Secret Santa gift exchange! discussion

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Don't forget to sign up at out Elfster site! https://www.elfster.com/gift-exchange...

is it possible to participate if we are international/not US based?

iam wrote: "is it possible to participate if we are international/not US based?"

Yes! We have many international participants. Be sure to include items from https://www.smashwords.com/ on your wishlist because that is very international friendly. Specify that in your elfster profile.

Do you just write your normal email address in the "address" fields or do you write your kindle address or? :)

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Yes! We have many international participants. Be sure to include items from https://www.smashwords.com/ on your wishlist because that is very international friendly. Specify that in your elfster profile."

Awesome! Is bookdepository fine as well?

Nanna wrote: "Do you just write your normal email address in the "address" fields or do you write your kindle address or? :)"

Your normal email address usually works best. Then you can send on any books you receive to your Kindle one and keep a copy for your files.

On the RSVP page, it asks for the home address. Do you have to give the physical address?

**Kaycee** wrote: "On the RSVP page, it asks for the home address. Do you have to give the physical address?"

No, you just can't leave it blank. I just put my city name in both places.

Pam wrote: "**Kaycee** wrote: "On the RSVP page, it asks for the home address. Do you have to give the physical address?"

No, you just can't leave it blank. I just put my city name in both places."

thanks!

iam wrote: "Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Yes! We have many international participants. Be sure to include items from https://www.smashwords.com/ on your wishlist because that is very internatio..."

Yes, but isn't that physical books? Ebooks are much easier for this exchange!

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "Yes, but isn't that physical books? Ebooks are much easier for this exchange!"

Right, I completely forgot different formats exist lol!

**Kaycee** wrote: "On the RSVP page, it asks for the home address. Do you have to give the physical address?"

I included my address. Last year my elf sent me a big box of books. So sometimes it is magical to fill it out. It also resulted in me making a RBG portrait cross stitch (still working on Beyonce, just need to learn a new stitch!).

Alright, I am a total n00b to this exchange so prepare questions that are likely to have obvious answers. What is the spending limit? Where do we post our wishlist? Is this exchange for ebooks, physical copies, or both? I haven't RSVP'd yet so if this info is disseminated after that well...there ya go XD TIA!!

Elise wrote: "Alright, I am a total n00b to this exchange so prepare questions that are likely to have obvious answers. What is the spending limit? Where do we post our wishlist? Is this exchange for ebooks, phy..."

$15 (but no one will check. I always go over by a little bit)

The wish list is done through Elfster. It is where you sign up to be part of the gift exchange. It does the matching and then provides you a wish list for who you match with too.

It is mainly for ebooks, but if you find a good deal and you have your matches mailing address you do whatever works. Last year I got physical books from my elf, but that is not the norm

Isaiah wrote: "Elise wrote: "Alright, I am a total n00b to this exchange so prepare questions that are likely to have obvious answers. What is the spending limit? Where do we post our wishlist? Is this exchange f..."

Thanks so much Isaiah, this is super helpful :-)

Isaiah wrote: "**Kaycee** wrote: "On the RSVP page, it asks for the home address. Do you have to give the physical address?"

I included my address. Last year my elf sent me a big box of books. So sometimes it is..."

Yes, if you don't mind people knowing your address, you can get a nice surprise in the mail!

Isaiah wrote: "Elise wrote: "Alright, I am a total n00b to this exchange so prepare questions that are likely to have obvious answers. What is the spending limit? Where do we post our wishlist? Is this exchange f..."

Thank you for replying, sweetie!

Yes, Isaiah is totally right. Some people spend simply the $15 on their match (I always spread out my books), and other also buy for other people. You'll see that a LOT of books are given. I always spend about $15 for my match and then untold amounts on other people ;) but that's TOTALLY optional, and most people remain anonymous. I'll send out more details as the exchange date gets closer!

Isaiah wrote: "It also resulted in me making a RBG portrait cross stitch (still working on Beyonce, just need to learn a new stitch!)..."

