DPF Secret Santa 2013 ideas...

[starry_solo]

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...

 

[BugCatcherJenna]

Stricter limits on who can join- 100 posts, must be a member for a month, must have a DPF account, must have a pinpics ID, etc.

 

[Disxar]

Stricter limits on who can join- 100 posts, must be a member for a month, must have a DPF account, must have a pinpics ID, etc.

I highly agree with that and the questionnaire, but not so much with the gift range. It would be more sorting out and I don't think most people are going to plan out exactly how much they are going to end up spending on the SS gifts. But yes, maybe even 50 posts should be the limit. It just seems a little unfair when the person has maybe 2 posts, no pinpics, nothing. It's like they only signed up to receive a gift and not so much give.
Adding on, they should at least have a 5 100% feedback too. It just shows that they are more than likely going to actually send something.

 

[BugCatcherJenna]

Adding on, they should at least have a 5 100% feedback too. It just shows that they are more than likely going to actually send something.

I'm not too sure about the feedback... I only have 14 feedback, and I've been here for months now! LOL!

 

[5titch]

I dont really leave feedback or get it, mainly because I forget about it
x)

I do agree on the days as being a member and total posts.
I think you need to have been a member for x amount of days before sign ups begin, with x amount of posts either before or after sign ups, to help weed out those who join just to get something good (or hopes of).
Yes we do get a lot of people everyday, and depending on how active they are, ect, exceptions could be made?

 

[fuzzybunny]

I agree with all suggestions but the feedback But I really feel that if you sign up you should have more than 50 posts that way people know that you are on DPF now and then
love the idea of the questionaire that would be a really big help as well.
Hope the mods look into adding this to their sign up

 

[doodlebug86]

There needs to be a post minimum and join time. the questionnaire would be excellent to have as part of the sign up. Feed back would be nice, but not required. A pin pic account should be required. And I know people signed up there kids this year. Should be members only

 

[Disxar]

Well..at least 1 good feedback...:dunno:
But I do agree as well with it only being for members, and not everyone's kids. Even if their kids do collect pins, maybe the person can give a little note that they have pin collecting kids to their SS

 

[themastereddo]

I agree that those who sign up must have a certain number of posts, 50-100, whatever. They should have a pinpics ID, or at least a detailed list of their interests and grails. It was very frustrating to see how many poor people dealt with people/children that they had no idea what to do with. I understand the good intentions, but it almost seemed a little shady for people to do that, in my opinion. I hope that every person that signs up has to do a questionaire, and is required to be a member of the forum. It's only fair. If someone wants their child or family member to also get an SS, they should sign up with a second questionaire, especially what their family member wants/interested in.

 

[Dalamara]

Join time doesn't prove anything though... I had been a member for only a week or so when I signed up for SS... I was SO excited. I gave very lovey gifts that were well over the suggested $ range, and I enjoyed every minute. However a veteran member sent me a like $4 item... So... There you go with that. Just saying

 

[Nekov]

I agree, Stricter limits on who can join, 50-100 posts, must be a member for a month, must have a DPF account, must have a pinpics ID, and questionnaire.


Though it is nice for members to sign up their kids or family members, it kind of defeats the purpose of it being a DPF member Secret Santa as they are not active members of the forums, perhaps having 2 different sign ups? 1 for DPF members only and 1 for non members? That way everyone can still participate but active members don't have to worry about getting someone they don't know at all.

I get that some people are "offended" that most of us complained about non members joining but if you can take the time to sign up your kid/family member/friend why can't you submit more info about them so that a member can make a special package? It only seems fair.

 

[rubyslipperedgoddess]

Stricter limits on who can join- 100 posts, must be a member for a month, must have a DPF account, must have a pinpics ID, etc.

Love this! Not to say that some of the newer people weren't generous, but I think this should be for people who are interested in being part of the community, not people who just want to be in gift exchanges.

I'm also not a fan of the family member thing, as it's not in the true spirit of the forum, but if we're going to allow non-member entries I like the idea of doing the separate list.

I also don't think feedback should be a factor. I've been a member since year 1 and I only started getting feedback on here since this year. Some of us just don't trade that much on DPF. If feedback is important than include dizpins feedback as well.

