NS Secret Santa 2014

Rachy

Rachy

Active member
Staff member
NS Secret Santa has been pretty awesome the last few years. It's a super big project and snwbrdmilf doesn't have the time to do it this year.

Her and I chatted and I have plenty of time.

This isn't the official request for invite list, at least not yet.

I'm wondering if I took it over, if there would still be interest. Also wondering if there are any ideas in regards to making it so that everyone gets a gift.

What likely helped a lot last year was that you needed to be a member at least 1 year. Publicly list members who have not sent gifts. Threaten with a ban (I don't have this power).

One thing that I think would make it a lot easier on me is if I through up a quick form on my site that logged everyone into a database. Then I could sort it, create the match up lists and check people off super easy.. and Then I would just copy and paste the information on who has who and what their address is/what they are interested in. I'm not sure if you guys would feel comfortable entering that on a different site though.

Thoughts?
 
Dont let it die. Solid, unique, heart-warming activity that you NEVER see on an online forum. It keeps with a sense of community.

Im in for 2014.
 
The threads from last year were spot on. Copy and paste them into this years to get yourself started. Super pumped for this years SS keep it going!!
 
Really hoping i can get involved this year, secret santa's are the bomb, and I can only imagine what a random NSer would send
 
Did it the last 3 years and would love to do it again. Maybe get a mod onboard with you so you can threaten with bans again?
 
Okay here is my problem with it..Last year I sent over $120 worth of stuff to a guy, he loved it, but I got nothing from my secret santa other than him being banned on an account he never uses...Really don't feel like doing this again any way it's different?
 
13182582:hippy. said:
Okay here is my problem with it..Last year I sent over $120 worth of stuff to a guy, he loved it, but I got nothing from my secret santa other than him being banned on an account he never uses...Really don't feel like doing this again any way it's different?
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No. You know going in you're taking a chance. There is no way we could actually guarantee someone sends a gift. It has happened every single time, and it will always happen. I got screwed one year and I ran the thing.
 
13182588:snwbrdmilf said:
No. You know going in you're taking a chance. There is no way we could actually guarantee someone sends a gift. It has happened every single time, and it will always happen. I got screwed one year and I ran the thing.
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I guess you're right what the fuck ever I'm in
 
I think the rule should be 2 years. And then get a mod to threaten to ban. The longer they've been on the site, the less you want a ban. And there has been a lot of shitty accounts in the past year...
 
13182588:snwbrdmilf said:
No. You know going in you're taking a chance. There is no way we could actually guarantee someone sends a gift. It has happened every single time, and it will always happen. I got screwed one year and I ran the thing.
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There could be like a $1 or $2 entry fee to participate in the SS. Then if people dont get gifts there is over $150 that can be used to atleast get them something? I dont think a dollar or two is too much to ask for
 
13182604:.Hugo. said:
There could be like a $1 or $2 entry fee to participate in the SS. Then if people dont get gifts there is over $150 that can be used to atleast get them something? I dont think a dollar or two is too much to ask for
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Somebody in the other thread mentioned maybe even just having a deposit that you pay and is refunded adter your gift is sent. Might be a lot of work though
 
13182604:.Hugo. said:
There could be like a $1 or $2 entry fee to participate in the SS. Then if people dont get gifts there is over $150 that can be used to atleast get them something? I dont think a dollar or two is too much to ask for
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Somebody in the other thread mentioned maybe even just having a deposit that you pay and is refunded adter your gift is sent. Might be a lot of work though
 
Maybe have it be that you need to have at least 1000 posts and been on for at least 1 year?

The only other thing I can think of is like someone suggested before... a $10 or $20 deposit, then when I can verify that your gift has been sent it gets refunded. Then anyone who doesn't end up getting a gift gets a $20 amazon gift card.

My only worry with this is that people will think that because the person is getting a gift card, it's not such a big deal. I'd need a mod willing to share access to the paypal account (I wouldn't verify it to a bank account to ensure that NOTHING goes into my own account). And probably still need to be banned if you don't send a gift.

If there's a list of people who successfully sent last year, perhaps I could match those people up and match new people up with new people.
 
13182655:Rachy said:
Maybe have it be that you need to have at least 1000 posts and been on for at least 1 year?

The only other thing I can think of is like someone suggested before... a $10 or $20 deposit, then when I can verify that your gift has been sent it gets refunded. Then anyone who doesn't end up getting a gift gets a $20 amazon gift card.

