Books on the Nightstand discussion

Shall we do a Holiday Gift Exchange? I'm thinking a Secret Santa style, where you are assigned someone to send to. Gift can be a book or something reading-related .. Or should it just be a book? $20 limit. Gifts would need to be mailed by 12/15. I know this means international might arrive late, but hopefully that's OK. I'd like to make it easy to pair people up by saying that you should be willing to ship internationally -- is that a deal beaker for anyone? There's an online site that takes the sign ups and does the matching randomly.

What do you think?

I'll do anything for a book or something reading-related. Especially if I can then say to my husband, " I didn't buy that book!"

OK, I'm going to just call it -- we're doing this. It might be just Linda and me, but that's OK (even though it wouldn't be so secret.)

If you want to play, sign up at this link:
(REMOVED LINK SINCE EXCHANGE IS OVER)

RULES: Deadline for signup is November 30 at 11:59pm. I will draw the names and you will be notified of your partner on December 1st. Spending limit is $20. Gifts should be books or something reading-related. Please try to avoid gift cards -- a personally chosen gift is much more fun. Give a gift that is of a quality that you would like to receive yourself (meaning, used books are not really cool, unless it's a signed first edition or has some other value...) Please have your gifts in the mail by December 15.

This is an online site that will do the random drawing, allows for anonymous questions to your giftee (like, what categories do you like...) and allows you to keep a wishlist that your secret santa can see (but where's the fun in that??).

If you sign up and live in the US but CANNOT ship interntionally, please send me a private message here, and include your name and email address. I will be able to make sure your receive a US-based recipient. Unfortunately, if you do not live in the US, you will probably have to ship internationally, since I don't think we have a critical mass of members in any one country.

Questions? Give a shout!

OK, I'll play! :-)

I'll play too! Ooh! It's getting more secret all the time!

Brilliant idea, Ann!

How fun! I'm in!

I'm in! Great idea, Ann.

I am definitely in. Love this idea!

Fun! Count me in!

I AM IN COUNT ME

I am so into this idea. Yes yes yes!

This sounds like FUN!

Of COURSE! Can't wait to get my name, and then, my gift! Fun!

I signed up too!

I am in! Great idea Ann.

Great idea! I'm in!

Sounds like a neat idea!

How can I say no?! Of course! :-)

I'm in!! Thanks Ann for the fun!!

Elfster makes it a no-brainer. Glad to know about this site!

Can't wait to do this...just signed up. Thanks Ann.

I love this idea Ann!! I'm in!

Love the idea!! Count me in.

A book related Secret Santa? Count me in!

Great idea. I'm in.

I just signed up - I'm in!

Thanks, Elf Ann!

What a neat idea! Like a warm-up to the Yankee Swap at Booktopia! Now, the postage costs from Switzerland are prohibitive, will definitely exceed the cost of the book. Will it be possible to organise delivery via - ahem - a certain US based online retail service that happens to stock books, or would that not be in the true Santa spirit? (by the way, their German division deliver books free of postage to Switzerland, just in case I do get to participate).

I'm in!

Sure, Kats, I think that would be fine!

Kats wrote: "What a neat idea! Like a warm-up to the Yankee Swap at Booktopia! Now, the postage costs from Switzerland are prohibitive, will definitely exceed the cost of the book. Will it be possible to orga..."

Kats,

What if you ordered a book from a store in the U.S. - one that took part in a Booktopia? You could order online so that you wouldn't have the long distance charges.

I'm sure this is just one suggestion. Others may have additional ideas.

I'm going to blow the lid off this whole Secret Santa thing!

Signed up on Elfster, so count me in! love this idea.

Love this idea, count me in!

I'm in! But I have a question for you, Ann: do you ever sleep?!?

Bobbi -- this one is easy because of the Elfster site. Believe me, I would not have dreamed of taking this on without an automated solution.

we have 55 people signed up so far, woo hoo!

By the way, my post was just a smart-Alec remark. I'm not participating. Christmas is stressful enough without adding to my responsibilities.

I'm new to the podcast (still listening to old episodes & playing catch-up) but love this idea - I'm in!

Ann wrote: "Bobbi -- this one is easy because of the Elfster site. Believe me, I would not have dreamed of taking this on without an automated solution.

we have 55 people signed up so far, woo hoo!"

Congrats on the great response already, even though many of us are concentrating on dreams of turkey roasting in the oven, and worrying about how we're going to get all those pies baked! :)

Having belonged to groups in the past that do this kind of thing, I can tell you that some people will not follow through on their commitment. Ann, are you requiring delivery confirmation? Sorry to be a party pooper!

Janet, good point. I'm not requiring anything. I would hope that people would act in good faith. That being said, I hope that everyone realizes that there is a small risk in someone not following through. If someone finds that life events prevent them from keeping their commitment, I hope they will email me privately and let me know.

There's no way we can police this, and Books on the Nightstand is not responsible for for people not keeping their commitments or for packages that go astray.

I'm not clear from the short instructional video whether we have to join Elfster in order to participate. I'd love to be in your Secret Santa exchange but would just as soon not give my personal information to yet another website.

Kathy wrote: "I'm not clear from the short instructional video whether we have to join Elfster in order to participate. I'd love to be in your Secret Santa exchange but would just as soon not give my personal in..."

Yes, unfortunately, you do have to join Elfster. The site does the automatic match ups and allows for anonymous communication between Secret Santas and their giftees. Doing this manually is not an option for us, and this way, Michael and I can play, too.

Yes! Love these.

Lisa

can i ask this stupid what about getting kindle or nook book for the oversea folks it look easy or for any one aslong as they have the kindle or nook

Melodie, I'm not sure that work. E-books are published with rights associated with specific countries -- so I'm not sure you could "gift" an ebook to someone in another country.

Plus, speaking personally, I really like the idea of opening a gift -- even if it's in a box from a retailer.

i dp to but i was thinking oh me did i say that

Ann wrote: "OK, I'm going to just call it -- we're doing this. It might be just Linda and me, but that's OK (even though it wouldn't be so secret.)

If you want to play, sign up at this link:
http://www.elfste..."

I'm in! Fun!!

I can't do it this year but hope that you will do it next year it sounds like great fun.