This FAQ is copy pasted from my 2012 Blog Post. :)
I) What is Secret Santa?
Secret Santa is a tradition in which a group are randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously give a gift. Often practiced in workplaces or amongst large families, participation in it is usually voluntary. It offers a way for many people to give and receive a gift at low cost, and without much effort. [Copied directly from Wikipedia]
II) How does this work?
You send a gift to someone random on Twitter and you get a gift from someone random on Twitter.
The cost of the gifts (across multiple items or one individual item) must be minimum Rs. 500.
The maximum can be as much as you want but dont raise the bar too much.
III) What should I know before registering?
You will be giving out your personal details to the people in charge of this account.
We reassure you that we do not share it with any marketing agencies.
If you are having a tough time trusting Santa, you probably had a rough childhood.
Also, your Secret Santa will get your real name and postal address. (We usually mask the phone number and dont share it with the Secret Santa.)
If you are not comfortable with one person on Twitter figuring out who you are, please do not participate.
IV) I am not comfortable giving my phone number?
I am not comfortable giving my phone number either but the courier guy needs it to coordinate delivery times. Last year lots of people gave their office address and phone number for delivery. You could use that as an option but we will need a phone number.
V) How do I register?
Sometime this week, you might receive a DM from a Twitter friend. The link is the registration form for Secret Santa. Fill in your details and register. Make sure to mention the name of the Twitter friend who sent you the DM as he or she has vouched for you.
Once registration closes, give a few days to me for processing this data. You will receive an email with details about your Santee along with helpful tips on how to send your gift.
Now, neatly pack the gift. Adding an optional Merry Christmas card is optional.
Stalk Santee for his or her reaction.
Feel happy, enjoy the good karma.
Now, wait for your gift.
Once you get your gift, Twitpic it (or Instagram it for all you hipsters) with the tag #MumbaiSecretSanta or #ChennaiSecretSanta or mention @MumbaiSanta or @ChennaiSanta.
The Bots will automatically RT your tweets.
VI) How do I know what my Santee likes?
During registration each person will mention what he or she likes.
If they have asked for some weird gifts, here is what you can and cannot do:
a) You can "stalk" them across all social networks, find what they like and give them that as a gift.
b) Do not stalk their families and friends. That is creepy.
c) Do not save their Twitter profile pics and send them a customized collage. That is also creepy.
d) Ask the Twitter bots to help you out.
VII) What is this vouching?
Vouching is something we have introduced this year in order to remove "bad children" from this game. Vouching is nothing but a system built on trust and being responsible. We all take responsibility of the people we recommend for Secret Santa. Hence, each Santee technically has 2 people ensuring he or she gets a gift. Let me explain how it works,
After registration closes, each person will be emailed a list of people who have listed their Twitter handle as the person vouching for them . You must reply accepting this list of people and confirming responsibility for all of them.
VIII) Wont this vouching create a long chain?
Yes, it creates a vouching chain but dont worry as you are only liable for whoever you vouch for.
Send an email to mumbaisecretsanta@gmail.com or chennaisecretsanta@gmail.com If you are persuasive enough, we might vouch for you ourselves.
In some cases, pretty Twitter DPs can be persuasion enough.
If registration have been closed, please do not email or msg us as we cannot add more people.
X) Who decides if the gift is fair or not?
Please note, shit happens. Gifts get misplaced, they break in transit, and sometimes it might not be what you expected.
XI) Are you really Santa Claus?
No. I am not.
XII) When can I send the gift?
You should send the gift latest by 31st of December, 2012. There is no when to start giving, just send it before 31st of December 2012 and I will be nice to you. [Not applicable if your Santee has specifically mentioned to send their gift by a certain date due to their personal reasons.]
XIII) Can I send on 25th December, like on Christmas?
Ok, listen. Firstly, you aren't *actually* Santa Claus. Secondly, we generally suggest avoiding 25th Dec because it is a holiday, offices are shut and people are on vacation or on leave. Courier services might be affected etc. However, if you take this Santa title this seriously, be my guest.
XIV) Where do I send the gift?
Please send it directly to your Santee. This isn't like in the movies. I do not have a gift sorting conveyor belt in my headquarters. You are in complete charge of your Santee.
