CE.org Secret Santa!

[vhal_x]

Who wants in?

Basic rules:

- The person who you are buying for WILL NOT be the person who is buying for you (it wouldn't be very secret then, would it!?).
- Maximum cost of item: £10/€12/$15 + shipping (understandable to spend slightly less if you are shipping to another country, for example). TBC!
- Gifts do not have to be games (after all, those would cost too much!), but must be game related somehow (or maybe a movie franchise you've spotted that they like?).
- You MUST NOT write your name anywhere on the package you are sending. If anything, sign it CE.org (so the person realises it's the Secret Santa present from here).
- On boxing day, we will open a "Guess who your Secret Santa is!" thread, where you can guess who sent you your gift, then once everyone has guessed, we'll reveal!
- If you want, you can sign it with a riddle or a hint as to who you are, just don't openly say "It's me, vhal_x" etc!

Anything else I should add?




I'll list names ;) xx

Vanessa - vhal_x (2)
Gee - Gurpswoo1 (2)
Erik - AmericanBash (1)
Mike - Mike1888 (1)
Robi - psiguy3 (1)
Mike - lhurgoyf (1)
Kat - Ayiu (2)
Dave - fattyuk (2)
- Queen of Mudcrabs (2) I know Norway isn't technically EU, but we'll include you in there ;)
- Mosavon (2)
Davvid - Matrix6 (2) will include you in the UK/EU lot as there are no other Aussies in the SS yet :P
Steve - Steve50013 (1)
AJ -AJLareneg (1) (Used your alter ego name since I know you don't like your real one :P)
Hamish - HentaiSenpai (2).

Regions!

1: For US/CA.
2: For UK/EU.

And will do more when more people join!

If we get enough names, then everyone can choose whether or not they want to ship within their own country (and whoever does the matching will do their best to accomodate, but this depends on having enough people!) xx

[gurpswoo1]

If it's low value I'm up for that.

Gee - gurpswoo1

[vhal_x]

Yeah, it'd have to be low value since you can't really expect somebody to fork out £40 for you :haha: So we should all agree on a price (maybe £10 or less) and you spend there or there-abouts. As you obviously wouldn't want the chance of spending £40 on somebody to only receive a £5 gift back :/

Also, when everyone sends their presents to their person, don't write your name on it, just simply write CE.org, or something to identify it as from this forum, and we can all have a guessing day back here where we all guess who gave us our presents, before we reveal who we bought for :) xx

[gurpswoo1]

Agreeing a value is a good idea.

Also notice you have over 1000 post, sure got there quick

[vhal_x]

Yeah :blush: I am such an addict of this forum, my other forum (a baby one) I've been on for about 18 months and I only have maybe 100 more posts on there than here :rotf:

I was gonna make a "Yay! 1000 posts!" thread, but never noticed I'd reached 1000 till my 1027th post :rotf: xx

[vhal_x]

Also, this is open to everybody! Not just UK :D xx

[AmericanBash]

Even though I am new to this site. I would be very happy if I were allowed in on this. :D Also would it be ok to do £15 instead? It is a little easier for me cause I am American and that's $20 for me :P

Erik - AmericanBash

[vhal_x]

Will put your name down on the list for now (not sure if rules will be made as to who can join etc, but will put you down anyway)

This isn't 100% final yet anyway, we need enough people to make it worthwhile and everyone needs to agree one rules and regulations :rotf:

But you're down for now :) xx

[AmericanBash]

I hope this gets more interest because this would be really cool since we are from all around the world.

[vhal_x]

Adding more information to main post xx

[Mike1888]

I guess I'll play, sign me up!

[psiguy3]

im down to join in the fun
how much is that in USD

Robi- psiguy3

[AmericanBash]

roughly $15

[vhal_x]

Added to the list :) xx

[lhurgoyf]

If we get enough people, would this be regional? Just concerned that people might think twice about international shipping since it can be costly.

Anyway, sign me up.

Mike - lhurgoyf

[Mike1888]

Thats what I was thinking. It might be nice for whoever matching people up, to consider the shipping costs.

[vhal_x]

Yeah, I was gonna post that you could choose whether or not you wanted to post within your own country, but it was only me and gurps when I was gonna post that, but yeah, will be a good idea if we have enough people to meet the criteria :P xx

[Ayiu]

I'm in too! Sounds very interesting. I don't have a problem shipping worldwide it's only about €5.50. But not writing the name on the package may cause trouble in the christmas time when the package can't be delivered for any reason :shrug:

Kat - Ayiu =D

[vhal_x]

Added you to the list :)

Do you mean incase it needs to be returned due to not being received? Could always write the number/letter of your door along with your post code/zip code? Would that work? So it's not obvious who it's from but can get back to the sender if not received? xx

[psiguy3]

ya just write you address as a random name
My name i use when i dont want ppl to know my name is Tony Stark.

