Feedback

Until a few days ago I was not aware there was a feedback page for trades. I went through my D-Mails and posted feedback on the ones I could find. I apologise to all that expected feedback from me and didn't get it. Since I have been utterly delighted with every trade I've made, please D-Mail me if we have traded and I haven't given you feedback.

I discovered Feedback during a D-Mail conversation with another member when they mentioned a trade that did not live up to their expectations. They were reluctant to give bad feedback and was in a quandary as to what to do. Unlike EBAY, where feedback is expected and users are not adverse to clicking the Negative button, the members of DG are kind of like an extended family as we get to know the people in the forums we frequent. I am always amazed with the caring, sharing and generosity everyone receives from members on this site, thus the hesitance to give honest feedback when trades go wrong.

I perused a number of members feedback and every last one was positive. I was unable to find a Negative. Perhaps the family atomosphere was the reason. Because of this, the Feedback page is essentially useless as it stands now. I think it can be a valuable tool if used honestly. Perhaps the page needs to be redesigned in a way that does not give offense but can honestly address issues when trades do not live up to expectations.

I'd like to hear other thoughts on this.

X

>> I was unable to find a Negative.

You didn't look hard enough. ;-)

And while I agree that most members (including me) are likely to let a mediocre trade slide rather than give negative feedback, you said yourself that you've been delighted with every trade you've had (as have I)... I suspect that is the norm rather than the exception and the majority of feedback reflects such.

What are your thoughts on redesigning the page? For my part, I'm just not sure there's any non-offensive way to say, "you didn't live up to your end of the bargain, bozo."

Okay, maybe leaving off the "bozo" part would be a start. ;)

I think in one way the feedback page is a good idea as it allows us to see who is reliable with trades. But I also think that giving feedback takes the trading to a different level. On e-Bay, there is money involved and that makes it more important to me. I guess in a way here, money is involved....postage, money spent on the plants themselves, etc. Personally, if a trade was less than expected, I would approach the person myself. If they were not receptive to it, then I would chalk it up to a lesson learned and not trade with that person in the future. But from what I have seen on DG so far, the people are absolutely generous and amazing. Like yourself, X...you give and give to others on here. I know that if I sent you something that said "seeds were smashed :( " or something like that....you would do your best to replace them. Unfortunately, tho....DG is like every other place you deal with, most are good...and then there's those few "slugs" of the group who slime someone...I say we just wipe off the slime, if they get us again...go get the salt!!! =) I guess I am a bit on the fence with this one as I can see both sides, X...but I do agree if it was going to be used, it should be used more as a tool to rectify problem trades. And only if used honestly, like you said.

Perhaps Still ironing out the wrinkles added? A nice way of saying Bozo is slow on the uptake.

To be honest, I've actually had 3 other d-mail conversations about trades gone bad. This last one prompted me to write when I discovered the Feedback page.

X

A lot of times "word of mouth" is the most effective way to deal with someone who is not honest and/or simply continues to not live up to their end of the bargain.

3 emails about the same person....take the advice and keep them on a list or something.

3 emails about different people, keep in mind that maybe something happened...I always try to make room for human error.

Hopefully your "feedback" on the feedback will result in a new and improved method, X !

I think one thing we all do keep in mind is that the people we're trading with are not profiting, and not professionals but gardeners who'd love to share. And try as we might, packing up a plant to go through the mail is a tricky business, especially if you only do it once in a blue moon. If a plant got to me damaged, I don't believe I'd say a word to whoever sent it. It's not business -- it IS family.

You just made my point perfectly brigidlily, why bother to have feedback if it's not going to be used honestly.

For my part, if something didn't go as expected I absolutely try to solve problems via D-Mail before I consider it a done deal. The only time I would leave Negative Feedback is when what I received was not what was described or the perpetrator refuses to make good on promises after being made aware of the problems. The question is though, is there some sort of tacit time limit for the perp to make good?

X

I guess it would depend on how egregious the problem was. If they packed a live plant with no precautions and it arrived dead, and you had prepaid them $25 in postage, it should be refunded immediately. That's just the right thing to do. But if they did everything they could to protect a very fragile plant and it died a week after you got it, then I'm not sure they'd owe you anything. Know what I mean?

Do we need to have a Dave's Court of Equity forum?