Kat (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kindness_says) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
yuletide2024-10-18 05:20 pm
kindness_says) wrote in yuletide2024-10-18 05:20 pm
Entry tags:
Yuleswaps: Frequently Asked Questions [last updated: October 2024]
Want to participate in Yuleswaps? Have questions? We have answers!
General questions
"Yuleswaps" is a blanket term for the completely optional and unofficial Yuletide Candyswap, Yuletide Bookswap, and Yuletide Drinkswap. In these swaps, Yuletide participants from across the world send each other holiday packages in the ACTUAL, NON-ELECTRONIC MAIL. Yuleswaps started in 2009 as just one swap — the Great International Yule Candy Exchange and has since expanded.
Candyswap: primarily for candy, sweets, and snacks, with an emphasis on sharing delicious items you love or which are local to your country/region. Homemade treats can be sent, if mutually agreed upon between sender and recipient. Effort is made to look out for those with food allergies and dietary needs, but if you have allergies or dietary needs, be very clear with your sender, exercise caution, and participate at your own risk. Perishable items must be shipped quickly. Homemade, raw/plant-based, liquid, or unusually-packaged items may not make it through customs in various nations.
Bookswap: primarily for physical books, new or used, ebooks, and audiobooks. Often the least expensive swap, as books can be ordered online and shipped directly, or mailed (domestically, at least) via much-cheaper media mail. Most participants will send two or more less-expensive books. Some participants will send one expensive book. Some prefer an element of surprise, while others prefer to clear titles beforehand.
Drinkswap: primarily for tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Focus on recipient's likes/dislikes, which sometimes include novelty, but not always. Other beverages are permitted, if mutually agreed upon between sender and recipient. We do NOT officially condone sending alcohol, carbonated beverages, or really any beverage in liquid form. Risky and expensive. Same allergy and shipping concerns apply as for candyswap. Also, watch out for customs with teas that seem too plant/seed-y!
For both candyswap and drinkswap, of course online ordering is also viable and often great! But (anecdotally) we find most participants do the traditional thing of running around town buying stuff, putting it in a box, and taking it to the post office. We also find that most participants prefer a variety of items to a huge amount of one item.
For all swaps, a nice enclosed note (or email, either before or after the package arrives) explaining what you've sent is often a nice touch. Holiday cards are allowed but not required -- but always check what your recipient celebrates, if anything, rather than assuming! (More on this below.) It is also nice for recipients to send a thank-you email to their sender after they receive their package.
Each swap works basically like this: you sign up to send candy/drinks/books and provide information preferences/hopes/dreams and approximate geographical location. Swaps!mods hand-match you to an appropriate RECIPIENT (to whom you will physically mail a package) and an appropriate SENDER (who will mail you a package).
In the space of about two weeks: you contact your recipient via email to request their mailing address, inquire about dietary needs, and ask any remaining questions you might have. They respond. You buy them some candy/drinks/books, package it up (if not sending directly from the vendor), and mail the package. You email them to let them know their package is on the way (with a tracking number and expected date of arrival, if possible).
Meanwhile, your sender does the same for you!
You eventually receive your package and promptly email your sender to let them know how much you appreciated it. Your recipient eventually receives their package and promptly lets you know the same. Throughout this process, all three of you keep in constant touch with swaps!mods through a combination of email and Swaps Central — our Google Form where swappers report in at certain checkpoints — so that we know you are on track.
Any polite, responsible, communicative member of the Yuletide community is welcome to sign up for Yuleswaps! To be a member of the Yuletide community, you must intend to sign up for the Yuletide fic exchange if you haven't previously participated.
In recent years, we've typically had about 50 to 100 people per swap. Interested swappers must have:
- email: specifically the ability to check and respond to it AT LEAST every 1 to 2 days, from October through January
- money: enough to both a) purchase the candy/books/drinks and b) send them (and more money if the swapper is sending internationally)
- a mailing address that you are willing to provide to, most likely, a stranger (and possibly a phone number if receiving internationally)
- a certain degree of patience and persistence
- manners (DO NOT complain in public about your sender or recipient)
No, definitely not. You can sign up for one, two, or all three swaps. If you are new (and nervous), maybe start with the one that most interests you and see how it goes. You can always try an additional swap or two next year!
In your email, make sure that yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com is an approved sender. We communicate mostly through email and don’t want to get stuck in your spam folder.
