yuletide | Entries tagged with who likes books

Here we go. ~~Please watch this post! We will update here as each batch goes out:~~

Candy? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 5:07 PM PDT on Saturday, October 19th, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Drinks? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 12:42 AM PDT on Monday, October 21st, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Books? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 5:01 PM PDT on Friday, October 18th, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

( INSTRUCTIONS & REMINDERS )

SENDING DEADLINE: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Extensions/Defaulting: Pre-research your post office/courier service hours, and plan to send as early as you can! BUT if your best-laid plans fail, and you need an extension -- we get it! Please bypass the shame spiral and email us ASAP. We want to know what's going on but rarely hesitate to grant brief extensions, especially to historically reliable swappers.

And, of course, if you need to default for any reason, the above is doubly true!! Life happens, but if you let us know as soon as it does, we can help out your recipient AND probably have you back next year with minimal anxiety.

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a safe, merry Swapstide to all!

Current FAQ (recently improved by Livi!) and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always.

Kat & Livi (& maybe an additional team member soon! stay tuned)

Current Mood: hectic

kindness_says

Hello! Look at us, opening ever earlier! Our hope/delusion is that this will give us and you some buffer when emails and packages go astray.

But first... This is my fifteenth (!!) year running swaps, and my life has changed a lot since 2010. Livi and I are interested in hearing from anyone who might want to help (are you good at swiftly and patiently answering emails??) and/or take over, should we decide to stop running swaps in the near future.

Don't get us wrong, we love you! We want to continue! But life. So we shall see. :)

( 2024 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Check out the current FAQ. ~~(Livi may soon post a new, easier-to-read one! If so, we will update this post accordingly!)~~ Recently cleaned up by Livi! If that doesn't help, feel free to comment here or email us at yuleswaps at gmail dot com!

Kat (

kindness_says) & Livi (

anialove)

Current Mood: hungry
Current Location: beds & desks & bed-desks

kindness_says

'TIS THE DAMN SEASON... for things to fall apart in our homes, lol. But nonetheless~~, candyswap match-ups are imminent! Drinkswap will follow 24+ hours later, then books 24+ hours after that (our lives permitting). Please watch this post! We will update here as each batch goes out~~:

Candy? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 5:08 PM PDT on Sunday, October 22nd, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Drinks? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 5:09 PM PDT on Monday, October 23rd, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Books? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 5:10 PM PDT on Tuesday, October 24th, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

( INSTRUCTIONS & REMINDERS )

SENDING DEADLINE: Saturday, November 18, 2023

Extensions/Defaulting: Pre-research your post office/courier service hours, and plan to send as early as you can! BUT if your best-laid plans fail, and you need an extension -- we get it! Please bypass the shame spiral and email us ASAP. We want to know what's going on but rarely hesitate to grant brief extensions, especially to historically reliable swappers.

And, of course, if you need to default for any reason, the above is doubly true!! Life happens, but if you let us know as soon as it does, we can help out your recipient AND probably have you back next year with minimal anxiety.

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a safe, merry Swapstide to all!

Current FAQ and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always.

Kat & Livi

Current Mood: tired
Current Location: spreadsheet city

kindness_says

Hello! Another year, another assortment of life circumstances that prevent our being the ideal swaps mods. But here we are, starting early to accommodate October busyness, and I would like to publicly thank Livi for advising me to be lazy when I was like, "By strange coincidence we have a second TSwift-themed year! Should I keep or get rid of these '22' lyrics? Should I choose new ones?" She is wise.

ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR A 2024 THEME???? (A reference to the number "24," a phrase or idea playing on "swap," and/or something topical if you happen to be clairvoyant.) Our future selves would be very grateful!

( 2023 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Check out the FAQ. If that doesn't help, feel free to comment either here or there, or email us at yuleswaps at gmail dot com!

Kat (

kindness_says) & Livi (

anialove)

Current Mood: busy
Current Location: covid prison

kindness_says

IT FEELS LIKE A PERFECT NIGHT... [TO BE SENDING MATCH-UPS!]

~~Candyswap match-ups are imminent! Drinkswap will follow 24-36 hours later, then bookswap 24-36 hours after that. Watch this post! We will update here as each batch goes out:~~

Candy? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 12:20 AM PDT on Tuesday, November 1st, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Drinks? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 12:25 AM PDT on Wednesday, November 2nd, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Books? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 12:30 AM PDT on Thursday, November 3rd, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

( INSTRUCTIONS & REMINDERS )

SENDING DEADLINE: Saturday, November 19, 2022

Extensions/Defaulting: Pre-research your post office/courier service hours, and plan to send as early as you can! BUT if your best-laid plans fail, and you need an extension -- we get it! Bypass the shame spiral and email us ASAP. We want to know what's going on but rarely hesitate to grant brief extensions, especially to historically reliable swappers.

