What I Learned from my First Secret Reaper Exchange

3316 Views 34 Replies 17 Participants Last post by scareme, Oct 20, 2014

ooojen

Discussion Starter · Oct 17, 2014

I learned that I should save the tracking number from my victim's delivery in a document. Even though I think I'll just need to type it in a couple times-- no-- I will check obsessively to see how many miles it has gone in the last two hours. Copy and paste is quicker than typing it out.

I learned that even when the items fit my victim's wants perfectly, I should not order things shipped from China. The ship times are just too unpredictable.

I learned (from seeing other people's sad shipping breakage) to double box items, and to give them no room to rattle around. I'm hoping that's sufficient.

How about the rest of you? Any tips and hints that you've learned, either as a newbie this time or over the years?

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WitchyKitty

· #2 · Oct 17, 2014

Yep, what you wrote sounds about right!
*Hmmm, what to add...bubble wrap, bubble wrap and more bubble wrap, lol. Like you said, put boxes in boxes and fill up any and all empty space with packing materials!! I tend to add layers of bubble wrap or foam all around the top, bottom and sides of the box before filling it, for extra cushion when the box gets bumped around and such.
*Also, if you are making something that needs to dry...don't wait until last minute to make it. Make it early on, so it has time to completely dry before shipping. I've seen many people struggle with this. Really, anything that needs to be crafted/built/painted should be done first...that way, if it doesn't turn out, you still have time to try or buy something else.
*If you have a limit to how much you can spend on shipping, make sure to double check the weight AND size of your box while getting items to fill it BEFORE you go to ship it! You can easily go to USPS, UPS or FedEX .coms and type in the size and weight of your box to get an idea of shipping costs. It's no fun to fill up, decorate and seal your box, then find out you went overboard, can't afford it and need to rethink your gifts and/or box! I usually try to get a box that I know I can afford to ship size wise, then weigh it as I fill it to make sure I don't go over my weight for that size box. (I weigh it by weighing myself with the box on a normal bathroom scale...then weight myself without the box, and subtract the two weights. That gives me the approx. weight of the box.)
*If you decorate your box, make sure to leave some blank, undecorated space on the top around the addresses and such...I have painstakingly drawn on packages before around the addresses, only to have the post office worker slap giant postal stickers all over my work.

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StanFam3

· #3 · Oct 17, 2014

- I learned that it PAYS to package everything like a crazed woman hell bent on no damage! (Just ask Lady Goats!)
- I learned to remember and to take into consideration the cost of shipping gifts to victim.
- I learned to relax a little bit and not be entirely consumed with worry that my victim won't like anything I make or send.
- I learned that my fellow halloween freaks are some of the best people around, and that it is not only a HUGE blast to reap your own victim, but it is also a HUGE blast to enjoy seeing what other victim's receive from their reapers and enjoying being a part of the group as a whole.

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wickedwillingwench

· #4 · Oct 18, 2014

i have learned not to take it personally when my victim is not effusive in their thanks. some people are just not wordy like i am. I also know that i put together the best reap that I could and that has to be enough.

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WitchyKitty

· #5 · Oct 18, 2014

Lol, I agree, wickedwillingwench...I get a little crazy and talk (type) a lot when thanking my reaper for my gifts...and post a million pics. I, too, need to remember that not everyone gets as overly excited, hyper and emotional about stuff, hahaha...

Reactions: 2

bethene

· #6 · Oct 18, 2014

Everyone has great thoughts. I agree with all, and even if it is hard to not take it personally I really try not to, right now I am worried the box I just shipped, hope nothing got broken, I had glass put in a box but it didn't work size wise with the rest of the things that I needed to pack, stress stress, stress!

