~Pet Talk Gift Swap 2007 - Sign Up/Rules/Concerns~

[Kfamr]

Rules/Concerns

1. You must be an active member for atleast 6 months & over the age of 18. If you are under the age of 18, you may be able to participate as long as Karen receives telephone call from your parents/guardian - for more information on that, please PM me (Kfamr.)
   
2. If you have been late or irresponsible with previous swaps, you may not participate. If you think this may include you, please PM either myself or wolf_Q. If you fail to send a package then you will not be allowed to participate in any further swaps held by Amy & I.
   
3. Do NOT sign up unless you FULLY plan to send the items, no matter what person you receive.
   Also, please be aware of the costs included in buying the gifts and also mailing them, possibly to another country.
   
4. The minimum cost for gifts is $20. There is no maximum amount.
   The swap is intended for the pets and small gifts for the humans are well-appreciated. You do not have to buy an idividual gift for each pet. Certain pets can share gifts (Dogs with dogs, cats with cats...etc..) but please try and get atleast 1 gift for each type of pet listed in their questionnaire.
   
5. We also ask that you agree to insure or atleast send your gift by something other than regular mail service. Something with the option to track the package is desired. This way nothing gets lost while being sent to your reciever. If you choose not to do so, you must take full responsibility to send your receiver another package if in the case it gets lost.
   
6. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP if you plan to move/change addresses within the timeframe of the swap. If you are unsure of your current residence do not sign up. There will be future swaps.
   
7. DEADLINES:
   The deadline to sign up is Friday, February 9th, 2007.
   The deadline to send your package is Saturday, June 9th, 2007
   You MUST send your package in time of the deadline.
   Please do not sign up if you cannot afford, want take the time, have no motivation to send, or do not agree with our rules and requirements.
   

***PLEASE be understanding when it comes to these concerns. We have had circumstances where people have been irresponsible and others ended up not receiving gifts. We try our hardest to prevent that but we can't physically make someone send gifts. If you believe someone may be unreliable, please state that you do no want to swap with them in the questionnaire.***


Email your fully answered questionnaire to : [email protected]
The DEADLINE to fill out the questionnaire is : Friday, February 9th, 2007

PLEASE make your e-mail's subject your PT Member name.

------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Your full mailing Address (Include First & Last name):

2. Email address and Pet Talk ID:

3. Number of pets:

4. Pets names, ages, breeds:

5. What are your pets favorite types of toys, treats, etc. ?

6. Does your pet ever wear clothing (sweaters, bandanas, etc.)? If so, please list what sizes.

7. Is there anything you have really been meaning to get your pet(s)?

8. Is there any type of toy/treat your pet really does not like or you prefer not to give to them?

9. What are your hobbies, collections, favorite colors, etc?

10. If you were to receive a shirt, what size would you need?

11. Is there anything else about yourself or pets you'd like to add?

Questions to help Amy & I swap names...


1. Do you mind sending your gift to another country?

2. Please let us know, if at all, who you've previously swapped with if you'd rather not send to them again.

3. Do you have any preferences as to what kind of pets you send to? Please specify here. We will try our best to fit what is desired, but no guarantees.

4. If you have any specific requests or questions please address them here.

********************************




I will post who we have received so far here: (35)
Catmandu
Karen
Kfamr
Cathy Bogart
K9Karen
Blue_Frog
petslover
luvofallhorses
shylanhal
binka_nugget
manda_moo87
Husky_mom
Wenisrubber
Lvpets2002
kt_luvs_kitties
Critter Crazy
pitc9
Kater
Dr Goodnow
ramanth
Pembroke_Corgi
dukedogsmom
wolf_Q
Fur&Feathers
Kimboe
lv4dogs
Maya & Inka's Mommy
Catty1
Jods
beeniesmom
king2005
.sarah
captain
gemini9961
Doolittleky

[Karen]

I sent mine!

[slick]

The minimum cost for gifts is $20. There is no maximum amount.

I have a real concern with this one. Both myself and Max would love to participate and we would be happy to receive $5 trinket so why does cost have to come into play?