Didn't you post pics of something last year? Was it RBG?

**Just an update for those of you already browsing people's wishlists. Elfster changed things a bit this year. To see the "mark as purchased" setting on someone's wishlist, you need to be following them, just in case people are looking for that when they are looking around elfster!**

~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ wrote: "Isaiah wrote: "It also resulted in me making a RBG portrait cross stitch (still working on Beyonce, just need to learn a new stitch!)..."

Didn't you post pics of something last year? Was it RBG?"

It was RBG :) I am still super excited about last year's physical books. They live in my nightstand. So totally worth adding my address for.

I sent a physical book to my giftee last year because they were in the US and I was in the UK and it was easier 😁

HELP!

I posted a link on Elfster to my santa shelf on goodreads and I'm not sure if it's the right link. Is there any way someone could check my link for me?

thanks!
k

**Kaycee** wrote: "HELP!

I posted a link on Elfster to my santa shelf on goodreads and I'm not sure if it's the right link. Is there any way someone could check my link for me?

thanks!
k"
What name are you registered under on Elfster?

**Kaycee** wrote: "HELP!

I posted a link on Elfster to my santa shelf on goodreads and I'm not sure if it's the right link. Is there any way someone could check my link for me?

thanks!
k"

Yeah, what name are you registered under?

I have a technical question (ha!).

If you are Canadian, can you send and receive gifts from Amazon US?

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "I have a technical question (ha!).

If you are Canadian, can you send and receive gifts from Amazon US?"

This doesn’t help I don’t think, but I know many Canadians that have a US account as well.. I believe they must be sent via Amazon.ca.... but please let someone else verify that.

liz wrote: "Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "I have a technical question (ha!).

If you are Canadian, can you send and receive gifts from Amazon US?"

This doesn’t help I don’t think, but I know ma..."

That's good to know, at least!

Heather K (dentist in my spare time) wrote: "I have a technical question (ha!).

If you are Canadian, can you send and receive gifts from Amazon US?"

I don't know about Canada but I can no longer accept gifted books on my UK account. I set up a US account with a US address to accept them. I read them on my PC but if you have a mobile phone or old kindle not linked to your main account you could register that and read on it.

My kindle account is usually on amazon.de and I cannot accept gifts from .com there - but I found a way around that by transferring my kindle account to US, accepting the gifts, then transferring it back to .de. Works like a charm and I don't have to spend 2 hours with customer support like I had to before!
Maybe this works for transfers from .uk and .ca and other territories as well?

This applies to ebook gifts and gift cards at least (though for gift cards you can just log in on the .com account, no transfer needed, but to actually use the gift card on ebooks you have to transfer the account.) For anything that needs shipping I recommend making a new account in the other amazon territoriy or finding another shop - boodepository for example has free shipping in a ton of areas.

iam wrote: "My kindle account is usually on amazon.de and I cannot accept gifts from .com there - but I found a way around that by transferring my kindle account to US, accepting the gifts, then transferring i..."

I have done that in the past but then got spooked by reading about someone who had their account closed for breaking amazon's rules (not sure if this was what she was doing). You don't own the books on amazon so if they close the account they take away all the books too.

Louise wrote: "I have done that in the past but then got spooked by reading about someone who had their account closed for breaking amazon's rules (not sure if this was what she was doing). You don't own the books on amazon so if they close the account they take away all the books too."

Oh 😳
I don't see how it's breaking their rules, but given how untranspararent amazon is about many things I wouldn't be surprised. I'll look into it.

iam wrote: "Louise wrote: "I have done that in the past but then got spooked by reading about someone who had their account closed for breaking amazon's rules (not sure if this was what she was doing). You don..."

Lots of people do this, so it's probably ok - I'm just got paranoid after they banned me from reviewing on there. (I did get this overturned eventually but now I'm super cautious)

Louise wrote: "Lots of people do this, so it's probably ok - I'm just got paranoid after they banned me from reviewing on there. (I did get this overturned eventually but now I'm super cautious)."

