Random Chitchat

[Ami]

Hemmel wrote: "I use many names. I usually get confused by myself."

So hard to keep track! But someone here has their own spreadsheet, right? 😁

[Sheri]

Luke wrote: "Excited that we have matches now 😁"

Whoop! Same!!!
Either I was extra excited or it was a longer wait before matching this year. Probably just me being impatient. Although, I'm not the only one because I wasn't the 'impatient elf' that popped up around here.

I use the same name because otherwise, I'd forget to change them back and forth. 😊

[Temp]

I'm using two different names because I forgot the one I started off with, lol. Oops.

I've never had so much fun with a secret santa exchange before! Can't believe it took me so long to finally sign up.

[Roger - president of NBR United -]

Kit wrote: "I'm using two different names because I forgot the one I started off with, lol. Oops.

I've never had so much fun with a secret santa exchange before! Can't believe it took me so long to finally s..."

Now you know why us old-timers keep coming back!

[Gustaf]

Stockholm got its first snow just in time for the matches to be revealed.

[Kristy]

I use several different elf names when gifting randomly, but I usually just use the basic "Secret Santa" with my assigned giftee so they know they're receiving gifts from their actual secret santa.

[Sarah]

Gustaf wrote: "Stockholm got its first snow just in time for the matches to be revealed."

Woo! Very festive and magical, I hope!

[Pam]

Match dayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

I also use "Secret Santa" for my match and keep my elf name for the bonus gifts. Some people get anxious when they don't know what's coming from who, plus it also lets me claim my match at the end without revealing all my secrets :)

[Hemmel M.]

I use Jingle Slegolas for my match.

[Roger - president of NBR United -]

Secret santa for offical giftee random giftees get an elf name. Using a new name so far but if feeling nostalgic I might use my name from last year.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Pam wrote: "Match dayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

I also use "Secret Santa" for my match and keep my elf name for the bonus gifts. Some people get anxious when they don't know what's coming from who, plus it also lets me ..."

I also do this- I always put Secret Santa for my match

[Cadiva]

Kristy wrote: "I use several different elf names when gifting randomly, but I usually just use the basic "Secret Santa" with my assigned giftee so they know they're receiving gifts from their actual secret santa."

That's what I do, I think it helps make it a bit easier to keep track!

[Sandra]

Ami wrote: "Hemmel wrote: "I use many names. I usually get confused by myself."

So hard to keep track! But someone here has their own spreadsheet, right? 😁"

Who is keeping the spreadsheet of all the elf names? There was someone who did that over the last few years.

[Sarah]

Sandra wrote: "Who is keeping the spreadsheet of all ..."

I started one today, mostly because I wanted to see which people still need elf gifts. It can be hard to tell!

[Shandra]

I wish I had thought to just say “Secret Santa” for my person, but I figure they’ll know I’m the right one since I’ll send more than one gift.

I think it’s more fun to get them spread out rather than all at once myself. It makes me feel as if I’m still part of the fun even if I don’t know too many people personally.

[Sheri]

I try and spread out as much as I can too...and I would probably have several names (like our Brittany elf!!) if only smashwords allowed you to change your name with each book...but as far as I understand, you have to change your name in your profile if you want to keep your identity hidden during the exchange, right? And I know I would slip up and forget. So I change it at the beginning of the exchange. Unless there's a way to change the name for each book gifted? I also wish you could do several orders at once to different people with smashwords. Or do I have that wrong??

[Sheri]

Sarah wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Who is keeping the spreadsheet of all ..."

I started one today, mostly because I wanted to see which people still need elf gifts. It can be hard to tell!"

This is a great idea! I wish I was better at spreadsheets. 🤪

[Sandra]

Sheri wrote: "I try and spread out as much as I can too...and I would probably have several names (like our Brittany elf!!) if only smashwords allowed you to change your name with each book...but as far as I und..."

You could in theory send a gift, change your profile to a new elf name, send another gift, change your profile again, and so forth, but that is super cumbersome. And if you have to resend an email, you'd have to remember which elf name you used for that giftee, otherwise it uses your current profile name.

[Sandra]

Sarah wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Who is keeping the spreadsheet of all ..."

I started one today, mostly because I wanted to see which people still need elf gifts. It can be hard to tell!"

That's a good idea, but IIRC from previous years, not everyone posts in the Goodies thread. I'm terrible at spreadsheets but I'd love to keep track of all the fun elf names.

