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DPF Secret Santa 2013 ideas...

DPF Secret Santa 2013 ideas...
mylittletyguy said:
Quarterly pin pals! Yes! Lets do it!
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Okay, we should probably post this in Disney Pin Trading, right? Or where should we post this to start collecting names? I figure we can collect names for a month (until January 31st) and then we do a randomizer of all the names 1 through 20 (or how many ever sign up). Then the first name that is "chosen" is matched up with the last name on the list.

Sound like a plan? If so, I (or my sister) have no problem starting the new thread. We just want to figure out where to place the thread.
 
I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned, but I think for 2013 the rules in Secret Santa should change from "Your recipient must receive their package by January 14" to "YOU must ship out your package and provide tracking info. by such and such date" (i.e. December 23rd).

I've read some posts by members who have not even sent their Secret Santa package out yet, and that's just not right.
 
Ok you guys are giving great ideas/suggestions here,and I have been tossing around in my head here..I was going to organize a APRIL FOOLS swap,kinda ike PIF or SS..either one,I might put a poll up and see what I could do maybe a April fools where it would be the worse pin in your pinbag/books,the pin might be a LE or OE but does not seem to get any bites for wanting at all,lets just say your treasured pin could be someones awesome find,I have a few that I look for that has that.like really alot trading and a couple wanting,kinda in the range...Or Easter theme/4th of July/kinda holiday theme..
 
A couple comments. I did not participate this year, because the first year I received 3 HM scrappers and a PWP pin. And even if they were real pins, I already owned all 4 pins already (going to "making sure your gift is thoughtful"). I PMed the mods twice and never got a response. Nor did they take my suggestions about adding additional wording to the requirements about making sure the pins you send are authentic. After seeing what went down this year, the first thing is that these things have to be run by people that are active, not absent mods.

2nd, if you can't afford to send a decent gift, realize that maybe you shouldn't participate. Yes, you miss out, but why put your person through the disappointment of receiving fake pins, and/or things they already own because that's all you have.

And re: kids. On my scrapping board, the parents often set up an exchange just for their kids. So if parents want to have their kids participate, set up a separate group just for them to swap with each other. You could still have a minimum post requirement for the responsible parent, who will be responsible for making sure the packages get sent out on time.

Also, make the questionnaire a requirement of participation. My scrapping board also does this with secret sister. No questionnairre - no gifts.
 
Hidden_Miki said:
I agree with everything except the feedback. I've only bought from one person on the forum and haven't been able to set up any trades. Heck I still haven't made my first trade. I don't have to many traders at the moment and that could be the reason why but I have been active on the forum trying to get to know people etc; I would check off on all other criteria except feedback and I do understand feedback is good but I just haven't found any one who wants to trade with me so how can I get feedback if no one wants to trade with me. And again I agree with the 50-100 post must be active member must have dpf account and pin pics account and I definitely agree with maybe adding more to questionnaire so the more personal you can make a gift (: but I would definitely like secret santa to start earlier because like torianne-2008 said it would be nice to get the names before thanksgiving especially for those who's secret santa is outside their country so they can receive their gifts by Christmas after all secret santa is traditionally supossed to get gifts by Christmas day
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I agree. I did not participate in SS this last year (2012) because I was new to DPF. I hope to participate this year. However, I do not know if I will have a Feedback score by the next SS for this year. I may or may not. I have sent a few PM for trades, but have not had any luck. I do not plan on selling/buying pins, I only plan on trading or participating in trade auctions. I do have several references on DizPins. Most of my trades are through PinPics, but I at least hope to establish a trade and receive feedback soon on DPF. I do read posts almost daily, and post an average of 1 post every two or so days.
 
Nesspin12 said:
I agree. I did not participate in SS this last year (2012) because I was new to DPF. I hope to participate this year. However, I do not know if I will have a Feedback score by the next SS for this year. I may or may not. I have sent a few PM for trades, but have not had any luck. I do not plan on selling/buying pins, I only plan on trading or participating in trade auctions. I do have several references on DizPins. Most of my trades are through PinPics, but I at least hope to establish a trade and receive feedback soon on DPF. I do read posts almost daily, and post an average of 1 post every two or so days.
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my trades are also most throug pinpics but most people I trade with are also here on dpf active. most of them are willing to leave a reverence for the trade on DizPins and here on the forum. I also try to leave as much reverence here on the forum for the members here.

I agree with the making a new rule for ss about the time you are member of dpf and about how active you are. I have a had a ss with only has 2 replys on the forum and even had no pinpics ID given. Thats hard work to find a good gift than. I only knew what film he loved... And still don't know if the pakkage even has arrived... So strickter rules are welcome.
 
Hi Hope
I am always here but NOT a MOD,I wish I could be more "in charge"of it I guess,and I could of helped more!
 
US people please be aware that us out of the US tracking costs quite a bit extra and I know somepeople in the Uk would go in on it but the fact we HAVE to send tracking really is a bit much.

I sent a single pin to US and weighed 0.0025g and with tracking cost me nearly €6 I wouldnt like to join due to me wanting to send quite a bit for who I would get but shipping is the main factor for me.

If we got the names extra before december then people who send normal post have plenty of time for it to arrive. But then people who want to send normal post might have to send within own country or close by when that isnt fair.

I would personally ask the tracking not be mandatory for those of us outside the US as its just costs alot.
 
Folks want the recipient early. How early sounds good to you? I was eager to start SS back in like, August! What if SS sign up started in September, allowing people to sign up through begining of November? distribute SS names right before Thanksgiving?
 
Stitch2814 said:
US people please be aware that us out of the US tracking costs quite a bit extra and I know somepeople in the Uk would go in on it but the fact we HAVE to send tracking really is a bit much.

