Secret Santa gift exchange! discussion
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2016 Gift Exchange
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Technical Questions
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Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I have a SS gift exchange question. Someone gifted me with books I already own (they were not in my Elfster wishlist and I marked them as "own-to-read" in my GR account). --I've placed a support ticket to ARe, so I will post any helpful updates once they respond.
Rachel wrote: "I have a SS gift exchange question. Someone gifted me with books I already own (they were not in my Elfster wishlist and I marked them as "own-to-read" in my GR account). The duplicate books just..."
If you haven't downloaded the books they should give you credit for them. I actually downloaded a book that I was gifting to someone and it was one that was already in my library and they reset the copy I had purchased so that I could gift it and I purchased another one by mistake and they removed it from my library and gave me a credit for it since I hadn't downloaded a copy. I know others here have been given e-bucks for books that were duplicates. So if you do a support ticket for them they're really good about it and you shouldn't have a problem. You'll probably have to do a ticket for each book because of how their system works but they're quick and easy to do. For your details just tell them it was a gift and you already own a copy. Good luck.
Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I have a SS gift exchange question. Someone gifted me with books I already own (they were not in my Elfster wishlist and I marked them as "own-to-read" in my GR account). The dupli..."
Karen...lots of great information!! Thanks so much for sharing your experience and knowledge. So very helpful, especially the part about submitting a ticket for each book. I will give it a try. Thanks so very much!!
Rachel wrote: "Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I have a SS gift exchange question. Someone gifted me with books I already own (they were not in my Elfster wishlist and I marked them as "own-to-read" in my GR account..."You're very welcome Rachel. I'm glad I could help. They may be a little slower than usual with their responses because it's a busy time for them but I've never waited more than 24 hours for a reply and usually less than that, so hopefully you'll be book shopping soon.
Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I have a SS gift exchange question. Someone gifted me with books I already own (they were not in my Elfster wishlist and I marked them as "own-to-read" i..."Karen, you are so helpful! I can't thank you enough for sharing. I'm smiling because your comment about "book shopping soon," has made my day. Something to look forward to :) Thanks again!!
.............OR you can re-gift it to someone else ;)
Rachel wrote: "Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I have a SS gift exchange question. Someone gifted me with books I already own (they were not in my Elfster wishlist and I marked them as "..."Karen and Heather, I just received a reply from ARe stating that "gifted books cannot be exchanged either for other books or for credit. The only option is to return them to the account of the person who gifted them to you."
Has anyone else had ARe refuse to issue credit for duplicate gifted books?
M'rella wrote: ".............OR you can re-gift it to someone else ;)"M'rella...how is that done at ARe when the book has already been gifted?
For example, when I go to my library, the only option I am able to select is the format for the book. I am not given an option to gift the book. The little green gift box that appears when I buy a book myself does not appear...
I think you can only gift books you've purchased yourself.
Lisa ~ Books Are My Drugs ~ wrote: "I think you can only gift books you've purchased yourself."Lisa, it looks like you are right. It appears that my only option is to have the books sent back to the unknown gift giver. Bummer...
Rachel wrote: "Has anyone else had ARe refuse to issue credit for duplicate gifted books? ..."Yes, this happened to me last year which is why I have two copies of
Diversion in my ARe account and they said the same thing to me :(
@Rachel hmmmm..... you're right! O.o
I had the same problem earlier, two days ago to be precise, still waiting for a reply from ARe.
But how do we know who the gifter is? The whole point of Secret Elves is to be anonymous and some of us don't want our cover blown even after the Big Reveal, duplicate copies or not :/
~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Has anyone else had ARe refuse to issue credit for duplicate gifted books? ..."Yes, this happened to me last year which is why I have two copies of
[b..."Lei, thanks for sharing. I was wondering if this had happened to anyone else. I appreciate you letting me know.
I asked ARe for their official policy regarding duplicate books and this is what they said:"We can return the gifted book to the original purchaser as long as the book has not been downloaded. At that point, the gifter has the option to contact us regarding a possible ebook bucks credit or exchange for a different title at the same price point, but that is handled in their account, not the recipient's. Whether they then choose to gift a different book to you would be up to them.
In the case of a book you gifted to someone else, if they received it as a duplicate and did not download, we could return the book to your account, at which point you could contact us regarding a potential ebook bucks credit or exchange. Any potential ebook bucks credit or exchange is always handled with the gifter, not the giftee."
M'rella wrote: "@Rachel hmmmm..... you're right! O.o
I had the same problem earlier, two days ago to be precise, still waiting for a reply from ARe."
M'rella, it looks like you will be in the same situation. Let me know if you have a different outcome. Good luck!
Rachel wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Karen wrote: "Rachel wrote: "I have a SS gift exchange question. Someone gifted me with books I already own (they were not in my Elfster wishlist and I m..."Ok, I can see their point, I'm not necessarily saying I agree with it but I do kind of see what they are saying. I know in my case both times I was the original purchaser but if I gave you a book from say Indigo that you already had or didn't want you could take it back and they'd either exchange or give you a credit as long as you had a gift receipt and having the book on you library shelf should be the equivalent of gift receipt to them, but still given what you have to work with if it was me and the books weren't right for the person that I was giving them to for whatever reason and especially in this case because they're duplicates. I would want you to send them back to me and I'd either pick new books or probably knowing me I'd send you the credit (ARe bucks) and tell you to have fun shopping and that I'd be watching for your post to see what you got.