And Dalmara, I agree that some new members did send fantastic gifts and that there were older members that did not, but unfortunately with no previous DPF interaction there's no way of knowing if that will always be the case. In the future I think it's just better that if you're new you wait until next year. That way everyone knows that you're here to be an active member, not just to collect a Christmas gift. And hey maybe we could start doing a Christmas in July Secret Santa. I like presents year round!

 

[Psycho Pixie]

So many replies... bare with me here....

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...

I totally agree with the idea of the questionaire being more detailed during the sign up.
I do not about matching people up depending on price range. tooo complicated. MODs got enough to do getting everyone matched as it is.

Stricter limits on who can join- 100 posts, must be a member for a month, must have a DPF account, must have a pinpics ID, etc.

no to 100 posts.... Yes to DPF member's only ((my exceptions to the in a later reply on here)) Yes to the pinpics account so we can see what they want.

I dont really leave feedback or get it, mainly because I forget about it
x)

You dear sir, need to start doing feedback.

There needs to be a post minimum and join time. the questionnaire would be excellent to have as part of the sign up. Feed back would be nice, but not required. A pin pic account should be required. And I know people signed up there kids this year. Should be members only

Heres where i agree and disagree all in one.

How fair is it to a pin trader who has been on pintalk or another trade forum to arrive at DPF and be told "no, yer not part of our community because you didnt post enough. So no SS for you!" ??? Kinda mean. So post minimum should be the same for SS entry as it is for posting in trade/sales/auction.

As to kids... Well, yeah, i think signing a kid up should be allowed... with rules! You sign your child up, YOU are not eligible. You OR your kid. Not you and your 5 kids. lol. Your child should be old enough to understand the whole concept. My 4 yr old I would never sign up for SS, to young to understand the idea. But if she was 7 or older and wanted to participate, giving one of her own pins as a SS participant, sure.

 

[Romancing_Train]

On the feedback thing....I say as long as they have 100%. If you're new and have negatives or neutrals already there's a problem.


There is a limit on joining the site for going in the sales forum and stuff right? Like 30 posts and 10 days on the site? Or something of the like? I think if they qualify to be able to sell then they should be able to play. I mean that way even the newest of the new players can play still too.

 

[SoraPandora]

I personally agree that no one should be allowed to sign up their kids and relatives for the official Secret Santa thing. I'm sorry, but its supposed to be an exchange for members of the forum, not for their family members.

(This was even on the official guidelines this year - "members only" - and I don't think it was fair that certain people got away with it because they thought outside the lines. Other members with kids felt bad afterwards, and regretted not signing up their own children/siblings/friends.)

Does this mean I'm completely against any family members and friends joining in on the fun in other ways? NOT AT ALL! A few late threads popped up this year (after the start of the official Secret Santa) with members who wanted to hook up with other members with kids/relatives who wanted their own Secret Santa exchanges! "Not-so-Secret Santas," if you will. I think thats a WONDERFUL idea, and I would even totally be up for sending someone's kid a gift next year!

But let's not bend the official rules to let everyone and their auntie get a gift.

(When companies and schools play the secret Santa game, they do it for their employees and students, not for family members they've never laid eyes on. I don't see why the forum should be any different.)

 

[echoharmony]

There needs to be some sort of accountability for stingy people *lol* I saw a lot of really really generous gifts, but I also saw some really unfortunate ones that, in some cases, didn't even seem to meet the minimum amount the pins or whatever are suppose to value at. I dunno, I just didn't think it was that fair for some people to get really lucky and get awesome gifts, and others kinda got shafted, or didn't have a lot of thought put into their gift, etc. Just my two cents, please don't flame!

 

[coblj003]

I'm not too sure about the feedback... I only have 14 feedback, and I've been here for months now! LOL!

I'm a charter member and only have 13 trader feedback, lol... Anyway back to the topic...

A more detailed questionaire would be wonderful; which would allow for a more options for non-pin gifts rather then generic holiday items packed together with a few pins. The mods were very forthcoming of trying not to exclude any member from partaking in the event so I think the requirements should extend itself to be like a DPF giveaway: min 25/50 post count(non-spamming of course), at least one successful trade, etc. I also don't think their should be a price- tier for secret santa for the same reason above; we know that some have gone above and beyond for their recipients but those were extremely generous circumstances when they knew that the average gift would carry a $10-$20 price tag. The sign up should actually be early(late october) with send-out addresses recieved no later then thanksgiving. I had to shop for my recipient gift and it was sent after X-mas due to a ebay/paypal error.

