I never did make any final arrangements with this trader. Flat rate boxes don't usually accommodate the plants I'm sending. I usually send huge plants barefoot. I try to send smaller stuff, but sometimes what's rooted isn't small. I've found that in most cases flat rate is not the cheapest method. I was just having a hard time figuring out how to trade fairly with her because I can't calculate postage until I have the plants dug up, but then would have to wend without payment or they'd die. The other option is to guess at a price and it wind up being too low or too high.
Erin
Have you traded with user agravation
*send not wend
As many of you know, I just completed my give-away of 'White Butterfly' ginger and 'Sunset' canna. I shipped out over 50 lbs. of the plants/rhizomes. Approximately 5-10% who said they wanted the free plants neither sent me the postage nor had the decency to tell me they were opting out of the free plants. I have a feeling that these are some of the folks y'all are talking about - hoping to get free plants REALLY FREE! Perhaps I am wrong about this. I never, ever send plants or supplies without being paid first.
I have now shipped enough plants/supplies, that I know within a couple of dollars what they will ship for. I learned the hard way, guessing at the postage before weighing the box and knowing where they were being shipping. There is definitely a learning-curve when shipping plants, not only in the postage but how to pack them so that they arrive in good shape. As you said, Erin, flat-rate Priority Mail is seldom the best way to ship, both because of too-small boxes and higher rates.
I saw some thread about shipping plants economically and safely. The gist of the thread was to wrap the plants in plastic. I can assure you, if you follow those instructions, your plants will arrive steam-cooked and with mildew/mold all over the place.
Ken
Erin, take a look at my tradelist, anything I can bring you for the next swap? I have lots of tiny orange sweet dipping pepper plants, that I'll "grow up" and share. Lots of veggie seeds, too. We're leaving soon and I want to thank you again for the rub. I even added a spoonful to my last baking of onion dill bread. It was so delicious the loaf only lasted 2 days. Great for sandwiches or as toast.
I always use Priority mail, it costs more but gets the plants delivered faster.
Mittsy
I agree, Mittsy. I also send my plants Priority Mail unless the box is too large or too heavy, then it goes Parcel Select. Large and/or heavy boxes really cost a lot to ship to the Pacific Time Zone states. I am shipping from Mississippi.
Ken
You're welcome Mittsy! I can't make it to the upcoming swap. :( We are taking an out of state trip during the date of the get together. I'm so bummed! I don't know if anyone close by will be attending that could collect for me. Thanks so much for offering! I've never tried it in bread. I'll have to remember to add some next time I make a loaf.
Erin
I was on a robin and put the seeds in for certain people. They did not arrive to the people, so someone took them out for themself.
I won't do the "robin" again. Those seeds cost me a bit as I was ill and could not collect any at the time. I placed an order to Chiltern Seeds in the UK. They were special seeds that people wanted and the only ones who got them were the ones that I had mailed to them. It's hard to know who to trust now.
Someone sent me a lovely package of ginger and canna. He asked for the postage up front by PayPal. That worked very well. The plants were huge, much larger than any I would have got at a nursery or online nursery. Sometimes things work out nicely. Also, a while back, someone sent me some very lovely primroses and did not even ask for postage. I forgot about it a while, and then I remembered and sent her some money.
I have sent many packages of things, plants and books and told them to just "pay it forward". The reason that I do that is that when I really needed help in life, there was always someone there helping me. I am grateful. Life is short. Love is forever.
You got those canna and ginger from me, Evelyn. I am glad you got what you wished for. I sent out over 50 lbs. of those plants/rhizomes.
Ken in Mississippi
Thank you Ken. They are planted in the sunny area next to my shade garden, so I'll be able to be sure to keep them moist. Next to them is Anchusa 'Dropmore', which probably won't bloom at the same time, but if it did, it would be spectacular.