[Karen]

I have a real concern with this one. Both myself and Max would love to participate and we would be happy to receive $5 trinket so why does cost have to come into play?

Just so someone doesn't end up feeling "cheated." It's not usually an issue, but people have requested a guideline in the past, so $20 it is - no one checks for receipts to make sure you didn't "only spend" $17 or anything ...

[jenluckenbach]

Quote:
The minimum cost for gifts is $20. There is no maximum amount.

I have a real concern with this one. Both myself and Max would love to participate and we would be happy to receive $5 trinket so why does cost have to come into play?

I agree. (and I apologize for starting this thread off in this manner) but I think a $5 minimum and a $25 MAXIMUM would make more sense. During the one swap I participated in (where there was a $20 maximum) some people went WAY overboard on spending and made those of us who honored the maximum feel embarrassed.

Just something to consider.

[Kfamr]

Just so someone doesn't end up feeling "cheated." It's not usually an issue, but people have requested a guideline in the past, so $20 it is - no one checks for receipts to make sure you didn't "only spend" $17 or anything ...

Exactly what Karen said. Seems like when we do these swap sometimes it's a damned if you do, damned if you don't sort of situation. People always end up finding things that don't agree with.

The limit has been in swap for years past, I don't see a reason to change it. I think a $20 minimum on gifts is just fine.

[wolf_Q]

Maybe you two feel that way, but most people would be a little upset if they spent $20 on somebody and received a $5 gift in return. If a person has several pets I don't even see how it is possible to buy gifts that all of the pets can share with $5. This has never been a problem before, and we've done many swaps.

If you feel like a $5 gift is enough for you then you can state that in your questionnaire.

[Karen]

During the one swap I participated in (where there was a $20 maximum) some people went WAY overboard on spending and made those of us who honored the maximum feel embarrassed.

No need to feel embarrassed - I may be one of those people someone thinks "went overboard," but honestly, I have gotten in the habit of picking things up when stores are going out of business, or having "closeout" sales, and then using them for gift swaps as appropriate. I have several items currently stashed away that I couldn't even tell you how much I paid for them, but it's assuredly not nearly what anyone would think they'd have cost me ...

And if you ever feel 'over-blessed" by what you receive in a Gift Swap, you can always share with other needy critters, right?

[slick]

See, that's my problem with all of this. Too many people put too much emphasis on $$$$$ on the gift rather than the thought behind the gift. "Well I spent $50 worth and only got $20 worth of gifts back."

disclaimer: I'm not quoting anyone above. This is just my opinion so I will now opt out, shut up and sign off.

[wolf_Q]

For the record, no person that I can remember has ever complained that they did not receive gifts that cost a certain amount of money. Nobody checks receipts or keeps track of what is spent.

We've decided that $20 is a good amount because some people have many pets, etc., and until now, no one has had a problem with that. We're just trying to make things equal for everyone....but no matter what we do somebody is upset.

[jenluckenbach]

We've decided that $20 is a good amount because some people have many pets, etc., and until now, no one has had a problem with that. We're just trying to make things equal for everyone....but no matter what we do somebody is upset.

No! Not upset. I just think saying $20 MINIMUM seems, pushy or greedy, especially when you state NO maximum.

I know you can't please everyone. And I will gladly delete all my posts to prevent fights.

[wolf_Q]

No! Not upset. I just think saying $20 MINIMUM seems, pushy or greedy, especially when you state NO maximum.

I know you can't please everyone. And I will gladly delete all my posts to prevent fights.

No need to delete posts, we're not fighting. Yes it does say no maximum but everyone has always spent pretty close to $20, not some huge amount. We give people until June to send it, so its not like the gifts have to be all bought at once.

[Kfamr]

Either way, the rules have been set. You either sign up or you don't.

[dukedogsmom]

I don't think that's an unreasonable amount at all. And besides, look how long we've got to get the gifts. You could wait until June 1st to send them and that would have given plenty of time to save a few bucks a month.

[Zippy]

It is very kind that Kay and Amy set up a gift swap they are taking there own time to do this.Thanks for setting the swap up. Let's all be thankful we have 2 people who are willing to set up one.