SantaThing: LibraryThing's Secret Santa
Back by popular demand, I hereby announce LibraryThing's second annual SantaThing!SantaThing is Secret Santa for LibraryThing members.
The idea is simple. Pay $25. You play Santa to a random LibraryThing member, and find them up $20 worth of books, based on their library or a short description. Someone else does the same to you. LibraryThing orders the books and pays the shipping, so no addresses are exchanged and no members are stalked!
Now, this doesn't have to be just for you. You can also go in for someone you know—a relative or a friend. Describe their library a bit and someone will find them the perfect present. And you can become a Santa as many times as you like.
Lastly, even if you don't want to be a Santa, you can help by suggesting books for others.
Crucial dates. This is going to end very soon.
- Monday, December 15th at 12 Noon Eastern. Santa-signup ends. Shortly thereafter, we will tell you who you are matched up with. Then you go crazy trying to find the perfect books to give them.
- Friday, December 19th at 10pm Eastern. Submit gifts to LibraryThing. LibraryThing buys everything.
Go sign up to become a Secret Santa now!
Questions? Ask them in this Talk topic. Unfortunately, for various reasons, this is only open to people with addresses in the US, Canada, or Britain.
Labels: santathing, secret santa
posted by Abby at 12:33 PM
14 Comments:
How do you price the books you're getting so that they fall under $20? Do you use Amazon's "new" price? The lowest "used" price?
Moreover, how do you get around the fact that most books worth getting are over $20?
Tim & Abby -- I am SO glad you are doing this again. It was such a wonderful surprise last year, even though you lost sleep shipping books. Maybe you need elves this year?
This is a great idea, but please consider having the sign up and shipping dates a little earlier next year!
I'm sure I'm not the only one who plans to travel for Christmas, it's hard to decide if participating is worth trying to find a friend to come by every day to check for packages while we're gone.
Jonathan--
Use the "new" price. NOT a used price (since we can't control the shipping if we get books from Amazon marketplace). Oh, and there are books under $20 worth getting!
deety--
In theory, we'll try for earlier next year, but these things tend to sneak up on us :) I admit, I'm no where near done holiday shopping myself. I still think I have weeks and weeks and weeks. Don't I?
Deety. If you want us to hold the shipping, we can do that. Tell us when you want it.
I was hoping this year you might find a way to extend the "SantaThing" worldwide. I'm disappointed it isn't so. In fact this post, with typical American narrowness, does not even mention that the thing is US only...
Apologies, it does mention it, at the bottom. The various reasons of course are that shipping is more expensive to other countries and transit times longer. Still, it could have been arranged. Oh well, don't worry, we're used to being cast aside by the big powers.
What about U.S. territories such as Guam for those of us on military bases?
This is a great idea
No Secret Santa for Germany? Buhuhu...! Cry!
Ted
"Moreover, how do you get around the fact that most books worth getting are over $20?"
A small paperback easily fits in a Christmas stocking than a big fat expensive hardback.... :*)
How does one make suggestions?
I am also very disappointed that only US, Canada and UK are allowed to play.
This is a fantastic idea. I am really excited about the opportunity to have someone, unknown to me select books for my reading. I hope it will help to broaden my reading selection.
However, could you please decide on the assignments of secret Santa's soon. Even though I am at a U.S. address, I live overseas and (due to daylight hours) will have a very short timespan to select for whomever I am assigned to buy books.
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