And, of course, if you need to default for any reason, the above is doubly true!! Life happens, but if you let us know as soon as it does, we can help out your recipient AND probably have you back next year with minimal anxiety.

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a safe, merry Swapstide to all!

Current FAQ and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always.

Kat & Livi

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Location: success mountain

kindness_says

It's miserable and magical, oh yeah... Tonight's the night [to not forget to open Yuleswaps]!

Sorry, swappers. We did not forget about you! We had a plan! The large appliances in my home are just not cooperating! But here we are -- it's 2022, and postal services work again! (As well as they ever did, anyway.) Hopefully this year we will spend less time on various countries' postal websites!

1) Please give us a heads up if you know your country can't ship somewhere that isn't noted on this list, which has been so useful to us the past few years! (Thank you to whoever shared it with us two years ago.) For instance, last year if you lived in the US, you could technically mail to Australia, but the USPS had suspended service, so any swappers would've had to use a more expensive courier service. (We know many of you do this anyway, but if we can avoid forcing that on you when matching, we try.)

2) Please commit to checking in on time! This means on Swaps Central by the end of the last sending day (this year it's Saturday, November 19th).

We will email-remind you of this deadline a few days before and again shortly after it's passed! We do track late check-ins and will ban participants who are persistently difficult to communicate with.

(Related: if "email back tomorrow" is super hard for you right now, BOY DO WE FEEL YOU -- but maybe swaps is not for you this year. That's okay! We still like you! We'll see you next year!)

All right, enough of that.

( 2022 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Check out the FAQ. If that doesn't help, feel free to comment either here or there, or email us at yuleswaps at gmail dot com!

Kat (

kindness_says) & Livi (

anialove)

Current Mood: rushed
Current Location: late for a wedding brunch

kindness_says

Hey swappers -- we apologize for the delay! We are a day or two behind schedule due to various RL interruptions and distractions, but...watch this space! Yuleswaps 2021 match-up emails are coming over the next three(?) days. This post will be updated as each batch goes out:

Candy? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 2:33 PM PDT on Thursday 11/4, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Drinks? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 4:09 PM PDT on Friday 11/5, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Books? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 6:50 PM PDT on Saturday 11/6, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

( INSTRUCTIONS & REMINDERS )

SENDING DEADLINE: Saturday, November 20, 2021

Extensions/Defaulting: As always...get your packages out as early as you can! Holiday post is slow always and we expect will be extra slow (again) this year. However, should you need an extension for any reason, please email us as soon as you realize it is a possibility AND INCLUDE A REQUESTED TIMEFRAME. We almost always grant small extensions, especially to historically reliable swappers, without feeling like a pinch-hitter is needed.

And, of course, if you need to default for any reason, please, please email us. Communication is everything! Life happens! Just let us know. (It's silently disappearing that will get you banned.)

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a safe, merry Swapstide to all!

Current FAQ and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always.

Kat & Livi

Current Mood: hectic

kindness_says

HELLO, ALL. Here we are again, the Yuleswaps season upon us!

We are (okay, I am) a little behind schedule this year, so putting off the dregs of 2020 follow-up emails in favor of getting sign-ups open ASAP. (If you are a 2020 swapper with a swap that never got fully resolved, you will probably hear from us soon as we try to close all those cases. :))

Caveats from the 2020 swaps season, updated:

1) International mailing: most countries have resumed shipping to most places! That said, it never hurts to double-check your country's postal restrictions. (New Zealanders, you still can't ship to Hungary, for instance.) We are keeping an eye on unofficial lists like this one, but it never hurts to warn us or, after you receive your match-up, check official sources and hit us up ASAP if we've made a mistake!

ETA 10/17: Oof, okay, plumeria47 has helpfully informed us that the USPS is currently suspending shipping between the US and several countries, including Australia and New Zealand! A great example of something we'll try to keep in mind while matching...but please check our work, as circumstances (clearly) continue to evolve!

2) Postal delays: we always expect delays due to holidays, and then last year was...you know. This year the situation seems somewhat improved, but we continue to urge caution around homemade/perishable goods. That USPS "2-day delivery" guarantee is NOT back in consistent operation, and other shipping services may be faster, but they're also generally expensive. So use your judgment about travel time, weather, etc.

3) Checking in ON TIME: in the interest of getting all packages and pinch-hits out efficiently, all swappers MUST check in on Swaps Central by the end of the last sending day (this year that's Saturday, November 20th), unless they have requested an extension.

Please note, we generally grant small extensions without penalty (we know people are busy, and our sending period is short), so we strongly encourage you to ask rather than risk being late. If you are very tardy and/or difficult to communicate with, you may be barred from one or more swaps in the future.

( 2021 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Comments? First check out the FAQ, and then, if that doesn't sort you, feel free to comment either here or there, or email us at yuleswaps at gmail dot com!