I sent a single pin to US and weighed 0.0025g and with tracking cost me nearly €6 I wouldnt like to join due to me wanting to send quite a bit for who I would get but shipping is the main factor for me.

If we got the names extra before december then people who send normal post have plenty of time for it to arrive. But then people who want to send normal post might have to send within own country or close by when that isnt fair.

I would personally ask the tracking not be mandatory for those of us outside the US as its just costs alot.
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From my understanding it was a copy of the receipt. I sent the mods a photo of the package, customs form, and receipt because sending 1 pin to the US with tracking is $19.53, not including packaging.
 
Psycho Pixie said:
Folks want the recipient early. How early sounds good to you? I was eager to start SS back in like, August! What if SS sign up started in September, allowing people to sign up through begining of November? distribute SS names right before Thanksgiving?
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I honestly would love having sign ups in September! :) I just felt rushed because I got my SS so late, I think pre-thanksgiving SS distribution sounds sooo much better! More ideal than right before December starts LOL :)
 
Argh right I gotcha, I must have missed that.

I second signups in September and names out around 2nd week of October would all almost 10 weeks for those who may purchase pins from ebay or try and trade for something else etc to receive it and to then send it out.
 
I agree with everyone else. My recipient finally responded only after leaving him a PM . Then he had the nerve to say I had an attitude and the only reason he signed up was for his son . He never even thanked me.
Geez, I should have just sent the $7.00 Tron pin, but I went above & beyond, right down to adding a DLPR LE pin, Stitch ornament, candy and card.
 
I agree that there should be a minimum post count (50 sounds good) and every participant should have a pinpics account. There should also be a minimum # of positive feedbacks (even if it's just 2 or 3) - it's easy enough to get some feedback by signing up for PIF a few times.
 
Yeah I sent my SS without tracking. It was about $10 i think without it, and the only option they gave me would have made it like, $40 for me 0_o
(international speaking)

I live in a small town, so shipping out of here is always more expensive for me :(
 
starry_solo said:
So, if you could change something about how the SS worked in 2012, what would you do?

I would have the questionnaire up (the one I created and I'd add a few more questions re: favorite color, size of clothes, etc.) and then tell people to fill out the information right after he/she signed up.

I would also have ranges for gifts (given and received) so that one one feels bad at the end (as to whether they weren't generous enough) and match people up that way.

Ideas?

These are just suggestions. Owners of DPF can disregard...
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:bigthumb: awesome thread, and thanks for taking the initiative!

It's only our second year doing this, and it's gotten exponentially bigger every year, so we are continually trying to improve the activity -- the first few years were manageable (at least by myself alone) and this year was over twice as big as last years' SS program, and I honestly wasnt expecting so many people to participate!

I'm sure the suggestions in this thread will certainly help with refining the program for next year. I look forward to everyones' responses!
 
I agree with most everything that has already been mentioned. Post count is a must.
-Meeting the requirements for making an auction should be fine, as others have mentioned.
-There should be a MAX dollar amount to spend. I thought I had sent out a fairly generous and thoughtful gift, and when seeing packages that were clearly over the 10-20$ mark I was a little :eek: Sure it's nice to send someone a gigantic present but I know it sure made me feel bad because mine just can't compete with that. There wasn't time to buy things online and since I don't live remotely close to a park I couldn't get any pins other than the ones I had.
-Earlier sign-ups and getting your recipient earlier (by US Thanksgiving I'd say). I got my person towards the end of the dispatch of names and like others have said - it was stressful having so little time.
-It is a pin forum, have a 1 pin minimum
-1 sign-up per ID
-Separate SS for kids
-If someone receives scrappers or a package with one thing from the dollar store there should be some consequence, like there is for not sending one.

Perhaps to take some load off of the mods a group of members can help organize it? It seems as though a lot of mods are very busy with life and/or out of the country, and perhaps more should be added to the ranks, even. I continually see people asking for a mod's help and talking about long waits for responses, so I think enlisting a couple active members to help moderate the boards would be extremely helpful.
 
I haven't read through all of the posts on this thread...but I (personally) will not be participating next year unless some new rules are implemented, including...

-Minimum post count...I would say somewhere in the 30-50 post range would be appropriate.

-Being an actual DPF member...not a member's sibling, child, spouse, etc. I want to send gifts to people that actually participate in this forum.

-Sending an actual pin as a part of their gift...it is a pin forum after all. :)


And these are not necessary requirements (for me), but I would also like to see that the people who sign up for this...

-Have an active PinPics account...so it will be easier to find out what the person likes/dislikes.

-Post in a "Tell Me About Yourself" thread like the one StarrySolo started this year...so people can get a "feel" for their Secret Santa.

I would also like to see a little more effort go into the matching-people-up-process next year. If the mods are too busy I know many of us (including myself) could help with this. It would be nice if an effort was made (as much as possible) to match Princess lovers with Princess lovers, Stitch lovers with Stitch lovers, Villain lovers with Villain lovers, etc. Then there would be more of a chance of people liking their gifts, and it might end up cheaper for the person sending the gift. I know if I would have received a fellow Princess lover it would have been easier and cheaper for me, because I already have a ton of Princess pins that I could have picked from. :)
 
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Mupghle said:
Perhaps to take some load off of the mods a group of members can help organize it? It seems as though a lot of mods are very busy with life and/or out of the country, and perhaps more should be added to the ranks, even. I continually see people asking for a mod's help and talking about long waits for responses, so I think enlisting a couple active members to help moderate the boards would be extremely helpful.
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Sounds like a plan. :)
 
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