i recieved a trade in the mail i was not happy with. i wont name any names and hopefully the others i see trading with this person dont have the same results as me. but back to the point.
be nice with trades and seeds bubble wrap them this way the seeds dont get crushed as has happened repeatedly to all or most of us. the post office isnt friendly when it comes to seeds.
make the trade clean. dont put the dirt and debris in with the seeds. clean them up first. in some cases yes you have to send the pod. but be clean . none of us like to have to clean the seeds.
dont send seeds that are packaged for 4 years back(recently to me) these seeds are old and probably wont germinate. this takes the fun out of trading.
and please if in a trade with someone be nice and let them know to be on the lookout and let the other person know they got there. its nice to do.
okay i am off my soap box but every now and agian this needs to be reminded and for the new comers. this might not be my place but just wanted to remind people to be nice in seed trades. imzadi
a reminder for all traders
you did a great job here. if anyone ever gets crushed or molded seeds from me just let ,me know i will make it good.
If I might add. When someone sends you a regular envelope for a SASE trade and the seeds get crushed people shouldn't complain. SASE is supposed to be at no cost to the person sending. That includes providing bubble wrap and correct postage or bubble envelope. Also when making a swap all packages should be mailed with correct postage and not have to go to post office to pick up a pack of seeds because postage is due and if in a trade item to be recieved is going to be delayed in being shipped let the person know so they don't sit and wonder. All of which have recently happened to me and I'm still waiting for the return package for 2 weeks now.
I totally agree with imazdi that the person sending the seeds has always been responsible for safe packaging ( ie: padding of some kind ). Along with clean,viable seeds.
Shirley >^,,^< SB
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I have only ever had one request for bubble wrap with be include w/the SASE.....which is fine for me..........
This message was edited Nov 13, 2003 12:13 PM
This has happened to me too many times to count. It costs no more to put the seeds between two layers of mini bubble wrap. If you have doubts what will happen to seeds you are sending WITHOUT bubble wrap, package a few as you THINK they will travel thru the postal system, take them to your driveway, lay them down, and DRIVE over them with your car tires. If they survive THAT, your car isn't as heavy as the postal roller system is. I always send bonus packets of seeds to surprise the trader, but it surely is disheartening to only receive 5 seeds in return and those 5 are crushed like ground coffee. PLEASE, if you have doubts about how to send seeds thru the mail, ASK on the forums, and we will be happy to give you step-by-step instructions. It's so much fun to trade when both traders are happy. OK, I'm through preaching for now! LOL
I try to put "fragile flower seeds" on mine, if I sase and they get crushed cuz I didnt send bubble wrap or anything then its on me. I sent some seeds out to someones dad about a week ago and wrote all over it and bubble wrapped the bejeezers out of it so I know he would get them ok. Im trying.
When I first traded at Daves, I had not read the instructions for packaging seeds. And so my first trade was sent in a regular envelope out of ignorance. However, I soon learned that veteran traders make the effort to use bubble mailers or small boxes so that seed will arrive safely.
So I would encourage all newbie traders to take the time to read the trading primer as listed at the top of the seed and plant trading forums. This provides excellent advice on the do's and don'ts for seed and plant trading. http://davesgarden.com/trading_primer/3/
When making a trade with someone who is obviously a new Dave Member, it might be a good thing to gently encourage them to read this primer if they have not already done so and to welcome them to trading at Daves. Nat
Hi everyone. When I started trading seeds I was taught to send a bubble envelope, put my address label and their address label in the envelope and mail. This way, who ever is going to send the seeds, has the envelpe and labels already made. Plus postage of course. Hope I said this right. My mind goes faster than my fingers sometimes. LOL Debk
.......When I SASE I send one envelope, stamped and neatly addressed with the return postage stamps and a written address label INSIDE.You can get packs of blank self-stick labels for next to nothing at Wally World or where ever.....
.......Scotch tape the envelope closed so it can be reopened and reused with the enclosed stamps and address label which is large enough to cover the address you wrote to mail it. Makes the process so easy and saves the cost of an envelope =)
Hugz, shirley
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This message was edited Nov 13, 2003 6:56 PM
Perhaps you should contact the person or persons you have problems with so they can learn. I am sure they wouldnt mind. Also I have to agree with DonnaB.
I have found that if one avoids using the business size envelopes it helps to avoid the seeds being crushed. Of course, bubble wrap is still a necessity. Usually the package will be light enough sending and receiving to need only the additional postage for an envelope over 1/4 inch thick. 60¢ is usually sufficient for a few packages of seeds.
delisa read the trading primer =)
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Also,in my experience with a bad seed trade, I let them know that the seeds were crushed or moldy ,what ever the case may be.....and not one has acknowledged my message =(
Oh I have read the primer
I got my seeds but they were crushed (or the package tore and they are lost.)
If the seeds were crushed, test them for viability. Depending on their germination requirements, you can try placing a few in a moist paper towel and see if they sprout. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.
If it doesn't work, or the package leaked and the seeds were scattered, you have a choice. You can let it go, or can contact the trader. If you contact them, keep the tone upbeat, and non-accusatory. Give them tips on how to better package the seeds, especially if they're a new trader.
