🎃 A Haunting We Will Go ☠ Halloween elf Exchange (2018)

[ZombieMetroAnt]

 *  Sign ups are now closed and names have been drawn.  *

                                     👻     👻     👻     👻     👻     👻

 

Something's brewing, and it 'll be ghoulishly fun! A wicked good time for everyone...

We're glad that you've decided to join in on the haunting fun!  

Bugs & hisses,
PrettyinPA & ZombieMetroAnt

🎃 Tips, Tricks & Other spooktacular ideas!

Spoiler

💀 Elfster Tips:

-> Ask questions! Anyone can ask anyone an anonymous question, that will help you get a better idea of likes and dislikes, haves and wants, etc.


->When you purchase something, click "Mark As Purchased." They won't see it, but they might be using the same wishlist for other gift exchanges, so this can prevent them potentially getting the same gift from two different people.


->If you got something for yourself, remove it from your wishlist!

🎃 Shipping suggestions: 

Spoiler

💀 How to ship abroad/add a customs label while still using online shipping:
1. Creating an account: First, you must create a free account on the USPS website. The paypal.com/shipnow site will not let you create customs forms.
2. Shipping Label: To create the shipping label, you want to use the "Click n Ship" function from the dropdown menu under Mail & Ship. Many of the directions from above are basically the same but the key difference is under, "Where are you sending to?" you will need to use the dropdown menu to select the country of choice.
3. Finishing the Shipping Label:Fill in all the corresponding information until the end of the form including the value of the package. The Canadians on the board may have more to speak to with this but I always kept this amount on the lower side so the recipient doesn't get hit with high customs fee. (average amount I would put would be $10-$20) A great feature is at the end of the page it will give you all your options for shipping. I can tell you on a personal note that when I ship to England I always choose first class international mail and I have never had a problem. Once again, delivery confirmation is thrown in for FREE.
3. Beginning the Customs Form: You will then get to a page that will you through step by step filling in the customs form. The first question will ask you to "Enter Package Information." This is where you can just write this is a gift box for a friend. You do not need to write anything more!
4. Customs Inventory: Next up is, "Enter Item Information." Okay, this one is a little tricky. If you want to itemize, and fill in every single thing in the box, you can. If you only want to do a couple, you can. I've done both over the years and both have been okay. I'm not going to tell you though that it will work every time so ultimately, the decision is up to you. Make sure though that you mark each item a GIFT so that the recipient does not get charged increased fees. Also, and this is IMPORTANT, the total that adds up for the all the items has to be the same total you gave on the previous page for the value of the box. So if you make something worth $1, that's fine! (Again, Canadians speak up hear if I'm wrong but my abroad friends always told me it was better to do this to reduce customs fees for the recipient.) Lastly, each weight of each individual item will need to add up to the to the total weight item, so I've honestly literally made up ratio numbers in the past. (I have never had a problem in years of sending packages)
5. Tarrif Number: Lastly, you do not have a tariff number so leave that blank. Okay, one last thing, choose your AES exemption. I would choose the second one having to do with gifts.
6. Obtaining the Label/Customs Form: The steps following this are similar to the ones from above except that I believe the payment options for USPS may also include credit card options as well as PayPal. Go ahead and print your label which will also contain your completed customs form. (Please note: you may need to sign your customs form before affixing it to your package) On a positive note, YOU STILL SAVE MONEY BY USING THE ONLINE POSTAGE SYSTEM!
7. How to actually ship it:For international packages, my personal advice is yes, bring it to the post office, and yes, actually check it in and get a receipt saying it was checked in by a postal worker. Since many international packages take quite longer than domestic and tend to get delayed at different intervals, you want to make sure that everything is okay when it first enters the system.


Duty Info:
US can receive a gift up to 100 USD. If you send from Canada and mark your gift as 100 you are actually saying it cost you 100 CAD. Today Google converts that to 75.87USD so your recipient should be ok and not pay additional fees.

Canada can receive a gift up to 60 CAD. If you send from the US and mark your gift as 60, you are actually saying it cost you 60 USD. Today Google converts that to 79.08 CAD. So your Canadian friend in this case might pay duties/taxes/fees.

I believe customs will check the rate on the day the item is processed. Seems Canada is at somewhat the same range recently but it does go down a bit. Just things to keep in mind.

