Christmas time is rapidly approaching

[Khrysty]

And I think it's about time to get the sign ups going for the Christmas Exchange. I've just been absolutely DYING to get this started (as a lot of you know). I love doing these exchanges, love sending out the perfect gift to people. AND I've got hatchlings available, at the perfect shipping weight, this year. Ahh, it will be a good year indeed

For those who don't know, we do an exchange for Christmas and Easter. In keeping with the theme of the site, usually all things in the exchange are herp related - - from hides and dishes, to food and supplements, to heaters, incubators, and even sometimes animals!

I just need enough votes from you all and I'll get the ball rolling on this. I was thinking we could start signing up now, and I'll have people matched up by December 1--in plenty of time to send out Christmas goodies:main_yes:.

Do we want an exchange this year? Do we want to start the sign ups now? Is someone else dying to organize this or can I go ahead and do it again?

*Those who got gypped last year will get matched either with each other, or with someone who's faithfully sent gifts out in the last three exchanges. I'm also thinking about pairing those with 20 or less posts with each other. Thoughts on that?

 

[Brewboy74]

I'm in if we're doing it.

 

[Jordan]

Can we take part in england or is it just a bit too arkward?

 

[Khrysty]

Yep, you can most definitely participate. The exchange is worldwide. There are usually people willing to ship internationally. The past two exchanges,the majority of the non-US participants were from the UK

 

[snakegirl]

there needs to be some new rules set in place, the pass 2 Xmas exchanges wasn't very fun...i remember the first one Me along with many others didn't get there gifts till Feb..which in my Opinion shouldn't be tolerated.....there should be some sign up rules in Place

• .....Must have 20+ post.....
• .....18 and older Only.....
• .....gifts can not be ALL used items...
• ...gifts need to be sent in DECEMBER...
• ..price set on what You can spend....

...(not on what you want to receive)...

20+ post is a requirement
when anything like this is setup in place it shows many people will Only make a account to join the exchange many times these ARE the people who do not send gifts out to there partner. with a 20+ post requirement we will be able to see the true members of gecko forums.


18 or older only
there is no way to really make sure members are telling the truth about there age, however i dont believe we should rely on a 10 year old (or any age under 18... to buy someone a Exchange gift and be able to ship it....)

NO USED ITEMS

....a zip-lock bag of bedding, old hides, and some used feeder dishes...Marry Christmas? dont get me wrong you can throw in a few items barely used but add new stuff to the gift as well. because sending stuff you used but is now trash to you To me this screams ( I JUST WANT FREE STUFF OFF MY LIST AND I WILL SEND THIS STUFF TO MY XMAS PARTNER SO technically I SENT A GIFT!......If you dont have the money to spend in this exchange dont sign up)

MUST send gifts in December

i mean come on! its a CHRISTMAS exchange. and if we are going to pair up people THIS EARLY there is NO EXCUSES on Why you cant ship your gifts out in December.

A price set YOU can spend.

Not that i dont love giving people what they want. but for the past 2 years i have done this. and i always end up spending $50+ on a person and i end up getting $10 gift. And sorry but am sure this has happened to others (or you get Nothing) but i think when you send in your info to Sign up, you need to give a limit of what your willing to spend on a person (or a net worth value) and the Person running this Needs to pair people up to the limit they will spend, (Isn't it fair that way? i mean to someone that can only spend $20 bucks on a person, which is fine. gets a partner that will send him 20 bucks worth of stuff) so it doesn't end up with the person shipping out (a live leopard gecko and a gift-card, only gets some plastic cups and heat mat)

some of my ideas, but i dont think i will bother this time with this exchange if rules are not set in place. Christmas of 2008,2009, and Easter of 2010 had all been a big let down.​

 

[Khrysty]

I agree we need some new rules. That was actually going to be my next post. If anyone else has suggestions about rules, please post them.

 

[skunk]

sounds awesome!!!

 

[ReptilesForTheWin]

I am looking forward to it. I am not 18... And I sent out a gift on Easter. What about people who gave a gift last time???

 

[monkeytechahoo]

I've done this on other forums...2 things that were the same and liked were

Pricing not over $25/30

Overseas shipping needed to be mailed by Dec 10th to reach everyone by Christmas day or at least Party Day.

