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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 14, 2017 22:56:31 GMT
Hey folks, we're gearing up to start the New Years giveaway and we wanted to address a couple of things.
The official giveaway will begin on Dec. 1st and run until midnight Dec. 31st, Pacific Standard Time. This is a pre-announcement to give folks time to get ready.
We often get offers and donations from forum members as well as M&V. We greatly appreciate this, and will be accepting if you so choose to do so. Please contact me if you would like to, as well as your preferences for shipping to winners.
I've been kicking around an idea for a gift exchange. I have not been able to iron out all the issues it would entail, so I figured I'd present some of them to you guys for input and to gauge interest.
1. Is there any interest in something like this?
2. How would you propose to address relative value discrepancies? Wouldn't do to have one party send out a $300 sword and get a $10 pocketknife in return, especially if that possibility isn't mentioned. Should we institute a cost cap? Insist that only gently used items be sent?
3. Shipping. It costs about $7 to mail a pocketknife with insurance and tracking in the CONUS. It can cost significantly more to send a sword, and if sending internationally it can cost even more and there is the issue of whether it will be accepted by customs or not. Do we ask that the winners pay shipping, or that senders cover their own?
4. Lastly, there is the question of responsibility should something go wrong. You send your stuff, but the other person either does not or it gets held up/lost in transit. The forum would not be able to compensate the afflicted party.
Those are some of the issues I've been able to think of off the bat. I'd appreciate it if forum members would lend me their opinions, both for or against it outright or on the specific issues detailed. Thoughts on additional issues would also be very welcome.
Thanks folks.
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Post by Croccifixio on Nov 15, 2017 4:23:10 GMT
Gift exchange is a little hard for us international members who would want to participate because of shipping expenses. One option would be to share total shipping costs between the exchange partners.
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,647
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Post by stormmaster on Nov 15, 2017 5:42:22 GMT
gift exchange sounds interesting, best thing to do is to set price cap so that everyone gets something of similar value and maybe set up categories of types of items if enough people join in, as for shipping i think it should be handled by the winner unless the person donating the item saids otherwise, i know i would like to donate something but international shipping would be pretty costly if the winner turns out to be outside conus
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Post by demonskull on Nov 18, 2017 13:53:35 GMT
My take on the original post was that the contest and the possible gift exchange were two separate things.
If so, I'd expect the contest to be handled similarly to last year.
Regarding the possible Gift Exchange shipping issue: How about setting up a gift Exchange by region. It could be set up as those in the US, those in Europe, those in the Far East etc. I might also suggest a category/region of those areas that prohibit sales or shipping of swords or bladed weapons. The prohibited shipping category could exchange electronic gift certificates to different suppliers. The Gift Certificate exchange could also be done in any other category where shipping costs would be prohibitive but should be discouraged in favor of a physical gift.
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,647
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Post by stormmaster on Nov 19, 2017 2:06:40 GMT
i like this idea, i have sword, but i no want to send sword to Australia because shipping is $250 which is more expensive then sword
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Post by Jordan Williams on Nov 19, 2017 6:49:26 GMT
I think it sounds fun but share the same concern with international shipping. I think a price bracket you could sign up for would be cool, but might alienate people who make swords/knives.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Nov 28, 2017 22:16:36 GMT
Few days left until the giveaway opens for business. We've had a few folks come forward with donations, and we're very grateful. Most likely we are going to pass on the gift exchange this year. Hopefully we will be able to work out the logistics to a satisfactory degree by next time.
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Dec 6, 2017 18:12:07 GMT
I think that's probably for the best...for the time being. Get it all figured out first, then do it for Christmas 2018. Thanks, Adrian. I believe it will wind up being a 'family tradition' here. ......Chris
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 6, 2017 18:35:21 GMT
I sure hope so. If it wasn't for William I probably never would have realized how awesome Euro swords are and that would be a shame. I hope we can figure something out so that we can potentially get unfamiliar things into new hands and open eyes on all sides.
