Secret Santa gift exchange! discussion
2019 Gift Exchange
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Technical Questions
message 101:
by
Emily
(new)
Nov 16, 2019 10:01PM
Thank you!!!
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Leslie wrote: "My person seems to have tons of non book items that are well over the budget and most of the books that are on their list are over budget as well. A few are right at the amount. I feel kind of bad ..."My person has the same thing
Is it frowned upon to give outside a person's wish list if you feel the gift will suit their likes?
Nanna wrote: "Is it frowned upon to give outside a person's wish list if you feel the gift will suit their likes?"Well, I always try to fulfill their wishes first, because they put it there, so they must want it. But nobody says you can only buy one or two things. Especially if they're still within the budget
Hi Heather. My match doesn’t have ant books on her Elfster wish list and I can’t tell what books she doesn’t have based on her Goodreads bookshelves. She has a very large want to read list but I can’t see anything to indicate if she has them or not. Help!
Emily wrote: "My person is international. I was planning on shipping a hard copy but I’m thinking shipping might be too expensive? How do I order and send an ebook? Do I need to find their email address somewhere?"There's also bookdepository, which has free shipping to most countries!
Leslie wrote: "My person seems to have tons of non book items that are well over the budget and most of the books that are on their list are over budget as well. A few are right at the amount. I feel kind of bad ..."something that I noticed when I made my wishlist was that elfster often put a wrong prize to books, especially ebooks, and mostly elfster listed them as much more expensive than they actually are. So in case you haven't yet, check what the (e)books actually costs at different retailers, since elfster might be wrong.
Check whether those books also available at Smashwords -- this ebook retailer is international friendly, ask anonymous question to your giftee if they have account there :)
Aղցela W. wrote: "Leslie wrote: "My person seems to have tons of non book items that are well over the budget and most of the books that are on their list are over budget as well. A few are right at the amount. I fe..."You can ask them questions anonymously using elfster. Worse case, if you see cheaper options on their gr shelves and it turns out they already own it, they can exchange it for something else (if thru Amazon). Smashwords does offer exchanges but i think only if receiver doesn't claim it.
I'm matched with someone from another country. Their entire wishlist is Kindle books. Amazon will not allow me to gift these. The books aren't on Smashwords.
If buying off Smashwords, do you have to indicate they type of file (mobi, pdf) or does the recipient just claim the type they want?
Amy wrote: "I'm matched with someone from another country. Their entire wishlist is Kindle books. Amazon will not allow me to gift these. The books aren't on Smashwords."I think there is a way to buy an Amazon gift card they can use in their country. Not as fun as gifting books. 😟
Amy wrote: "I'm matched with someone from another country. Their entire wishlist is Kindle books. Amazon will not allow me to gift these. The books aren't on Smashwords."When I get a recipient that's out of my country, I have sent paperbacks in the past if they have listed a physical address.
Zuzu wrote: "If buying off Smashwords, do you have to indicate they type of file (mobi, pdf) or does the recipient just claim the type they want?"
You get an email from Smashwords telling you that you've been gifted a book and can download in the format you prefer (if I remember rightly from last year).
Cadiva wrote: "Amy wrote: "I'm matched with someone from another country. Their entire wishlist is Kindle books. Amazon will not allow me to gift these. The books aren't on Smashwords."When I get a recipient th..."
Thank you! That is what I thought. Haven't purchased anything from them for a while.
I am matched with someone that has requested ebooks only and I can’t seem to find an email address for this person. How do I find that? **Sorry, this is my first time doing this**
Melissa wrote: "I am matched with someone that has requested ebooks only and I can’t seem to find an email address for this person. How do I find that? **Sorry, this is my first time doing this**"
Message #99 has the answer (I only know because I had the same question too!)
Underneath where it says your match's address and birthday, select "more info" and you can see their email address!
My apologies to whoever was matched with me - I'd managed to make my list private - oops and sorry.It's sorted now!
