Swap Forum

I wanted to see if there would be any interest in a swap forum. I was thinking that it could live in the regional forums. Or else in the Home forums. Anyway..I see the forum as a place for people to make swaps (no selling) or just get rid of, stuff they have around their house. The reason I think it should be regional is that no one wants to ship large items. Also I am thinking it should be member only vs open to non subscribers. Is there any interest in this type of forum?

This idea started in ORVG where we had several people with old patio furniture, various furniture, tools etc.. and we thought it would be nice to have a place to pass them along to someone who could use them

I would think you could do this in a regional forum already here... at least I have seen this done from time to time in the Texas forum already.

We want to do it legally, I post in the OVRG forum, and have things that could find other homes. Just don't want to do it without authorization, right Jazz?

Correct Defoecat! I dmailed the powers that be and they suggested I post here to see if anyone is interested in this type of forum. I want a forum so that the guidelines are posted up front in a sticky and no one accidently tries to sell something. Does that make sense?

Sorry I just think that most members would only be looking for this type of thing in their local area - thus the local forum being the best place to post them. I would doubt that most folks are really going to want to ship these type of things.... I might be wrong but just my two cents.

I agree Mitch. That is why I originally thought that the swap forum should be in the regional gardening area.. But it isn't specific to gardening so it might be better in the Home talk area.
One of the important guidelines would be for people to list their state in the title of each post. That way people would know if it was feasable to get their swap. That is also why I thought it should be member only. If you are going to break down the location to city/state you might not want just anyone able to access it. I know that people from the internet can read the first posts so perhaps another guideline would be to make the first post generic and contain the info on the second.

Have you checked into Freecycle?

I use it all the time to find new homes for all kinds of stuff. Dh also unfortunately likes to use it to acquire new stuff, grrr.

mg

yes.. we have done Freecycle. However we just thought this might be a nice thing to do here. Who knows.. someone might want to swap a plant for an item. That is something that isn't don'e on Freecycle :)

When I use Freecycle here, I always take a little 'something' for the donor. At the mo seems to be some baking, in the summer cut flowers or a lily/iris pot if they have a garden. Have made a couple of gardening friends on our Freecycle, in fact one joined DG.
inanda

I think this is a great idea! I'm not interested in having a garage sale or posting on Freecycle to who-knows-who. I have a bunch of "stuff" to trade or give away and I'd rather give it to DG friends.

Inanda.. that is a wonderful thing you do

Cheryl, I guess that is what I was thinking.. I would rather give DG friends first dibs..

Although there's not that many subscribers in my area I would be interested in this. I go on freecycle sometimes but haven't used it yet. I would definately rather do a swap with DGer's.

Lana

There are lots of other things to swap or send for postage besides seeds... I''d like to see a swap forum too.

You got my vote..

A.

I agree. Would love a swap forum.

sounds interesting to me and I would join

Bumping just once to double-check interest. There are also non-plant things I'd like to find but not sure any of the forums would be appropriate for it.

I would like to see this on Daves too. As for Freecycle, I have never heard of it. And I'm not one to net-hop anyway. I like having my needs met right here.

I've used freecycle and craigslist for getting rid of things I don't want and acquiring things I need. But it would be nice to have a forum here too--

I would love if a swap forum were added : )
Nancy

I too would like a swap forum.

Lana

i've used freecycle a lot & craigslist a couple of times & definitely would be interested in a similar outlet on DG

Sounds like a good idea to me!

Actually, I just had a thought...

Is there any reason swaps need a forum of their own, at least at this point? Could we instead "sticky" a swap thread to the top of each regional forum? When a swap thread gets too long and seems mostly obsolete, a new swap "sticky" could be started, and the old thread could be un-stickied, but a link to it could be put at the top of the new thread "just in case."

That might be a good way to try out the idea... If there's a ton of interest, then clearly the swaps need their own forum, but if it's just an occasional sort of thing a "sticky" thread might be just the thing.

?

I like the sticky idea Critter! That way there would be no confusion over which area a swap is offered for. And you wouldn't have to wade through a bunch of non regional posts to find one for your area.. The only concern I had was that I had hoped to have it for DG members. and some of the regional forums are open to anyone online.

Hmmm... I haven't checked the regional forums lately... I know that some of them are newer, and Dave generally has new forums open to members and subscribers at first... maybe it's time to ask that those regional forums be designated subscriber-only?

I would only trade with subscribers too but it's easy to see who are subscribers and who aren't so that wouldn't stop me from posting. I'd also be willing to mail the smaller things so I'd rather not be restricted to a region.

Just need to know where would be appropriate to post.

You have my vote, sounds like a great idea!

Ruth

OK, Dave - let's do it! This could be the most popular forum yet!!!

Hi, Jazz
I have traded books for daylilies before. And also garden books for other garden books here on Dave's. I don't see why this would not work if there is an agreement between the two parties. I have a pair of blk leather boots that have never been worn, that I can list. My daughter kept them and then never wore them. I am getting ready to Spring Clean closets and I have several Nike, Old Navy shirts, ect that are like new of my son's. Limited Two, Aero, of my daughter's. I usually give them to a charity but I would love plants!
Teresa

And I would be happy to divide plants for things I look for.

I love it, sounds like fun!

I like this idea too,, has a new forum been set up yet? I kind of got lost , lol thanks, Mary

bump...

Sounds like a great idea, Got lots of items I could put up for trade.

Well, Dave - WILL YA?????

I am interested in a forum too. It would also be nice to have under tradelist a place to list these items for trade. Here are a few things I would list, gardening books ( orchids african violets, bonsais, gardening under glass, etc.). stain glass paint, african self watering pots, knick knacks, Nora roberts books and Patricia Cornwell books. framed decorative art, plastic pots, and a glass and metal patio table--->(pick up only)
Patti


This message was edited Mar 28, 2007 10:11 AM

Ooh, I really like the idea of listing non-plant items on our trade lists... makes them easy to find, easy to put in a description & photo too... I haven't played with the new trade lists much yet, but with the old one you could add categories and call them whatever you liked, so it may be possible just to add a "swap items" or "non-plant items" heading to your trade list.

Yeah, I need an Elvis Presley stamp or two, I lost mine in one of our moves. I have stuff to trade.

Wonder why no word from Dave on this at all??

Wondering the same thing myself.Looks like there is certainly interest in something like this : )