Short version, for those who know what the PBE (Priority Box Exchange) is, here are the pertinent details:
Schedule...
- November 23 -- Registration Opens
- December 9 -- Registration Closes
- December 17 -- Deadline For Mailing Boxes
- December 25 -- Open Your Box!
Since this is another Santa Edition exchange, when you receive your package, DON'T OPEN IT RIGHT AWAY! KEEP IT SEALED UNTIL DECEMBER 25! Yeah, I know there are plenty of entries on Santa's Naughty List around here, but let's try to be good little boys (girls are welcome to play too!) and save the opening until Christmas, OK? Once you open it, be sure to post a comment to tell us what you got; photos speak volumes!
Instructions:
- First: Post a reply in this thread stating your willingness to be part of the exchange (I'll include those who posted their willingness to play in Brian's thread, but feel free to say so in this one too.)
- Second: send me a PM with your mailing address info, your preferences regarding X-rated content, and whether you're okay with shipping a box overseas. After registration closes on 12/9, I'll shake things up & send you the mailing address of another member who is playing along. I will also update this post with a list of the names of the players as they come in.
WARNING: If you sign up and don't send off a box, you will be outed and publicly shamed! People have been stiffed in past exchanges, and we'd rather avoid that; broken hearts on Christmas Day make Santa sad, so deadbeats need not apply! Last year's Exchange went pretty smoothly for the most part (it was the USPS' fault; sorry Pavel!), so do our best to make this year even better. - Third: Go to your local post office and pick up a Medium Flat Rate Box (Size: 13 5/8" x 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" or 11" x 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"; if you're the visual type, here's the link to what you need.). The cost to ship the MFRB domestically is $12.65 (a little higher than last year.) Shipping outside the US is a bit higher -- International Rate: $40.95 to Mexico/Canada; $59.95 to Australia, etc... It gets a little pricey to send internationally (FedEx or UPS both have similarly-sized boxes, and they may be less money sending internationally) so we'll play it by ear if anybody from outside the borders of the US signs up. Military members serving overseas have APO/FPO addresses, and Priority Mail gets the same rate to those addresses (but there are a few additional stipulations to what can be in the boxes, and word has it that the contents are checked for compliance.)
- Fourth: Fill your box with some of the super-awesomely cool (or geeky or weird or strange) stuff lying around the house or garage that you no longer need. Try to make it something you would want to receive, ie: no junk. Think Golden Rule.
Some ideas for inspiration:- Magazines
- Tools
- Stickers
- Posters
- Books
- Old jewelry, key fobs, promotional items...
- Car/BMW themed items
- Toys
- Fifth: Ship the box. You have until December 17 to pack and ship your box to the person assigned to you. The Priority Mail boxes typically take two days to make it to their destination, but it doesn't hurt to give it some extra time. If anything comes up that prevents you from getting it mailed by then, let me know; we don't want anybody to get stiffed and be sad on Christmas Day.
- Sixth: Come back to this thread and post that your box is on its way.
- Seventh: Wait... For your box of goodies to arrive, then wait again until December 25 to open it. It'll be just like Christmas! (oh, wait...) I suppose Christmas Eve would work too, but Christmas Morning is just so tradition, and so character-building!
Ok then... Let's do this. Who's in?
The list of players so far:
- Brian in TN
- cactus
- cek
- MicahO
- travisj
- RoyW
- Nanajoth
- south26
- geordi
- Acid House
- Rich in Tupelo
- RMP
- wkohler
- Ray in Phoenix
- oldskool
- Pavel
- CharleyDog
- leadphut
- jhall
- PhillyM5
- Angel
- cwomike
- ahab
- smitty
- bigwave
- msj
- Sapotorito
- t_c_d
- Karl Grau