You can also follow updates when sign-ups open and match-ups go out using the tags on Dreamwidth. We have a general "yuleswaps" tag on DW, since we rarely post about separate swaps alone anymore. There are still individual tags: omnomnom" for candyswap, "who likes books" for bookswap, and "nice cuppa" for drinkswap. We strongly encourage swappers to track tags for the swaps they are interested in.
(Go to your DW Account Settings >> Notifications afterward, to make sure all the tags you wanted definitely took!)
No. It is important that you have an AO3 account (because that's the name we'll identify you by) and two working emails. (One can be the email of a reliable friend.) It is important that, when signing up or checking in, you TRIPLE-CHECK both your AO3 name and your email address/es to make sure that there are no typos or extra spaces.
We do post on the Yuletide DW/LJ communities, so it can be helpful to have an account to see news, such as when match-up emails go out. This might alert you that you didn't receive a match-up email.
Thus, we still recommend checking the community every couple of days for possible updates.
We also have a channel on the Yuletide discord where you can ask questions and talk to other swappers.
Sign-up questions
Thank you, dear potential pinch-hitter! You can either sign up through the regular form and specify that you only want to pinch-hit, OR you can email us directly at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com, providing your geographical location and sending abilities (ebooks vs. physical books, capable or incapable of dealing with dietary restrictions, rough timeframe during which you are available, etc.). We'll add you to a list and call on you accordingly!
You can specify on the sign-up form! Or, if it's a very long story, shoot us an email at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com.
If you ARE traveling or otherwise away from communication for more than a day or two but less than a week, please let us know on the sign-up form, and provide your exact dates if at all possible.
If you will be afk for more than a week, please email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com, and, depending on when during the swaps season this period is, we may ask you not to sign up this year
A geographical region that we have chosen to designate based on swaps demographics. This helps make matching more efficient.
Depends.
Typically, if you defaulted in a respectful fashion (told us and/or your recipient in advance of the sending deadline, and didn't just disappear off the face of the earth), we will trust you to sign up again.
We might request that you do a make-up pinch-hit, or ask that you be on call as a pinch-hitter this year in addition to your actual sign-up.
If you did a Very Bad Thing, like defaulting and saying nothing, or your packages in the past have consistently failed to arrive (SUSPICIOUS), or you've been a repeated very late sender or very poor communicator, or sent somebody something they were allergic to, or sent somebody a package that was otherwise obviously insufficient, you might not be permitted to swap again. (If you think this is you, email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com. We are generally open to second chances, but you should check, because if you remember it, we probably remember it, too.)
Swapping questions
The cost of package content and postage depends on your country/region of origin. The suggested minimum value for a package is $20 USD, not including postage. There is no upper limit.
We cannot emphasize enough: INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CAN GET EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, depending on the size and weight of the box you send!!!! If you have never done this and sign up to ship internationally, be prepared for a bit of sticker shock. The average US participant probably spends anywhere from $10 to $25 shipping the package domestically, or $20 to $100+ shipping it internationally.
Also, if you are receiving an international package, you might have to pay a customs fee and/or brokerage fee. These fees vary, but can also be surprisingly expensive.
We find most swappers prioritize the gesture/value uniqueness more than price point: people like gifts that feel "special" or indicate effort. For example, a candy you loved as a kid that their tastes suggest they'd also enjoy, a tea that's local to your area, a book you're pretty sure they don't own but would love. Depending on your recip's comfort level (for instance, with candy that isn't 100% sealed), there might be many ways to add color and joy without driving up the cost too much.
(If you're super struggling with whether a package is too much or too little, email us!)
Most postal services have their fees posted online. Try to research beforehand to figure out what the best shipping rate might be. In general, lighter packages cost less to send. If your recipient agrees, you can remove candy from bulky packaging and reseal it in lighter packaging to reduce weight and cost.
Also, some vendors can ship to your recipient directly, which might cost less.
If you live in the US, we can definitely match you to a domestic recipient. UK participants can often also be domestically matched, though you might have a sender who is also your recipient, or be matched to someone you've sent to/received from in a past year, because there simply aren't as many of you. If you are from any other country, all bets are off. Some years: a million German participants, and just the one lonely Australian! Other years: the opposite.
There is an option on each sign-up form allowing you to OPT OUT if you cannot ship internationally and we are unable to match you domestically, or to ask us to match you to the next-best option if a domestic recipient is not available.
Label your package carefully. You might need to use a full name. There will likely be a customs label to fill out. You might need to include a phone number for your recipient. Try to look up your local regulations before going to your postal office and being potentially turned away.
Sometimes packages get returned to sender, which is a massive pain with international packages.