Reactions: 2

Terra

· #7 · Oct 18, 2014

I learned it is a lot less stressful if you give a heads-up to your Reapee that their gift is en route. They can prepare, if necessary to receive it. This way the package can be left on their doorstep for only a short while (worst case) instead of being thrown back onto the UPS truck due to lack of signature and the possible mashing that can happen back at the UPS delivery hub again, then back into another truck... etc. etc. It's still a surprise because they don't know what they are getting and you get to relax knowing that it is being looked for. It was a revelation how many times Reapee's were out of town or unable to receive delivery and the box was in limbo for so long. It became a more enjoyable experience this year for me doing it this way.

Reactions: 3

ooojen

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 18, 2014

wickedwillingwench said:
i have learned not to take it personally when my victim is not effusive in their thanks. some people are just not wordy like i am. I also know that i put together the best reap that I could and that has to be enough.

That sounds very wise, and great in theory. I'm not that grown up yet

Lucky for me, I had a nice, appreciative victim, but I know it would be really hard for me not to take it personally if my victim said little or nothing to acknowledge the reap.

Reactions: 1

WitchyKitty

· #9 · Oct 18, 2014

I would certainly try to not take it personally..."try" being the key word, lol. I think I would, realistically, cry if my victim said little to nothing...like I said above, I tend to get emotional, lol...

Reactions: 1

shadowwalker

· #10 · Oct 18, 2014

WitchyKitty said:
I would certainly try to not take it personally..."try" being the key word, lol. I think I would, realistically, cry if my victim said little to nothing...like I said above, I tend to get emotional, lol...

I've been extremely lucky with the response and pictures from my victims. For me, I would find it very difficult to not get a little lump in my throat if my victim couldn't find a way to say thank you, or post at least one picture!

Every now and then a reaping goes completely unacknowledged. Each year I see at least a couple of victims promise pictures that never come. But only once do I recall reading a comment that would have served better to have gone unacknowledged. That was very, very sad.

You just never know. But participating is just too much fun to not go ahead and take the chance!

Reactions: 1

im the goddess

· #11 · Oct 18, 2014

WitchyKitty said:
Lol, I agree, wickedwillingwench...I get a little crazy and talk (type) a lot when thanking my reaper for my gifts...and post a million pics. I, too, need to remember that not everyone gets as overly excited, hyper and emotional about stuff, hahaha...

bethene said:
Everyone has great thoughts. I agree with all, and even if it is hard to not take it personally I really try not to, right now I am worried the box I just shipped, hope nothing got broken, I had glass put in a box but it didn't work size wise with the rest of the things that I needed to pack, stress stress, stress!

I've been reaped by you both, and trust me, you have nothing to be anxious about. You're both great reapers.

As far as tips learned from reaping, Stalk away. That really comes in handy.

Reactions: 2

RCIAG

· #12 · Oct 18, 2014

My advice for any SR in general:

-PACKAGING IS EVERYTHING. If you think you have enough packing materials then you definitely need more.

-UPS/Fed Ex is a better choice than the USPS so go to them if you can afford it but they really aren't that much more than the USPS. If you check 'em out online you will see that there's only $1-$2 difference. With UPS/Fed Ex you can easily track online, they'll text you updates, etc. Not that they don't toss your boxes around too, but they just seem to damage things less than USPS.

-Don't sweat it that you can only buy stuff. That's OK. Half the fun for most of us is just getting the box & not everyone is crafty or has the time.

-Don't feel badly for re-gifting. I'd rather have something from your cast offs or something you just don't have the need for anymore than to see it trashed or tossed.

I'll say this again, PACKAGING IS EVERYTHING. If you think you have enough packing materials then you definitely need more.

Reactions: 2

Saki.Girl

· #13 · Oct 18, 2014

Terra said:
I learned it is a lot less stressful if you give a heads-up to your Reapee that their gift is en route. They can prepare, if necessary to receive it. This way the package can be left on their doorstep for only a short while (worst case) instead of being thrown back onto the UPS truck due to lack of signature and the possible mashing that can happen back at the UPS delivery hub again, then back into another truck... etc. etc. It's still a surprise because they don't know what they are getting and you get to relax knowing that it is being looked for. It was a revelation how many times Reapee's were out of town or unable to receive delivery and the box was in limbo for so long. It became a more enjoyable experience this year for me doing it this way.