[Kitty]

I wish there was an easy way to tell who hasn't gotten a gift !

Sarah wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Who is keeping the spreadsheet of all ..."

I started one today, mostly because I wanted to see which people still need elf gifts. It can be hard to tell!"

[Fran]

Pam wrote: "Match dayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!

I also use "Secret Santa" for my match and keep my elf name for the bonus gifts. Some people get anxious when they don't know what's coming from who, plus it also lets me ..."

Me too! ‘Secret Santa’ for my match, elf name for everyone else :)

[Temp]

It also didn't occur to me to just use Secret Santa for the match. I had the same thought as Shandra that they'll know it's be because I'll send more than one gift. But this is a tip I'll remember for next year!

[Sheri]

Sandra wrote: "Sheri wrote: "I try and spread out as much as I can too...and I would probably have several names (like our Brittany elf!!) if only smashwords allowed you to change your name with each book...but a..."

Yes, this is what I thought...and I'd be a massive mess!!

Yes, that's a good point, Sandra! Some aren't very active here.
I don't see that my match has come to "this" side of the party yet. But they did add books this week!!

[Nadine Bookaholic]

Secret Santa for my match as well and my elf name for everyone else


AMAZON has made some major CHANGES this year

no refunds on books we already own, the gifter needs to cancel the order or send it to a different email address - problem occurs when we don't know who our gifter is.

The Gifter only has 60 days (it could be 90 though so double check) to I believe to cancel unclaimed books. no more waiting a year to see if they claim it at some point which means if they forget to claim it and you forget to cancel it Amazon is a bit richer

Elf names - I know we all like to get creative with our elf names but I noticed that I had to rework mine because it wouldn't take all of the characters that I normally use. so yeah that was a fun one to figure out.



ELFSTER CHANGES
Please make sure your email address is in your address line or in your Wishlist title because Elfster has changed the page and I've come across many pages missing email addresses. So help your Santa and his Elves out by making sure your email address is showing up for all to see. TIA

[M'rella]

I have created a new thread for Amazon Q&A and requests for gift returns and exchanges.

Here is the link:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Not sure why, but it I can't see it.
Might be waiting for Heather's approval?

[M'rella]

This is bizarre.... My thread is gone, but I do have my post:



========================================

Amazon has recently "updated" their site, which means some helpful features are either gone, changed or relocated:

- unclaimed gifts must be revoked within 60 days.
Make sure to check on the gifts you sent out regularly.

- you can no longer return/exchange a gifted book.
Leave a request in this thread for your Santa/Elf to exchange those books for you.

- you can no longer send a reminder via Amazon to your giftee if your gift remains unclaimed.
You now have to revoke and then re-send the gift.
Or you can anonymously message your giftee via Elfster.

- make sure to choose the "send" date when buying a gift.
There seems to be a glitch, that if left to its own devices, Amazon does not always immediately send the book.

=====================================

This thread is for posting technical questions and answers regarding Amazon Kindle and for Requests for gift exchange.

=====================================

[M'rella]

@Heather

It seems a non-moderator can't created a thread.

[Hemmel M.]

I am missing the 'reply' and 'edit' options while using desktop browser. Maybe the error is elsewhere with GR

[Hemmel M.]

and the 'compare books' has gone when looking at someone's profile.

[Hemmel M.]

and my posts disappear.

[Teeny]

The person that was picked for me has quite an old wishlist... should I wait a couple of weeks before I start gifting or go ahead with what they have?

[Hemmel M.]

You can send a secret Q & A to them. The button is tiny, Go to their profile, click on the Q & A button left, and on the next page you see in the top right corner a link to sending a message.

On my wishlist the titles are old because I make sure not to buy anything on my Elfster list for years.

[Kathleen]

Well, I'm a bit sad as my SS receiver has no wish list. What do you all do when this happens? Ideas welcome!

[Teeny]

Hemmel wrote: "You can send a secret Q & A to them. The button is tiny, Go to their profile, click on the Q & A button left, and on the next page you see in the top right corner a link to sending a message.

On m..."

will do, ty

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Kathleen wrote: "Well, I'm a bit sad as my SS receiver has no wish list. What do you all do when this happens? Ideas welcome!"

Send me a PM! Sometimes people have private wishlists by accident

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Well, I'm a bit sad as my SS receiver has no wish list. What do you all do when this happens? Ideas welcome!"