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Post by Verity on Dec 6, 2017 18:39:32 GMT
What about instead of a “gift exchange” we do more of a “secret Santa”...
Equivalent value is always tricky... on one hand you don’t want inequity but at the same time... if a “Santa” is feeling particular generous, why can’t they send some unsuspecting victim an Atrim or a Nihonto? Lol.
Such a double-sided coin.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 6, 2017 18:49:51 GMT
It would be awesome, and I don't think that there's anything saying that you couldn't do that, but we wouldn't be able to help or take responsibility if anyone tried it and it went south. That's what I'm worried about. It's my responsibility to take care of the forum, and I consider the members the most important part of the forum. Hopefully my pea brain will catch up to my ambitions and I can figure out a fun and safe way to get this done, hahaha.
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Post by Verity on Dec 6, 2017 19:03:27 GMT
It would be awesome, and I don't think that there's anything saying that you couldn't do that, but we wouldn't be able to help or take responsibility if anyone tried it and it went south. That's what I'm worried about. It's my responsibility to take care of the forum, and I consider the members the most important part of the forum. Hopefully my pea brain will catch up to my ambitions and I can figure out a fun and safe way to get this done, hahaha. What about having participants send you a liability waiver holding SBG harmless?
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 6, 2017 19:49:54 GMT
Something like that may be done if/when we do it. I've been kicking around a few ideas, and I'll likely list them at some point to get forum feedback, as you're the people who would be taking part. A few solid rules, a couple of disclaimers, maybe relative value tiers. Some stuff that keeps forum liability manageable but also protects the participants. When I get it somewhat ironed out I'll send it upstairs to the bigwigs for review and final yes/no-ing.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 6, 2017 19:52:51 GMT
Also, a secret Santa thing between forumites wouldn't really wouldn't need our intervention. A member could pick another member and just give them something out of sheer Holiday cheer, and since it's voluntary and no goods are being exchanged then worrying about getting ripped-off wouldn't be an issue. So giving is one thing, exchanging is another.
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Post by Verity on Dec 6, 2017 19:57:06 GMT
Also, a secret Santa thing between forumites wouldn't really wouldn't need our intervention. A member could pick another member and just give them something out of sheer Holiday cheer, and since it's voluntary and no goods are being exchanged then worrying about getting ripped-off wouldn't be an issue. So giving is one thing, exchanging is another. Except for secret Santa you need a third party to handle information exchange. Unless the giver already knows the recipient’s personal info for shipping. 😜 Sort of ruins the “secret” part if you ask a member for their shipping address out of the blue. Lol
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 6, 2017 20:05:38 GMT
I was thinking about that too. Can you believe I actually though I had an okay plan set out when I made the first announcement about this? I was just lecturing my nephew on being responsible and planning ahead the other night, too, hahaha. Let's hope he doesn't see this.
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Post by Verity on Dec 6, 2017 20:10:23 GMT
I was thinking about that too. Can you believe I actually though I had an okay plan set out when I made the first announcement about this? I was just lecturing my nephew on being responsible and planning ahead the other night, too, hahaha. Let's hope he doesn't see this. Sometimes what seems simple on the surface gets a lot trickier when you get into it... hehe. Happy to bounce ideas as you think through this Adrian
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 6, 2017 20:18:51 GMT
Thanks. Every little bit helps.
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Post by demonskull on Dec 19, 2017 23:41:39 GMT
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Post by Adrian Jordan on Dec 22, 2017 6:56:20 GMT
9 days left, folks. Just a heads up: the rules say that you need to say what you are appreciative of in 2017 and what you are hoping for in 2018. I see some entries that don't have one or the other, so all you folks may want to reread your submissions and make sure it hits on both of those. The image or link to a wanted item will give you an additional point, and improve your chances of winning, so don't neglect that either!
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