Most of the time, the trader will be mortified their seeds didn't arrive intact - and glad you let them know so they can send out a second package. If they don't respond positively, don't pursue it. Hopefully they learned their lesson and will do better in the future.
I dont think this means posting to the community and leaving the sender to just wonder if their trade was ok or not.
I have found that the 4 x 7 bubble envelope can hold many packs of seeds and is only .49 cents to mail unless they are many packs of large seeds.
hhmm looks like I should invest some more time in the dollar store, they have some there. and I really like what Scooterbug does, And I noticed that when someone does send the stamps in the big envelopes I KNOW I have a special package in my mailbox. Makes me all giddy inside.
I just started trading and although it costs me a little more, here's what I've been doing: I put my address label on a 4x7 bubble wrap envelope with a $.60 stamp affixed (that's the current rate for that size "empty" according to my local post office) place a small zipper baggie with a paper slip naming the seeds I want, and place that inside a 6X9 plain paper envelope addressed to the trader. That also costs $.60 according to the post office. Its a little more expensive, but also maybe a little easier on the person generous enough to share with me some of their bounty :)
Okay to someones comment of notifyinf the trader i have . this person has been in other groups doing the same to others. but that was a small part of this.
i just wanted to remind everyone about the ways of trading seeds nicely. i have had a few get crushed and replaced myself. i have even had mine decide to grow on the way to the people. yes grow. its still funny but i did replace those for them.
i didnt post this to make anyone mad. i just wanted to make a gentle reminder on a few things. it does make people unhappy about this sort of thing happening and if we as advanced traders dont remind everyone know and agian on the nice way of making things go smoothly then i hate to say it but some do get slack. sorry no offense but some do.
and as for the newbies this way is easy to remind them and let them learn without being pointed out and made to feel bad. Its bad enough for them to get contacted that their trades or anyone for that matter that the seds were messed up on arrival. this way they see it hopefully before they send out and might learn somethingthey didnt know.
hey we all have been newbies and have made mistakes. we learn but i hate to see anyone feel bad in their learning expierence. i teach school and yes my spelling stinks so i do other things but i know you yell and scream at people and they dont do the right thing. anger breeds anger.
okay here i am agian on a soap box. hehe
just be aware of your trades and do them nicely and safely. seeds are a gift and need to be treated as such.
as far as me sending sase i usually when i can find the things send a self addressed self stamped bublle envolope in a manilla folder to them. that way i know the seeds are safe. and unsure of the postage my motto stick another stamp on it. that way you don have to pay at the post office to get your seeds out of hock. Imzadi
Good advice, Kaufman. For $1.20 plus the padded envelope you have a great chance of receiving seeds worth many times that amount in good condition.
I found padded envelopes 3 to a pack in the dollar store here.
What I do as seed banker for BGI is ask people to send a padded/bubble envelope, and address label if possible to cover the old address on that same envelope, and two 37¢ stamps. Then I cover the old address label with one of mine, use their address label over the old address, and peel off the stamps and replace with the new postage. It helps if they just scotch tape the padded envelope shut so that I can open it easily and then use the self-stick sealer when re-sending it.
Some people do enclose all that in a regular manila outer envelope ready to go.
And leave the stamps loose! Some people who enclose all in another envelope pre-attach 3 or 4 stamps when 2 would have done fine and I could have returned them.
Hope this helps some.
Please do notify the person who sent the improperly packaged seeds. Most, if not all, people are sending seeds in good faith and they just don't know any better. I was one of those people. I wrapped my seeds in thin foam and that wasn't enough, but I wouldn't have known if I hadn't been told. Now I wrap in bubble wrap and put that in a regular envelope with 49 cents postage. I guess that is o.k., as no one has told me otherwise.
I have sent, AND recieved MANY seeds, without bubble wrap. I do ask the PO to hand stamp, if that gets done, I dont know. BUT, I send the seeds in what I recieved, if I do a SASE. So, if I got only an envelope, and one stamp... off the seeds go, that way. Either way, if I do it wrong... I would appreciate an email back! I dont even know most the time if my seeds have made it. SO... even an email saying your packing sucks... would let me know they got there! :o)
This message was edited Nov 14, 2003 12:40 PM
Imzadi thanks for your reply that you had notified the trader. Thanks for your post. I did today send out 2 envelopes that did not come with padding and I made a padding for them because of your posting. I just realized that I get some stuff at work for free that probably makes pretty good padding. I still wrote hand cancel please on the envelope just in case. Someone sent me a padded envelope this week with extra stamps and I sent them some extra seed because I hated to waste the postage.
Delisa
The only time I have to use .60 cents has been to Canada unless it is a large package of seeds. You can find the 4 x 7 bubble envelopes at Wal Mart for about 2 dollars for 10 envelopes. That's not bad.
Donna: I went to the PO yesterday to confirm that amount and the lady stated that the rate increase affected that size... You might want to check it out... :)
Hmm that's all they charged me from what all I have sent in the last 2 weeks. Is also only .80 to the Netherlands and Chilie which I sent today first class air mail.
