The Secret Santa thank you thread, and other comments

mrstjohnson

Jenn - Thank you so much!  Charlie loves everything.  He has spent the better part of the day burying all of his bully sticks for later.  He loves the antler.  I think that one is buried in the toy box   The stuffies are also already loved...Charlie had his way with the gingerbread man   Again, thank you so much.  I took some pics so I will post later.

Oh good! I'm so glad he loves everything! I kinda went nuts on buying him things but I knew he'd love it all!! Very glad he loves the antler, most dogs do!! Can't wait to see pics :)

OK, how about this?  How about if each SS emails me with a tracking number or delivery confirmation number and date of shipping?  I can enter that info on my spread sheet and also send an alert to the recipient that their package is on it's way and to keep their eyes open for it.  When received,they can drop me a quite email that they've got it and I can note the sperad sheet as assignment completed?  Would that work for everyone?

And, I will make it very clear when I start the sign up that these are the "rules" and that by signing up they are agreeing to the rules and that if they don't follow through they won't be able to be involved again?

This is the biggest SS I can recall, so proportionately, we did pretty good, but, this was also the highest year of deadbeats.

I understand mitigating circumstances.  Brookcove had some issues this year, and she let EVERYONE know what was going on and pm'd her recipient.  That's all it would have taken from everyone.  And there could be folks out there who actually DID send a package that was lost,   But, I suspect if they had, they would have responded to my PM's.

Oh well, so long as everyone who did send a package, either got one, or is getting one, I guess that's all that matters.  We'll just have to set things up with a bit more structure next year.

And, I might just take some of you up on the offer of help and  at least have someone handle the follow up stuff.

 I think that's a good idea Glenda.  And I also want to say Thank You for organizing this.  It really was fun and I'm sorry it got to be such a headache for you.  That shouldn't happen.

What about adding to the beginning thread a condition saying that if you don't send your package, and you don't give a good reason through PM or otherwise, to you(Glenda) and your recipient, that your name will be posted publicly as a non participant at the conclusion.  I mean, I know things happen, and we can and do make allowances, but ya, just quietly backing out and leaving someone hanging is just bad etiquette.

Is there a way where your SS will not send you something until you notify Glenda that your package has been sent off?  That way those that don't send don't receive.  It's kind of the chicken and the egg, but all you would need is a couple to start it off that you KNOW will send.  It will probably be a total PITA, but I think that's the only way to make sure it doesn't happen.

I also like the idea of posting the deadbeats - embarrassment is always a good motivator.

I also want to say thank you!

As tempting as it is, I'm thinking it would not be a great idea to post names of those who didn't follow through.  That's a pretty extreme step and no one agreed to public humiliation this year.  And, again, this wasn't a sanctioned forum deal.

I think I might have started sign up too late this year.  Will start earlier next year and put the mailing deadline much earlier.  Yes, there will always be things that happen and someone can't hit the deadline, but if it's earlier, packages still should have enough time to arrive.  And I think, that unless there is a massive revolt against the idea, we'll do the tracking number thing, and I'll take a volunteer or two next year.  I can copy the spread sheet and send it to them to keep updated and give that persons name out as a contact when I send assignments?  That will give me a break from being completely buried in emails and perhaps make it easier to keep things on track.

It's funny......one of the people who initially got shorted this year, is the one I approached and asked to take the person who got scrouged LAST year!

Heck, maybe if we have enough volunteers, several of us can pick up one extra thing so that we have some stuff to quickly shoot out to a shorted recipient?  Not the same as getting ONE package, but the dogs don't care if Santa comes with the postman two or three days running!

Just mussing here......ideas are always welcome....

glenmar

we'll do the tracking number thing, and I'll take a volunteer or two next year.  I can copy the spread sheet and send it to them to keep updated and give that persons name out as a contact when I send assignments?  That will give me a break from being completely buried in emails and perhaps make it easier to keep things on track.

Google Docs has a spreadsheet function - it can be set up to make two or three people 'collaborators' -- which means they can edit the document -- or 'viewers' -- which means they can only see it but not edit. That way if you had two or three people helping you out on the SS you wouldn't have to send out a new spreadsheet each and every time, since it updates and saves itself online. If I have time today I'll set up a sample and email it to you...it's pretty neat!

And I would like to say THANK you again, Glenda - Pirate loved his SS gifts and it was a lot of fun!

glenmar

we'll do the tracking number thing, and I'll take a volunteer or two next year. 

I'm just wondering something.  I've always sent my packages just in the regular mail.  Do they give tracking numbers??  I don't remember ever getting one?  Only because to send something like UPS or Fed Ex is a hassle for me, the offices to do it aren't close by.  I still could but it would be easier and faster to not have too especially around the time we are talking about.

Glenda, I forgot to thank you for all your work with SS !!  Truly appreciated here by me and the pups!! They send you lots of doggie kisses!!

When you send by USPS request delivery confirmation and you will get a tracking number and a notice when your package has been delivered.

Seems to me that these days the PO wants to send just about everything over envelope size Priority Mail.  I always send packages that way because it's within a few cents of the flat rate price, and I can spend the 65 cents and get delivery confirmation.  Plus, if a package IS lost, it's easier for the PO to track it that way.

Meg?  I'm old and not as computer literate as you young folks.  Would this be an EASY program for an old fart to use?

glenmar

Meg?  I'm old and not as computer literate as you young folks.  Would this be an EASY program for an old fart to use?

MAJORLY easy. It's pretty much the same as Excel.

JackieG

  As far as becoming political, as Becca said happens on another forum, I don't know the answer to that problem. I guess that means that people who are on opposite sides of an issue don't want to send a doggie gift to someone who holds a different opinion??  Sighs. Please tell me that is not what she meant.

I was kind of wondering the same thing myself.  It looks like nearly everyone must have put a return address on their packages because the recipients knew who to thank.  If you're going to know who your SS is when the package arrives, I can't see that it would make all that much difference if you knew who it was a couple of days earlier.

Joyce

JackieG

When you send by USPS request delivery confirmation and you will get a tracking number and a notice when your package has been delivered.

Well, then, I'm all set too!!

OK folks, I need a volunteer to take car of thedoghouse doggies.  They got scrouged too!

I was curious so I went back to the original sign up thread and now I kind of have a feel based on who hasn't posted here who didn't follow thru.  I'm sort of surprised actually.