Nov 6, 2013, 5:50 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Useful Information & Resources

New to Secret Santa, read this!
To see who's participating, go here!
USPS Prohibited Items
Keep customs charges in mind if you are shipping internationally or use a 'local' webstore such as amazon.ca / .co.uk / .de / etc.
Some interesting Secret Santa Statistics

Checklist

Send PM to wharvey following the requirements set out in post 1 before the deadline of November 23, 2013.
Wait for your assignment
Start researching your assignment and get shopping
Notify wharvey of what you bought and that you sent your gifts, get a tracking number with delivery verification if possible
When you receive your gift, notify wharvey of what you received.
Post a photo or description here to show everyone what you got and publicly thank your Santa.

Hints, requests, and gift suggestions

Did you post about what you'd like to receive beyond what was in your PM? Any special requests or other requirements? Link that post here with your username.

kipper #1 #2 #3
Redhead #1
Jinxy #1
MrDplus #1
B7e7US #1
evanderm #1 #2

Gifts Sent (Don't forget to PM wharvey)

mpc7488
Redhead - all gifts sent to all 3 giftees
Jinxy | round 2
evanderm
slocouple |
CDTraveler
and
MrDplus
Underpressure
balima | more round2
timmy83
B7e7US
kaija
rwoman
miffSC
yunicorner
weather - 2 mailed with 1 to be delivered by other means
basejump
98103 all 3 shipped
oliver2002 - mailed 12/14 from NYC
want2fly4less- gifts sent from amazon.com on the 21st of November
dcstudent - all gifts sent and received by my giftees (according to USPS and UPS tracking). I don't know if one of my recipients likes cats, but he got a case of them anyways.

hgiphl
tcl
nrdk
The Deal Mommy
maskedmesothorium
Polomarc
skyemema
nomadic.relief
MissJoeyDFW sent all three, all three confirmed received.
WIRunner - Both sent 1 completely delivered, 1 mostly
medichill
lisamcgu - all my gifts have been sent and delivered over the past two months.
silverhalide　post 1 post 2
Gomac 2 of 2
Jeffie
SESTAR
Skyemema 1 of 1 delivered.
TravelConcierge
jackal - sent Priority Mail 12/18, USPS confirmed delivery 12/20
elCheapoDeluxe - sent 21-Nov-2013

Gifts Received (Don't forget to PM wharvey)

Oliver2002 post
elf618 post post post post post
soccerfanz10 post
Gomac post
LAtraveler1 post
Jinxy post
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21957924-post486.html
dibby post
oenophilist post
woofly post
timmy83 post post
balima post post post
rwoman post 1, 2, and 3
tcl post post post post post post post post
MoreMilesPlease Post
WIRunner Post 1 of 2
Redhead Post
Underpressure Post
evanderm Post
miffSc Post 1 of 2 Picture 1 of 2
basejump Post
98103 - 1st Post 2nd Post
AussieOzzie Post
CDTraveler
want2fly4lessPost
MrDPlus post 1 of 2
B7e7US Post
lisamcgu Post
wto605 Post
weather 2 gifts received, 3rd arrived!!
nomadic.relief 1 of 3 Post
Jerseygirl17 post 1 and 2
MissJoeyDFW All 3 gifts received
SESTAR
SLOCouple 2 gifts received:
Post and Post
mpc7488 Gift #1
silverhalide post 1 and 2
hginphl
Jeffie Post 1 and Post 2
yunicorner post 1 and 2
nrdk
elCheapoDeluxe - Received 20-Nov-2013 and opened 25-Dec-2013
jackal post
medichill post
maskedmesothorium post

Who's your Santa

Think you've figured it out?! Link to your speculation (or confirmation) posts on who has sent you your gifts. Have some fun and leave some clues, be cryptic.

balima post
tcl post post post
miffSC Post
nrdk Post
wto605 Post

How to post pictures of your gifts
A guide from the Travel Photography forum

JOIN IN - OFFICIAL 2013 Secret Santa Extravaganza!

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Oct 29, 2013, 8:27 am

#121

dhammer53

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2000

Programs: UA Million Miler (lite). NY Metro area.

Posts: 15,073

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper

This has me curious now... What did you request?

When you ask William to pick me next year, you'll find out.

Dan

Oct 29, 2013, 8:37 am

#122

kipper

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Jun 2004

Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...

Posts: 51,039

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhammer53

When you ask William to pick me next year, you'll find out.

Dan

Gah!!! I hate waiting!

Oct 29, 2013, 12:12 pm

#123

lisamcgu

Join Date: Jul 2001

Location: So Cal

Programs: AA, Starwood, Hyatt, Starbucks Gold

Posts: 1,826

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhammer53

Agreed. You're quite the challenge.