Now some people did go over the set price, but that's their choice, and I've not seen a gift exchange that involved live animals. *lol*

 

[Northstar Herp]

I might be up for it.

I was however, a bit disappointed in the last exchange for a couple of reasons and if we could try to avoid it happening again, I'd be happy to do it.

I was another one of those who gave a good deal more than they received. I don't want to be a big baby about it, so of course I didn't whine when it happened. Getting the exact same you put in isn't exactly the point of the thing, but if there could maybe be price range levels when you sign up, and then pair like-ranged folks together? I don't know how you'd police that, but we could at least try.

I was paired with an eleven year old kid who hadn't hardly posted at all, and they stopped posting shortly after the exchange. I found out through the company I purchased my gift through that I was one of two SS gifters sending stuff to the same address. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I felt a bit scammed. If there was some way to pair with "like-committed members", that would make me very happy. The whole reason I did the exchange was to get to know other folks and to be more involved in the community, and that just didn't happen.

If this year's experience were to turn out like last years, I would definitely be done with the exchange.

I don't mean it as a gripe session, just input from my experience last year in the hopes it could be avoided for myself and others. Sorry if it comes across as different.

 

[GeckoGal]

What if we were to divide it into categories, Based on the amount of the gift. So If I were to give a $200 gecko- I'm not given a $20 gift. Unless, you want to be generous and be surprised; Rating the price range of the gift seems fair.

 

[MiamiLeos]

Oh I wanna play! lol However I do think there should be a strict time limit that you need to either notify a mod or send your gift... I am still waiting on a gecko from last years exchange on a different website, I wont say from who lol :main_rolleyes:

 

[Kristi23]

I could probably send a gecko out, but not in December when it's too cold. I would however send a card with info on what they'll be receiving when it warms up.

 

[Zynx_Keekeio]

Im excited! This year I actually have a really awesome gift to give

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Sounds like a fair idea to me, only rule I disagree with is the 18 and over what about 16 and over. Also what about several catagories like...
Live
Equipment
Custom
the assorted non live 10, 20 ,30 and 40plus
Then people could be matched with others in the same catagory to stop someone from getting a live animal when they have no space and people from spending 50 bucks and getting a five dollar gift.

 

[Brewboy74]

Sounds like a fair idea to me, only rule I disagree with is the 18 and over what about 16 and over. Also what about several catagories like...
Live
Equipment
Custom
the assorted non live 10, 20 ,30 and 40plus
Then people could be matched with others in the same catagory to stop someone from getting a live animal when they have no space and people from spending 50 bucks and getting a five dollar gift.

I don't have any issue with either 16 or 18 myself. A price range is good and perhaps a specification if you would accept a live gift. Otherwise the KISS principal should apply. I think if we make this too complicated that no one is going to want to do it.

 

[5HiddenLizards]

I have never participated in anything like this before, but it sounds very interesting. I would like to participate, but will most likely wait till next year.

It seem like no one wants to hire me.....LOL

But i would like to see how this all gets set up & see what rules will be set. For me, it will be a different experience.

 

[snakegirl]

i have done this a few times, Like my ideas for rules, i really think we need a age limit and a post requirement. Like many members who signed up last year for this. Main problems seemed to have came from

Brand new members or members who never post
Younger aged kids

and Every time i have done this. i have giving more then i have gotten. (Seem others got the same treatment)

yes there Really needs to be members paired with the prices they can spend. people who can send $20 worth of items = you get $20 worth of items your limit should not add in your shipping cost
and so on with people who can spend more or less
(Do not add in shipping. because really that takes away from theirs and yours gift)

 

[clemsonguy1125]

Besides a post count I think there should be a limit of posts and time you have been a member. People can and probably will join and make 20 posts like, cool, awesome, IDK, IDC, awesome can I but that, stuff like that.

 

[Northstar Herp]

I think if we make this too complicated that no one is going to want to do it.

Right on. As many good suggestions as there may be (I've made some of them), make it too complicated and folks might not be interested... and it will be harder on whoever is managing it. Maybe we should accept the fact that there is injustice in the world and participate anyway. :main_thumbsup: