Ways to Improve Secret Santa - for next year
mckayleesmom wrote: I think that overall it is going great, but I thought of some ways to improve it for next year and wanted to know if anyone else had any suggestions.
1. Dollar amount categories. I felt bad because some people couldn't participate because of the $ amount. So next year I was thinking of letting people sign up under categories...Maybe a 15 dollar one and a 25 dollar one. What do you think?
2. Maybe sending out the gifts the week before december....beat the holiday rush at the post office and stuff...Also..I think the 1st was a bad idea because alot of people have bills to pay on the first, rent, car payment, etc.
3. Making the post limit to participate higher. I started getting worried for a bit because it wasn't that high and at the time there were some questionable people on the board....None of you of course....But it had me sweating for a while. 
punkeemunkee'smom replied: Yes I would say maybe lower the $$$ amount so less stress money wise. I think that before December is not a good idea because then it is not a secret Santa more like a secret Turkey...LOL! I think gifts out by the 15th should be fine...if they go priority.....maybe on upping the post limit but 500 is a pretty good #. 1,000 is alot and there are some on here that have been here for awhile that don't talk as much as say...me...  and so they have less posts. I think from what I am seeing so far it went really well this year! 
ETA~ I was thinking maybe so more could participate and not too much $$$ strain we could do an ornament exchange. I love to get something for the tree or house that you can bring out every year and remember who gave it to you!  Something to hold on to...
Maddie&EthansMom replied: I also think it has gone really well. 
I think a $15 limit is sufficient for next year. You know, things will always happen when people won't be able to get them out on time, etc. This really can't be avoided...but considering...it has been great so far. 
mckayleesmom replied: That would be cute too...an ornament exchange.
Maddie&EthansMom replied: That is a PERFECT idea!!!
holley79 replied:
I really like this idea. I think it's fun getting Christmas ornaments. I think the other hard part was the postage thing. After buying the gift, having it shipped to Canada was a little expensive. (MY SS please don't take that the wrong way, I loved who I drew.)
Just think we have a WHOLE year to work out the kinks. LOL.
jacobsmama replied: I think having at least 500 posts is good idea and Ornament exchange is great idea too...I also love getting ornaments. Also maybe to have each person msg someone to let them know when they have mailed there items, so that is someone hasn't mailed theirs yet you can gently remeind them with email or whatever?? I dont' know how you do it now just thought.  I think it has been great I have never been involved in something like this with ppl I have never met and I think it is great!
3_call_me_mama replied: Either $$ amount works well for me. I also like the higher post count just so that we have are sure peopel are "REAL" also. It is true, the postage to canada is quite high.. not that I mind casue I think teh person I got will really enjoy the gift so it is worth it And I wouldn't make the date any sooner. It was hard enough to get it out by then. (Mine was a coupel days late~ it was especially difficult for those that had to come up with ideas on their own if their person didn't give any in teh idea thread. I think it is neat idea wether we do this again or an ornament exchange. I do like this a little better cause it really lets you get creative for teh person you are shopping for, but on teh other side teh ornament thing can be given to anyoen regardles sof how well you know them.
TANNER'S MOM replied: Well I had a really good time with the secret santa. It felt so good to give to someone I had been talking to so long.lol
I love all the ideas.
moped replied: Great ideas guys........being Canadian I apologize for the costly shipping..........to whomever you are.
I like the different categories for limits as well.
3_call_me_mama replied: No need ot apologize Jen. You don't make the postal rules ) And liek i said it's going to a friend so no worries about postage..our own is going up Jan 6th!!
CantWait replied:
Hey that's a really cool idea
CantWait replied:
I didn't find the price was bad at all, I mailed pretty early also. I just think it sucks with the borders and having to post the contents on the outside of the box 
Mom2Boyz replied:
I agree. I think I paid almost as much postage as I did for the gift 
I like the ornament exchange idea
holley79 replied:
That was the same with me. Also I didn't like that I had to put what was inside the box on that slip. I was trying to think of ways to be creative with it. 
Hillbilly Housewife replied: We can't just write "gift" on the customs slip?
uh oh...
I like the ornament exchange idea... what about a Picture exchange? I LOVE getting pictures from on line friends...
(Thanks Marie and family!! Beautiful picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  )
Sarah&Mackenzie replied: I had fun with the Secret Santa and think all the ideas are great!!
My2Beauties replied: Well I didn't do the SS thing this year althoug now I wish I did. I think the $15 limit is great and I like the idea of an ornament exchange to or just Holiday paraphenelia period is a cute idea! Like I would love some of those Peacve, Love, Joy things that you put on your mantel and hang stocking on that I saw at Target the other night. So those sorts of things are cute to send to people.
coasterqueen replied: I did not participate this year, but IMO if you are going to do $ limit it should just be one dollar amount. I think it would be embarassing to say "oh I can't afford more than this limit" even just to pm it to someone. Just my two cents.
