2023 MetaFilter Gift Swap Sign-Ups are Open!! October 25, 2023 10:18 AM Subscribe
The Metafilter Gift Swap takes place annually from roughly November - January. Each participant sends a gift to an awesome Mefite; each participant receives a gift from an awesome Mefite. Awesomeness and gifts abound. HOORAY!
Signups for the 2023 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 - Nov 8
Assignments: Nov 12-14
Send-by: Dec 8
-----
As always, 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/Anywhere 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. =)
Note: both of us will be unavailable from October 30-November 3, which is why things are shifted a bit from last year; we promise to respond to questions when we return.
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, The Signup Link
Sign Up Here
Happy gifting!
Signups for the 2023 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 - Nov 8
Assignments: Nov 12-14
Send-by: Dec 8
-----
As always, 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/Anywhere 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. =)
Note: both of us will be unavailable from October 30-November 3, which is why things are shifted a bit from last year; we promise to respond to questions when we return.
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, The Signup Link
Sign Up Here
Happy gifting!
IT'S THE MOST BEANSICAL TIME OF THE YEAR
posted by deezil at 11:07 AM on October 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by deezil at 11:07 AM on October 25, 2023 [5 favorites]
Hooray! Thank you to rhyspenbras and okayokayigive for organizing!
posted by jedicus at 11:14 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by jedicus at 11:14 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
It's the return of the best event of the season, thank you to the organizers!!!!!
posted by phunniemee at 11:16 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 11:16 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Thank you organizers!
posted by gentlyepigrams at 11:17 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by gentlyepigrams at 11:17 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Whoohoo!
posted by oceanjesse at 11:28 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by oceanjesse at 11:28 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Yay! One of my favorite things to do each year. Thanks for running it!
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 11:39 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 11:39 AM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
This is the piece of Metafilter culture I've participated in the longest and most consistently. Thanks to the organizers for the work of keeping it going.
posted by Tesseractive at 11:40 AM on October 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by Tesseractive at 11:40 AM on October 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
YAaayyyy!! Thanks so much for organizing this little piece of annual joy. I enjoy the Mefi gift swap more than any other Christmas celebration.
posted by Sparky Buttons at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2023 [4 favorites]
I have participated in some years, not in others, depending on my capacity, but every year I have done it, it's been wonderful.
posted by corb at 12:07 PM on October 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by corb at 12:07 PM on October 25, 2023 [6 favorites]
Yay! I'm so excited for this.
posted by rednikki at 12:18 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by rednikki at 12:18 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
Hooray! Can’t wait!
posted by oomny at 12:19 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by oomny at 12:19 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm in!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:40 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:40 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
I signed up! Took a break the last few years as I had small kids and/or was in mourning, but I’m feeling game this year and can’t wait!
(Do we still say Quonsmas!?)
posted by samthemander at 12:51 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
(Do we still say Quonsmas!?)
posted by samthemander at 12:51 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
I was just ruminating on what to do for Secret Beans this year. One of my favorite things!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:09 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:09 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Yip yip yay
posted by PistachioRoux at 3:05 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by PistachioRoux at 3:05 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
Signed Up. Thank you rhyspenbras and okayokayigive!
posted by 15L06 at 5:00 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by 15L06 at 5:00 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
I *think* I signed up, but I'm not sure it went well...
posted by amtho at 7:06 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 7:06 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
Are we having country-localized swaps this year?
posted by porpoise at 9:18 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by porpoise at 9:18 PM on October 25, 2023 [2 favorites]
I was really needing something to anticipate with delight. Yay!
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:10 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 11:10 PM on October 25, 2023 [3 favorites]
(Do we still say Quonsmas!?)
See the 2020 post and follow up poll for discussions about the rebrand.
posted by zamboni at 1:57 AM on October 26, 2023 [4 favorites]
Yay! Thank you both so much for organising this!
posted by ellieBOA at 3:35 AM on October 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 3:35 AM on October 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
amtho, I don't see an entry for you from the form - maybe try again? If you're still having trouble, email metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com with your details and we can get you manually added.
porpoise, the current regions we have available are International, US-Only, Canada-Only, North America, South America, Europe, UK-Only, and Australia/New Zealand. In the past it's been the case that there weren't enough local participants to make smaller regions work. However - if you know for certain that there's a workable number (generally four or more participants) in a specific country, please let us know at the metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com address!
posted by okayokayigive at 5:28 AM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
porpoise, the current regions we have available are International, US-Only, Canada-Only, North America, South America, Europe, UK-Only, and Australia/New Zealand. In the past it's been the case that there weren't enough local participants to make smaller regions work. However - if you know for certain that there's a workable number (generally four or more participants) in a specific country, please let us know at the metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com address!
posted by okayokayigive at 5:28 AM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
The swapping region question is missing the write in box FYI.
posted by ellieBOA at 7:08 AM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 7:08 AM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Thanks for the heads up, ellieBOA! I'll have rhyspenbras look into that when he's available. In the meantime - if you have a different preferred region, please email metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com.
posted by okayokayigive at 8:11 AM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by okayokayigive at 8:11 AM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
This is often the most fun I have shopping all year, thank you to the organizers and yayyyyy!
posted by lepus at 9:30 AM on October 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by lepus at 9:30 AM on October 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
w0000t! The Gift Swap is dear to my heart. The organizers are just wonderful. Your timing is perfect. There was a mass shooting in Maine last night and I am bereft. So, extra thanks.
posted by theora55 at 12:16 PM on October 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 12:16 PM on October 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
Yay! I've been looking for this thread for a few days now. I had surgery last year and wasn't able to participate, much to my eternal disappointment. But I'm back and very much looking forward to making space for the marmosets again this year.
