Any plans for the "2013 Baby Jeebus Birthday Gift Swap" yet?

[amnesiac305]

My personal experience as a giver last year was horrible. I will not participate again but I thought some lessons were learned. For me, I got international shipping last year.

1. Always use the person's real name and not just the ILF handle for shipping. This is key.
2. If someone is matched with another internationally, the person should be able to opt out if they desire. Shipping costs do add up. I spent approx. $80 just for shipping last year. That is ridiculous. International is such a pain in the ass compared to domestic.

I am surprised this is going to happen again this year as I heard otherwise. Good luck to everyone and I hope all end up happy. One final thing, I think it is important to remember that Jeebus stuff is more about giving than getting.

[ryan summit]

were you able to get tufteef his box in the end?

[D.o.S.]

My personal experience as a giver last year was horrible. I will not participate again but I thought some lessons were learned. For me, I got international shipping last year.

1. Always use the person's real name and not just the ILF handle for shipping. This is key.
2. If someone is matched with another internationally, the person should be able to opt out if they desire. Shipping costs do add up. I spent approx. $80 just for shipping last year. That is ridiculous. International is such a pain in the ass compared to domestic.

I am surprised this is going to happen again this year as I heard otherwise. Good luck to everyone and I hope all end up happy. One final thing, I think it is important to remember that Jeebus stuff is more about giving than getting.

I gave Pigmaker a lot of shit for his vague international shipping decisions, so I gotta do it here too.

Wait.

You just shipped it to

"tuffteef"
Lower Dingo, Australia

[kosta]

Point of information: To ship one Maestro FZ-1A from the US to the UK this year (with tracking) cost approximately $45-60 USD if memory serves. I forget what the exact amount was.

[jrmy]

Maybe whoever's coordinating the whole shebang should keep track of who's willing to ship int'l and who's not, in order to match people appropriately . I'm fine with it, personally.

That said, that could be a pain in the ass to keep track of. I dunno. But I'm going on record now if they do.

[skullservant]

I'm pretty sure when you ship first class international, the form that they give you back has a tracking number on it, and although vague/broad in terms of location of the package, it still shows that it's making progress towards its destination.

I just got two quotes recently for some larger international packages- 3 eurorack modules in their boxes inside a bigger box to Ireland was $26 international first class
1 Eau Claire sized pedal to the UK was $25 for international first class

[DarkAxel]

Maybe whoever's coordinating the whole shebang should keep track of who's willing to ship int'l and who's not, in order to match people appropriately . I'm fine with it, personally.

yes, that's a good idea

Point of information: To ship one Maestro FZ-1A from the US to the UK this year (with tracking) cost approximately $45-60 USD if memory serves. I forget what the exact amount was.

if you ship something expensive like a vintage pedal, it makes more sense to go for the top-notch shipping, that I kind of get. however the services vary and I usually get stuff shipped for $15 without ANY problem and pretty swiftly as well. Latest deal - 15 dollar shipping, seller got quoted for 10 days, on 11th day i was picking it up at the post office.

however it's absolutely beyond me why would anyone ship something that costs say... $120 for that much money... and it's ABSOLUTELY crazy to me to pay $80 for shipping of something that could have been presumably of similar value

[ryan summit]

theres no more parcel post in us anymore(think boats)
priority is cheapest now i think(think planes)
so everything gets a tracking for free
at least thats the deal i goy a few weeks ago
12x12x7. 8 pounds to australia was 79.90
12x12x14. 16lbs was 116
and it was there in a few days(maybe6 or 8)
but were gonna try and avoid intl,right...winkwinkwinkwink

[skullservant]

Nah no parcel post but you can still get first class international without having to go the priority route internationally, becaus priority overseas does add up. I ALWAYS ask for every single option when shipping something overseas to compare prices and options

[behndy]

i shipped a boxxxy box to Tuffers, it wasn't that expensive. like $40 or so? i don't mind having an int'l shipping wing dang doodle.

[MEC]

I have B/S/T'd gear to damn near every country represented on ILF.

Germany x 5
Strayla x 5
UK x 2
Italy x 2
Malaysia
Slovenia
Greece (if you count kosta)
Poland
France
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Ireland
Estonia

I've primarily used USPS First Class International and it's normally under $20.
I've never had an issue with something getting lost.

That said, I don't think having an opt out for those that don't want to ship International would be too difficult.

I'm still willing to run or help run this as a non-participant.
Just waiting to see what Tom comes up with for the guidelines.

[DarkAxel]

you

[space6oy]

3333 posts!

i threes.

[behndy]

were you able to get tufteef his box in the end?

TWCS.

[Helter]

I'm super late on this, but I would so be down for being in again this year! Last year was seriously so much fun. Honestly meant alot to me in a way. Y'know that people you are friends with on the internet (mostly never having met) can send honest-to-goodness heartfelt gifts to one another is a fantastic thing. I've never been very religious but things like this are what I think makes Christmas a beautiful time of year.

I understand the need for rules and people getting flaked on and will abide by whatever the rules end up being but if I'm allowed, there is no way I wouldn't do it. Even knowing the risk, like others have mentioned stalking is a great time and it's even better when you don't have to because you know what a person is into just from talking, lurking, masturbating over their board and sounds.