Mod
I actually do that all the time. I mix in wishlist books with other ones!
Mod
I will message your match!
Melissa wrote: "I am matched with someone that has requested ebooks only and I can’t seem to find an email address for this person. How do I find that? **Sorry, this is my first time doing this**"
Hi twin! 😊
Amy wrote: "I'm matched with someone from another country. Their entire wishlist is Kindle books. Amazon will not allow me to gift these. The books aren't on Smashwords."Amy, my advice, send them an anonymous question, ask them if they can mix match the wishlist with books available on Smashwords. Hopefully they are willing to do so 🤞🏼. Because not everyone willing to read paperback too these days
Or ask them if paperback format is okay, then you can use bookdepository.com to buy/send these books. They have free delivery to multiple countries
Zuzu wrote: "If buying off Smashwords, do you have to indicate they type of file (mobi, pdf) or does the recipient just claim the type they want?"No need to choose the format yourself, you just buy a "title" there. Your giftee can download the book in any format they want
How do I leave a message on Elfster for my Secret Santa? I am unable to download their gift from Amazon.com and want to make sure they know so they don't get charged.
Bookbee wrote: "How do I leave a message on Elfster for my Secret Santa? I am unable to download their gift from Amazon.com and want to make sure they know so they don't get charged."If you click on the gift exchange on Elfster there should be an option on the bottom of that page that asks "Did you receive your gift" and it has an option for you to send a message.
Debra wrote: "If you click on the gift exchange on Elfster there should be an option on the bottom of that page that asks "Did you receive your gift" and it has an option for you to send a message."Thanks so much! I saw that but had no idea what it was for! :)
Leslie wrote: "My person seems to have tons of non book items that are well over the budget and most of the books that are on their list are over budget as well. A few are right at the amount. I feel kind of bad ..."Same here.. Not sure what to do yet. They also didnt say if they are ok receiving epub or mobi versions, so I dont even know if I can get them digital versions of their requests..
How do people decide on “random people” to gift things to? Do y’all just scroll through the participant list and pick people arbitrarily, or go looking to gift particular things or people?
I was wondering the same thing as Zac...
Sayaka wrote: "Leslie wrote: "My person seems to have tons of non book items that are well over the budget and most of the books that are on their list are over budget as well. A few are right at the amount. I fe..."You can send anonymous questions to your person through the Elfster site. I just did it since my giftee doesn't have anything on their wishlist or GR profile. :/
Bookbee wrote: "How do I leave a message on Elfster for my Secret Santa? I am unable to download their gift from Amazon.com and want to make sure they know so they don't get charged."You can also complain to Amazon customer service and they will refund the book price (the amount your SS paid) to you as a GC and then you can buy the book yourself.
Annoying and, at least for me last year, the book will cost you little more than what you get in GC but at least you get the book your SS intended for you.
Zach wrote: "How do people decide on “random people” to gift things to? Do y’all just scroll through the participant list and pick people arbitrarily, or go looking to gift particular things or people?"I don't think they are gifting to random people. I would guess they are gifting their gr friends. 😊
Zach wrote: "How do people decide on “random people” to gift things to? Do y’all just scroll through the participant list and pick people arbitrarily, or go looking to gift particular things or people?"I gift to my friends that I've interacted with over the years and sometimes if I see someone has wished for a book I absolutely loved I will randomly gift it just to spread the love for that book.
Zach wrote: "How do people decide on “random people” to gift things to? Do y’all just scroll through the participant list and pick people arbitrarily, or go looking to gift particular things or people?"What I tend to do is scroll through lists and say, "I love that book, I want more people to read it, I will buy it for you!" OR "That book is one sale, ahh, must take advantage of the sale!" But how everyone buys is going to be different, probably.
Mod
I would also search for their names on Goodreads (check by email address) and get random books from their to-read list if they don't have enough on Elfster. Or you can message me and we can talk it out between us!