Send me a PM! Sometimes people have private wishlists by accident"

Kathleen- I'm so sorry, I just checked your match and I have no idea how they slipped in. I filtered out people with no wishlists that I hadn't resolved but they must have joined after the fact. PM me and we can chat more!

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Hey everyone- hope you all are having a great weekend!

Just letting you all know that I'm doing my best and it's hard with cross-country restrictions and gifting. I have gotten a couple not so nice messages and someone telling me they are so dissatisfied that they won't be coming back next year... and that's totally fine. I've been running this exchange for a decade just for fun so hopefully you all are having fun, even with the headaches!

[[deleted user]]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Hey everyone- hope you all are having a great weekend!

Just letting you all know that I'm doing my best and it's hard with cross-country restrictions and gifting. I have gotten a couple not so ni..."

You're doing a great job Heather, people need to sit back and think how much work it is for you to manage over 150 people! 😊

[Sarah]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Hey everyone- hope you all are having a great weekend!

Just letting you all know that I'm doing my best and it's hard with cross-country restrictions and gifting. I have gotten a couple not so ni..."

I'm so sorry you've been getting messages with anything less than gratitude! I recognize how much effort goes into organizing and coordinating something for a large group of people like this. There are hiccups and technical issues and obstacles that are getting in everyone's way, creating frustrations, and you are the one fielding those things. :( It's been a great experience for me so far, and I really appreciate you putting it together...thank you so much! <3

[Pam]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Hey everyone- hope you all are having a great weekend!

Just letting you all know that I'm doing my best and it's hard with cross-country restrictions and gifting. I have gotten a couple not so ni..."

Heather, no worries, I think this is an amazing thing you do for us every year. I always look forward to it, and most of us appreciate the time and effort you put into it just so we can all have some silly holiday book-lovin' fun! You go above and beyond and really do an amazing job with ALL of it <3<3<3 As we would say down here: Bless their hearts ;)

[Roger - president of NBR United -]

Kathleen wrote: "Well, I'm a bit sad as my SS receiver has no wish list. What do you all do when this happens? Ideas welcome!"

Use Q and A to ask them!

[Roger - president of NBR United -]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Hey everyone- hope you all are having a great weekend!

Just letting you all know that I'm doing my best and it's hard with cross-country restrictions and gifting. I have gotten a couple not so ni..."

Heather, don't let the nay-sayers get you down you do an excellent job. Change and technical mishaps should be expected in an exchange this big, they just need to take a chill pill and relax.

[Hemmel M.]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: " I've been running this exchange for a decade just for fun so hopefully you all are having fun, even with the headaches!..."

I'll happyly share your headache with you. Just send a pm.
Just forget about other people's problems and open a fluffy romance to enjoy yourself.

[Nadine Bookaholic]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Hey everyone- hope you all are having a great weekend!

Just letting you all know that I'm doing my best and it's hard with cross-country restrictions and gifting. I have gotten a couple not so ni..."

It's a shame that people are being nasty when you do this out of the kindness in your heart. you cannot help with all of the changes that Amazon and Elfster implemented, and as far as buying international I opened an account in that persons country last time and was able to send them gifts with no problems.
THANK YOU for all that you do, you are a SUPER ELF EXTRAORDINAIRE 💗

[Relly]

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Just letting you all know that I'm doing my best and it's hard with cross-country restrictions and gifting. I have gotten a couple not so nice messages and someone telling me they are so dissatisfied that they won't be coming back next year... and that's totally fine. I've been running this exchange for a decade just for fun so hopefully you all are having fun, even with the headaches."

Wow how rude - You're doing a great job Heather. I love this exchange and look forward to it every year.

[Nadine Bookaholic]

Pumpkin Spice Elf can you send me an anonymous message through Elfster. Please and Thank you

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Thanks so much everyone, and sorry to be a downer! I'm thrilled that everyone is enjoying and having fun :)

[Relly]

Nadine Bookaholic wrote: " as far as buying international I opened an account in that persons country last time and was able to send them gifts with no problems"

Exactly - there are always work arounds. That's half the fun

[M'rella]

I had to scrub all the cookies from my Chrome today... and now I am back to the stupid NEW BOOK PAGE version.

Can I add old-version Chrome cookies to my Christmas wish list, do you think? Anyone has extra?

[M'rella]

Heather, you are the greatest! Thank you so much for hosting this amazing event!

If grouchy people are not happy, then can go. We are all better without them.

HUGS