[fattyuk]

go on then! :) loving this site ATM :banana:

Would I assume it will be country specific?

[vhal_x]

Haha, well if you use a fake name for your secret santa, you best not use Tony Stark :rotf: xx

[Mike1888]

If you do country specific, could it be possible to merge Canada with the U.S? More people, similar shipping.

[vhal_x]

It'll be country specific if we can get enough people to make that work, yes.

Or if you want, you can choose to send to other countries if you wish, details will be finalized once we have enough people xx

[vhal_x]

I was gonna merge Canada with the US anyway, since they are so close (on a bigger scale though, compared to UK and some EU countries) xx

[Queen of Mudcrabs]

I'm joining :D

[vhal_x]

Added XD xx

[vhal_x]

Going to bed now since I'm shattered, so anyone who joins after this post will be added tomorrow :D xx

[mosavon]

Put me in there, up there w/e

[Matrix6]

Sounds like fun! ^_^

[Queen of Mudcrabs]

I like how no one has been a party pooper so far :D

[vhal_x]

Mos & Matrix added xx

[Steve50013]

Hey sign me up region 1

[Matrix6]

Score!! I'm Number 2 next to Mini-Me...you complete me :2cool: I have my present already, but who'll be the lucki gigity gigity goo?:bunny:

[vhal_x]

Signed you up Steve :) xx

[psiguy3]

this is coming along nice
nice to see a community come together for the holidays

[vhal_x]

Yep :) hoping we can get a couple more before 1st November (think I'll make that the cut off date to join, since everyone will need time to pick a present for their person and get it posted on time?)

I had an idea, that items should be sent recorded delivery no later than the 20th of November, maybe? To ensure they get to people on time (everyone PM the name sorter with the tracking numbers once things have been sent to prove that presents are being sent). Not that I don't trust anybody :rotf: but it'll probably make everybody feel safer, knowing that the will definitely get their present?

What do you think? About the plan and the cut off dates (for joining and for posting) xx

[gurpswoo1]

Wait I just though, do these need to be wrap up. I never received an item like that in the post before.

How would one go about doing this?

[vhal_x]

Hm, maybe just package it and say on the outside CE.org so that people know not to open (although I'm sure people will no doubt open it as soon as they get it (curiosity and all that :P) xx

[gurpswoo1]

curiosity and all that

Not me, it will go straight under authentic fibre optic Christmas tree.

[vhal_x]

Haha, yeah I'd put it under my tree too...

But I don't have a tree :facepalm:. First year living in my own house and having only moved in in March, haven't had to buy a tree yet... Will need to do so soon :haha: xx

[psiguy3]

ill be sure to wrap mine

[AJLareneg]

This sounds super fun! Count me in. :)

[AmericanBash]

I will do my best to wrap it. I am not really skilled at wrapping presents lol.

[vhal_x]

Added you AJ :) xx

[vhal_x]

Everyone still wanting to do this? xx

[AmericanBash]

I am still very interested for this.

[AJLareneg]

Me too. :)

[vhal_x]

Will keep sign up open till tomorrow night, 3rd November, at 12 midnight (GMT) :) And then either I or somebody else can pair everyone up :) xx

[Matrix6]

Ho ho ho...I mean, woof woof!
Am I the only one representing Aus? :barsong:

[mosavon]

Will keep sign up open till tomorrow night, 3rd November, at 12 midnight (GMT) :) And then either I or somebody else can pair everyone up :) xx

Just make sure im not paired with a poor person :haha:

[Steve50013]

I just realized how are we supposed to know the address of the person we are shopping for?

[fattyuk]

I'm still in

[Queen of Mudcrabs]

How about we all write a little list of stuff we like and post it here as a reference guide for those who do not know what they want to give to their 'victim'?

[fattyuk]

Very good idea mudcrab!

[gurpswoo1]

I'm not sure, wouldn't that take away from the excitement and the whole point of Secret Santa. Or is this normal practice.

[AmericanBash]

Well if you say you are a fan of lets say pokemon, that is a very broad area where the gift can come from. I think if we give a general idea of what to look for would be helpful.

[fattyuk]

There's alot of franchises or types of memoribilia I like and alot I don't.

And would hate to buy someone something they recieve and think " what the fuck am I going to do with that lol "

[HentaiSenpai]

You can put me down

Hamish - HentaiSenpai

[vhal_x]

Yay, another AUS member! xx

[fattyuk]

names Dave btw Vanessa :P

[vhal_x]

Thanks Dave ;) updated first post xx

[AJLareneg]

I think doing some kind of franchise list would be helpful too. Maybe listing a couple so whoever gets that person can have a few ideas of things to look for? There are so many games out there it is hard to know which ones people like and which ones they don't. I know I would prefer the person I buy for to actually like the thing I get them.