 

[Pin-A-Colada]

I spent over $$$$ on my SS recipient and received one pin from my SS, but I loved it. It was a cute pin and it was the thought that counts. I praised and praised. I would do it again without a problem.

 

[Orlandoismycat]

Hi,aggree with most ideas put forward ,think a second SS for family members a great idea but a lot more work for mods to have two list to run,but I would love to send to a child
as to feedback score,I'm a relative newbee,only 3 months ,made a few trades ,left feed back on all of them but stil waiting to receive feedback
i hope others would not be excluded with low feedback score just because they were still waiting

 

[heyyouwannatrade]

I agree with a lot of what has been said but here is what I would ideally have in mind.

I think a min post count of 100. I know that seems high but I don't feel you get to know somebody too well until then and I think a SS joiner should be an active part of DPF. 100 posts shows they are more active.

Definitely members only on the main exchange but if somebody else wants to run a secondary one for family members then that would be fine as well.

Answer the questionnaire!

On talks of budget, I don't think there should be a lot of different exchanges for how much you can or are willing to spend but maybe just 2 categories would be fair?? Say those who are looking to put $30 or less into gifts and then $31+ into gifts? I just know there were a lot of upset people this go round with seeing the extravagant gifts, sending nice ones themselves then barely getting $10 in stuff from their person. I have had a few people tell me how disappointed they were and I think that is sad to have others upset over the exchange.



All of this is coming from somebody who has chatted with others about this and who myself is frustrated b/c I got somebody with 0 post count, 0 feedback, etc. They have yet to acknowledge that they got their gift and I put a lot into it (value wise and time/thought wise as well). It is upsetting to go out of your way only for the other person to not even say thanks. It was quite disheartening and made my first round of SS not very fun at all.

 

[Stitch2814]

I would have gone into SS this year but the timing was all off for me, I would prefer the sign up to go up at say last week of October, let it run for 2 weeks, sort out who gets who and people have time to actually buy stuff. This is mainly for those overseas as if I got someone in the US I would have to buy a few things from ebay or place send them to me and then post back to who ever I got, and with Christmas post I thought its too much hassle or else I would have entered.

This may be just me but if they were sign ups earlier and we knew who we would have gotten by the last week of November thats 4/5 weeks to get something together and send it out with plenty of time for items to arrive across the pond.

Just my 2 cents on why I didnt enter as I like to put some thought into a gift and get something someone really wants LOL

Oh and I would say if you have zero post count, zero feedback shouldnt be allowed as to me its like they only joined to get something in return. DPF contests have a minimum post count so I would say Secret Santa should have as well I think it is only fair.

 

[Belle]

I agree with the majority of replies here mainly this ->

Originally Posted by BugCatcherJenna Stricter limits on who can join- 100 posts, must be a member for a month, must have a DPF account, must have a pinpics ID, ect
I don't really agree with the generosity thing though. Yes some members received a number of gifts with there packages and others not so much but I am with the 'it's the thought that counts' saying

 

[PrincessxJasmine89]

I agree with everyone about having a minimum post count, feedback score, time on the forum, and with a PinPics account LOL I actually got an active member with plenty to go off when putting together my gift, but I feel sorry for the people who got stressed out because they found it hard to put a gift together... just my opinion, though!

Also, please next year can we have a bigger time window between getting SS names and the deadline for receiving/mailing? I got my SS at the very end of the recipient distribution, and I got really stressed out working out a gift so it was sent really late, and it isn't fair on the recipient :/ So please... next year, can we have a little more time? :angel: It makes it really hard for overseas Secret Santas to send out nice, well thought out gifts in a timely manner... <3

 

[siberiaya]

I missed the SS this year. But I hope to participate in this coming new year!

 

[dbozzone]

I agree with the min post but think 50 is a good number, pin in there pinpic is a must, my person, had no post and no pins in there pinpics, which made it very hard, and I would have loved to spoil someone but was reluctant with mine, due to not knowing there level of commitment to this hobby.
I LOVE the idea of Secret Santa Christmas in July!!!! but I know it is alot of work for the mods, but please consider it.

I hope everyone gets their secret santa gift, I was concerned, because for those SS that had no posts, what do they care if they are banned for a month, they never post or get involved anyway.

Finally, for those who got upset that there SS did not post the minute their package arrived, remember that the holidays are a busy time, people go away, have jobs, family, events. Give it some time.