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Secret Santa 2016 Official Thread!

Old Nov 20, 2016, 1:21 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: steveman518
Remember this is an unofficial record and that you must PM wharvey when you ship and receive gifts as per the rules in the first post!
This is an unofficial wiki maintained by steveman518. Please fill in gifts you've received if you can. However if you can't, steveman518 will check every post-PM for questions as well
Basic photo upload tutorial (if you choose not to upload directly to Flyertalk)
Find a site to upload your photo to another site
Direct copy the link of the photo or right click on the image and select "copy image URL" or "copy image address". Make sure that the link ends with .jpg/.tif or any other image extension (there may be issues with google images)
Place that link in between the
Code:
[IMG][/IMG] tags
GIFTS RECEIVED
3furballs #1
Annexation #1
annielee #1
AtomicLush #1 (part 2) (part 3) (part 4)
Bravada04 #1
BXIAN #1 (part 2) #2 #3 #4 #5 #6
Catman #1
CDTraveler #1 #2
Chink400 #1 #2
ckidder 331 #1 #2 #3
compubit #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
CPH-Flyer #1 #2
DeepUnderground #1
DevilDawg1960 #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
dibby #1 #2 #3
diburning #1 #2
dogdogcatcat #1
Dogmatick #1
durberville #1 #2
financialhippie #1
Flyiboy #1 #2
FlyingCow #1 (part 2) #2 #3
fnaime23 #1 #2
fralcole #1
genoa #1
Glamette #1
grbflyer #1 #2
Gregor #1
gsegall #1 #2
HockeyMom93 #1
horizontal #1
jamesteroh #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
jetset09 #1
Jinxy #1 #2
jondabomb #1 #2
kauppias #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
kevinflyaway #1 #2
kipper #1 (part 2) (part 3) #2 #3 #4 #5 #6
kolican #1
laguna1 #1
Lakee911 #1
linzbh #1
Lisabeth #1 #2 #3 #4
lksf #1
malexander131 #1
MappingChick #1
Marcia3641 #1
mdovenmuehler #1 #2
Middle_Kingdom #1
miffSC #1 #2 #3
miko2a #1 #2
MissChele #1
missydarlin #1 #2 #3
MrDplus #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7
nomadic.relief #1 #2
ohlradio #1
oliver2002 #1
onfo #1
onthewaytoadventure #1 #2
pbjag #1 (part 2) #2
poohbear808 #1
poptarts #1 (part 2)
Redhead #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 (part 2)
Ricecakes #1
Richard Chen #1
RockinRon #1 #2
Runner123 #1 (part 2)
samosa #1 #2
sandratravels #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
ScGhost0 #1
SDQBound#1
shutterbugguy #1
sperkins921 #1 #2
SteveHK #1 #2 #3 #4
steveman518 #1 #2 (part 2) #3
strawbearlyjamms #1
TangoThree #1
Tblack15 #1
tcl #1 #2
thatguyatthebar #1
thehowieee #1 #2
Thomas Sivapathan #1
tingadingling #1
token385 #1
TokyoFoodie #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
Tpa-flyer #1 (part 2) (part 3)
tzvilev #1 (part 2) (part 3) #2 #3
whherron #1
WriterGirlLinds #1
yunicorner #1
YVRorange #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
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Secret Santa 2016 Official Thread!

Old Sep 29, 2016, 11:43 am
  #31  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Online
Programs: AA, Amex, HH, MP
Posts: 37
Count me in as well! Was a great and wonderful experience last year!
mdovenmuehler is offline  
Old Sep 29, 2016, 6:46 pm
  #32  
Commander Catcop
 
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,259
If you'll have me I'm in again. Think I've taken part ever year. It's fun to shop for Secret Santa
Catman is offline  
Old Sep 29, 2016, 7:01 pm
  #33  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 50,980
Originally Posted by Catman
If you'll have me I'm in again. Think I've taken part ever year. It's fun to shop for Secret Santa
I think many of your past recipients would be upset if you were not going to participate!
kipper is offline  
Old Sep 30, 2016, 2:02 am
  #34  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt
Posts: 140
I'd like to participate but I'm currently residing abroad in Asia. Does anyone know how much international shipments generally cost and what kind of things are generally good/bad to ship internationally?

I'm trying to decide if signing up for 5 people and international shipping is a recipe for trouble...
madguy2 is offline  
Old Sep 30, 2016, 3:26 am
  #35  
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Originally Posted by madguy2
I'd like to participate but I'm currently residing abroad in Asia. Does anyone know how much international shipments generally cost and what kind of things are generally good/bad to ship internationally?