Yes. They bounce back, or get sent to Spam, or occasionally disappear altogether. This is why we request a back-up email, and why we prefer for participants to have a social media platform where we can reach them, and why we REQUIRE YOU TO CHECK IN WITH US upon receiving your match-up email, and to CONTACT YOUR RECIPIENT PROMPTLY (within 2 days of match-ups). Otherwise, we do not know for sure that you have received your match-up!
In your email, make sure that yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com is an approved sender. We communicate mostly through email and don’t want to get stuck in your spam folder. Also, you can make your senders and recipients approved senders to ensure that you receive their emails.
Your recipient might only be signed up for one swap, and they'll get antsy if they don't hear from you. As soon as possible after you receive each match-up email, check in to Swaps Central and email your recipient.
While we recommend that senders contact their recipients within 48 hours, that isn't a hard deadline. If your sender hasn't sent you an email or replied to an email from you after about four days, check your spam folder, and then email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com to track them down.
Yes. SIGN UP AT YOUR OWN RISK. The vast majority of swaps packages arrive in November or early December, depending how far they have to travel. Some arrive in January. Some occasionally arrive in February. Or April. Or August. Or never.
Typically, we try to make sure everyone gets a package. Sometimes, if the package truly seems lost (or gets returned to sender, as noted above), an enthusiastic sender is determined to resend. Other times, especially when it's not financially feasible for the sender, we assign a pinch-hit. Occasionally, we fail to assign pinch-hits in a timely fashion or the pinch-hit package also gets lost. (Unfortunate but true.) Usually, if you got accidentally screwed the year before, we do take extra care the next year to give you an especially generous, interesting, or reliable sender.
No. Open and enjoy! If you want to wait for ~maximum delight, that's allowed, of course -- it's yours! But please a) PROMPTLY inform and THANK your sender and b) make sure they didn't send anything perishable! If you don't say anything, they will fear that your package got lost (see above) and/or you hated it.
While some swappers have asked about December 24/25 in the past, Yuleswaps is non-denominational! Perhaps you celebrate Christmas, or perhaps you just celebrate "anxiously waiting for the Yuletide collection to open" -- we don't know!
Holiday cards are absolutely NOT REQUIRED. Any festive extras that can be legally mailed are allowed, but we urge you to either a) ask your recipient what they celebrate, if anything, or b) select/write a card that works for any holiday tradition, not just your own. Remember, the ideal swaps package is one your recipient enjoys!
(Note: "Happy Yuletide" or similar is appropriate. We expect most swappers would receive that as a non-religious reference to the Yuletide exchange/gifting season.)
Email us as soon as possible at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com.
We generally grant short-term extensions (e.g. three days), if you inform both us and your recipient via email PRIOR TO MISSING THE CHECK-IN. We do not want to chase you down after the fact. Egregiously late sending or consistently poor communication may result in your being barred from one or more swaps in the future.
You can check the monstrously long old FAQ. Topics on that FAQ include, but are not limited to: food allergies and dietary restrictions, sign-up form submission issues, various specific questions related to individual swaps, what to do if your sender/recipient isn't emailing you, etc.
If something there seems to contradict something here, go with what's stated here, as it is the most recent version of our thoughts.
If you STILL have a burning question, feel free to a) comment on this post so that other people can also see the answer — or b) email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com.
Happy swapping, swappers!
Kat & Livi
General questions
What is "Yuleswaps"?
"Yuleswaps" is a blanket term for the completely optional and unofficial Yuletide Candyswap, Yuletide Bookswap, and Yuletide Drinkswap. In these swaps, Yuletide participants from across the world send each other holiday packages in the ACTUAL, NON-ELECTRONIC MAIL. Yuleswaps started in 2009 as just one swap — the Great International Yule Candy Exchange and has since expanded.
Candyswap: primarily for candy, sweets, and snacks, with an emphasis on sharing delicious items you love or which are local to your country/region. Homemade treats can be sent, if mutually agreed upon between sender and recipient. Effort is made to look out for those with food allergies and dietary needs, but if you have allergies or dietary needs, be very clear with your sender, exercise caution, and participate at your own risk. Perishable items must be shipped quickly. Homemade, raw/plant-based, liquid, or unusually-packaged items may not make it through customs in various nations.
Bookswap: primarily for physical books, new or used, ebooks, and audiobooks. Often the least expensive swap, as books can be ordered online and shipped directly, or mailed (domestically, at least) via much-cheaper media mail. Most participants will send two or more less-expensive books. Some participants will send one expensive book. Some prefer an element of surprise, while others prefer to clear titles beforehand.