Mod
Mod
I 100% gift to random people also. And, honestly, when I see that someone has an unresponsive match...
Mod
Message me about your match! I can help... I'll tell you more in a DM ;)
Zach wrote: "How do people decide on “random people” to gift things to? Do y’all just scroll through the participant list and pick people arbitrarily, or go looking to gift particular things or people?"This is my first year, so I don’t really know anybody yet, but my strategy for Elfin Giving is going to be a mixture of the book wished for (my feelings for that book/author), what I’ve seen in this group (were they especially nice/helpful), and instinct (there’s at least one person I just had a feeling about - so they are getting a gift!). I followed everyone I could so I could see their wishlists and am having so much fun looking and planning. It’s hard not to do all my gifting at once, but I’ll wait some to give the actual Santas first dibs.
Mod
That's so sweet! What a nice addition to our group ;)
I've sent a couple of messages to my giftee, as their links are to books on goodreads, so I've no idea what format they read on. Does anyone know if Elfster emails to say a question has been asked, or do they have to 'notice' I've sent them?
Louise wrote: "I've sent a couple of messages to my giftee, as their links are to books on goodreads, so I've no idea what format they read on. Does anyone know if Elfster emails to say a question has been asked,..."I'm not sure but if you let Heather know, she can also contact them to keep your identity secret.
Zuzu wrote: "I'm not sure but if you let Heather know, she can also contact them to keep your identity secret. ..."Thanks. I'll give it a day and then see if Heather can contact them for me 😊
Mod
Eepa *mm loving bookworm* wrote: "You can also complain to Amazon customer service and they will refund the book price (the amount your SS paid) to you as a GC and then you can buy the book yourself.Annoying and, at least for me last year, the book will cost you little more than what you get in GC but at least you get the book your SS intended for you."
The problem with that Eepa is the GC will be through the .com site and they don't allow us in Canada to purchase ebooks from that site, only from the .ca site. PITA!!! But my Secret Santa and I have been in contact anonymously and something will work out one way or another! :)
I received an email from elfster with the following message:Goodreads Fun Holiday Squad Gift Exchange- updated the shipping info for your gift. Here's the scoop:
Tracking number:
Shipped via:
Notes:
Everything was blank. The site also shows nothing. Pretty sure this is an error but posting it here just in case...
Daniel wrote: "This is my first year, so I don’t really know anybody yet, but my strategy for Elfin Giving is going to be a mixture of the book wished for (my feelings for that book/author), what I’ve seen in this group (were they especially nice/helpful), and instinct (there’s at least one person I just had a feeling about - so they are getting a gift!). I followed everyone I could so I could see their wishlists and am having so much fun looking and planning. It’s hard not to do all my gifting at once, but I’ll wait some to give the actual Santas first dibs."It's my first year too Daniel and I've had "feelings" about people I don't otherwise know also. They have been added to my Elf list! :)
If you are getting your books via ebook on Amazon, this is just a quick FYI that it can be a good idea to double-check that nothing on your wishlist is currently free. If there is a way to gift books that are currently free, I don't know how to do it, so I generally resort to sending messages letting people know that something on their wishlist is free when I see it.There's always this mad rush of adrenaline when this happens. "Gah, don't let the book be free for a really short time and have them see the message when it isn't free anymore!"
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I shall do my best. This is so fun and I’m so happy to do my first one. 💜
Louise wrote: "I've sent a couple of messages to my giftee, as their links are to books on goodreads, so I've no idea what format they read on. Does anyone know if Elfster emails to say a question has been asked,..."Elfster sends an email notification that someone has asked a question or answered a question with a link to view it. I have sent plenty back and forth over the last few years :)
Lyra wrote: "Zach wrote: "How do people decide on “random people” to gift things to? Do y’all just scroll through the participant list and pick people arbitrarily, or go looking to gift particular things or peo..."Yes, this!