XV) Do I have to buy a gift that he/she has asked for?
No. Not necessarily. You can take the easy way out and get them exactly what they want or get to know them more and buy them something they would like.
And, look it is OK if your gift isn't as quirky or cool as some of the other Santas. This isn't a competition and you should instead take solace in the fact,that you actually have a day job.
XVI) Can I buy the gift online and ship it directly to my Santee?
Yes. Obviously. There is a reason Santas are large, round and dress completely in red and it isn't because they are Sindhis. It is because they are lazy. Please select the "this is a gift" option so that the invoice doesnt go along with the gift. You dont want your Santee to know how cheap you are.
Alternatively, majority of Santas prefer ordering/buying it themselves, packing it up, adding a special note and couriering it directly to the Santees.
XVII) Whose address should I enter in the RETURN address on the courier package?
We did face this problem last year and hence in the Mission email, we do provide a 'care off' address of Head Santa. In case you need to use it, please do, however it isn't compulsory.
You can even use your real address with a random fake name like Bruce Wayne or Kimi Katker.
If there is ever any gift that is returned back to the Head Santa's address, do not worry, we will ensure it reaches the correct person but dont make it a habit..
XVIII) Can I choose to deliver the gift personally to my Santee because he/she lives next to my house?
Yes. You can give it personally but please avoid invading their personal space. Remember, it social acceptable for a female to go over to another female's house to give her a gift. Any other combination and it comes across as very creepy. Don't be creepy.
You can however, give the gift to a watchman and ask him to go and deliver it.
XIX) How do I message my Santee?
DM us and we shall pass on messages. Some innovative usages are creating a fake Twitter account and using that to find out more about your Santee. Very smart and innovative but dont forget to delete the handle once this game is up else few years down this game, you might be forced to talk to @YourSecretSanta19848754 and with such a handle, you might as well be selling iPads at crazy discounts.
XX) Can I date my Santee?
No. Well, honestly, you can as long as you send the gift before 31st of December and it isn't a creepy gift. However, do you really want your kids to know that you found their mom because a Super Secret Secret Santa Santee Sorter found her for you.
XXI) I don't know what to gift my Santa, help!
You can enlist the help of any of your respective Santa Bots. Most of the people behind the bots are married and know very well how to dwell into people's private details and them never knowing about it.
We will help you with some additional stalking.
Also, in our humble opinion the best gift to give anyone is a book. If someone doesn't like reading, give them a book only because they need to start somewhere.
XXII) Will I find out who is my Santa?
This is a tricky situation and hence there is no definite answer. I have to take this on an individual basis. Please know that some of the people who take part, do it because of the anonymity factor. The secrecy factor has a certain charm associated with it. The notion that a complete stranger did something for you has a certain beauty to it that is best kept under the shroud of secrecy.
But, everyone isn't as romantic (or creepy) as me.
I usually ask your Santa if he/she wishes to be revealed and if they say, I tell you. As a Santee, you have the right to ask me Who is my Santa? but if your Santa doesnt wish to reveal, I will not answer your question. Respect your Santa's decision. Also you can irritate me with "Who is my Santa?" but only after you a get your awesome gift. Head Santa doesn't like to be harassed.
XXIII) Why are you doing this? What do you gain in this?
We do not get any commission or any money from any of the e-Retailers helping out. Everyone of the e-Retailers or companies that offer their help are doing it because it is Christmas and the season of giving. Please note, once in a while, we do have to promote the companies and give them credit for their help. This doesn't mean we got paid for it. It is done just so we can enjoy the benefit of their help.
As to why do it? We do it for Karma, which would be more appreciated at this other website I know, but what to do, we aren't very smart.
I) What is Secret Santa?
Secret Santa is a tradition in which a group are randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously give a gift. Often practiced in workplaces or amongst large families, participation in it is usually voluntary. It offers a way for many people to give and receive a gift at low cost, and without much effort. [Copied directly from Wikipedia]
II) How does this work?
You send a gift to someone random on Twitter and you get a gift from someone random on Twitter.
The cost of the gifts (across multiple items or one individual item) must be minimum Rs. 500.
