Secret Santa gift exchange! discussion
2019 Gift Exchange
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Technical Questions
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?"Last year it was from reading these message boards and "getting to know" people over the month and wanting to do something fun for them.
Nanna wrote: "Is it frowned upon to give outside a person's wish list if you feel the gift will suit their likes?"Last year my SS bought a gift that wasn't on the list, but she loved and wanted to share. I thought it was really nice and a fun surprise.
Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I anticipated. How do I keep my identity secret? The name on my account shows and the "elf name" I wrote in the box indicating "name" was put as the giftee's name. I feel most inadequate! :)
Mod
Oh no! Did you read through the Smashwords instructions for gifting? They are on the website.
Mod
https://www.smashwords.com/about/gifts
Most people change their name in Smashwords before they give a gift. Like they edit their account!
I just tested it with myself (I sent from one email to another). Change your name in your profile to "Secret Santa" and you'll be all set :)
I'll try it the second way when I make my next purchase. :)
Mod
You can message me more to chat if you want to talk it through. I don't know how helpful I was!
Jill wrote: "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 ..."Thank you, I was hoping that was the case and it's helped put my mind to rest a little. They still haven't replied 😟 but I'll give them another day and then ask Heather to chase it up. She's so busy with all the questions and organising that I don't like to bother her if I don't have to.
Louise wrote: "but I'll give them another day and then ask Heather to chase it up. She's so busy with all the questions and organising"Yes, you're right. I suppose Heather has no spare time to be a dentist, these weeks.
Thanks, Heather!!!
Help!!Elfster just sent me message that
Your gift is on its way!
Shipping Information
Carrier:Other
Tracking #:Not provided
Now I am worried because
1) I don't read paperback anymore, for the past 10 years I read only ebooks
2) I don't even put my mailing address on Elfster
I hope this doesn't mean that my Secret Santa or Elf send something my way via mailing. I live all the way in Indonesia 🙈
@Heather, any possibility to investigate ?
Ami wrote: "Help!!Elfster just sent me message that
Your gift is on its way!
Shipping Information
Carrier:Other
Tracking #:Not provided
Now I am worried because
1) I don't read paperback anymore, for the..."
Stephani (message #146) wrote the same today.
Is it possible this happens when someone clicks on the wrong button on ELfster?
Hemmel wrote: "Ami wrote: "Help!!Elfster just sent me message that
Your gift is on its way!
Shipping Information
Carrier:Other
Tracking #:Not provided
Now I am worried because
1) I don't read paperback anym..."
If your person marked that they sent your gift, then you will get a message like this. Doesn't matter if it is digital or physical. If the button is clicked, then a message is generated.
It is probably digital since physical books are rare :)
Stephani wrote: "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:
Not..."
If your match clicked the button that said gift sent, then you will get a notification. It doesn't matter if it is a physical or a digital book. So it sounds like you have something coming your way :)
Has anyone had issues with people's wish list on Elfster? It is not showing if a book has been purchased or even giving me the option to mark it as purchased. Any ideas?
Bookreader87(Amanda) wrote: "Has anyone had issues with people's wish list on Elfster? It is not showing if a book has been purchased or even giving me the option to mark it as purchased. Any ideas?"I had the option to mark it as purchased when I did one off the list. So that’s strange that you’re not seeing that.
Bookreader87(Amanda) wrote: "Has anyone had issues with people's wish list on Elfster? It is not showing if a book has been purchased or even giving me the option to mark it as purchased. Any ideas?"I believe you have to be following them in order to mark it as purchased and to see if it’s been purchased already. That fixed things for me at least
Zuzu wrote: "Bookreader87(Amanda) wrote: "Has anyone had issues with people's wish list on Elfster? It is not showing if a book has been purchased or even giving me the option to mark it as purchased. Any ideas..."Kacey wrote: "I believe you have to be following them in order to mark it as purchased and to see if it’s been purchased already. That fixed things for me at least"
Thank you both for your quick response.
I will try following them. Do you know if we follow them will it show it as anonymous?
Bookbee wrote: "Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I anticipated. How do I keep my identity secret? The name on my account shows and the "elf name" I wrote in the box indicating ..."same... I just changed my name in Smashwords.
Mod
Goodreads Fun Holiday Squad Gift Exchange- updated the shipping info for your gift. Here's the scoop:
Tracking number:..."
I'm glad you know the answer, Isaiah!! I think it's an automated message, so you should be good!
Mod
It will show as anonymous!
Bookreader87(Amanda) wrote: "Zuzu wrote: "Bookreader87(Amanda) wrote: "Has anyone had issues with people's wish list on Elfster? It is not showing if a book has been purchased or even giving me the option to mark it as purchas..."I think the followers are anonymous. Look under your friends and then followers. Mine just shows the number of followers. No names
Mod
Yes, you're right. I suppose Heather has no spare time to be..."
xoxo
Stephani wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I anticipated. How do I keep my identity secret? The name on my account shows and the "elf name" I wrote in the..."Thanks for trying to help Stephani! I did change my name on the account but apparently that doesn't change the original "user name", which is what the purchase confirmation emails are sent out under. :(
How do I find out who I am purchasing for? I looked on my Elfster account but it's my first time using. I'm not sure where to look.
