I also don't mind helping organize. I had a blast doing secret Santa last year. Maybe those who have volunteered to help so far can discuss what the minimum requirements/guidelines should be for this year.
I tried lazily scrolling through the thread starting at the tail end because I do remember a few from last year that were distinctly lackluster, but after a while I got bored and the only one that stuck out was your post complaining about what Whippoorwill had received. With that in mind, and in this context alone as I have no beef with you otherwise, you are the problem. It's impossible to weed out the lackluster packages. You have to just be aware that at some point to someone it is going to happen and accept that it might happen to you. Not to mention the possibility of people just not sending out at all or a package getting eaten by the beloved Canadian Postal Service.
Ignoring that "tradable" shouldn't even be a concept associated with this, if you're expecting value, you've entered this for the wrong reason. Pimp packages do exist and I'm going to do my best to make my package as lovable as possible, but the core of it is that I'm sending out because I want someone to have something to open, and I'm receiving because I want something to open. If I get a German Bloodbraid Elves, a Meandering Towershell, something crappy poorly altered with love, and some random staple, mission accomplished. My week will be made. Anyone who wouldn't be happy with the same is doing it wrong.
So how exactly am I wrong? If rules say (as they said) 20$ (or was it 30?) minimum, then don't send only crap (you can still send crap in addition to something nice). I would just like to have this be clear to everyone entering SS14.
Or we can remove the price tag at all and just send whatever..
And yes, isn't it obvious, I'm in it for the profit
Last edited by Mr Miagi; 10-22-2014 at 01:16 PM.
I won't be able to organize or participate this year, but good luck to those who are.
EDIT: @Mr. Miagi: The floor is just a suggestion. Most people exceed that threshold, some by a wide margin. However, some people won't and will send as little as possible, so we have a minimum to try to make sure you aren't going to get some lightly played draft uncommons and a ball of lint for Christmas. The usual screening methods for this - often "You must have been an active member of the site for at least this long to ride this ride" - aren't really adequate as in previous years we've had lurkers or new people participate without issue while some established members have been decidedly stingy. Asking people not to participate if they can't send good packages is also moot since (1) that goes without saying for most people and (2) some people will participate regardless in hopes of getting a sweet package from one of the known highrollers. You can't really control for it. In the past, I've personally sent cards to people who got very bad packages as a thank you for participating, but whether this year's organizer wants to do the same is up to him.
With that in mind, I'd issue the following caution: if getting $20 in Standard playables at October TCG mid prices will break your heart and ruin your Christmas, seriously consider whether you want to participate. Not everyone will get a terrible package but the pairings within country/region are more or less random, so it could happen to you. It's fine to go into this with the hope that you'll get presents from an sdematt, but keep in mind that most players aren't that rich and you're probably going to get like $40ish of SP/NM fringe staples because that's usually how these things go. Just appreciate it for what it is and try not to get your hopes up too much.
I need to take a look at what I've got lying around, I had to skip last year since I moved, bought a house, and got married. This year we are having a baby, so spending has been low, but if I find some cool stuff to move, I might do it.
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Also someone said maybe the minimum should be raised? I wouldn't be opposed to his 50 dollar minimum that he proposed last year. If nothing else, it would weed out the people a bit who are just in it for value. Me personally, I just hope my Santa likes altering things because I would love Christmas themed alters to play with!
I'd love to take part again!
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Looking forward to participating this year!
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If it's going to be a problem for you that you're not getting back what you're putting in, maybe you should just go get yourself the things you want and not worry about a Secret Santa event.
I was about to post this thing about putting people in different brackets and shit (like where the expected 'return' is a certain dollar amount or whatever), but it's entirely unenforceable, it only takes one bad experience to sour a person anyway, and just what the heck are you doing worrying about what you're receiving, anyway? I was under the impression that the underlying theme of "Non-Denominational Holiday Gift Exchange" was to enjoy giving, without concern for the receiving. If you're upset about the return, I daresay you're in it for the wrong reasons.
EDIT: My finances are slightly better than they were last year (in spite of the whole foreclosure business) so I can almost certainly partake this year - if you're not picky about the return anyway >:/ I'll read your wishlist and shit but I'm not Scrooge McDuck :B
I would wanna be involved with this too, I was broke as shit last year and so I felt bad about participating (still broke as shit, but now I have some cool cards to give away.)
I think the easiest would be to copy the same rules as last year/previous years and possibly increase the minimum. Maybe to $30 since that would increase the minimum expected value and still allow those with less resources to participate. After all, this is supposed to be a fun event and not everyone is going to be able to go overboard on their packages.
One idea I'd like to suggest is that everyone participating tries to personalize their packages. It doesn't have to be anything exciting, just something more than cards in an envelope. Things like an alter done by you or even just a short note. Otherwise it just seems like we're making blind trades.
Count me in too! Last year was a bit disappointing, not because of the package I received which was awesome but because my victim has been... well victim of a steal.
I hope my package will arrive safe this year!
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