The maximum can be as much as you want but dont raise the bar too much.
III) What should I know before registering?
You will be giving out your personal details to the people in charge of this account.
We reassure you that we do not share it with any marketing agencies.
If you are having a tough time trusting Santa, you probably had a rough childhood.
Also, your Secret Santa will get your real name and postal address. (We usually mask the phone number and dont share it with the Secret Santa.)
If you are not comfortable with one person on Twitter figuring out who you are, please do not participate.
IV) I am not comfortable giving my phone number?
I am not comfortable giving my phone number either but the courier guy needs it to coordinate delivery times. Last year lots of people gave their office address and phone number for delivery. You could use that as an option but we will need a phone number.
V) How do I register?
Sometime this week, you might receive a DM from a Twitter friend. The link is the registration form for Secret Santa. Fill in your details and register. Make sure to mention the name of the Twitter friend who sent you the DM as he or she has vouched for you.
Once registration closes, give a few days to me for processing this data. You will receive an email with details about your Santee along with helpful tips on how to send your gift.
Now, neatly pack the gift. Adding an optional Merry Christmas card is optional.
Stalk Santee for his or her reaction.
Feel happy, enjoy the good karma.
Now, wait for your gift.
Once you get your gift, Twitpic it (or Instagram it for all you hipsters) with the tag #MumbaiSecretSanta or #ChennaiSecretSanta or mention @MumbaiSanta or @ChennaiSanta.
The Bots will automatically RT your tweets.
VI) How do I know what my Santee likes?
During registration each person will mention what he or she likes.
If they have asked for some weird gifts, here is what you can and cannot do:
a) You can "stalk" them across all social networks, find what they like and give them that as a gift.
b) Do not stalk their families and friends. That is creepy.
c) Do not save their Twitter profile pics and send them a customized collage. That is also creepy.
d) Ask the Twitter bots to help you out.
VII) What is this vouching?
Vouching is something we have introduced this year in order to remove "bad children" from this game. Vouching is nothing but a system built on trust and being responsible. We all take responsibility of the people we recommend for Secret Santa. Hence, each Santee technically has 2 people ensuring he or she gets a gift. Let me explain how it works,
Moral: Only vouch for people you believe will play this with the Christmas spirit intact.Assume A has vouched for B. Once we start playing, A is going to be Secret Santa for C and B is responsible for D. If B does not send the gift to D, the Head Santa will ban B from participating in future Secret Santas. Now, the responsibility of making sure D gets the gift is now on the person vouching, i.e. A.If A also refuses to send a gift, he or she may also be banned unless a proper reason and justification is given for this. We, Santas might even buy the gift ourselves and send it to D if the need arises.
After registration closes, each person will be emailed a list of people who have listed their Twitter handle as the person vouching for them . You must reply accepting this list of people and confirming responsibility for all of them.
VIII) Wont this vouching create a long chain?
Yes, it creates a vouching chain but dont worry as you are only liable for whoever you vouch for.
To Recap:
- The person who vouches for you must also be taking part in Secret Santa.
- The person who vouches for you will decide (and without you knowing) whether they want to take your responsibility or not.
- Please send the DM invite to only people you know and friends you trust will play this in its true spirit.
Because of the wonderful Secret Santas, we saw last year, Head Santa will vouch for all the 129 participants who took part last year. They will get the DM first. So, harass them. Convince them. Bribe them. Beg them. Shower them with attention.IX) What if I don't have anyone to vouch for me?
Send an email to mumbaisecretsanta@gmail.com or chennaisecretsanta@gmail.com If you are persuasive enough, we might vouch for you ourselves.
In some cases, pretty Twitter DPs can be persuasion enough.
If registration have been closed, please do not email or msg us as we cannot add more people.
X) Who decides if the gift is fair or not?
Please note, shit happens. Gifts get misplaced, they break in transit, and sometimes it might not be what you expected.
XI) Are you really Santa Claus?
No. I am not.
XII) When can I send the gift?
You should send the gift latest by 31st of December, 2012. There is no when to start giving, just send it before 31st of December 2012 and I will be nice to you. [Not applicable if your Santee has specifically mentioned to send their gift by a certain date due to their personal reasons.]