I have to AGREE i was the one she told and i new it was coming and yet was so excited cause had no idea what was inside and if it would have been raining i could make sure it did not sit outside that day

and i have also learned i am packing queen but sometimes no matter how well you pack things will get broken. i have sent a lot but this reaper 2 was first time anything every broke and it was not even the glass that broke lol

Reactions: 4

Kelloween

· #14 · Oct 18, 2014

I don't know what I learned..but sometimes I wonder if people are REALLY ok that I make or paint Everything...sometimes I wonder if they are wishing I would buy more items than make them?...its like oh great..Kelloween got me..more painted crap..lol

Reactions: 2

LairMistress

· #15 · Oct 18, 2014

I learned that Priority 2 Day shipping paid for online is much cheaper than paying at the Post Office. I regularly pay less than $15 per box, and the ones that I send are considered to be larger than their "large" Priority box. I know that a lot of people don't like to use their cards online, but this has saved me a LOT of money in the past year. I don't know if the frequency that I send packages has anything to do with it or not.

I agree with getting the box arranged first, too, so that shipping isn't outrageous.

I have learned that my ideas are way better than my finished results. Usually, that is due to lack of good stores, and the fact that I don't seem to have crucial items or tools to complete projects.

I am one of those who makes things last, and I need to not do that. I always plan to do those first, and I never seem to have the chance. I guess once my 3 yr old is a little less curious, I can make more things in front of him. He's getting better about leaving stuff alone.

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dbruner

· #16 · Oct 18, 2014

I learned Secret Reaper is one of the funnest things ever, the only thing I would change is having my Reaper reveal him or herself. I still don't know who sent me the box of Halloween joy!

Reactions: 3

Kelloween

· #17 · Oct 18, 2014

LairMistress said:
I learned that Priority 2 Day shipping paid for online is much cheaper than paying at the Post Office. I regularly pay less than $15 per box, and the ones that I send are considered to be larger than their "large" Priority box. I know that a lot of people don't like to use their cards online, but this has saved me a LOT of money in the past year. I don't know if the frequency that I send packages has anything to do with it or not.

I agree with getting the box arranged first, too, so that shipping isn't outrageous.

I have learned that my ideas are way better than my finished results. Usually, that is due to lack of good stores, and the fact that I don't seem to have crucial items or tools to complete projects.

I am one of those who makes things last, and I need to not do that. I always plan to do those first, and I never seem to have the chance. I guess once my 3 yr old is a little less curious, I can make more things in front of him. He's getting better about leaving stuff alone.

I also mail from home..it is a lot cheaper and I don't have to go anywhere!

ooojen

Discussion Starter · #18 · Oct 18, 2014

Kelloween said:
I don't know what I learned..but sometimes I wonder if people are REALLY ok that I make or paint Everything...sometimes I wonder if they are wishing I would buy more items than make them?...its like oh great..Kelloween got me..more painted crap..lol

lol! I'm sure that's not the case!

LairMistress: "I have learned that my ideas are way better than my finished results."
On a similar note, I didn't just learn this, but I need to bear in mind that making things always takes me at least 5 times as long as I think it will.

bethene

· #19 · Oct 19, 2014

Kelloween, I know that I would be absolutely thrilled to have any thing painted by you!
I adore hand made. That being said, I also love what ever someone took the time to pick out especially for me, whether store bought or previously loved, or made special, I have gotten wonderful gifts in each category that I cherish!!

I need to check out the mailing from home thing....

Reactions: 2

texaslucky

· #20 · Oct 19, 2014

I love hand painted and home made, but also appreciate bought things. To me the fun part is that I get things from others who share my love of Halloween!!!

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