Goodreads Secret Santa discussion

Welcome to the 2018 Secret Santa!

**It’s a long one, I know it’s repetitive if you’re not new, but please read the rules even if you have participated in the past. I have new information and new things to do for signing up. This exchange is always so successful because I am meticulous in my rules, and I want to continue that trend.**

Before I get into anything, I want to say that you do not need to celebrate Christmas to join in this exchange. I am calling this a Secret Santa because this is what I am accustomed to an exchange like this being, but it does not have to have any significant meaning for you in order to participate.

So before rules comes explanation:

Basically, the goal of this group is to exchange books with someone around the world who shares a love of books, gives you the chance to get a book if you won't at home, and meet someone new!

*disclaimer before I start, all your information will be private with me and the person who receives you. I will not use your personal information for anything, and the person who gets you will not do anything other than send you a book. If you are uncomfortable with this, I am sorry but there is nothing I can do and you won't be able to enter, but I definitely understand.*

Ways to enter:

I have tried both Email and Goodreads and find Email a MUCH better option, so you must be active in checking your emails. So please send all your entry messages to thatgirlbookworm@gmail.com. It is only for entries, and for me to send you the person you have, please send me any questions or concerns on Goodreads directly.

-In the email please include your FULL name (first AND last), your address - with the zip/postal code.
-Also, please include your age if you are under 20 years old. There is no age limit (but if you are under 18 you must have parental permission) but please at least be old enough to buy books online. I realize this is a weird request, but as I sometimes have 16 year olds and some people in their 50s, I prefer to make sure that people are matched with people in their age range, just out of a comfort thing and being able to connect with people you may have things in common with.
-Send a list of books that you want. The ideal is the more you ask for the funner it is to shop and the bigger the surprise. I have decided for the first time to put a minimum list of 3 books. For the first time I have decided to not allow any late list changes. I made a lot of errors last year with lists because people changed them last minute. Please stick to the choices you make.
- Books can be in any language you so desire, as long as they fit in the price limit :)
- I will always check the price of the books you have on your list, so feel free not to if you don’t feel like it.
-The price limit is $20 USD. Let me know any book requirements you may have (paperback only, hardcover only, specific editions, specific covers, etc.). With this price limit you can buy as many books for your SS as you want. If you find 2 of their books under 10$ each feel free to buy them more than 1.
I also want to say, this is a price limit, not a price minimum. I know there are students and people who don’t have a huge amount of spare funds who can’t afford to buy someone the most expensive book on their list. I don’t want anyone to ever feel like they are obligated to spend the full 20$, the purpose is to share your love of reading with another person who loves reading, so any book on their list, even if it’s the cheapest one, is always going to be appreciated.

Messages MUST be sent to me by Thursday November 29th @ 11:59pm. Messages will be sent on Friday November 30th and Saturday December 1st. Books will need to be mailed out by Sunday December 2nd. I realize this is a very short time period but honestly it makes it a lot easier for me if people need to cancel gifts for any reason they will be able to. Late entries will not be accepted whatsoever.

I absolutely need everyone to check their emails and/or Goodreads regularly, especially that weekend. Due to possible complications or cancellations, I need you to be reachable at all times on the weekend books are going out.

*Last disclaimer, I am only hosting this Secret Santa, I am in no way responsible for everyone else’s actions. Joining is always a risk in the sense that you may not receive something back, and you are giving your address and full name to someone on the internet whom you have never met. However, I have yet to have a problem so I foresee no issues, but I add the disclaimer just in case.*

***** ALL DATES AND TIMES ARE IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME*****

No late entries. I’ve tried in the past and it just doesn’t work, I really have. So if it’s past November 29th when you see this, please don’t attempt to sign up. Also if you aren’t sure or don’t know if you’ll be able to, I’d prefer no dropouts so delay signing up until you are sure. Last minute entries on the 29th are more than welcome if you won’t be sure if you’re available that weekend. These dates are not negotiable either, I cannot change the weekend you need to purchase the book, so if things in your life change and you are going out of town or something, please let me know so I can remove you.


Extras + Other Rules:

This next thing is 100% not a requirement, I am stating this before I post what I am about to say just so no one feels obligated. It’s quite possible that even with all my precautions, there will still be some instances where someone gets cheated out from a book. I am hoping that this is not the case, but I am very aware that it could happen. If there is anyone who is willing to volunteer to send to one other person if a problem should arise, I would be so appreciative. You would be sending to two people, and only receiving from one, so I know this is a lot to ask and again don’t feel obligated, I am only asking incase someone has the means to send to two people and is willing to do so IF I need you. This has yet to be an issue, but I ask to be on the safe side as I can’t afford to do it myself.
To add to this, I will not ask you to send to more than one extra person if you offer.
If you are willing, please just tell me in the message you send me.
Thanks :)

A couple bonus points:
if you have a friend that has also joined and you do not want to be paired up because you already send gifts or what not, just let me know :)
If you and the person you have live in the same country, feel free to use Amazon, book outlet, book world/booktopia (Australia) or any other site. I would ask that you don’t use second hand online book shops for this exchange though.
Just because of the time constraints, I prefer if no one sends books in person.
I limit this exchange to people that can have Book Depository or Wordery ship to them. If you live in a country that doesn’t qualify, but you have a website that allows for free shipping, please feel free to suggest.
If you had a bad experience in any of the last three exchanges, please let me know. I want to make sure that if you give this another try despite the bad experience that you do not have a repeat experience this year.
As of right now I do not have a member limit for joining. Unless I notice it hitting 300+, I will likely not cap the number of people who join. All I ask is that you give me patience in this process :) I have yet to have a year where I don’t make one minor mistake and I can’t envision that I will have a perfect experience this year, but I always do my best to fix it and ensure everyone gets a book.

Lastly, please send me a Goodreads message when you have signed up for the Secret Santa. Once I receive your email and your Goodreads message, I will confirm with you that you are signed up through Goodreads. This insures that I know who you are and can match your email with your Goodreads account.
Basically: if you sign up and have all your information in your email, I will confirm with you. If I don’t get back to you within 24 hours, you haven’t been confirmed and won’t be entered. I may not have time to get back to everyone and tell them specifically what is missing, so please try to be thorough.

Oh and, feel free to invite people. I have no limitations to who joins, as long as they have Goodreads :)

So just to quickly recap: Send your sign up to my email, and then send me a Goodreads message. All questions will be handled through Goodreads, but I will be sending you your person and everything else through Email.
Email is thatgirlbookworm@gmail.com incase it got lost up there.

If you have any questions feel free to send them to me through Goodreads. :)

Thanks for joining and I look forward to this exchange!

Mel :)

Thank you so much! You'll be hearing from me soon!

Excited:)

Everyone who has signed up so far should have a confirmation message on here!

Just a heads up guys, Wordery no longer ships to Canada because of our postal strike. If you were planning to use Wordery and are unwilling to use Book Depository, please let me know as there are a few Canadian entries!