Your thoughts on the Gift Exchange...
 

These are my thoughts. One giftor did not receive anything and the last year the same person defaulted. So that person is out next year. However there are late arrivals of gifts sometimes.

Another person received a very tacky(litterally) collection of gifts. So how do you handle that giftor? Your thoughts are needed.

Success rate is sitting around 95%.

Cheers, Guy

Out the scofflaw.

I opted out out of the exchange this year. Last year I received junk and some candy and no indication on who sent it.

Pics, description or it didn't happen.

thank you Guy for another round of the follies..
I've been in since the beginning and have always..
scored an awesome gift...
some will hang in my tree in years to come...(my pic shows 2 past gifts)..
the dealer sample books to my car..(incredible gift) resides in my cave..
and the workshop manuals have been very help-full when I'm lost..

I enjoy and look forward to this event each year..
so if your gonna play..
Play.. or sit it out..
but don't ruin the game for other's..

Rika

Boys will be boyz...

95% is pretty good considering the rather diverse crowd here. I didn't participate this year as I just had too much going on and didn't want to end up having to flake out. In the past I've got (and given) fun stuff. I'd say just continue on...it is supposed to be about giving rather than what you get.

i also opted out this year (and last). been too busy, and didnt want to risk flaking on someone.

i'd focus on the fun and chit talking, instead of the actual gifts..

but honestly, my funnest year was the year i handled the list. super fun!!

part of the fun SHOULD be outing the flaker..seriously..isnt it the the rules?

As the O'fficially appointed gift exchange cynic, I must say you've done better than I expected. I figured it would train-wreck the first year but you've made it what, three or four years?

But let's take a look at some of the Original rules.

Yet I see pics of expensive stuff being sent, not stuff that looks like it was lying around the house.
I see people EXPECTING expensive stuff.
I see people turning it into a competition to see who spent the most.
I see people getting disappointed for NOT receiving expensive or fancy stuff.
I see speople who may get hassled for potentially following the original intent of the rules and sending tacky stuff. Unless maybe they sent crap on porpoise to ridicule, dunno details.

But I do know that people suck more than anybody, except strangers.
MOST of you are doing it right........................
Merry X-mas ;)

Guy, I received and enjoyed my gift, but my giftee is shorted right now as I just found my package was RTS'd, it will go out again this week!

If someone wimps out, they should be excluded next year. Many of us (me) have too much junk already. I'd like to see less stuff getting sent out, and more usable items like the great gifts that I have gotten this year and in the past.

I bought my recipient some coffee gift cards from a place near where he lives.

Probably me. Mine didn't go out. F'd up and trusted it to get done. My bad. Vote me off the island :(

+1.
I'd like to see rule #4 eliminated. I'd much rather receive a bottle of someone's favorite local beer or a handy little tool than a box full of random re-gifted porsche junk.

I didn't join this year because in past years I followed #4 & #5 and felt that expectations had were no longer in line with that. If next year those guidelines change, that's fine with me. I don't mind buying a decent gift. It just wasn't my understanding of what was expected.

I didn't make the cut this year because of time. I have lots of stuff laying around here from hobbies and manufacturer swag, and a reasonably well stocked humidor. I enjoy trying to find an appropriate gift by delving into prior posts / conversations and trying hard to keep it relevant to the giftee. That being said it looks like I missed out on a good one this year.

Great post.....the part about the dog eating your gift I mean. :)

IMHO if the original set of rules are in effect - this would work great.

Any deviation and there's bound to be some misunderstandings.

It looks like Rule #4 is the one rule that is being ignored more than any.

IMHO I think clarification of the rules cannot be emphasized enough.

I also think no one should participate unless they can fulfill all the rules including proper timing/arrival of gift to recipient.

Again just my 2 cents.

I have stuck to the rules every year to the point of having a box set up to catch interesting extra items through the year-
bummed that my box was stolen from my mail box this year, but that is another issue aside from the topic

the rules make it fair for all and interesting-

My advice?

Don't try and pick the lint out of a belly button that doesn't exist.

I am cursed this year. My Secret Santa had my gift returned to him by USPS, and the gift I sent hasn't been seen by my giftee. The tracking shows it was delivered last Monday, but nothing in the mailbox. I'm going to send another if it never shows.

So if anyone has reason to be annoyed this year it's me, and I would still gladly participate again, so what if the post office hates me. Don't let the whiners any naysayers ruin it.

And it's been said plenty, but needs to be repeated... Thanks for doing all the legwork, I really appreciate the effort organizing this.

Unfortunately, I sat out this year. Just way too busy the past two months. I didn't want to take a chance stiffing my recipient.
I've always gotten great gifts from whoever sent me one, but as someone stated above. the best part was some of the personal notes from fellow Pelicans. Especially the last two years.
I still think its a great idea, and I wouldn't let a couple of bad incidents stop it. Its not a competition. Just enjoy it.

I have gotten the most interesting gifts over the years
I have also given some too-
you can really have fun with this if you feel like it