Kat (

kindness_says) & Livi (

anialove)

Current Mood: busy

kindness_says

~~Watch this space! Yuleswaps 2020 match-up emails are coming over the next few days (mostly due to mail merge limits)! This post will be updated as each batch goes out:~~

Books? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 7:52 PM PDT on Saturday 10/24, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Candy? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 8:42 PM PDT on Monday 10/26, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Drinks? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 10:39 AM PDT on Wednesday 10/28, from the yuleswaps email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

( INSTRUCTIONS & REMINDERS )

SENDING DEADLINE: Saturday, November 14, 2020

Extensions/Defaulting: As always...get your packages out as early as you can! Holiday post is slow always and will likely be extra slow this year. However, should you need an extension for any reason, please email us as soon as you realize it is a possibility AND INCLUDE A REQUESTED TIMEFRAME. We almost always grant small extensions, especially to historically reliable swappers, without feeling like a pinch-hitter is needed.

And, of course, if you need to default for any reason, please, please email us. Communication is everything! Life happens! Just let us know. (It's silently disappearing that will get you banned.)

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a [reasonably] merry Swapstide to you all.

Current FAQ and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always.

Kat & Livi

Current Mood: busy

kindness_says

Here we go! Swaps in the time of COVID. How are you all doing?

We are expecting a fairly normal swaps season, with a few caveats:

1) International mailing: if you like to swap internationally, that's great! But a lot of countries are not currently shipping to certain locations. So, if you are not in the US or UK, it may be wise to double-check your country's postal restrictions and remind us if, for example, you are in Norway and therefore cannot mail to Australia this year. (We are also looking these things up, but we are fallible!)

2) Postal delays: we always expect delays due to holidays, but we expect them extra in 2020. Therefore we advise against shipping anything that could go stale (e.g. homemade baked goods) this year.

3) Checking in ON TIME: in the interest of getting all packages and pinch-hits out efficiently, all swappers MUST check in on Swaps Central by the end of the last sending day (this year that's Saturday, November 14), unless they have requested an extension.

Please note, we generally grant small extensions without penalty (we know people are busy, and our sending period is short), so we strongly encourage you to ask rather than risk being late. If you are very tardy and/or difficult to communicate with, you may be barred from one or more swaps in the future.

( 2020 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Comments? First check out the FAQ, and then, if that doesn't sort you, feel free to comment either here or there, or email us at yuleswaps at gmail dot com!

Kat (

kindness_says) & Livi (

anialove)

Current Mood: productive

kindness_says

Watch this space! Yuleswaps 2019 match-up emails are coming soon! Though not as soon as I had hoped. (Isn't that always the way?) Thank you for your patience. This post will be updated as each batch goes out: Match-ups! Match-ups! Match-ups!

Candy? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 9:32 PM PDT (Monday 11/4) from my personal email (but replies will go to yuleswaps, as always). Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Books? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 6:36 AM PDT (Wednesday 11/6) from my personal email, for some reason; this add-on haets me yyyyyy. :(

Drinks? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 6:57 PM PDT (Thursday 11/7) from the yuleswaps email, and we apologize for the delay!

( INSTRUCTIONS & REMINDERS )

SENDING DEADLINE: Monday, November 18, 2019

Extensions/Defaulting: As always...get your packages out as early as you can! Holiday post is slow, people start going on vacation, etc. However, should you need an extension for any reason, please email us as soon as you realize it is a possibility AND INCLUDE A REQUESTED TIMEFRAME. We almost always grant small extensions, especially to historically reliable swappers, without feeling like a pinch-hitter is needed.

And, of course, if you need to default for any reason, please, please email us. Communication is everything! Life happens! Just let us know. (It's silent!defaulting that gets you banned.)

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a very merry Swapstide to you all.

New FAQ and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always.

Kat & Livi

Current Mood: hectic! but fun!

kindness_says

Hey, swaps and swappens! Apologies for the delay; I have been sick/traveling/procrastinating. BUT IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE, IT'S TIME, IT'S HERE -- Yuleswaps sign-ups have arrived! Don't be like me and put it off; you only have until Sunday or Monday, depending on your time zone.

If you are new to swaps, or to Yuletide, and curious: FAQ here. If you are old to swaps, read on!

( 2019 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Comments? First check out the FAQ, and then, if that doesn’t sort you, feel free to comment either here or there, or email us at yuleswaps at gmail!

(Us = me and

anialove. Who came up with this year's theme, by the way. Isn't she amazing? TELL HER SHE'S AMAZING.)

Current Mood: chipper

kindness_says

~~Matching and spreadsheet-building continue apace! Emails to come as quickly as our lives/Google email quotas allow! This post will be updated periodically with the status of each swap.~~ Comment frolicking is also welcome, as always.

