How to I join an exchange?

Click on the link that you receive from the exchange organizer. Simply follow the instructions on the page to RSVP.

What do I do if I've lost my invitation?

The exchange organizer can resend an invitation to you. Contact your exchange organizer and ask them to resend the exchange information.

What if I change my mind or respond too late?

If, at any time before the names are drawn, you decide that you want to change your mind about participating, just log back into the site, click on the exchange link from the Elfster home page and click the link "Change your reply."

If you change your mind after names are drawn, contact your exchange organizer and ask them to read the FAQ for Organizers to determine how to handle your special case.

What does the HoHoHo Rank mean?

The HoHoHo Rank measures how good an elf has been at Elfster. The recalculated HoHoHo rankings will be available after the holidays. Random acts of kindness may be rewarded sooner! Blogging nice things about Elfster may be rewarded sooner :) A good HoHoHo rank has many benefits, including bragging rights and more.

How do I turn off the email alerts for questions, gift suggestions, etc.?

From any page, click "You", then click "Update Profile" and finally "Mail Preferences". Here you have the ability to adjust your email preferences to your liking.

What should I do if I am not receiving emails from Elfster?

Make sure you allow email from santa@elfster.com and add santa@elfster.com to your address book. If you are in an office environment, let your IT team know that you are expecting and want to receive emails from santa@elfster.com.

You should also check your junk mail, bulk mail, or spam folders to see if the message might have ended up there. If you still don't see the message, you can ask the organizer to resend your exchange link. They can even send it to another mailbox if you have an alternate email address. Elfster messages will always get into Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, and AOL accounts and we continue to test with those email providers regularly.

I am participating in more than one exchange. How do I avoid getting duplicate gifts?

You can create multiple wishlists and specify which group(s) can see which wishlists. To change the settings for your wishlist, click on the Settings link where you can specify which groups can see your wishlist and you can name your wishlist. To create another wishlist, from your Wishlist page click "View All Wishlists", then click "ADD A NEW WISHLIST."

People that are buying for you can check off items as purchased which will allow other people to know that they should buy something else.

FAQ for Exchange Participants