Mariana wrote: "How do I find out who I am purchasing for? I looked on my Elfster account but it's my first time using. I'm not sure where to look."On the Elfster home page click on the link at the top "Gift Exchanges", then click on the "2019 Goodreads Fun Holiday Squad Gift Exchange" and you should then see the name you were paired with. I'm new too, so I totally can relate! :)
Bookbee wrote: "Mariana wrote: "How do I find out who I am purchasing for? I looked on my Elfster account but it's my first time using. I'm not sure where to look."On the Elfster home page click on the link at t..."
Thanks!
Bookbee wrote: "Stephani wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I anticipated. How do I keep my identity secret? The name on my account shows and the "elf nam..."I tried this too -- I tried to change my name, but apparently my username still didn't change, and I was worried that Elfster would send the username instead for my giftee to see
Ami wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Stephani wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I anticipated. How do I keep my identity secret? The name on my account shows ..."Bookbee and Ami - I totally understand where you are coming from. I was stressing when I did mine as it didn't change straight away either - I left it for a day and it changed.
I'm not sure if it was leaving it for a day or because I logged out and then back in. Maybe try logging out and back in that might work :-)
Mod
mine changed! I tested it by email a free book from one of my email address to another.
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Relly wrote: "Ami wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Stephani wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I anticipated. How do I keep my identity secret? The..."I didn't think of testing it. I'm going to keep that in mind for next year :-)
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Relly wrote: "Ami wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Stephani wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I anticipated. How do I keep my identity secret? The..."Rushes off to try...
Yay! It worked!!! This has had me so totally stressed! Thank you so much everyone! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your patience with this Luddite! :D
Bookbee wrote: "Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Relly wrote: "Ami wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Stephani wrote: "Bookbee wrote: "Sent my first gift through Smashwords but the outcome did not work as I antic..."Yay Bookbee - glad it worked :-)
Mwanamali wrote: "How do you post thank you notes?"Great question! I need to know this too.
Mwanamali wrote: "How do you post thank you notes?"There is a button that says i have received my gift or something like that. After that you are promoted to the thank you note!
Jairo wrote: "Mwanamali wrote: "How do you post thank you notes?"There is a button that says i have received my gift or something like that. After that you are promoted to the thank you note!"
On what page is the button?
Mod
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "The thank you note is on Elfster, but it’s better just to post here! I often don’t post thank you s on elfster because I assume everyone checks here instead."I've been deleting gifted books off Elfster and posting thank yous here.
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?"Yep. I just randomly pick people to gift to without any planning. I'll maybe decide to do the 15th person on the list, or I'll do the next person whose first name begins with a J etc.
I also gift to my Goodreads friends too 😁
Jairo wrote: "Mwanamali wrote: "How do you post thank you notes?"There is a button that says i have received my gift or something like that. After that you are promoted to the thank you note!"
I don't have a button but I didn't get a notification like others, just got the book emailed from smashwords. I deleted it myself from my wish list, it wasn't marked as purchased on the list.
the button is in the exchange page. where you are your assigned giftee. go to the group exchange. below the I have send my gift is the I have received my gift
Mod
There is a button that says i have received my gift or something like that. After that you are promoted to the thank you note!"
I..."
You can't see if it has been purchased on your own wishlist, BTW!
Jairo wrote: "the button is in the exchange page. where you are your assigned giftee. go to the group exchange. below the I have send my gift is the I have received my gift"Thank you - I know which button you mean now. It appeared at the same time as my giftee so I didn't realise it was independent and because someone had purchased an item - doh!
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "You can't see if it has been purchased on your own wishlist, BTW!"
I didn't know that so thank you so much x
You are all so helpful! 💕💕💕
Just FYI, Google Play Books also doesn't allow cross-country gifting. I just received email from the kind Ivy Mistletoe but the code didn't work in my country, unfortunately. So add Google Play Book as another retailer with regional restriction :(
Ami wrote: "Just FYI, Google Play Books also doesn't allow cross-country gifting. I just received email from the kind Ivy Mistletoe but the code didn't work in my country, unfortunately. So add Google Play Boo..."Thanks - I had looked at them as a possibility so it's useful to know I CANT use them.
Ami wrote: "Just FYI, Google Play Books also doesn't allow cross-country gifting. I just received email from the kind Ivy Mistletoe but the code didn't work in my country, unfortunately. So add Google Play Boo..."Do we know if Apple Books allows it?? I’ll look into after work if we don’t have a clear yes or no. I was bummed last year not being able to send direct books to people, instead having to use gift cards for those outside the U.S. 😕
Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Louise wrote: "Jairo wrote: "Mwanamali wrote: "How do you post thank you notes?"There is a button that says i have received my gift or something like that. After that you are promoted to the than..."
Thank you - I didn't know this, I've been deleting the purchased ones :-)
Jairo wrote: "the button is in the exchange page. where you are your assigned giftee. go to the group exchange. below the I have send my gift is the I have received my gift"Thank you - I didn't know this either. I've now gone back and clicked received :-)
So do you have to have contact customer service at Smashwords to actually change your identity or can you do it yourself? I just totally sent someone a gift and instead of using the name I entered it used my twitter username, which i think is my smashwords username. LOL. Hope they enjoy the book cause now I can't tell them my secret elf identity without revealing who I am! LOL.
So far I mostly just view the notifications and see what books people are adding to their lists. Anything I see that looks interesting I'll send off to them from my elf alias.