I've done ornament exchanges on another board and it's so much fun. I forgot to sign up for it this year in time  .
kimberley replied: i agree with Karen about the dollar amount thing. people can choose whether or not to participate. in the past, the name giver generally tried to pair up all of the canadian people together so shipping wouldn't be so outrageous. BUT another option if you are buying for someone transborder is to order something online and have it shipped to them. much cheaper that way. then send a card for that personal touch.
it does suck we have to list the contents for customs but what can you do. only advice i give people is to be sure you declare it a gift and under $20 or there are duty taxes and brokerage fees that have to be paid to get the package. those fees are usually half the value of what you declared the item to be worth  gotta love customs
CantWait replied:
Whew, I was beginning to think you hadn't gotten it yet. Scary.
Ya I had asked the postal guy if I could just write that and he said no, sucks.
Hillbilly Housewife replied:
ya - i paid about 27$ including taxes for stuff on Amazon... the shipping was 32$ !!! AND - when I actually GOT the package, I had to pay an extra 5.89$ COD for TAXES!!!
kimberley replied: holy moley thats a lot!  
holley79 replied:
As long as we declared it a gift though we don't have to worry about our SS being charged right? I put 20.00 even on the box.
That is a bit confusing. It owuld have been cheaper to send a gift card but that just isn't fun.
kimberley replied: yes you did it right. your giftee should not have to pay anything.
i made mine add to $15 just to be sure, even tho the stuff cost more lol.
MommyToAshley replied:
Really?
I didn't realize that! In the future, I'll make sure to put gift on anything I send to Canada.
I didn't sign up for the Secret Santa because things were VERY hectic at the time of sign up. But, I am glad everyone had fun. Thanks for organizing it!
moped replied:
YOu sure you didn't get ripped off?
Kaitlin'smom replied: I like the orniament exchange idea, or holiday decoration. Sounds like fun. I could use more home decorations and not just for christmas
mckayleesmom replied: I personally would never look down on someone that didn't want to or couldn't afford more then 15 dollars....kwim? I consider you all my friends and I wouldn't judge you on which category you entered. This year I could afford 25 dollars, but who knows...maybe next year I couldn't...kwim?
3xsthefun replied: I didn't get to join this year. Maybe next year things will be better.
I think $15 limit would be nice for next year. I also think the Christmas ornament exchange is a good idea.
CantWait replied: Ack, I hope my secret santa didn't have to pay anything!!!!!
amymom replied: I loved doing secret santa this year. I loved giving and receiving too!
Thanks for organizing it to Brianne and all your helpers. Thanks to all the givers and receivers. I like the above suggestions. One limit for the dollar amount seems like a good idea. That way we are one big group and not a few different smaller groups.
Jamison'smama replied: oh no, I had NO idea---my gift was 30.00 and I will send my Canadian secret santa recipient a check---that's crazy! I suppose I should fess up and say who it is that will be having to pay for my mistake.........I guess I will PM them soon.
kimberley replied: you should be okay Brenda. didn't you have it shipped within Canada by buying online? if you did, there is no duty that is what i meant by purchasing online is a good way to go cuz if you find somewhere that is local to the person, it doesn't need to go through customs even tho you don't live here, kwim?
Jamison'smama replied: Nope, bought it here and mailed it there---I feel terrible, I wish I would have realized that.
Maybe next SS can be Canada/Canada, US/US to keep that from happening--although I do love my Canadian neighbors
How much will it be on a 30.00 estimated item?
3_call_me_mama replied: I wish I had known about putting a lower price amount on the tag. cause the postal person told me to put like $50 on it so that they wouldn't lose it. She said the higher valued items have less a chance of getting lost cause they keep beter track of them.. seriously. (This was AFTER i had to REMAIL mine todya... another whole vent in itself.~local post office had me fillout the wrong form last week when I mailed it from NH and so it arrived on my doorstep and I had to repay postage adn have it corrected today (They gave me a refund casuethe girl ddin't knwo what I wanted and jsut had em pay US priority for a canadian delivery. So it obviously didn't go in international mail... BUT They did say that it would arrive there in 3-4 days so still plenty of time before XMAS> Just irks me that they screwed it up... I hope my person doesn't have to pay anything to get their package, i reallly will feel bad then 
CantWait replied: Did you??
Hillbilly Housewife replied:
ripped off by the delivery guy? nope - unfortunately the form was official. I filled em out all the time ehjen I worked at my former job... one of the lawyers i worked for was stationned in washington, and i had to send her stuff all the time.
I got a copy anyways.
or did you mean the shipping from amazon?
3_call_me_mama replied: No maire I didn't have to pay anything.. We don't have Duty (as far as I know) it just arrived in my mail pile along with all teh other mail I had held while I was away. Didn't have to go pick it up or anything 
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