These things happen Rachel and I can't imagine that whoever your gifter is they're going to be bothered by it and maybe with any luck they'll see this and send you a anonymous message through Elfster to tell you send the books back to them so they can help you fix this. ARe should be able to forward them to the sender. Please tell me they aren't expecting you to provide that information when it's a Secret Santa exchange, ffs!
Thanks, Karen. You have been so helpful, and I appreciate your input. I have asked ARe to send the books back to the gift giver, and they can remain anonymous. I have posted "my story" here and at Elfster, hoping that the anonymous gift giver will see why the books were returned.
I am afraid that ARe will just put them back in the gift giver's ARe library, and won't explain why they were returned. I am thankful for the gift, and would never want to hurt their feelings. Hopefully the gift giver will see one of my posts and understand the situation.
Rachel wrote: "Thanks, Karen. You have been so helpful, and I appreciate your input. I have asked ARe to send the books back to the gift giver, and they can remain anonymous. I have posted "my story" here and a..."
This is so unfortunate and honestly if ARe isn't going to do more than what they have they should give the giftee the option to return the books with an explanation at least then you could be assured that the person who sent you the gift knowing why you were put in the position of having to return it. But I'm going to be hopeful with you that they will see what's been posted here or on Elfster and understand everything that's happened. *hugs*
I appreciate your words, Karen. That is my hope, as well. The Secret Elf gift giving is such a fun event, and I am so thankful to all of the kind and generous gift givers who participate. (hugs)
I would rather have a chance to exchange my gift for something else, even if I must add some money. It was sent to me, it's in my library, therefore it's ... MINE! @.@ 
PS I am still waiting for ARe's reply. And waiting.... and waiting...
M'rella wrote: "I would rather have a chance to exchange my gift for something else, even if I must add some money. It was sent to me, it's in my library, therefore it's ... MINE! @.@ "
Exactly!
M'rella wrote: "I would rather have a chance to exchange my gift for something else, even if I must add some money. It was sent to me, it's in my library, therefore it's ... MINE! @.@ "
I totally agree with this and think the fact that they don't do this only shows that they need to re-evaluate their customer service. It would be entirely different if we were talking about refunds but we're not so an exchange should not require involving the person who gifted the book that should be between you and the retailer.
M'rella wrote: "PS I am still waiting for ARe's reply. And waiting.... and waiting..."
That sucks, you shouldn't have to keep waiting or keep poking them to remind them to do their job but it looks like you might have to. I'd poke them for you if I could because crappy customer service is a bit pet peeve of mine.
Karen wrote: "M'rella wrote: I totally agree with this and think the fact that they don't do this only shows that they need to re-evaluate their customer service. It would be entirely different if we were talking about refunds but we're not so an exchange should not require involving the person who gifted the book that should be between you and the retailer.
My other concern with this process is that once the gifts have been removed from my library, I have no idea when/if the gift giver gets them back. As often as I shop at ARe, this has dampened my enthusiasm for buying from them...
Rachel wrote: "Karen wrote: "M'rella wrote: I totally agree with this and think the fact that they don't do this only shows that they need to re-evaluate their customer service. It would be entirely different if..."
I totally agree. It would be different if you knew who it was and could check with them to be sure but that's not the case here and honestly I don't see this as being a necessary way for them as a retailer to resolve this. To me it's less than satisfactory customer service from both the gifter and the giftees perspective. If I give a gift and there's a problem with it, I want things to be resolved as quickly and easily as possible and their system makes it more complicated than necessary for everyone even them.
Karen wrote: "M'rella wrote: "PS I am still waiting for ARe's reply. And waiting.... and waiting..."That sucks, you shouldn't have to keep waiting or keep poking them to remind them to do their job but it lo..."
I never got an answer to any of my tickets regarding the notifications for gifts. Not a single one. I started to think that maybe when they respond there might be no sender in the email address so their emails don't reach me. Or they just don't want to answer.
M'rella wrote: "PS I am still waiting for ARe's reply. And waiting.... and waiting..."
LMAO! You find the best gifs :)
I hope they do eventually get the issue resolved though :(
Am4u ❀ ~ AprilMarie4u ~ ❀ wrote: "LMAO! You find the best gifs :)
I hope they do eventually get the issue resolved though :("
Thanks :) Google rules!
As for ARe, I'll poke them again :(
ROFLMAO!!!!That should get their attention!
I couldn't believe ARe closed, but after looking around online it looks as though the site's been in trouble for quite a while
and wow, the owner Lori James is a c u n tee of epic proportions! she didn't pay authors, stole money from adverisers and screwd her business partner (figuratively) http://blogcritics.org/publisher-all-...
Marisella wrote: "and wow, the owner Lori James is a c u n tee of epic proportions! she didn't pay authors, stole money from adverisers and screwd her business partner (figuratively) http://blogcritics.org/publisher..."If you're a member, there's also a discussion thread about it in the MM Romance group:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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Secret Santa gift exchange!
Books mentioned in this topic
Diversion (other topics)Diversion (other topics)
The duplicate books just..."
I would email ARe and ask!