Drinkswap: primarily for tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. Focus on recipient's likes/dislikes, which sometimes include novelty, but not always. Other beverages are permitted, if mutually agreed upon between sender and recipient. We do NOT officially condone sending alcohol, carbonated beverages, or really any beverage in liquid form. Risky and expensive. Same allergy and shipping concerns apply as for candyswap. Also, watch out for customs with teas that seem too plant/seed-y!
For both candyswap and drinkswap, of course online ordering is also viable and often great! But (anecdotally) we find most participants do the traditional thing of running around town buying stuff, putting it in a box, and taking it to the post office. We also find that most participants prefer a variety of items to a huge amount of one item.
For all swaps, a nice enclosed note (or email, either before or after the package arrives) explaining what you've sent is often a nice touch. Holiday cards are allowed but not required -- but always check what your recipient celebrates, if anything, rather than assuming! (More on this below.) It is also nice for recipients to send a thank-you email to their sender after they receive their package.
How do the swaps work?
Each swap works basically like this: you sign up to send candy/drinks/books and provide information preferences/hopes/dreams and approximate geographical location. Swaps!mods hand-match you to an appropriate RECIPIENT (to whom you will physically mail a package) and an appropriate SENDER (who will mail you a package).
In the space of about two weeks: you contact your recipient via email to request their mailing address, inquire about dietary needs, and ask any remaining questions you might have. They respond. You buy them some candy/drinks/books, package it up (if not sending directly from the vendor), and mail the package. You email them to let them know their package is on the way (with a tracking number and expected date of arrival, if possible).
Meanwhile, your sender does the same for you!
You eventually receive your package and promptly email your sender to let them know how much you appreciated it. Your recipient eventually receives their package and promptly lets you know the same. Throughout this process, all three of you keep in constant touch with swaps!mods through a combination of email and Swaps Central — our Google Form where swappers report in at certain checkpoints — so that we know you are on track.
Who can sign up for Yuleswaps?
Any polite, responsible, communicative member of the Yuletide community is welcome to sign up for Yuleswaps! To be a member of the Yuletide community, you must intend to sign up for the Yuletide fic exchange if you haven't previously participated.
In recent years, we've typically had about 50 to 100 people per swap. Interested swappers must have:
- email: specifically the ability to check and respond to it AT LEAST every 1 to 2 days, from October through January
- money: enough to both a) purchase the candy/books/drinks and b) send them (and more money if the swapper is sending internationally)
- a mailing address that you are willing to provide to, most likely, a stranger (and possibly a phone number if receiving internationally)
- a certain degree of patience and persistence
- manners (DO NOT complain in public about your sender or recipient)
Do I have to sign up for all three swaps?
No, definitely not. You can sign up for one, two, or all three swaps. If you are new (and nervous), maybe start with the one that most interests you and see how it goes. You can always try an additional swap or two next year!
How do I stay up to date?
In your email, make sure that yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com is an approved sender. We communicate mostly through email and don’t want to get stuck in your spam folder.
You can also follow updates when sign-ups open and match-ups go out using the tags on Dreamwidth. We have a general "yuleswaps" tag on DW, since we rarely post about separate swaps alone anymore. There are still individual tags: omnomnom" for candyswap, "who likes books" for bookswap, and "nice cuppa" for drinkswap. We strongly encourage swappers to track tags for the swaps they are interested in.
(Go to your DW Account Settings >> Notifications afterward, to make sure all the tags you wanted definitely took!)
Is it important that I have a DW/LJ?
No. It is important that you have an AO3 account (because that's the name we'll identify you by) and two working emails. (One can be the email of a reliable friend.) It is important that, when signing up or checking in, you TRIPLE-CHECK both your AO3 name and your email address/es to make sure that there are no typos or extra spaces.
We do post on the Yuletide DW/LJ communities, so it can be helpful to have an account to see news, such as when match-up emails go out. This might alert you that you didn't receive a match-up email.
Thus, we still recommend checking the community every couple of days for possible updates.
We also have a channel on the Yuletide discord where you can ask questions and talk to other swappers.
Sign-up questions
I don't really need more candy/books/drinks at the moment, but I'd love to pinch-hit! Where do I sign up?
Thank you, dear potential pinch-hitter! You can either sign up through the regular form and specify that you only want to pinch-hit, OR you can email us directly at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com, providing your geographical location and sending abilities (ebooks vs. physical books, capable or incapable of dealing with dietary restrictions, rough timeframe during which you are available, etc.). We'll add you to a list and call on you accordingly!