posted by PearlRose at 1:59 PM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by PearlRose at 1:59 PM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
The economy has left me with the impression that twenty dollars is simultaneously too much and too little for a gift exchange.
posted by MonsieurPEB at 3:29 PM on October 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by MonsieurPEB at 3:29 PM on October 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
Hooray! I'm in as always.
posted by thomas j wise at 3:45 PM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by thomas j wise at 3:45 PM on October 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
Just signed up and can't wait to get the details on my person so I can start finding just the right stuff for them! This swap has been such a true source of joy for me when I manage to sign up for it and I LOVE y'all for making it happen thank you wonderful people 💕
To any folks reading along who haven't joined in: if you're a fan of giving and receiving fantastic and wondrous things then I highly recommend you sign up. I have gotten some of my very best objects this way, don't miss out.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 10:04 PM on October 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
To any folks reading along who haven't joined in: if you're a fan of giving and receiving fantastic and wondrous things then I highly recommend you sign up. I have gotten some of my very best objects this way, don't miss out.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 10:04 PM on October 26, 2023 [5 favorites]
Is there an option to sign up to be a second chance gift giver? I would love to participate but do not need any more stuff of any kind. I would love to give an anonymous gift to someone.
posted by mightshould at 4:20 AM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by mightshould at 4:20 AM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
mightshould absolutely! If you can please email metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com with your info, rhyspenbras can get you added to the second-chancer list without being part of the primary swap :)
posted by okayokayigive at 5:38 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by okayokayigive at 5:38 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
ellieBOA, thanks for the heads up! This has been corrected :)
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:48 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:48 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
So excited to be participating for the first time. Thank you for this opportunity.
posted by Scout405 at 7:30 PM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by Scout405 at 7:30 PM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
I'm in, thanks RhysPenbras and okayokayigive!
posted by box at 5:12 AM on October 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by box at 5:12 AM on October 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
Having missed out last year because I was on holiday, I am all signed up now!
*cues up Jingle Rock Bell on the stereo*
posted by essexjan at 7:45 AM on October 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
*cues up Jingle Rock Bell on the stereo*
posted by essexjan at 7:45 AM on October 28, 2023 [5 favorites]
Eeeeee! It only took me 13 years of membership to sign up, but I’m very excited about my first gift swap! Thanks to everyone who works to coordinate this.
posted by sugarbomb at 7:56 AM on October 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by sugarbomb at 7:56 AM on October 28, 2023 [6 favorites]
I took a couple years off (maybe more? I can't remember, what is time) but I feel like I have more capacity to do this again because it was a lot of fun in the past. YAY CAN'T WAIT!
posted by mostly vowels at 10:03 AM on October 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by mostly vowels at 10:03 AM on October 28, 2023 [3 favorites]
I’m three years late but loving the Gift Swap rebrand. Thanks!!/
posted by samthemander at 4:50 PM on October 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 4:50 PM on October 28, 2023 [4 favorites]
This is my favorite!
posted by brilliantine at 9:02 AM on October 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by brilliantine at 9:02 AM on October 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
posted by pjsky at 10:45 AM on October 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 10:45 AM on October 30, 2023 [3 favorites]
Woohoo! Signed up and looking forward to poking around my small-town shops for weird curios monkey paws cursed froyo ... curios
posted by introp at 8:21 AM on October 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by introp at 8:21 AM on October 31, 2023 [4 favorites]
Excited! Thank you, rhyspenbras and okayokayigive!
And if you're on the fence about participating, please give it a try -- the more the merrier!
posted by mochapickle at 10:22 AM on October 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
And if you're on the fence about participating, please give it a try -- the more the merrier!
posted by mochapickle at 10:22 AM on October 31, 2023 [5 favorites]
SECRET BEANS RIDES AGAIN
posted by jeoc at 7:10 PM on November 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by jeoc at 7:10 PM on November 1, 2023 [3 favorites]
Happy happy!!
posted by initapplette at 1:23 PM on November 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
posted by initapplette at 1:23 PM on November 3, 2023 [3 favorites]
Woooo in just under the wire! So happy I decided to check this before going to bed :)
posted by silverstatue at 8:37 PM on November 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by silverstatue at 8:37 PM on November 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
At the buzzer...I'm in once again!
posted by SisterHavana at 9:43 PM on November 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by SisterHavana at 9:43 PM on November 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
Hi Friends!
Secret Beans 2023 Sign Ups are now closed!
Expect to get your assignments sometime over the weekend and be sure to double check your spam & filter folders.
If you still don't receive by next Wednesday, November 15, please email us at metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com and I will dive into the æther to find your assignment X-D
THANK YOU to everyone participating and HAPPY GIFTING!
-The Gifting Team
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:48 AM on November 9, 2023 [13 favorites]
Secret Beans 2023 Sign Ups are now closed!
Expect to get your assignments sometime over the weekend and be sure to double check your spam & filter folders.
If you still don't receive by next Wednesday, November 15, please email us at metafiltergiftswap@gmail.com and I will dive into the æther to find your assignment X-D
THANK YOU to everyone participating and HAPPY GIFTING!
-The Gifting Team
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:48 AM on November 9, 2023 [13 favorites]
I totally spaced this as time no longer has any meaning. Good luck everyone, and I'll sneak in next year, assuming I'm still kicking.
posted by maxwelton at 2:18 AM on November 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by maxwelton at 2:18 AM on November 11, 2023 [4 favorites]
Eeeeeeeeeee I’m excited!
posted by samthemander at 2:28 PM on November 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by samthemander at 2:28 PM on November 13, 2023 [4 favorites]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by Captain_Science at 11:04 AM on October 25, 2023 [4 favorites]