I sent out three lots of seed on Tuesday, and one of the traders has just sent me an e-mail saying she hasn't received the seeds yet, and she hoped they hadn't got lost in the post. I'm in Ireland, and the seeds were going to the US. I wouldn't have expected them to be there yet. A couple of weeks ago, I received seeds from Canada that had been posted in November.
I don't send reminders - I assume people have sent seed if that's what they said they'd do. After a couple of months, I might assume either that they've got lost in the post or the person didn't send them. Either way, I can live with it.
How long do other people wait before they start to worry what's happened to their seeds? Does everyone else send reminders?
CLOSED: Trading Etiquette
Hi Mary! I am probably the wrong person to give an opinion on this topic, as I am slightly compulsive, but I'll throw my two cents anyhow! :o)
I do send reminders, but have had to do so rarely. My rule of thumb (within the U.S.) is that if I haven't received seeds within 2 weeks of a trade agreement, I will send a reminder. Due to the fact that I take great pains to send all of my trades out within 48 hours, I expect timely trades in return. I simply don't have the time or patience to track trades for months on end. If my life is too complicated that I can't trade in a timely manner, I simply stop trading.
Fortunately, 90% of the folks I've traded with have been very timely and have had great follow through. For the small majority that don't, I simply won't trade with them again.
I am probably off the end of the spectrum in terms of seed trading patience, but that's how I handle reminders.
Thanks for the response. This trade was only agreed last weekend, so you're not as far out in terms of seed trading patience as my trader!
I'll usually send out a reminder in a month. Sometimes a person will truly forget. Unfortunately, many people not sending by that time are deadbeats. I don't expect people to mail out seeds to me ASAP but I do expect those people not sending their end to at least answer an email, even to say..."sorry but I cannot send your seeds". I sent one trader about 10 varieties of seeds. The trader did answer my monthly reminder email and said that their life was not doing too well then. I understood and didn't ask for anything more. I only added in my notation that they took the time to let me know, and for that I was grateful. For the record, most people do keep up their end in a timely fashion and have their seeds arriving here in about 2 weeks I'm happy with that.
Trish
Back in early december I sent a bunch of seed trades out. One was to Ireland and one was right here in michigan, the state in which I live. Well both packages arrived on the same day. Amazing! I only took about 7 days to get to Ireland. Most trades I do over-seas get there with 2 weeks or so. Do I do something different than others??
BTW You have a really great attitude about trading seeds.
Sari
I have to wonder about somebody who thinks four days from Ireland is late. Air mail from here to anywhere in Europe is officially 10 days to two weeks. Sometimes happens faster, but a week is pretty good time.
On a solid trade, I let the other person know via email when the seeds have gone out, and them them when there seeds have arrived. 99.99999999% of the people I've traded with do the same. Under those conditions, I don't keep track, nor send reminders, because we both have a fair idea as to when things should arrive. And, lo and behold, they usually do.
Can't believe someone would expect to get mail from across the pond in one week...
Mary, Don't let it worry you, that person is either totally ignorant as to where you live, Ireland, Europe or a 'worry wort'.
I once sent a letter from Vancouver, Canada to Switzerland, Europe and same day one to Ontario, Canada - the Swiss letter reached its destination in 2 1/2 days the one to Ontario took 9 days!! I think the Swiss one was an exception, but there again the Swiss are the most efficient people I have ever come across.
I tell most people it takes 2 weeks for a letter to/from Canada, then they are not disappointed! I save up my foreign letters till I have over $5.00 worth of postage, then I do not have to pay GST (the dreaded Goods & Service Tax) on USA and European letters, so if I am considered tardy it is because I am trying to avoid giving the government anymore of my money to waste!
I have heard from a few Canadians that the Postal Service there is not quite as reliable as that here in the States. I guess that's a nice way of putting it.
Mike
Semiplena, You hit the nail on the head! It is reliable but it is slooooooow