Welcome to the 2017 Edition of the (Un)Official Secret Santa Extravaganza!
For those of you who are new to the concept, Secret Santa is an online pipe tobacco gift exchange held every year since 2011 here on PipesMagazine. Organized and supported by the members of PipesMagazine.com/forums, it is not in any way affiliated with the ownership, management or sponsors of PipesMagazine.com. This is strictly a volunteer effort that is successful only because of the forum members who participate. If you want to get a feel for what it is, take look back at past year’s events:
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/unofficial-secret-santa-2015
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/the-unofficial-pipes-magazine-secret-santa-2016-edition
Like all good things we have a couple of simple rules in play to make sure that no one gets a nose out of joint, a stocking full of coal, or re-packaged Carter Hall in a tin with pornographic tin art (for the record, it was Pirate Kake -ed.).
The Rules
1) Have a minimum of 75 legit posts by October 1, 2017, or be vouched for by a member who has at least 150 posts. No exceptions.
2) Agree to send a gift of two (2) sealed tobacco tins, pouches, etc. of 50g each (or the equivalent volume of tobacco in sealed condition), incurring costs for the present and shipping. Please limit your gift to just two tins.
3) Post to this thread when you have shipped your present to your target victim giftee.
4) Post to this thread when you have received your present from your Secret Santa.
5) Enjoy what you receive, in the spirit of camaraderie and fellowship that guided your Secret Santa’ selection of a gift to you. (Seriously? We need a "no complaining" rule?)
6) Post pictures or at least a summary of the goodies you received from your Secret Santa to this thread.
7) “Favorite” this thread so that you can keep up with the adventure!
8 ) Participants outside the USA: We welcome your participation. I will make every effort to match you with someone from your country or trade community so as to minimize your potential customs fees, however that may not be possible. If you sign up for the Secret Santa exchange, and you do not live in the US, you agree to accept your gift package from another country and pay whatever customs fees may be charged to you.
Signup
We have moved the signup online this year! This will make things a little easier for everyone. So when you are ready to take the plunge…
CLICK HERE and fill out the Secret Santa Signup Form.
Then post your preferences and other musings here on this thread.
The Long Form and Fine Print
After talking with a few forum members, I’ve decided to request that we limit our gifts to two 50gr. Tins (or the equivalent). Although it’s generally true that More Is Better, gift inflation can be intimidating to other potential Secret Santa participants. If you want to send along some pipe cleaners or other small pipe ephemera, that’s cool, but let’s try to keep it on an even keel.
Registration for this year's Secret Santa will close on Sunday, November 12th. I will send all participants the name and mailing address of their intended target by November 15th. Once you have received the name and address of your giftee, please take a second to look on this thread for any of their pipe-smoking particulars updates and then send your present tout de suite so that it arrives before Christmas.
It's up to you to decide when, where and how to open your present, but I thought that it might be cool to have an UnBoxing Day Event here. So be sure to tune in and chime in on Christmas Day and show us all what you found under the tobacco tree. Either way, if you just can’t wait until Christmas, please be certain to come back here and post some pix of your bounty.
This thread is half the fun of Secret Santa, so be sure to stop by early and often.
FAQ - Answers to Common Questions
Question - Hey
Answer – In past years, the sky was the limit, and some of us felt that things got a little out of hand. So we’re going to try holding it to two tins for this year and see how it goes.
Question - Hey
Answer - Hey, we totally get that life happens and that sometimes the unfortunate unexpected happens, prohibiting us from honouring our commitments. IF THIS HAPPENS PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY.
Question - Hey
Answer - If you do not receive your gift by December 25th LET ME KNOW.
Question - Hey
Answer – Include it in the sign up form, but I'd also use this thread right here to advise folks what your likes and dislikes are. I can't guarantee that they'll be respected, but at least you will have made your desires known.
And, finally, I would be a total putz if I didn’t acknowledge the great Santa’s that came before me: Duncan started this whole thing back in 2011 (I think). Mrgunnar177 picked up the reins after that and Pruss (Pat, who wrote most of this post for last year's Secret Santa) honed it into the fine running machine that is now over the past several years.
Ho, Ho, Ho... Here we go!
-- Santa Dan