What if I'm traveling mid-swaps season, so I'll be sending from one address, but then probably receiving at another?
You can specify on the sign-up form! Or, if it's a very long story, shoot us an email at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com.
What if I'm traveling mid-swaps season, and I won't be able to respond to emails every 48 hours like you want?
If you ARE traveling or otherwise away from communication for more than a day or two but less than a week, please let us know on the sign-up form, and provide your exact dates if at all possible.
If you will be afk for more than a week, please email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com, and, depending on when during the swaps season this period is, we may ask you not to sign up this year
What is a "Swaps-Geographical Region"?
A geographical region that we have chosen to designate based on swaps demographics. This helps make matching more efficient.
I defaulted on a previous swap. Can I sign up this year?
Depends.
Typically, if you defaulted in a respectful fashion (told us and/or your recipient in advance of the sending deadline, and didn't just disappear off the face of the earth), we will trust you to sign up again.
We might request that you do a make-up pinch-hit, or ask that you be on call as a pinch-hitter this year in addition to your actual sign-up.
If you did a Very Bad Thing, like defaulting and saying nothing, or your packages in the past have consistently failed to arrive (SUSPICIOUS), or you've been a repeated very late sender or very poor communicator, or sent somebody something they were allergic to, or sent somebody a package that was otherwise obviously insufficient, you might not be permitted to swap again. (If you think this is you, email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com. We are generally open to second chances, but you should check, because if you remember it, we probably remember it, too.)
Swapping questions
How much does it cost to send a swaps package?
The cost of package content and postage depends on your country/region of origin. The suggested minimum value for a package is $20 USD, not including postage. There is no upper limit.
We cannot emphasize enough: INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CAN GET EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, depending on the size and weight of the box you send!!!! If you have never done this and sign up to ship internationally, be prepared for a bit of sticker shock. The average US participant probably spends anywhere from $10 to $25 shipping the package domestically, or $20 to $100+ shipping it internationally.
Also, if you are receiving an international package, you might have to pay a customs fee and/or brokerage fee. These fees vary, but can also be surprisingly expensive.
We find most swappers prioritize the gesture/value uniqueness more than price point: people like gifts that feel "special" or indicate effort. For example, a candy you loved as a kid that their tastes suggest they'd also enjoy, a tea that's local to your area, a book you're pretty sure they don't own but would love. Depending on your recip's comfort level (for instance, with candy that isn't 100% sealed), there might be many ways to add color and joy without driving up the cost too much.
(If you're super struggling with whether a package is too much or too little, email us!)
How do I make shipping cost less?
Most postal services have their fees posted online. Try to research beforehand to figure out what the best shipping rate might be. In general, lighter packages cost less to send. If your recipient agrees, you can remove candy from bulky packaging and reseal it in lighter packaging to reduce weight and cost.
Also, some vendors can ship to your recipient directly, which might cost less.
Do I have to ship internationally?
If you live in the US, we can definitely match you to a domestic recipient. UK participants can often also be domestically matched, though you might have a sender who is also your recipient, or be matched to someone you've sent to/received from in a past year, because there simply aren't as many of you. If you are from any other country, all bets are off. Some years: a million German participants, and just the one lonely Australian! Other years: the opposite.
There is an option on each sign-up form allowing you to OPT OUT if you cannot ship internationally and we are unable to match you domestically, or to ask us to match you to the next-best option if a domestic recipient is not available.
How do I ship internationally?
Label your package carefully. You might need to use a full name. There will likely be a customs label to fill out. You might need to include a phone number for your recipient. Try to look up your local regulations before going to your postal office and being potentially turned away.
Sometimes packages get returned to sender, which is a massive pain with international packages.
Do swaps emails really get lost?
Yes. They bounce back, or get sent to Spam, or occasionally disappear altogether. This is why we request a back-up email, and why we prefer for participants to have a social media platform where we can reach them, and why we REQUIRE YOU TO CHECK IN WITH US upon receiving your match-up email, and to CONTACT YOUR RECIPIENT PROMPTLY (within 2 days of match-ups). Otherwise, we do not know for sure that you have received your match-up!
In your email, make sure that yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com is an approved sender. We communicate mostly through email and don’t want to get stuck in your spam folder. Also, you can make your senders and recipients approved senders to ensure that you receive their emails.
I'm signed up for multiple swaps. Can I wait until I have all my match-up emails to contact my recipients?