Candy? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 1:54 PM PDT (Sunday 10/28) from a combo of yuleswaps and my personal email (#quotalyfe). Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Drinks? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 9:14 PM PDT (Monday 10/29) from my personal email. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

Books? ALL MATCH-UPS SENT as of 9:28 PM PDT (Monday 10/29) from yuleswaps. Comment here with your AO3 name if yours didn't come!

( INSTRUCTIONS & REMINDERS )

SENDING DEADLINE: ~~Monday, November 12, 2018~~ Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Extensions/Defaulting: As always...get your packages out as early as you can! Holiday post is slow, people start going on vacation, etc. However, should you need an extension for any reason, please email us as soon as you realize it is a possibility AND INCLUDE A REQUESTED TIMEFRAME. We typically grant small extensions, especially to historically reliable swappers, without feeling like a pinch-hitter is needed.

And, of course, if you need to default for any reason, please, please email us. Communication is everything! Life happens! Just let us know. (It's silent!defaulting that gets you banned.)

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a very merry Swapstide to you all.

New FAQ and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always.

Kat & Livi

Current Mood: whee!

kindness_says

If you are new to swaps, or to Yuletide, and curious: FAQ here. If you are old to swaps, read on!

( 2018 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Comments? First check out the FAQ, and then, if that doesn’t sort you, feel free to comment either here or there, or email us at yuleswaps at gmail!

(Us = me and

anialove, who has very kindly agreed to help again.)

Current Mood: hopeful

kindness_says

( Apologies, updates, instructions, reminders. )

UPDATED SENDING DEADLINE: Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Extensions/Defaulting: We STRONGLY URGE people to get their packages out as early as possible this year, because we're running a little late, and for all the usual reasons -- holiday post is slow, vacations start encroaching, etc. -- but, should you need a small extension, do email us as soon as you realize it is a possibility. We typically grant small extensions, especially to otherwise reliable swappers, without feeling like a pinch-hitter needs to be called in.

And, of course, if you need to default FOR ANY REASON, please, please email us. Communication is everything. Life happens. Just let us know.

One More Time: don't forget to check in at Swaps Central! And a very merry Swapstide to you all.

New FAQ and very old resources post here, for anyone who needs them. Questions and comments here or via email, as always. Will also put up an LJ post, when I get a sec.

Kat! (and sleeps! Katsleeps! sleepsKat!)

Current Mood: slightly bears-y

kindness_says

Hello, sweet swappers! As promised, SWAPS ARE HERE. SWAPS ARE SWAPPENING.

If you are new to swaps, or to Yuletide, and curious about what the heck I'm talking about, our brand-new 2017 FAQ is here! If you are old to swaps, read on!

( 2017 SCHEDULE! REMINDERS! SIGN-UPS! )

Questions? Comments? First check out the FAQ, and then, if that doesn’t sort you, feel free to comment either here or there, or email us at yuleswaps at gmail!

<3 K

Current Mood: swappy!

kindness_says

Want to participate in Yuleswaps? Have questions? We have answers!

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

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kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2024: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!
kindness_says - 2024: Dance of the Swaps Fairies || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN!
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2023: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!
kindness_says - 2023: The Swaps Eras Tour || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN!
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2022: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!
kindness_says - Swapping '22 (Yuletide Version) || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2021: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT! FINALLY!
kindness_says - Swaps Forever '21 || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2020: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!
kindness_says - 2020: Swap & Sound || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2019: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT! FINALLY! I'M SORRY!
kindness_says - 2019: Swap! Goes My Heart || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2018: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!
kindness_says - 2018: Swap! in the Name of Yuletide || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2017: ALL MATCH-UP EMAILS SENT FOR ALL SWAPS!!!!
kindness_says - Yuleswaps 2017: SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN. Stop, Drop, and Swap!
kindness_says - Yuleswaps: Frequently Asked Questions [last updated: October 2024]

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Yuletide unofficial chat

Entries tagged with who likes books

Yuleswaps 2024: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!

2024: Dance of the Swaps Fairies || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN!

Yuleswaps 2023: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!

2023: The Swaps Eras Tour || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN!

Yuleswaps 2022: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!

Swapping '22 (Yuletide Version) || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.

Yuleswaps 2021: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT! FINALLY!

Swaps Forever '21 || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.

Yuleswaps 2020: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!

2020: Swap & Sound || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.

Yuleswaps 2019: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT! FINALLY! I'M SORRY!

2019: Swap! Goes My Heart || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.

Yuleswaps 2018: ALL MATCH-UPS SENT!

2018: Swap! in the Name of Yuletide || SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN.

Yuleswaps 2017: ALL MATCH-UP EMAILS SENT FOR ALL SWAPS!!!!

Yuleswaps 2017: SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN. Stop, Drop, and Swap!

Yuleswaps: Frequently Asked Questions [last updated: October 2024]

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