I bet you asked for something for your 5 year old daughter. ^

As for me, I kept my request simple; but trust me, I'll enjoy it.

Even more interesting is that some of us read what we want to read, not what is actually there. Yes, I know, earlier, I was quite pesky

, but I was noting that it is my recipients who are now challenging.

And for the record, since you seem to be picturing my angel as a cute pink lil 5 yr old princess, time has flown and she is now 7, into doing nothing but minecraft all day, except perhaps to go to the mall and shop at Hot Topic for goth type clothing and accessories. Yes, really, not kidding. She recoils against anything baby pink or princessy, her fav color being black.

Oct 29, 2013, 12:14 pm

#124

lisamcgu

Join Date: Jul 2001

Location: So Cal

Programs: AA, Starwood, Hyatt, Starbucks Gold

Posts: 1,826

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhammer53

When you ask William to pick me next year, you'll find out.

Dan

I never thought to ask for you! What a great idea to exact my revenge ... HAH .. HA .. HAH!!

Oct 29, 2013, 3:45 pm

#125

rwoman

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: LHR

Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels

Posts: 10,187

wharvey,

You have a PM!

Thanks again for coordinating!!

Oct 30, 2013, 11:18 am

#126

wharvey

Flyertalk Evangelist and Moderator: Coupon Connection and Travel Products

Original Poster

Join Date: Jul 2000

Location: Milton, GA USA

Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum Elite, Hyatt Discoverist, Radisson Elite

Posts: 19,040

Post #2 updated.... Santa icons to follow!

Oct 30, 2013, 2:26 pm

#127

Artagnan

Join Date: Mar 2009

Location: NYC/SFO

Programs: AA/AS/UA; Bonvoy

Posts: 282

Woot! This should be fun

Oct 30, 2013, 7:09 pm

#128

TravelConcierge

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: New York, NY

Programs: FSPP, Virtuoso, Belmond Bellini Club, STARS, Hyatt Privé, Peninsula PenClub, etc.

Posts: 112

Excited but stumped by my assignment! No real hints given...

Oct 31, 2013, 2:05 am

#129

rwoman

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: LHR

Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels

Posts: 10,187

Quote:

Originally Posted by TravelConcierge

Excited but stumped by my assignment! No real hints given...

Take a look at their posts and the threads/forums they post in - may give you an idea about some interests and personality.

Oct 31, 2013, 3:50 am

#130

Polomarc

Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: London-etc

Posts: 3,893

Have been assigned someone

When you post it, do FT's write their address and real name/handle name?

Oct 31, 2013, 5:56 am

#131

kipper

A FlyerTalk Posting Legend

Join Date: Jun 2004

Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...

Posts: 51,039

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polomarc

Have been assigned someone

When you post it, do FT's write their address and real name/handle name?

That is up to each person. Some do, some just write their real name/address, some write their real address, but use FT Santa or some such, etc.

You do want to use an address that you know will be capable of receiving a returned package, as sometimes, packages are returned, due to mail issues.

You may also want to be sure that you write the recipient's real name on the package because some mail people may reject packages not addressed to the specific person.

Oct 31, 2013, 6:30 am

#132

rwoman

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: LHR

Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels

Posts: 10,187

Quote:

Originally Posted by kipper

To add, in most cases, if your recipient is in another country, you'll need to include a customs form which may require your name/return address.

Oct 31, 2013, 7:10 am

#133

evanderm

Join Date: May 2008

Location: YYZ

Posts: 2,636

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwoman

Take a look at their posts and the threads/forums they post in - may give you an idea about some interests and personality.

With some people participating who have <100 posts even that can be difficult.

Oct 31, 2013, 7:14 am

#134

rwoman

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: LHR

Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels

Posts: 10,187

Quote:

Originally Posted by evanderm

With some people participating who have <100 posts even that can be difficult.

Or send a list of follow up questions to wharvey to be passed along.

Oct 31, 2013, 7:40 am

#135

evanderm

Join Date: May 2008

Location: YYZ

Posts: 2,636

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwoman

Or send a list of follow up questions to wharvey to be passed along.

Good tip! I already have a few good ideas on what to get for my giftees so won't be doing that but might certainly help others. It also doesn't have to be wharvey, if you know and trust someone else to do some prying on your behalf you could ask them. Also, I remember from last year's thread, google-ing someone's real name often leads to some good clues. Don't know if that's been mentioned here already.

I will admit to not being easy to buy things for and I think I may not have provided much to go on. In case my gifters are looking for more inspiration from me, I'm a bit of a geek and thinkgeek.com has some cool stuff. T-shirt size L. I'm also a fan of Dilbert and the wall calendar usually hangs in my office. Considering I put one specific thing on my PM that got sent to two people, I hope I don't end up with the same gift twice

. I also enjoy cooking and am a bit of a foodie thanks to my father being a chef.