XIII) Can I send on 25th December, like on Christmas?
Ok, listen. Firstly, you aren't *actually* Santa Claus. Secondly, we generally suggest avoiding 25th Dec because it is a holiday, offices are shut and people are on vacation or on leave. Courier services might be affected etc. However, if you take this Santa title this seriously, be my guest.
XIV) Where do I send the gift?
Please send it directly to your Santee. This isn't like in the movies. I do not have a gift sorting conveyor belt in my headquarters. You are in complete charge of your Santee.
XV) Do I have to buy a gift that he/she has asked for?
No. Not necessarily. You can take the easy way out and get them exactly what they want or get to know them more and buy them something they would like.
And, look it is OK if your gift isn't as quirky or cool as some of the other Santas. This isn't a competition and you should instead take solace in the fact,that you actually have a day job.
XVI) Can I buy the gift online and ship it directly to my Santee?
Yes. Obviously. There is a reason Santas are large, round and dress completely in red and it isn't because they are Sindhis. It is because they are lazy. Please select the "this is a gift" option so that the invoice doesnt go along with the gift. You dont want your Santee to know how cheap you are.
Alternatively, majority of Santas prefer ordering/buying it themselves, packing it up, adding a special note and couriering it directly to the Santees.
XVII) Whose address should I enter in the RETURN address on the courier package?
We did face this problem last year and hence in the Mission email, we do provide a 'care off' address of Head Santa. In case you need to use it, please do, however it isn't compulsory.
You can even use your real address with a random fake name like Bruce Wayne or Kimi Katker.
If there is ever any gift that is returned back to the Head Santa's address, do not worry, we will ensure it reaches the correct person but dont make it a habit..
XVIII) Can I choose to deliver the gift personally to my Santee because he/she lives next to my house?
Yes. You can give it personally but please avoid invading their personal space. Remember, it social acceptable for a female to go over to another female's house to give her a gift. Any other combination and it comes across as very creepy. Don't be creepy.
You can however, give the gift to a watchman and ask him to go and deliver it.
XIX) How do I message my Santee?
DM us and we shall pass on messages. Some innovative usages are creating a fake Twitter account and using that to find out more about your Santee. Very smart and innovative but dont forget to delete the handle once this game is up else few years down this game, you might be forced to talk to @YourSecretSanta19848754 and with such a handle, you might as well be selling iPads at crazy discounts.
XX) Can I date my Santee?
No. Well, honestly, you can as long as you send the gift before 31st of December and it isn't a creepy gift. However, do you really want your kids to know that you found their mom because a Super Secret Secret Santa Santee Sorter found her for you.
XXI) I don't know what to gift my Santa, help!
You can enlist the help of any of your respective Santa Bots. Most of the people behind the bots are married and know very well how to dwell into people's private details and them never knowing about it.
We will help you with some additional stalking.
Also, in our humble opinion the best gift to give anyone is a book. If someone doesn't like reading, give them a book only because they need to start somewhere.
XXII) Will I find out who is my Santa?
This is a tricky situation and hence there is no definite answer. I have to take this on an individual basis. Please know that some of the people who take part, do it because of the anonymity factor. The secrecy factor has a certain charm associated with it. The notion that a complete stranger did something for you has a certain beauty to it that is best kept under the shroud of secrecy.
But, everyone isn't as romantic (or creepy) as me.
I usually ask your Santa if he/she wishes to be revealed and if they say, I tell you. As a Santee, you have the right to ask me Who is my Santa? but if your Santa doesnt wish to reveal, I will not answer your question. Respect your Santa's decision. Also you can irritate me with "Who is my Santa?" but only after you a get your awesome gift. Head Santa doesn't like to be harassed.
XXIII) Why are you doing this? What do you gain in this?
We do not get any commission or any money from any of the e-Retailers helping out. Everyone of the e-Retailers or companies that offer their help are doing it because it is Christmas and the season of giving. Please note, once in a while, we do have to promote the companies and give them credit for their help. This doesn't mean we got paid for it. It is done just so we can enjoy the benefit of their help.
As to why do it? We do it for Karma, which would be more appreciated at this other website I know, but what to do, we aren't very smart.
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