Uh oh, maybe the lady at my PO isn't on the up and up!!!
the only time i have ever used a 60cent or 80 cent stamp is also like Donna said is to canada and overseas(.80)
I send all the time to canada and all over overseas. as far as the difference in prices on envolopes is weight and size. they have this tool they use to determine the thinkness at my po that tells them the price. a bubble envolope small one in a manilla envolope has only ever costed me like 49 cents. wow anymore then that i would find a new post office. try a new one and see if the cost is different.
I'm using the 4x7" bubble envelopes. It's all you need unless you are send more than about 6 packs of seed
This thread has been very helpful to me but maybe a little late as I have already sent out over 400 packets of seed.
Pul . . eeeeeze! Let me know if my seeds did not arrive in good condition!
And the ones I have received? Well, I never even thought to check that they are ok. Guess I'll find that out when I try to plant them in the Spring.
But even if they don't grow. . . I probably would know if it was because they were crushed or because I didn't plant them right! LOL!
I don't know if this has been mentioned above, but I got a trade the other day from someone who had taken a very well used bubble mailer and cut it in what looked like fourths. Each corner made a great little padded envelope to slip the seeds into and then into the regular SASE envelope for mailing. Just wanted to share this with anyone who was looking for ways to use those old, well used, bubble mailers.
I have looked at this so I guess I need to reply......... Imzadi I respect your complaint and am in no way trying to make you feel bad.
I know we all expect to get good seeds or plants and are disappointed when we don't.......
So far with allllll the seeds and plants I have recived none and I mean none have been damaged to the point the didn't grow or won't sprout......even recived a plant that was total dry and I though for sure it was dead.....sure wasn't, put it in water a couple of days and it revived. This was the fault of the post office since they took 10 days to deliver a package that should have only taken 3. The post mark gave them away.....yeah the trader could have done this or that but how was she to know what the post office was going to do to that package......
I apprericate all of the trades and SASE I have recived....when I was new to tradeing I did not send pac's and envelopes correctly....this was done in ignorance and not to damage someones seeds.... and so far no complaints.....
I feel it is my responsibility to send the correct postage and bubble wrap that is needed not the responsibility of the sender....I feel they have enough to do just filling all the request without having to pay out of there pockets for extra postage another mailer or bubble wrap...
I also relize we are dealing with indivdual traders and not seed companies and I make allowances for chaff, debries and other sorts in the package.......but so far not much but seeds have been recived......Good job to all for doing this. And the post office does damage some stuff......this is the fault of the post office not the trader....and the post office can DO SOME DAMAGE.
So far I have reviced many times my moneys worth in seeds and plants and would not have half of what I have if not for all the wonderful traders here.....I have no complaints with any of you only a Big THANK YOU to all that have traded with me and other members of my family that are also on Dave's..........
I wanted many of you to know you are doing a good job and this does not apply to all. There are some lousy traders out there but not enough for me to worry about and when I run into them I make a note and on the second bad trade they go on my don't trade with list.....so far have had only one and she's not here anymore so it's not any of yall.
If we police ourselves by sending the correct postage, mailers then we should recive back what we sent and how it was sent and there would be no problems.......I find lots of folks send you surprises and add the extra postage....I do.
One more comment and I'm done.......
If I put a packet of seeds in my driveway and run it over with my truck.......well bubble wrap or not those seeds are gonna be toast.........LOL.....
I love you all and you too imzadi but I had to reply.......
Dee
I too remember the day as a new trader. I was contacted by a wonderful person to do my first trade with and who so graciously helped me through the ropes. If it had not been for her, hard telling what my packages would look like. LOL
I Hope that if anyone is unhappy with a trade with me that you will not hesitate to let me know what was unsatisfactory about the trade. I will make it right. I have received many trades already this fall, and have been happy with everyone of them. You all know who you are. Thank you.
Marie,I think it's great to have a reminder like this. Helps keep us all on our toes.
Tami
I use small bubble envelopes,put a white sticker with my name and address ,and a small return one on(this is so they can be peeled off and envelope reused)I put the stamps on it and then take a piece of computer paper ,lay the envelope on it and find the best position the completely enclose the whole envelope,and tape it up with scotch tape,address it and ship.That was it doesn't have to layers of labels on it,it looks nice and clean,and the bubble envelope only has to be sealed once(unless its reused)It saves the person who's sending it from having to affix labels,saves them time.....
Just received flowernutt's trade package and you were
more than wonderful! Thank You!
Nice response willow... and yes I have recieved seeds in many different forms of packing..including a few envelopes open with no seeds inside and have never said a word.
I always think that traders intents are positive.
Many people are on limited incomes, elderly, ill possibly handicapped not to mention that postage and envelopes that are padded can be expensive.
I dont ponder not even with traders who dont fall thru.
Its not worth the negativity.Many sites have too many rules.aka drama!!!!
I think of seed trade as something of a totally different value.
The value of friendship , sharing and helping others!!!
This message was edited Nov 15, 2003 4:35 PM
This message was edited Nov 15, 2003 4:36 PM