[vhal_x]

Okay, I'll do the pairing, so obviously I'll know who everybody has, and I'll also know who I have. I'm going to pair people up randomly :) and once everyone gets your PMs with who you have, could you please PM me with your name and address, so I can PM it to the person who is buying a gift for you? If that makes sense!?

Anyway, yeah so I'll start the pairing now :) The person who you are buying for will NOT be the person who is buying for you...

Pm's will follow shortly! xx

[vhal_x]

PM's on their way! xx

[gurpswoo1]

Thanks just got mine,

If you let who ever is doing mine that I want Uncharted 2 fortune hunter edition that will be great.

[vhal_x]

I will send out the addresses to everybody once I've received them all, just so that it's not obvious who has who, and also that way I'll not miss anybody out :D xx

[psiguy3]

got and sent my info
doing this on another site with friends

[vhal_x]

Think I'm only waiting on 5 more addresses and then I'll PM everyone their Secret Santa address :) xx

[mosavon]

I assume we're sending our gifts in december? or is this just a stupid thing to say :ike:

[Matrix6]

depends which country you're sending to. If you were to send to AU in December, it may not arrive until after xmas?? :S

[AJLareneg]

I could provide people with USPS postal deadlines once I get them at work...of course this won't help anyone overseas much... lol...

[vhal_x]

Royal Mail posting deadlines are 5th December to Australia, and 12th December to Germany/Norway and 19th December within the UK. These are *all* for Royal Mail International Signed for deliveries and Royal Mail Tracked within the UK. I'd advise to get it posted slightly earlier than that anyway, due to post sometimes being SUPER slow with Royal Mail, but yeah, those are the last posting dates for UK members :)

[AJLareneg]

Wow, really? ...ours are bit more leinient than that, I believe. All I know is mid-december is the busiest mailing day of the year. It's a Monday... and I always have to work. Probably Dec 12th this year. It's usually because it falls in the middle of some deadlines.

also, vhal, your PMs are full. :b

[vhal_x]

I have removed some PMs from my box so I've got a small amount of room now, and also, I've had to re-jig the Secret Santa slightly as one member has dropped out and one member has joined (I forgot to add him in, in the first place lmao)...

Would've been easy to sort, but unfortunately, they are both in different regions :haha: So check PMs incase you are changed :) And of course, don't post here if you are, just send me a PM back to acknowledge it, as you don't want everyone knowing who you have (or speculating haha) xx

[AJLareneg]

I have yet to get my person's mailing information...:)

[AmericanBash]

Don't worry neither have I, she did say she would send them out once she got all of our addresses.

[vhal_x]

I'll send them out later on today, I think I have everybody's now, will have to check... So expect them around 7pm onwards (UK time) xx

[Matrix6]

Qwestion about "taxes" for some peeps. I know you can get hit by "tax" [depending on country/region] when receiving parcels you buy or get sent to you, so how do we avoid this from occurring? [if possible??]

[AJLareneg]

I know for sending from the US to other countries generally mark item as under $20 in value and as "gift" (which is all true in this case anyway...) and I found out from another member here it is helpful to not leave price tags/invoices or anything that would suggest value in the package...

but again since it is gifting that stuff shouldnt be there anyway..:D

Anyway, sending low value items should not irritate customs I would think.

[Matrix6]

cool man, thanks for the tip and clarification. Any parcel sent from my country internationally has a mandatory customs form that need to indicate what's in the box and the type of parcel it is [gift, payment, whatever, etc], etc.

[AJLareneg]

Yep! Same for us sending things out. All international parcels require it as far as I know. Like I said though that is just for the US sending overseas, but from what I have seen most customs forms look similar.

I don't think this gift exchange should stick anyone with unfortunate customs fees, though. :D

[AmericanBash]

So it has been a while since anyone responded to this thread. I was wondering when should we send our gifts to our respected member?

[gurpswoo1]

I would say now or very soon, not long now and if the weather turns bad it may get delayed.

[AmericanBash]

Well my person lives in the US. Do you think if I sent it Dec. 9th I would be good or should I send it earlier?

[gurpswoo1]

AJLareneg said that the busiest and absolute last day for US Mail is the 12th. So should be ok but cutting it close.

[AmericanBash]

I only ask this cause I have a item that I want to get for my person but it won't be available till the latest of the 9th.

[gurpswoo1]

Hmmmmmmmm that is a problem- I think you should wait for AJLareneg response, he knows better than anyone.

[vhal_x]

I'm waiting on something arriving (Should be here in a day or two) then I'll package mine up, ready to be sent :) xx

[Resseh]

booo! only just noticed this thread :(

[vhal_x]

You can join next year Resseh :) xx