 🎃 Participants: 

Spoiler

- Anastasiya13
- ClassicallyFab
- CC3616
- darkiceis
- Dyslexia
- gonerogue
- Ispend2much6
- Heartsmyface
- jozkid
- LazyBeautyBeast
- LCResz
- Lipstick4Soul
- luvgloss13
- MCakes
- mermadelove
- MissPuff
- NotCrocker
- OhheyitscindyK
- PaletteAddict99
- prettyinpa
- sabrinas
- Sarahshter
- SpaceLlama
- Tamara76
- Trishavt
- unfungirl
- ZombieMetroAnt

Mix one part Scream with two parts Scare,

a pinch of Fear, a dash of Dare...

and give your elf a Halloween Box Extraordinare!

     👻 Shipping: our goal is to have boxes delivered by (or before) 10/31.  Boxes being shipped across the border take a bit longer

     👻 Wish lists: if you haven't already, please update your wishlist on elfster 🍬

[darkiceis]

[Tamara76]

OMG! Yay!!!! ❤️

[prettyinpa]

Yep, I was a nosy Parker and haunted the tracking on it so I could tell everyone. They can start popping their corn and getting in their PJ's, lol.

[ohheyitscindyk]

@prettyinpa One of my items is coming from the UK, too! I hope it gets here in time, otherwise I'll just ship separately 🙂

[prettyinpa]

@ohheyitscindyk- The typical shipping from the UK seller said 5-11 days. I've gotten items ordered from allbeauty in as little time as a week, which definitely beats some major retailers in the US (I'm looking at you Amazon).

[Ispend2much6]

@ohheyitscindyk  Its's irrational but I love UK shopping. Of course, there's no shopping I dislike (except hardware store shopping.)  I ordered some little items recently from a store in the UK and they got here in less than a week!  

[prettyinpa]

@Ispend2much6- lol, I even like hardware and building supply shopping!  All the different colors of paint just fascinate me. Now grocery shopping, I could skip that easily if we didn't have to eat.

[Ispend2much6]

@prettyinpa  I love grocery shopping, especially if it's a store located in a different part of the country.  Well, if we were neighbors, we would have a perfect co-op situation occurring!

[prettyinpa]

@Ispend2much6- You're right about food shopping in different regions. I love the Food City in Tucson, all the different kinds of chilis and hot sauces. It's a smaller supermarket that has a great selection of Mexican and Tex-Mex goodies.

[ohheyitscindyk]

@Ispend2much6 Wow really! This is my first time ordering from overseas. I was going back & forth on it because I was worried about the delivery. It says it'll be delivered between the 22nd & the 2nd of November, so fingers crossed it gets here in the beginning of that window.

[Ispend2much6]

@ohheyitscindyk  It really is unpredictable.  I've ordered from Cult Beauty and gotten items in less than a week, sometimes a few weeks.  

[Ispend2much6]

My box is supposed to be delivered today.  I hope my elfie is home!  @mermadelove  🙂

[mermadelove]

@Ispend2much6 I literally went to the PO Every. Single. Day. Last week and was unable to get my box shipped!!! I have to go before or after work and use the self service kiosk.

Whivh was recently “upgraded’. And has been Out of service ever since!!!!!!!😤😤🤬😡🤯

[Ispend2much6]

@mermadelove  Oh, no!  How frustrating.  I always print my labels at home.  But, be careful you use the correct weight, or you'll get a note from USPS or UPS scolding you for trying to cheat them.  Oops.  Although, funny enough, they don't seem to mind if you overcharge yourself on the label.

[mermadelove]

@Ispend2much6 that’s a great idea! I’m using a flat rate box so that shouldn’t be an issue!!  

I got an item RETURNED because it was considered a first class package rather than an envelope— it was a small bubble mailer envelope! Sigh....

[jozkid]

I just ordered some last minute things today and bought a few things in store. I figure the box should go out sometime mid-week next week.

[itsfi]

What fun!! 😃🎃 I’m getting my popcorn ready ‘cuz I can’t wait to see everyone’s unboxing! 😊 

[veronika23]

Yesss! Bring on the popcorn!!!

[itsfi]

@veronika23 @luvgloss13  popcorn for everyone!! 🍿

[veronika23]

Awwwww he's too cute!!!!! 😄 😄 😄 @itsfi

[luvgloss13]

MM Popcorn! 

I am finishing up my pumpkin's box and should be shipped by Monday! Yay. I hope she loves it all. 🙂