2024 MetaFilter Gift Swap Sign-Ups are Open!! October 22, 2024 12:09 AM Subscribe
Signups for the 2024 MetaFilter Gift Swap are now open! The Metafilter Gift Swap takes place annually from roughly November - December. Each participant sends a gift to an awesome Mefite; each participant receives a gift from an awesome Mefite. Awesomeness and gifts abound.
The dates this year are:
Signups: Now (10/21) - Nov 9
Assignments: Nov 10 - 15
Send-by: Dec 8
As in the past, the standard gift guidance is $20 USD.
Signing Up
There will be a link at the end of this post. Follow it! We need an actual MeFi username, an email address you check, your name & mailing address, and some good guidance for the person who draws your name.
You will get a confirmation email that will show you the information you submitted. It will come from Google Forms and it will look like the form you just filled out. Please check your spam/junk mail folder. If you do not get this confirmation within 48 hours, send an email to the swap Gmail account (metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com). If you have not gotten a confirmation email, you may not be signed up or you entered the wrong email address. We can fix that.
Fun Fact: Every year, several people accidentally typo their own email addresses, which leads to confusion and consternation, and sometimes no gift for someone until late in the season.
You will get your draw via email. It will contain key information about the person you will be gifting: MeFi username, a real world name, mailing address, and hopefully helpful guidance from the person you drew. It should allow you to get off to a running start.
If you are having trouble putting together your guidance section, ocherdraco put together a list of questions to help you focus. You don't have to answer all (or any of) the questions, but this is a good place to start if you are stumped by the Guidance section.
We will not share, abuse, or sell any of your information. The person who draws your name will not get your email address. We will delete all emails sent and received at the end of the exchange season, as well as all personally identifiable information.
The Rules
1) Email us or use the gift trackinator when you mail your gift out, along with the tracking number(s) if available.
2) Email us when you receive your gift, even if you're going to wait to open it.
3) Please either post in the main gift exchange thread when you open your gift, or contact your gifter directly.
We get a LOT of emails from people who put time, energy, and a great deal of care into selecting and mailing gifts, and they want to make sure it gets to you okay. Please help us ensure that's as smooth as possible. =)
If you failed to send your giftee a gift last year without working it out with us, you're ineligible to participate this year. If you do try to sign up, your name will be removed from the swap. You can try again next year, but two strikes and you will be out.
If you find that you can't participate after signing up but before the draw, after all, send an email to the swap Gmail account (metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com). We’ll remove your entry. If you find that you can't participate at all after the draw, please send an email to that same Gmail account as soon as possible so we can contact the folks who drew you and whom you drew and redirect or reassign as appropriate.
If you do not think you can mail a gift in a reasonable amount of time, please do not participate. It's not OK to plan now on finding and sending your gift after your life calms down in January or late December or on Valentines Day.
Hey! You have a question!
We're happy to serve as anonymizing middlepeople if you have a question for your recipient, to send messages to your recipient on your behalf, to find out if a package has been sent or has been received. Send us an email at our Gmail address (metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com), and we'll see what we can find out for you.
A Note About the Swap Groups
If we do not get enough people to do a swap in a group, we will contact folks in the underpopulated swap groups to see what can be done before the swap.
In 2022, we removed the International Spirit group due to low participation and reverted back to a single International (Physical) group; that remains in effect this year.
A Note about International Shipping
We STRONGLY recommend mailing as early as possible if you are going to send anything internationally, especially if the US is involved. Customs holds up lots of packages for varying amounts of time (with some, it seems forever). If you sign up for the International option, please be aware that shipping times may stretch out longer than you'd prefer.
Signing up for the international swap does not guarantee that you will get a gift from and/or will send a gift to someone outside of the country in which you live (particularly if you live in the USA). If you specifically do want to send/receive internationally, please note that at the end of the sign-up form and we'll do our best to accommodate.
A Note About Data Collection
The organizers have access to all of the information submitted, including names, addresses, and email communications. We promise that none of this is saved or shared outside of this group. At the end of the exchange (generally sometime in February when we're sure everything that's going to ship/arrive has done so), all of this information is deleted; no personal information is carried over year-to-year.
Communicating with Us
Unless you need to contact us specifically about one of the organizers, please use our Gmail account, metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com. This will help us make sure we don't overlook anything and can be as efficient as possible.
Who we are
This year, the organizers are rhyspenbras and okayokayigive. If you drew one of our names and need information about your giftee without spoiling the surprise, contact the other one for answers. =)
Gift Swap funding help
As in previous years, we have a pool of funds to assist members who would like to participate in the swap but doing so would be financially difficult for them. If you'd like to take advantage of this, please complete the sign-up link and then contact the team at metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com with your username and the best way to get funds to you (Paypal or Venmo are easiest, but other options are available). These are first-come, first-serve. You won't be asked to justify or explain your situation; if you say you could use the help, we trust you.
