Technical Questions

[Kendra]

Having an issue with something? Post it here. I am also going to post some guidance here. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! :-)

* You MUST sign up on Elfster in order to participate. This is where the matches will be done and where you can set up a wish list (or a link for your GR wish list which is so much easier!)

* Elfster link : https://www.elfster.com/exchange/view...

* The gift amount should be around $15. You can do as much as you want, but you should really try not to go below $15.

* Ebooks are the easiest to gift, and that is what we tend to do here! M'rella put a great list in message 2 where she puts those places that you can buy books and gift them, or buy gift certificates.

* Keep in mind that it is difficult for people in one country to gift to others in a different country, especially with Amazon. Please list where you prefer to get your books from, especially now that ARe is no longer an option.

[M'rella]

Not a question.

I would like to compile a list of vendors who offer direct gifting services.

So far:

Direct or GC:
Amazon
Pride Publishing (also has "buy 9, get 1 book free" program)
First For Romance
Totally Entwined
FIrst Romance
Riptide Publishing
Smashwords
Google Books


Gift Certificates only:
Loose ID
Dreamspinner Press
Less Than Three Press
NineStar Press
Evernight Publishing

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~]

M'rella ~

Riptide ~ https://riptidepublishing.com/

Looks like you can direct gift a book - FAQ\Reader\Shopping with Riptide https://riptidepublishing.com/faq or give a gift card https://riptidepublishing.com/gift-cards

[M'rella]

Thanks! I would rather go directly through the publisher, than Amazon or B&N ;)

[Kendra]

M'rella wrote: "Thanks! I would rather go directly through the publisher, than Amazon or B&N ;)"

I agree wholeheartedly! Thank you so much for posting this. Best idea!!!

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~]

Please refresh my memory - how do I link my existing Elfster wishlist to the new exchange? Or is it automatic when I RSVP and I'm overthingking it.

[Boo, having to remove ARe as a source, I didn't think I'd miss it as much as I have.]

ETA: NM I found it.

[M'rella]

I renamed mine. So when people look at my profile, they know which one to look at.

[Kendra]

ARe as a gifting option was so easy. It stinks they crumbled. :-(

[M'rella]

ARe was murdered. Just like FictionWise :/

[Lila]

Google books has an option for gifting as well. And NineStar Press does gift certificates.

[M'rella]

Thank you, Lila!

[Lisa ~ Books Are My Drugs ~]

Gifting is available through this site as well:
https://www.firstforromance.com/

[Jane (PS)]

M'rella wrote: "ARe was murdered. Just like FictionWise :/"

Fictionwise was great. I really missed it's great discounts when it folded. But that's so long ago now!!!

[Kendra]

I loved the Fictionwise discounts! It does feel like forever ago. lol

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~]

Kendra wrote: "I loved the Fictionwise discounts! It does feel like forever ago. lol"

Ended November 2012 and so many others since then.....

[Erica]

So, I've never done a book exchange before, but I thought I had it all figured out . . . right up until it was time to do the actual exchange. Lol.

Above, it says:

* The gift amount should be around $15. You can do as much as you want, but you should really try not to go below $15.

Obviously, most ebooks are less than $15 so do we just pick out two or three or four or whatever it takes to get there?

[Kendra]

Yes. We should be spending about $15 so as many books as it takes. It is fun to spread books out, too. hahaha
It works out great because if you can get books on sale, sometimes it ends up to be 6-7 books!

[Erica]

Kendra wrote: "Yes. We should be spending about $15 so as many books as it takes. It is fun to spread books out, too. hahaha
It works out great because if you can get books on sale, sometimes it ends up to be 6-..."

Awesome! I think I can do this, lol.

[Melanie~~]

When are we supposed to reveal? What if we don't receive a gift?

[Kendra]

Well damn. I guess I forgot that, huh?
Well, we have Christmas in July, so we could leave it up for the whole month with July 31 as the deadline? I think the other one was up for a month, so that would fit. Does that work for you guys, or would you like it to end earlier? Maybe we can have it officially end by 7/31, but encourage that you send at least one gift by 7/15 so we can make sure everyone saw their person and is involved? It might help with who needs a reminder to pop over. Just thoughts. Let me know what you guys want.

As far as not receiving gifts, definitely let me know. It also helps if you document on Elfster if you received and sent. I can search that if someone is concerned about not receiving something. Also, I can PM the person.

[M'rella]

@Kendra

How about not being able to send a gift? :(
Maybe 10 days before the final day you can re-pair those with a missing partner?

[Steph ☀️]

Kendra wrote: "Well damn. I guess I forgot that, huh?
Well, we have Christmas in July, so we could leave it up for the whole month with July 31 as the deadline? I think the other one was up for a month, so that w..."

That sounds great to me :)