Feeler Thread: AD Secret Pal

[Dixie]

OK so I am sure some of you have heard of Secret Pal. It is where everyone has a secret pal they sned stuff to. You dont know who is sending stuff to you and your SP doesnt know who is sending stuff to them. People are paired up like this:

Person A has Person B, Person B has Person C, Person C has Person A.

Your SP is selected based on hobbies, likes and dislikes, as well as personality traits.

I have done this on another forum and its actually pretty fun.

If you think you want to have a go at this, post below, and if we have Alex's blessing then we can do it. If we get enough interest then we'll get the mailing address request list going.

Those that abuse the SP ring will be promptly removed and another person will be put in their place.

Let me know what you think.

[Soonersseth]

will this cost alot of money

[javapride]

whilist u did a nice thing and thinking, some poeple may not be able to pay for cost/posting in mail, and most of all shipping cost, So whilist it was a nice thought we usually reserve the shipping and etc to our x mas plans :-D

[Liebling:-)))]

We did in other forum. It´s great to exchange the gifts.

[Cheri]

I don't trust some people with my home address, last year one of the AD member posted another ADer's home address on this public forum, so I don't think it's a good idea, I'll take a pass on this opportunity. Sorry.

[LakeTahoe]

It is a great idea but I am gonna pass this. Sorry

[morbid-mongoose]

I don't have much money to spend either. But for me that wouldn't be an issue because I do a lot of CG (computer graphics) work. I doubt other people are as lucky though.

[Dixie]

You can spend as much or as little as you want on your secret pal - its the thought that counts. Sometimes just getting a card in the mail is enough to lift someone's spirits that day.

Some people may want to send extravagant packages every month, some people may just send 3 or 4 cards dropping clues about who their secret pal is and then send a nice package on the last month. One of the best gifts Ive gotten from an SP is a one year membership to Ducks Unlimited. Didnt cost a whole lot but I've absolutely loved the gift.

If you are laeary of giving out your mailing address, you can purchase a PO Box for fairly cheap and I think you can purchase them in 3 month, 6 month or year-long increments. Then instead of giving out your rural mailing address you can give your PO Box address.

You dont have to spend alot of money on your SP. I often sent my SP an e-card every Monday morning wishing her a good week at work, and it always seemed to make her day.

[VamPyroX]

This sounds like Secret Santa.

We tried that before and it failed... some members didn't get gifts.

I was one of them. No one sent me a gift, but I did send out a gift. When that person found out it was me, he didn't really give me an appreciative thanks.

"Hey, like the T-shirt I gave you?" "What shirt?" "The one with (insert quote here) on it." "Oh, that was you?" "Yeah, that was me." "Oh... err... umm... ok... thanks." *walks away*

I see him again and he doesn't even bother to talk to me.

[Angel]

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

This sounds like Secret Santa.

We tried that before and it failed... some members didn't get gifts.

I was one of them. No one sent me a gift, but I did send out a gift. When that person found out it was me, he didn't really give me an appreciative thanks.

"Hey, like the T-shirt I gave you?" "What shirt?" "The one with (insert quote here) on it." "Oh, that was you?" "Yeah, that was me." "Oh... err... umm... ok... thanks." *walks away*

I see him again and he doesn't even bother to talk to me.

Wow, sorry to hear that....At first I thought it wasn't such a bad idea but then again reading what you said, I changed my mind, not interesting..

[morbid-mongoose]

Mmm, a little off topic but not really... if this doesn't fall through do you think you could work out an artist exchange instead for people who do visual arts (i.e. drawing, painting, sewing, computer graphics, wire sculpture, handicrafts, etc.)? I would love to be able to do something like that with other members of the deaf community.

Thanks,
m-m

[Opal]

Well I am not happy with Secret Pal at other forum!

Today it is middle of July, and I NEVER received anything from my Secret Pal and I PM the Organiser to let her know and was told my Secret Pal is struggle!!

I thought why would she/he join in the first place?

I was not happy with my this year Secret Pal as I posted a parcel and postcard and I don't know if he/she received it yet? I did PM the Organiser to let her know if my parcel had arrived or not as I am worried if my parcel is lost or what? Guess what? I NEVER heard this Organiser's reply, and I sent a second reminder again, Heard NOTHING!!!

Also what else more? My last year Secret Pal (Different one) and I enjoyed each other parcels and greeting cards, and before the year is out, we agreed to continue outside the Forum and I thought it was lovely and I sent this person a birthday parcel, and my birthday came and went without one, and I asked what is Parcel PO code number I can chase at the PO and I was told she is too busy to sent me any!!

I learn my lesson and I feel I am ripped off!!

At the end of this year, I will let them know I'll be out of their Secret Pal member crap!

[jillio]

Originally Posted by Angel

Wow, sorry to hear that....At first I thought it wasn't such a bad idea but then again reading what you said, I changed my mind, not interesting..