My only worry with this is that people will think that because the person is getting a gift card, it's not such a big deal. I'd need a mod willing to share access to the paypal account (I wouldn't verify it to a bank account to ensure that NOTHING goes into my own account). And probably still need to be banned if you don't send a gift.

If there's a list of people who successfully sent last year, perhaps I could match those people up and match new people up with new people.
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I think deposit would work better because some people like me who have been on this site for more than a year but don't post should still be able to participate
 
13182655:Rachy said:
Maybe have it be that you need to have at least 1000 posts and been on for at least 1 year?

The only other thing I can think of is like someone suggested before... a $10 or $20 deposit, then when I can verify that your gift has been sent it gets refunded. Then anyone who doesn't end up getting a gift gets a $20 amazon gift card.

My only worry with this is that people will think that because the person is getting a gift card, it's not such a big deal. I'd need a mod willing to share access to the paypal account (I wouldn't verify it to a bank account to ensure that NOTHING goes into my own account). And probably still need to be banned if you don't send a gift.

If there's a list of people who successfully sent last year, perhaps I could match those people up and match new people up with new people.
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Props to you if you're going to refund 150 people.
 
13182655:Rachy said:
If there's a list of people who successfully sent last year, perhaps I could match those people up and match new people up with new people.
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I think this is a good idea, there's only so much you can do in regards to everyone getting a gift. Or take people who maybe got burned last year and make sure that someone who has sent a gift previously gets assigned to them so you can be sure it doesnt happen again.

And definitely stick to the been on for at least a year, maybe 1K posts is too much, I know people who have been on for a while and dont post. but you can be case specific- maybe someone has a well presence with less posts.
 
Ok, I kinda like the paypal deposit idea. I just investigated my paypal account. Issuing a refund is ridiculously easy.

The only thing is that Paypal charges $0.30 + 2.9% meaning. I assume this get's refunded. I'm pretty certain it does. But if you only get a gift card for $19.10, that would be why.

I can very easily create a page where you click buy now, you then pay the $20 and enter in your username. Once I see your deposit, you get added to the cult.

Once I see a tracking number to the postal code of your match, you get your refund.

If you buy something online and have it sent directly, you could message me, I would give you my email and you could forward me the confirmation.

I would still want a ban on people who don't send gifts and would want a mod with access to the paypal account.

It seems like it would take a lot of time... I work from home and only 15 to 20 hours per week. I have time.
 
13182632:byubound said:
Somebody in the other thread mentioned maybe even just having a deposit that you pay and is refunded adter your gift is sent. Might be a lot of work though
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Ya, a safety deposit would be a lot of work for the organizer. The idea behind mine is if you dont want to pay a $2 entry fee you probably are someone who wouldnt end up paying for a gift. And then if some cocksuckers dont send a gift the people left out will for sure get something.

The first 2 years I was shutout of a gift so I know how it feels. This way a safety net would be created to prevent that. Then if there ends up being a bunch of money left over donate to NS or a charity or something, unless people are really adamant about wanting their measly $2 back then I guess give it back to them.....
 
Instead of putting a focus on trying to ostracize the people that don't send gifts (which should still be done), I'd rather see a list of people who don't receive gifts

This community can be pretty impressive at times and I'm sure people would pitch in to come up with something impressive for the people that are left out
 
I like hugos idea the best. Id rather just pay 2 dollars for the benefit of participating in the secret santa than put in 20 and make rachy do all the work of refunding after its been shipped. Plus the refund charge, blah blah blah.

2 dorra to get in, anyone who is shorted a gift gets a 20 dollar gift card (or an even portion of the pool if more people get burned than money in the pool - unlikely) anything past the 20/victim goes to NS.
 
13182688:snwbrdmilf said:
Props to you if you're going to refund 150 people.
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Once payments have processed, there is literally just a refund button next to the payment. It asks you to confirm, and it's done.

"If you paid with your debit card or credit card, your payment is refunded to that card. Refunds may take up to 30 days to appear on your statement.

If you paid with your bank account or PayPal balance, your payment is refunded to your PayPal balance.

Refunds are in the same currency and at the same conversion rate as the original payment."

It may take a bit more time... but it would save time in regards to checking peoples feedback and if they have had issues before and so forth.

