FAQ
What is ‘Secret Santa’?
A Secret Santa exchange is an optionally anonymous exchange of gifts (usually around the Christmas holiday) between a group of people. Gifters (Santas) and giftees will be matched at random, and gifts will go through a third party, i.e. Santa's Elves, so that all gifts get to their intended recipients and those who wish to remain anonymous can do so.
Who can participate?
Anyone can participate!
What is a ‘rematcher’?
A rematcher (AKA Rematch Santa) is someone who’s signed up to give a gift to someone whose original Santa didn’t come through. Rematching happens separately and after the original matching and rematchers give this second gift in addition to the gift they gave during the regular exchange, without expecting to receive anything in return.
Are there minimum and maximum values on gifts I can send? How much am I expected to spend?
There is no maximum number or value for gifts, but
there is a minimum value. Your giftee will have a wishlist that will provide you with some ideas of some of their favorite things, but you should
send something that you would be happy to receive yourself! Treat others the way you’d want to be treated.
Your gift must include at LEAST one non-basic dragon or one familiar or a piece of apparel.
Can I include a reservation on a future dragon breeding in my gift? How about artwork?
Yes and yes! However, this
must be
in addition to gift(s) meeting the minimum gift requirements (see above question). In the case of breeding reservations, this is to make sure people receive actual gifts in the exchange and don’t have the opportunity to get shorted by promises of future gifts.
I want to ask my giftee a question, can I do that without revealing myself?
Yes! Please
please do not contact your giftee yourself. This would ruin the spirit of Secret Santa. Instead, reply to the Elf who contacted you and ask your question to be passed on! The Elf will pose the question to your giftee and mail their response back to you!
Do I have to reveal myself to my giftee?
Nope! If you would
NOT like to have your name revealed to your giftee, be sure to choose “Remain anonymous” when filling out your form.
Can I change the information on my Entry Form after I've posted it?
Yes, you can! After you submit a form you will be given a link on the webpage to "Edit your response". Please save that link and edit by using that link. Edits made after the matching date (November 26th) will not be seen so please make all changes before then! If you've lost your editing link, tell me what you want changed and I can do it for you.
How do I know who to send my gift to so that it gets to my giftee?
You’ll be contacted by one of the Elves by Private Message on November 26th with all of your giftee’s information, and you’ll send your gifts meant for your giftee to whomever contacted you (this information will be restated in the PM you receive)!
When do sign-ups close? When will I receive my giftee’s info? When do I need to send the gifts to Santa/the Elves? When will the gifts be distributed? When will rematching happen?
Sign-ups close on November 25th at 2PM FR time. You’ll receive your giftee’s information via Private Message on the 26th. Gifts should be mailed or sent via Crossroads to Santa/the Elf who contacted you with your giftee’s information by December 21st at the latest. Gifts will be distributed by Santa and the Elves on December 22nd -
25th 27th (extended due to site issues). Rematchers will receive their giftee’s information on December
26th 28th (extended due to site issues) and the deadline for mailing gifts to Santa/the Elves is January 14th. Rematched gifts will be distributed on January 15th.
I missed the sign-ups, can I still participate in some way?
You can sign up to be an Elf, a volunteer who assists me with managing the exchange! See the below question for more information. Sorry, no more elves are needed!
Can I be an Elf? If I am an Elf, can I still participate in the exchange?
Yes and yes! Those wishing to be Santa’s Helpers (aka Elves) will need to have a great deal of time available during late November and all of December, particularly at one point during December 22nd - 25th to distribute gifts and messages. I must stress that Elves have to be active during December; they're in a position of trust and must be easily communicated with to answer questions. They’ll need to have quite a few spaces in their lair during those days as well to hold dragons during pending Crossroads requests to giftees. An Elf will also need to be competent with using Google Docs, very organized, a good listener and willing to communicate with a lot of people via PM to send out giftee information and answer questions. Elves will be congregating on a private subreddit and getting information there so they must be willing to make a Reddit account. I must also insist after last year that Elves be at least 16. If you meet these criteria, please PM me (Devildove) the following application. Applications submitted any other way will be ignored (one word answers to the third and last question are not acceptable. Please answer properly).
Username:
Age:
Familiarity with Google Docs:
Availability during late November / all of December:
Willing to use Reddit?:
Share a little bit about yourself and why you would be a good and trustworthy Elf:
Can I cancel my participation?
Sometimes life gets in the way of good intentions. Any time before you’re matched you may cancel by PMing me (Devildove). Once matching is done, you can not cancel your participation.
What happens to people who don’t send gifts, and to their giftees?
Those who sign up and don’t send a gift will be banned from participating in future Secret Santa exchanges. Their giftees will be automatically put into the rematch pool and hopefully there will be enough generous rematchers to get them all a little something!
I don’t like my gift!
Too bad! We will not send out gifts that don’t meet the minimum requirements, and anything that does meet the minimum requirements is a lovely gift indeed. Please be grateful for the gifts received. Every person is in a different monetary situation in Flight Rising, and the members of our community are all putting thought and effort into their gifts.
Anyone seen complaining publicly about their gifts will be banned from participating in future exchanges.
How do I join?
Fill out the entry form
here after reading this FAQ in its entirety. I will add your name to the participant list in the next post once I see it come in.