The (Un)Official Secret Santa 2017 Thread!

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Drucquers Banner

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Status
Not open for further replies.

woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
11,568
15,211
SE PA USA
Welcome to the 2017 Edition of the (Un)Official Secret Santa Extravaganza!



2v2uDgNN2x3L6Bn.jpg
Yes, it’s that time once again: Stale fruitcake, wayward elves, drunken relatives, family fights and Secret Santa 2017! The event you’ve slowly come to regard as mostly enjoyable over lo, these many years!
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 Pat Dan! So two tins is the recommended size of the present. Can I send more than that?

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 Pat Dan! Something unexpected/bad/sad/financially-debilitating just happened and I can't honour my commitment to send out my present to my giftee. What should I do?

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 Pat Dan! It's Christmas Day (December 25th) and I have not received my present from my Secret Santa. What should I do?

Answer - If you do not receive your gift by December 25th LET ME KNOW.
Question - Hey Pat Dan! I don't like (enter tobacco product name here). How do I let my Secret Santa know what my likes and dislikes are?

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

 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
19,621
44,832
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
Ho Ho Ho! Let the gifting begin! Dan, thanks for taking this on.
Too bad about the limit though. There goes my plan to send 6lbs of Stonehaven and Penzance...and I'll put away those highboys of Balkan Sobranie and the cutter tops of Bell's Three Nuns.

 

prairiedruid

Lifer
Jun 30, 2015
1,998
1,116
I don't think my post office will allow an orgy even if tobacco is involved; maybe the library would work.

 

bluegrassbrian

Your Mom's Favorite Pipe Smoker
Aug 27, 2016
5,971
51,331
41
Louisville
I'm in there like swimwear.
I put my preferences on the form, but for the record I smoke 80% straight Virginia's. The others are Vapers and Va/dark fired blends.

If you have '92 Xmas Cheer I'll accept 1 tin. 8)

 

jndyer

Lifer
Jul 1, 2012
1,020
725
Central Oregon
I am excited to be a part of this this year.
Also, merry Christmas and happy New Year (I thought I would just get that out there before the big box stores.)

 

addamsruspipe

Part of the Furniture Now
Dec 4, 2016
790
5,364
55
Albuquerque, NM
HO, HO, HO, sounds like it should be a lot of fun. The ironic thing is about 8 months ago my kids asked me to grow my beard long and now I've had multiple people tell me I've got the santa look going on. Put my name for it. I will smoke any kind of tobacco.

 
Status
Not open for further replies.