user names, seed exchanges, logistics

I am very confused and don't know how to tackle this matter easily and effectively:

I post that I offer a seed for trade. I get (let's say) 5 replies in the same thread. They are all signed by usernames - then I receive email, signed by real names which do not always mention what username they have. Then I send the seeds to those real names that requested, and I get the feedback again in usernames - and in the end I don't know if I left someone out, or who got what> I also noticed that most people don't complain if I don't send what I promised - they just give me a bad grade I think.

I also believe that these seeds are sent on a friendly basis (me in Greece, most users in the States, no SASE works and I have no ready requests to make so it is not a straightforward "exchange". Also, many seeds already sent to me last year have not been used, so finally, me paying for the postage now is really much, but I do it because it gives me the pleasure to communicate with people far away, and it gives me the courage to bother them later with my gardening (ignorance) problems. And of course, several peopl in DG have already sent me seeds and very generously so, and I enjoy those that I used very much.

In the end, I am asking if anyone knows a simple way to deal with these logistics, as for the time being I can only use an excel sheet and it takes the fun out of this exchange - offer - or what you might like to call it.

Dimitri

Hi Dimitri,

This is the kind of problem that I try to fix by offering the Trade Tracker tool to DG members.

Before sending out anything, I insert the particulars into my trade-tracker. Then, as I send each item out, I mark it as "sent" in the tracker. This way I have (rarely) let a trade fall through the cracks in over 2 years.

Have you tried out the trade tracker? It's a pretty simple tool, but easier and more effective than Excel, I think.

Dave

Hi, Dave, nice to hear you are reading my message right now. Yes, I will give it a try - and tell you the results in October, because the avalanche is about to start on my head (drac. vulgaris is ripening) - by the way, is there a way to get some feedback on seeds sent? on a DG from basis? and is there a reason to get ranking of the membrs as they do in ebay?

And do keep a book for me - letter on its way tomorrow.

Dimitri

Ranking on members - the subject has come up many times in the past. We've never implemented it for a variety of reasons, but mostly because we are concerned about people feeling less comfortable about trading... There are rouges out there who could abuse the system, alas. :( Vols recently introduced me to the idea of dramatically improving our trading system, essentially making it into a full-blown site all of its own (like we did with the watchdog and plants database). If we did that, then ratings just might be a part of that. We'll have to see.

(And I'll definitely hold a book for you. I don't think there's a fear that we'll run out anytime soon, but I set one aside anyway) :)

dave

One thing that might be a nice enhancement to the TradeTracker would be to leave a field for the user's DG name, in addition to their email address and "real" name/address.

Another thing would be to include in trading posts "Please include your DG username when corresponding". Not everyone will heed that, but some might and it would help.

Dimitri, about your problem matching up real names and DG usernames: what I do is ask them in my first post about the seeds, "Please include your real name and DG username in all correspondence with me. Thanks!" Some still forget to include their DG username and it does get a little confusing trying to keep them all straight, but I just e-mail them back and ask what their DG name is. I even forget sometimes that people don't know my real name, so I don't mind one bit when they e-mail back and ask me.

The Tradetracker is awesome! Yes, Go_Vols, it would be nice to have two boxes ~ one for DG name and one for real name. For now I just put them both in the same box like this: Wingnut / Linda Wall

Dave and Terry, a whole site dedicated to trading? That would be great!! A rating system for traders? That would be great, too! If you can figure out how to keep misunderstandings out of it. That's a sticky situation, as I'm sure you are well aware. So maybe a system where people can put positive feedback only? Or something like Ebay that allows a response to the feedback?

Rating a person is a BAD idea. Each of us has our own interpretation of what a "good" trade is. Unlike Ebay (where you know _exactly_ what you're getting , through pictures, or precise descriptions), the size of cuttings or the number of viable seeds traded that I might evaluate as "good" could be interpreted by someone else as "insufficient" or "poor". I believe that, with ratings, too many people could be misrepresented.

-Jennifer

Dave may come along and post something different - which is okay by me :) But I'll express my own opinion here: we've hashed over the idea of rating traders before, and the discussions unfortunately become emotionally-charged, to no good end. I'd rather not have us go down that road again.

Unless something has changed since the last time we discussed this idea, we aren't going to add ratings for traders anytime soon.

For the record, I would agree that eBay isn't a good comparison, but for a different reason. I don't think descriptions are necessarily more specific or detailed (or factual) at eBay, especially with regard to seeds and plants. The difference lies in the fact that eBay is an auction, where items are being purchased - it's business transaction.

Seed and plant trades require money for postage, but there's no financial consideration given in exchange for an item, so it's not a business transaction. The risks of wrong seeds, dead plants, or other problems are borne by both sides of the trade.

Dimitri, glad to hear your dracs are coming along. So are mine here in MD. Some are already red.
Try using the trade-tracker, it is very useful and I do as Wingnut and just put the DG name on the same line with the persons real name.
P.S. We all enjoy each other's company here in DG let's not start giving each other complexes by ratings.

I've traded things in the past and never have used the "trade-tracker". Should I go back and try to remember the trades and fill it in? I'm still learning here..sorry.
I , too, have to disagree with rating people. That can be totally biased. Also, alot of things I'll send anonymously... let God pat me on the back. =) And I make sure to give praise in the posts to the peole who have shared with me.

The trade tracker is only there for your own convenience. Nobody sees it except for you and it's just a tool to help people keep their own records.

And regarding member ratings: let's not turn this thread into a discussion about that. As Vols said, we've been through it many times and it never comes out as a positive thread of discussion. We'll not be doing ratings of members at this time.

dave

thank you all, and hope for the best with trade tracker -
or it will be excel again...

..and very nice policy not to grade the members..
.. I would be a very bad one...

Dimitri

This message was edited Monday, Jul 29th 6:39 PM

I must agree that a rating could easily cause hard feelings and personal problems that have nothing to do with tradng could enter here. I have had probably 90% great trades with members. There are only a few, I could count them on one hand, that I will not trade with again, I just have my own mental notes on these.

As I have stated before, & put it on my page, I have decided not to do trades with non-members - sase only and the postage must come first from everyone - this is only fair I think - It can really add up if you let it. I will do trades with subscribers as always, because after all, we do have a reputation and obligation to each other.

When I answer their email, I also request that they include a list of what they want and their DG name.