Most Importantly, Sign Up Here
Happy gifting!
The dates this year are:
Signups: Now (10/21) - Nov 9
Assignments: Nov 10 - 15
Send-by: Dec 8
As in the past, the standard gift guidance is $20 USD.
Signing Up
There will be a link at the end of this post. Follow it! We need an actual MeFi username, an email address you check, your name & mailing address, and some good guidance for the person who draws your name.
You will get a confirmation email that will show you the information you submitted. It will come from Google Forms and it will look like the form you just filled out. Please check your spam/junk mail folder. If you do not get this confirmation within 48 hours, send an email to the swap Gmail account (metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com). If you have not gotten a confirmation email, you may not be signed up or you entered the wrong email address. We can fix that.
Fun Fact: Every year, several people accidentally typo their own email addresses, which leads to confusion and consternation, and sometimes no gift for someone until late in the season.
You will get your draw via email. It will contain key information about the person you will be gifting: MeFi username, a real world name, mailing address, and hopefully helpful guidance from the person you drew. It should allow you to get off to a running start.
If you are having trouble putting together your guidance section, ocherdraco put together a list of questions to help you focus. You don't have to answer all (or any of) the questions, but this is a good place to start if you are stumped by the Guidance section.
We will not share, abuse, or sell any of your information. The person who draws your name will not get your email address. We will delete all emails sent and received at the end of the exchange season, as well as all personally identifiable information.
The Rules
1) Email us or use the gift trackinator when you mail your gift out, along with the tracking number(s) if available.
2) Email us when you receive your gift, even if you're going to wait to open it.
3) Please either post in the main gift exchange thread when you open your gift, or contact your gifter directly.
We get a LOT of emails from people who put time, energy, and a great deal of care into selecting and mailing gifts, and they want to make sure it gets to you okay. Please help us ensure that's as smooth as possible. =)
If you failed to send your giftee a gift last year without working it out with us, you're ineligible to participate this year. If you do try to sign up, your name will be removed from the swap. You can try again next year, but two strikes and you will be out.
If you find that you can't participate after signing up but before the draw, after all, send an email to the swap Gmail account (metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com). We’ll remove your entry. If you find that you can't participate at all after the draw, please send an email to that same Gmail account as soon as possible so we can contact the folks who drew you and whom you drew and redirect or reassign as appropriate.
If you do not think you can mail a gift in a reasonable amount of time, please do not participate. It's not OK to plan now on finding and sending your gift after your life calms down in January or late December or on Valentines Day.
Hey! You have a question!
We're happy to serve as anonymizing middlepeople if you have a question for your recipient, to send messages to your recipient on your behalf, to find out if a package has been sent or has been received. Send us an email at our Gmail address (metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com), and we'll see what we can find out for you.
A Note About the Swap Groups
If we do not get enough people to do a swap in a group, we will contact folks in the underpopulated swap groups to see what can be done before the swap.
In 2022, we removed the International Spirit group due to low participation and reverted back to a single International (Physical) group; that remains in effect this year.
A Note about International Shipping
We STRONGLY recommend mailing as early as possible if you are going to send anything internationally, especially if the US is involved. Customs holds up lots of packages for varying amounts of time (with some, it seems forever). If you sign up for the International option, please be aware that shipping times may stretch out longer than you'd prefer.
Signing up for the international swap does not guarantee that you will get a gift from and/or will send a gift to someone outside of the country in which you live (particularly if you live in the USA). If you specifically do want to send/receive internationally, please note that at the end of the sign-up form and we'll do our best to accommodate.
A Note About Data Collection
The organizers have access to all of the information submitted, including names, addresses, and email communications. We promise that none of this is saved or shared outside of this group. At the end of the exchange (generally sometime in February when we're sure everything that's going to ship/arrive has done so), all of this information is deleted; no personal information is carried over year-to-year.
Communicating with Us
Unless you need to contact us specifically about one of the organizers, please use our Gmail account, metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com. This will help us make sure we don't overlook anything and can be as efficient as possible.
Who we are
This year, the organizers are rhyspenbras and okayokayigive. If you drew one of our names and need information about your giftee without spoiling the surprise, contact the other one for answers. =)
Gift Swap funding help
As in previous years, we have a pool of funds to assist members who would like to participate in the swap but doing so would be financially difficult for them. If you'd like to take advantage of this, please complete the sign-up link and then contact the team at metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com with your username and the best way to get funds to you (Paypal or Venmo are easiest, but other options are available). These are first-come, first-serve. You won't be asked to justify or explain your situation; if you say you could use the help, we trust you.
