly since we do them 4 times a year (quarterly). The sign-ups and actual exchange are sign up in July, send gift in August; sign up in October, send gift in November; sign up in January, send gift in February; and sign up in April, send gift i May. Each sign up and gift sending period is independent of each other.

It's like the old-fashioned drawing names you probably did in elementary school except this time, you get a Yorkie's name to buy for. (Although it is not expected, most also include a "thinking of you" type gift for the Yorkie's human mama)

To add excitement to the mix ('cause you're not supposed to reveal whose name you have until the box is sent), we do "hint" threads with clues as to who we have. There are some really complex hints and then there are those like mine that immediately give it away <sigh>.

It's soooooo much fun that it's hard to describe in a post. You get so caught up in the hints and the fun in shopping for "your" Yorkie's buddy, watching for the box to arrive, and the thank you thread showing the Yorkie's delight in the gifts. Plus, you get a gift box from your buddy.

The best part about it is that this forum community becomes a neighborhood instead of a large city and you get to meet your neighbors. It's really a great way to get to know other Yorkie owners and their pets.

Get posting so you can join the fun!

[Wabbit]

Originally Posted by admin

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yt-...gulations.html

We have added a few additional rules as we have gotten a lot of great feedback from our members in the past few weeks regarding our Gift Exchanges.

The minimum spending amount has been raised from $20 to $25. We are requiring that members include pictures of the Yorkie they are entering in the YorkieTalk Gift Exchange, as there have been several instances of members not knowing "who" they are giving to.

Since we are requiring photographs, we are also requiring members post pictures in the "Thank you" threads. YorkieTalk would be happy to help you with inserting pictures in threads, or if you want to mail us print photographs, we can scan them for you as well. Just let us know.

If members ship their gifts out substantially late and without reason or warning or notice to us, their accounts will be suspended for two weeks and they will not be eligible to participate in the next Gift Exchange.

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

We have decided not to implement any different tiers or levels of Gift Exchanges nor did we decide to implement a maximum spending limit. Please note that you should not expect to receive any more than $25 worth of gifts if you do participate. Some members may spend more, but that is completely at their discretion.

It is a requirement to send the tracking number (if it's available, sometimes there are no tracking numbers when you ship overseas or to Canada) to us after you ship your item.

Please do not complain about not receiving a gift until two weeks after the shipping deadline. We will look into it for you if you PM us and let us know you have not received your gift, and YorkieTalk does guarantee that you will get a gift. If your Secret Buddy is in Europe, it may take as long as three weeks to reach you. Thank you.

Starting with the 18th YT GE (November 2009), we will be requiring members that participate to be on YorkieTalk at least three months and have at least 250 posts. This will not apply to the 17th YT GE because there are several members who have signed up in the past month asking about their eligibility in the upcoming GE and we have told them they are eligible for the next GE. So we believe it would be unfair to "change" the rules on them at this time.

Please remember that YorkieTalk Gift Exchanges are purely optional and that while we wish we didn't need a long list of rules, these rules are designed so that everyone has a fair and fun GE, and that these rules were implemented after much thought and input, as well as through our GE experience.

We look forward to your participation!

WOW!!!! Awesome changes ADMIN!!!!! I think this will REALLY help to make all FUTURE GE'S a MORE positive experience for everyone!!!!!

Thank YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

And it's REALLY kewl that you are changing post number requirements and time on YT for the 18th GE!! AWESOME!!!