Your recipient might only be signed up for one swap, and they'll get antsy if they don't hear from you. As soon as possible after you receive each match-up email, check in to Swaps Central and email your recipient.
I haven't heard from my sender yet. What should I do?
While we recommend that senders contact their recipients within 48 hours, that isn't a hard deadline. If your sender hasn't sent you an email or replied to an email from you after about four days, check your spam folder, and then email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com to track them down.
Do swaps packages really get lost?
Yes. SIGN UP AT YOUR OWN RISK. The vast majority of swaps packages arrive in November or early December, depending how far they have to travel. Some arrive in January. Some occasionally arrive in February. Or April. Or August. Or never.
Typically, we try to make sure everyone gets a package. Sometimes, if the package truly seems lost (or gets returned to sender, as noted above), an enthusiastic sender is determined to resend. Other times, especially when it's not financially feasible for the sender, we assign a pinch-hit. Occasionally, we fail to assign pinch-hits in a timely fashion or the pinch-hit package also gets lost. (Unfortunate but true.) Usually, if you got accidentally screwed the year before, we do take extra care the next year to give you an especially generous, interesting, or reliable sender.
My package arrived! Do I have to wait until December 24/25 to open it?
No. Open and enjoy! If you want to wait for ~maximum delight, that's allowed, of course -- it's yours! But please a) PROMPTLY inform and THANK your sender and b) make sure they didn't send anything perishable! If you don't say anything, they will fear that your package got lost (see above) and/or you hated it.
Should I include a holiday card?
While some swappers have asked about December 24/25 in the past, Yuleswaps is non-denominational! Perhaps you celebrate Christmas, or perhaps you just celebrate "anxiously waiting for the Yuletide collection to open" -- we don't know!
Holiday cards are absolutely NOT REQUIRED. Any festive extras that can be legally mailed are allowed, but we urge you to either a) ask your recipient what they celebrate, if anything, or b) select/write a card that works for any holiday tradition, not just your own. Remember, the ideal swaps package is one your recipient enjoys!
(Note: "Happy Yuletide" or similar is appropriate. We expect most swappers would receive that as a non-religious reference to the Yuletide exchange/gifting season.)
I received something inappropriate. What do I do?
Email us as soon as possible at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com.
What if I need an extension?
We generally grant short-term extensions (e.g. three days), if you inform both us and your recipient via email PRIOR TO MISSING THE CHECK-IN. We do not want to chase you down after the fact. Egregiously late sending or consistently poor communication may result in your being barred from one or more swaps in the future.
I have more questions …
You can check the monstrously long old FAQ. Topics on that FAQ include, but are not limited to: food allergies and dietary restrictions, sign-up form submission issues, various specific questions related to individual swaps, what to do if your sender/recipient isn't emailing you, etc.
If something there seems to contradict something here, go with what's stated here, as it is the most recent version of our thoughts.
If you STILL have a burning question, feel free to a) comment on this post so that other people can also see the answer — or b) email us at yuleswaps AT gmail DOT com.
Happy swapping, swappers!
Kat & Livi
no subject
(Anonymous) 2017-10-17 10:17 am (UTC)(link)no subject
Does your current workload and mental state allow you to responsibly participate in swaps? It's different than the brainspace needed for writing, so maybe the answer is yes, but you should give it some thought if you're already in a place where you feel overwhelmed. If yes, then (since you're anon here) shoot us an email, so we know who you are.
no subject
*looks around shiftily, slowly raises hand* That would be me. I've never considered it quite like this.
More like: Who gets three awesome packages once a year filled with books and snacks and drinks? Damn right, that's me!
no subject
ETA: But also, I know a lot of our participants are (and have always been) "real grown-ups," who perhaps have the financial leeway or whatever, since they're also, you know, solvent enough to support children and such things. I was in college when I started modding this and remember boggling slightly at the amount I was spending just purchasing the candy (I get overexcited, lol).
:)
no subject
I've been doing this for as long as the candy swaps have been running and I LOVE IT every year.
no subject
(Anonymous) 2019-10-26 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)(Also, should we be worried if we can't remember our Dreamwidth password?)
--harborshore
no subject
But anyway, I got your email and replied/checked on your signups, so no worries on that at least. :)
Book Swap
(Anonymous) 2024-10-20 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)Re: Book Swap
For 2024, here is the Yuletide Tag Set. If you expand Books & Literature, you can see the nominated books. (There might also be some eligible items in the Manga and Comics & Graphic Novels sections.)