I'm trying to decide if signing up for 5 people and international shipping is a recipe for trouble...
It depends a lot on the country you are shipping from. I send from Japan, and have to figure 30 to 40 USD for the shipment on top of the 50 USD for the gift. Depends on how heavy items.

Main things to think about are customs/import restrictions, restrictions on what can go in airmail, and finally making sure things don't break.
CPH-Flyer is online now  
Old Sep 30, 2016, 3:48 am
  #36  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 50,980
Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
It depends a lot on the country you are shipping from. I send from Japan, and have to figure 30 to 40 USD for the shipment on top of the 50 USD for the gift. Depends on how heavy items.

Main things to think about are customs/import restrictions, restrictions on what can go in airmail, and finally making sure things don't break.
This. Last year, I had mostly international recipients. I ended up ordering from Amazon and having it shipped directly to them, when I normally will assemble everything and send a note.
kipper is offline  
Old Sep 30, 2016, 7:34 pm
  #37  
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt
Posts: 140
Originally Posted by CPH-Flyer
It depends a lot on the country you are shipping from. I send from Japan, and have to figure 30 to 40 USD for the shipment on top of the 50 USD for the gift. Depends on how heavy items.

Main things to think about are customs/import restrictions, restrictions on what can go in airmail, and finally making sure things don't break.
Thanks for the info, CPH-Flyer!

I'll be shipping from Malaysia.

Making sure things don't break... hmmm yeah. No fragiles then.

There's also the concern of package theft which I encountered last year. Amazon covered the expenses and reshipped without fuss. So all was well.

However, I want to try shipping local gifts this time around because it's hopefully more appreciated/well-received. Hmmm, I'll need to think on it a bit more.
madguy2 is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2016, 12:21 am
  #38  
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Originally Posted by madguy2
Thanks for the info, CPH-Flyer!

I'll be shipping from Malaysia.

Making sure things don't break... hmmm yeah. No fragiles then.

There's also the concern of package theft which I encountered last year. Amazon covered the expenses and reshipped without fuss. So all was well.

However, I want to try shipping local gifts this time around because it's hopefully more appreciated/well-received. Hmmm, I'll need to think on it a bit more.
I like to find local things, or something a bit fun from when I travel. But it depends on the interests of the recipient.

Best point in avoiding breakage is a good box made for mailing stuff. Japan Post has some really good ones, check your local post office.
CPH-Flyer is online now  
Old Oct 1, 2016, 11:22 am
  #39  
Hyatt Contributor BadgeMarriott Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Santo Domingo, Dom. Rep. / Washington, DC
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Posts: 4,628
Count me in for a 4th year of fun! PM Sent
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Old Oct 1, 2016, 11:31 am
  #40  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: Whatever you have, I have too.
Posts: 377
Do FT'ers ever request that their Santa reside in a certain country/state/city? Would that be overloading the OP too much to try to match up that kind of thing? (I've read discussions from years past and it seems to me that when SS sends items from their local sources the Santee is enormously pleased.)
Tpa-flyer is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2016, 3:15 pm
  #41  
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Originally Posted by Tpa-flyer
Do FT'ers ever request that their Santa reside in a certain country/state/city? Would that be overloading the OP too much to try to match up that kind of thing? (I've read discussions from years past and it seems to me that when SS sends items from their local sources the Santee is enormously pleased.)
I've never requested a specific country/state/city, but one year, one of my recipients lived about 3 hours from me. Mr. Kipper and I drove up to deliver his gifts in person. It was quite fun.
kipper is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2016, 3:25 pm
  #42  
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Location: Milton, GA USA
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You can request... but no guarantee. I have no control if a person that meets your request joins Secret Santa.

Originally Posted by Tpa-flyer
Do FT'ers ever request that their Santa reside in a certain country/state/city? Would that be overloading the OP too much to try to match up that kind of thing? (I've read discussions from years past and it seems to me that when SS sends items from their local sources the Santee is enormously pleased.)
wharvey is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2016, 4:49 pm
  #43  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: Whatever you have, I have too.
Posts: 377
Originally Posted by kipper
I've never requested a specific country/state/city, but one year, one of my recipients lived about 3 hours from me. Mr. Kipper and I drove up to deliver his gifts in person. It was quite fun.
What a happy circumstance! I bet that was great fun for everyone!
Tpa-flyer is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2016, 5:03 pm
  #44  
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Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
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Originally Posted by Tpa-flyer
What a happy circumstance! I bet that was great fun for everyone!
It was. We met for a few drinks at a brewpub near him, and enjoyed pleasant company.
kipper is offline  
Old Oct 1, 2016, 5:18 pm
  #45  
Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products
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Not random at all!


Originally Posted by Tpa-flyer
What a happy circumstance! I bet that was great fun for everyone!
wharvey is offline  

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