From what I've seen so far, it's usually fine to purchase books from .com regardless of where you live since .com is the mothership - but some other regions might be picky and not let you migrate back.

And oh god don't get me started on reviewing... I used to crosspost my reviews but now I can't post on .com at all anymore because you need to have made a certain amount of purchases🙄 I get they want to avoid sellers buying reviews, but can't they do that a different way that doesn't exclude genuine reviewers?? you'd think amazon can afford it lol.

If someone gifts a book you already own, how do you get credit to purchase another book?

Sunshine wrote: "If someone gifts a book you already own, how do you get credit to purchase another book?"

Call customer service if it is amazon

iam wrote: "Louise wrote: "Lots of people do this, so it's probably ok - I'm just got paranoid after they banned me from reviewing on there. (I did get this overturned eventually but now I'm super cautious)."
..."

Wow. I am blown away by this comment... you can’t review bc of not purchasing enough...that’s ridiculous!

Sunshine wrote: "If someone gifts a book you already own, how do you get credit to purchase another book?"

You automatically get offered a credit, I believe. It's very easy. But that's why it's important to mark books as purchased on people's wishlists!

How can I check if my elfster account is linked to this group?
Or maybe someone can check if Hemmel.Mol is on the list on Elfster?

Audible audiobooks can not be opened in a different region. And you can't buy an audio book in England with a creditcard registered in US or Australia. (And worse: If Amazon believes you are switching regions, for example by changing the address on your creditcard, they disable the books in your app.)

I'm not sure if this was ask but can I give someone an another country a gift card

Hemmel wrote: "How can I check if my elfster account is linked to this group?
Or maybe someone can check if Hemmel.Mol is on the list on Elfster?"

I can see you on Elfster.

Zuzu wrote: "I can see you on Elfster."
Thanks

Aղցela W. wrote: "I'm not sure if this was ask but can I give someone an another country a gift card"
I believe you have to purchase the gift card in that country, but you can just register with the same details as you use in your own country.

Hi! I need help!

This is my first year participating plus I don't usually purchase books through Amazon so I'm a little bit lost. Add to that I'm in Canada and don't own a kindle, although I have the kindle app on my Mac.

I'm trying to figure out how I might send a book to someone from Amazon and none of the help instructions seem to fit to what I'm seeing on my screen. Is anyone willing to walk me through the process? I'd so appreciate any help!

Bookbee wrote: "Hi! I need help!

This is my first year participating plus I don't usually purchase books through Amazon so I'm a little bit lost. Add to that I'm in Canada and don't own a kindle, although I have ..."

I'm UK so not sure of any differences between the Amazons involved but when you click on an ebook you get the option to buy but just below the option to send it as a gift.



What I do know is that I can't accept books sent from the US, I think you have to purchase the ebook from the country the recipient lives in.

Bookbee wrote: "Hi! I need help!

This is my first year participating plus I don't usually purchase books through Amazon so I'm a little bit lost. Add to that I'm in Canada and don't own a kindle, although I have ..."

I think you need to know the email of the recipient (not their kindle) to send a link to.

Hi Louise! Thanks for responding. I looked at your image link and I don't have that on my buy screen. This is what mine looks like...
src="https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1..." width="40" height="100" alt="description"/>

I'm wondering if it is because I don't own a kindle?

Louise wrote: "I think you need to know the email of the recipient (not their kindle) to send a link to."

But there is nowhere to add an email address (or at least I'm not able to see where). I'm so frustrated!

Bookbee wrote: "Hi Louise! Thanks for responding. I looked at your image link and I don't have that on my buy screen. This is what mine looks like...
src="https://images.gr-assets.com/photos/1......"

I think for kindle purchases you need to have one-click purchasing activated. I have no idea how to do that. When I buy a kindle book I click the buy now button and the money is immediately taken, I don't have to go through checkout.

ETA - not sure if that is relevant or not

Yes, I have the 1-click activated. But nowhere I can see is there an option to send a gift. :(