Ueah, I agree with you, Angel. I first I thought it sounded like fun, but after Vampy's experience, and some of the other points that the other members brought up, I decided, "Maybe not."

[Cheri]

Originally Posted by Opal

Well I am not happy with Secret Pal at other forum!

Today it is middle of July, and I NEVER received anything from my Secret Pal and I PM the Organiser to let her know and was told my Secret Pal is struggle!!

I thought why would she/he join in the first place?

I was not happy with my this year Secret Pal as I posted a parcel and postcard and I don't know if he/she received it yet? I did PM the Organiser to let her know if my parcel had arrived or not as I am worried if my parcel is lost or what? Guess what? I NEVER heard this Organiser's reply, and I sent a second reminder again, Heard NOTHING!!!

Also what else more? My last year Secret Pal (Different one) and I enjoyed each other parcels and greeting cards, and before the year is out, we agreed to continue outside the Forum and I thought it was lovely and I sent this person a birthday parcel, and my birthday came and went without one, and I asked what is Parcel PO code number I can chase at the PO and I was told she is too busy to sent me any!!

I learn my lesson and I feel I am ripped off!!

At the end of this year, I will let them know I'll be out of their Secret Pal member crap!

Ouch! I'm truly sorry to hear that you were having problems with one of your secret pal, You're correct thou. that person shouldn't participle if he/she is struggling with sending you something. I heard similar stories alike yours, that someone also had problems from another forum that this person never received anything from this secret pal also, now starting to think this isn't gonna work out successfully.

[Dixie]

Dang I had no idea alot of you had some really bad experiences with it. Im really sorry to hear that there are some people out there that are abusing this cool thing and making it unenjoyable. I had a good experience with mine, but maybe I just got lucky and got a really good secret pal.

I thought this might help bring the forum more 'together' in a way, but if you've had bad experiences then I understand your guarded attitudes, you dont want to get ripped again.

Mmm, a little off topic but not really... if this doesn't fall through do you think you could work out an artist exchange instead for people who do visual arts (i.e. drawing, painting, sewing, computer graphics, wire sculpture, handicrafts, etc.)? I would love to be able to do something like that with other members of the deaf community.

I would if we had enough interested members willing to participate. But the only thing is I dont want artists ripping other peoples art and passing as their own. But if you can round up a group of folks willing to make a go of it, Id be willing to get it organized and set up for ya'll.

[Defee]

Well, sounds like fun but how can you be sure that
it can be trusted and safe?
Like some of others said, they got ripped off, so really
how can you be sure you wont get ripped off so it
is hard to be sure...
Way things are in this world, it is hard to trust anything..heh.
Think i will pass, Sorry.

[morbid-mongoose]

Originally Posted by Dixie

I would if we had enough interested members willing to participate. But the only thing is I dont want artists ripping other peoples art and passing as their own. But if you can round up a group of folks willing to make a go of it, Id be willing to get it organized and set up for ya'll.

I'd never thought of that.

[Liebling:-)))]

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

This sounds like Secret Santa.

We tried that before and it failed... some members didn't get gifts.

I was one of them. No one sent me a gift, but I did send out a gift. When that person found out it was me, he didn't really give me an appreciative thanks.

"Hey, like the T-shirt I gave you?" "What shirt?" "The one with (insert quote here) on it." "Oh, that was you?" "Yeah, that was me." "Oh... err... umm... ok... thanks." *walks away*

I see him again and he doesn't even bother to talk to me.

I'm sorry that you had a bad experience.

There're difference between Secret Pal and Secret Santa.

One member & I had a bad experience with 2 Secret Santa last year, too but it's great that we have a good Organiser who takes care of everything. The 2persons who are supposed be our Secret Santa are being removed in the list for next Secret Santa or Secret Pal. The Organiser and the teams replaced the gifts for 2 persons to me and one member then everything is solve. We got lovely gifts from that Organiser and team. So I gave them other chance... Since Secret Pal 2007, I have no problem.

I know it's not fair when anyone join Secret Santa or Secret Pal without think twice about their struggle with their budget, etc.


Dixie,

Due my experience from other forum...

If you are interesting to join Secret Santa or Secret Pal then let the Organiser know. She/He PM you with the wish list and also including which ADers, you do not wish to forward your address to or not trust to with your home address.

[morbid-mongoose]

I just realized something... we're all so paranoid we're going to get ripped off... this means that each person here has a sincere intrest in doing it and doing it right... so why not just make AD secret pals out of all the paranoid people?

[Opal]

Well yes and no.

Last year I had no problem except this year!

Its no guarantee to be successful secret pal, as I am just warning to be prepared for any disaster to turn up, as it is like lost your suitcase in the plane or lost a parcel in the mail. you know it.

I had a fun with it last year as it was from different organiser who had more time to reply back and forward in PM.

If you really want to join, I would recommend it is only for postwhore members here, not for a newbie!!