Most Importantly, Sign Up Here
Happy gifting!
It really is!
posted by signal at 1:19 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
posted by signal at 1:19 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
I guess it was around this time last year but somehow it utterly snuck up on me that it was almost gift swap time! Thanks again for all the work you put into this. It is a highlight of the holiday season!
posted by Captain_Science at 5:54 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
posted by Captain_Science at 5:54 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
This is something that MetaFilter does well, thanks for running it!
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:37 AM on October 22 [6 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher (staff) at 6:37 AM on October 22 [6 favorites]
I'm in! Thanks for running!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:38 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:38 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
Hi Rhyspenbras and okayokayigive, thank you for doing the gift swap! Just signed Up.
posted by 15L06 at 6:58 AM on October 22 [4 favorites]
posted by 15L06 at 6:58 AM on October 22 [4 favorites]
It's the most beansical time of the year!
posted by deezil at 7:16 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
posted by deezil at 7:16 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
Thank you for doing the work! I signed up.
posted by entropyiswinning at 9:42 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
posted by entropyiswinning at 9:42 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
YAY!!! So excited to give and receive with you all!
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 11:34 AM on October 22 [3 favorites]
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 11:34 AM on October 22 [3 favorites]
YAY!!! Thank you for hosting again!
posted by mochapickle at 11:55 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 11:55 AM on October 22 [2 favorites]
I signed up...I have been diligently saving my used prophylactics from my "adventures" this past year to send to my assigned giftee for them to marvel at, and that count is now (dramatically opens box)...er, zero. (I can definitely use a beansmas gift as a pick-me-up!)
posted by maxwelton at 1:06 PM on October 22 [2 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 1:06 PM on October 22 [2 favorites]
I couldn't participate last year, the first time I've missed since the swap started. So I'm eager to pick up where I left off. Thank you so much, Elves. You contribute so much to this community. In fact, I think Secret Beansing is a huge part of what makes this a community.
I became disabled a while back so my capacity to run around Calgary and select fun things is gone. My Beansee may need to have a gift from Amazon. But I'll choose it with as much care as possible!
posted by angiep at 1:30 PM on October 22 [4 favorites]
I became disabled a while back so my capacity to run around Calgary and select fun things is gone. My Beansee may need to have a gift from Amazon. But I'll choose it with as much care as possible!
posted by angiep at 1:30 PM on October 22 [4 favorites]
I have been diligently saving my used prophylactics from my "adventures" this past year to send to my assigned giftee
Um I'm not sure what this means but can the elves please go back and edit my "questions/comments/concerns" section on my submitted form? Because I have them now.
posted by phunniemee at 3:35 PM on October 22 [3 favorites]
Um I'm not sure what this means but can the elves please go back and edit my "questions/comments/concerns" section on my submitted form? Because I have them now.
posted by phunniemee at 3:35 PM on October 22 [3 favorites]
Um I'm not sure what this means but can the elves please go back and edit my "questions/comments/concerns" section on my submitted form? Because I have them now.
...I also have concerns, as said middle-agent.
posted by RhysPenbras at 3:54 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
...I also have concerns, as said middle-agent.
posted by RhysPenbras at 3:54 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
I’ve always missed this, but this year I’m doing it. Congratulations, lucky recipient of a box of random obsolete computer cables!
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:14 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
posted by Devils Rancher at 4:14 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
I love this every year! Thank you to the organizers for putting this together, it's such a delight.
Just as a note to the organizers, the last question on the survey has three possible responses: Yes, Yes and Other. I'm assuming you wanted one answer to be No.
posted by mulkey at 5:11 PM on October 22 [2 favorites]
Just as a note to the organizers, the last question on the survey has three possible responses: Yes, Yes and Other. I'm assuming you wanted one answer to be No.
posted by mulkey at 5:11 PM on October 22 [2 favorites]
I'm in as always! Thanks for putting it together.
posted by thomas j wise at 6:00 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
posted by thomas j wise at 6:00 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
Thanks for the heads up, mulkey - we’ll take a look.
posted by okayokayigive at 6:11 PM on October 22
posted by okayokayigive at 6:11 PM on October 22
So excited to participate again this year! Thanks very much for your time commitment to this wonderful exchange, RhysPenbras and okayokayigive.
posted by Scout405 at 6:38 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
posted by Scout405 at 6:38 PM on October 22 [1 favorite]
« Older [MeFi Site Update] October 16th
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:25 AM on October 22 [4 favorites]