And there is a field for the buy now thing where I can have people just link to their NS profile. So I click the link and I have their profile rather than sifting through a ton of messages and checking profiles.

refund.png
 
13182738:TheSeaCaptain said:
I like hugos idea the best. Id rather just pay 2 dollars for the benefit of participating in the secret santa than put in 20 and make rachy do all the work of refunding after its been shipped. Plus the refund charge, blah blah blah.

2 dorra to get in, anyone who is shorted a gift gets a 20 dollar gift card (or an even portion of the pool if more people get burned than money in the pool - unlikely) anything past the 20/victim goes to NS.
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Or even get them a gift with the money. Getting a random gift is so much more awesome than $20 imo
 
I need to start looking for some sweet stuff to send to my recipiant, last year i sent some cool stuff but i got so much more than i sent
 
13182759:.Hugo. said:
Or even get them a gift with the money. Getting a random gift is so much more awesome than $20 imo
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Me purchasing 20 gifts doesn't sound entirely thrilling.

If we went this route, maybe we could have a list of people willing to send second gifts of the arts and crafts sorts... I know a lot of people crochet beanies and do things like that... perhaps a gift card and try to match them up with someone willing to send something that cost them pretty much nothing but some time.

I guess my biggest worry is that more than 10% wouldn't send gifts.
 
13182779:Rachy said:
Me purchasing 20 gifts doesn't sound entirely thrilling.

If we went this route, maybe we could have a list of people willing to send second gifts of the arts and crafts sorts... I know a lot of people crochet beanies and do things like that... perhaps a gift card and try to match them up with someone willing to send something that cost them pretty much nothing but some time.

I guess my biggest worry is that more than 10% wouldn't send gifts.
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snwbrdmilf can chime in but I believe there were very few people that did not receive gifts last year. I think that threat of the permaban scared a lot of them either away or into getting gifts. its ultimately your choice if youre running it though, so its basically whatever option you think is easiest on yourself
 
13182799:.Hugo. said:
snwbrdmilf can chime in but I believe there were very few people that did not receive gifts last year. I think that threat of the permaban scared a lot of them either away or into getting gifts. its ultimately your choice if youre running it though, so its basically whatever option you think is easiest on yourself
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Word. Its up to you Rachy. Ill participate regardless of what the entry stipulations are.
 
13182740:soulskier said:
Seeing as it worked out last time, what's keeping you from doing it again?
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i barely was able to ship out my gift last year, not worth risk of being permabanned.
 
I would agree that there should be a minimum time of a year. Post count is sort of irrelevant. Some members have been on this site for a while and haven't posted very much, while others could be on this site for 6 months and have 700 posts. I think it should be evaluated case by case depending on the quality for the content they provide instead of constantly posting GAAAAYYYY on a thread to up their post count. I personally participated in this 2 or 3 years ago and really loved it. I had a good time getting the gift for my recipient and I still have the stuff I received from my person. A buy in of $1 or $2 sounds much more feasible to me. Even though I would get the $20 back I just don't have the ability to not have that money for however long it is held. Just my .02 cents. Hope that helped!
 
13182779:Rachy said:
Me purchasing 20 gifts doesn't sound entirely thrilling.

If we went this route, maybe we could have a list of people willing to send second gifts of the arts and crafts sorts... I know a lot of people crochet beanies and do things like that... perhaps a gift card and try to match them up with someone willing to send something that cost them pretty much nothing but some time.

I guess my biggest worry is that more than 10% wouldn't send gifts.
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Just be very picky when it comes to who can do it. No newbs or garbage accounts. Anyone with a legit account wouldnt risk there account for a crappy 50 bucks.

Seriously, an account with 10k posts is worth so much more than $50...we have spent endless hours building a rep and defining ourselves through our account. I wouldnt trade Barto for $500 and im sure many of the more used accounts feel the same
 
13182984:El_Barto. said:
Just be very picky when it comes to who can do it. No newbs or garbage accounts. Anyone with a legit account wouldnt risk there account for a crappy 50 bucks.

Seriously, an account with 10k posts is worth so much more than $50...we have spent endless hours building a rep and defining ourselves through our account. I wouldnt trade Barto for $500 and im sure many of the more used accounts feel the same
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i dunno, i might if you threw in a blowjob.
 
Hell yes keep this going, id love to participate this year! I think hugo's idea is best, would be very tedious to refund all that cash
 
I like the $1 or $2 buy in as stated up there^ remaining money can be used to purchase gifts for those left empty handed and the rest can be donated back to newschoolers.
 
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