I apologize profusely for insulting you by asking that a few seconds be wasted to identify yourself and what I have been sent in a trade. I’ll make sure to never attempt to trade with you for fear I will cause you to lose a few seconds of your life.
I’m just appreciative that so far this year, 97% of the people I’ve traded with have been able to spare me an extra few seconds of their time. I’d rather spend my time writing a thank you and sending feed back then spending time going through folders, spiral notebooks and the like when I receive a trade.
For those of you who don’t have a few seconds to spare for a senile old lady, I’ll do my very best not to take any of your time, much less a few extra seconds and ask to trade.
X
This message was edited Mar 13, 2008 6:36 PM
It was inevitable
What if some was just messing with your head? cruel joke? (not me)
No .. it's been the bane of traders since Dave's started trading. Happens in the seed trading forum too, except what's missing is usually only the traders screen name. Since we have so many newbies this year I think I'll resurrect the "being a better trader" thread.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/691287/
X
I've been here many years and not once have I ever put my screen name or real name inside the box. Or any other info inthe box other than the labeled plant.
Alot of folks haven't got the time, I just hope it doesn't make you not want to trade with that person again becuase they forgot that. Their name wasn't on the outside of the box?
I received 2 trades this week also, no info inside the box, and nothing was labeled. But is ok, cause I knew what was coming and knew who it was from. THe plants were wondeful, and I would never hold it against them or anybody else for not labeling. Sometimes it happens. The only way I may be upset is if I had a ton of plants coming and didn't know how to ID them. (such as daylilies) That would make it difficult for me.
Trading is suppose to be a fun thing.
Not trying to make or cause trouble here, Iship out alot of boxes. If someone doesn't want to trade with me because I don't put my garden name inside the box with my real name, it's only cause I'm super busy. And I don't mean any harm, but it's not going to happen in my trades. So PLease, nobody expect it from me. and I won't expect it from you.
Just so Everybody knows, Don't get upset with me if you receive a trade from me, and there is no personal name info inside the box. My name and addy is always on the outside of the box.
The best thing to do if someone wants this info, is to dmail your trader personally and ask that they include this info before trading with them, and ask them to pack a certain way or to label, that way everybody knows up front what's what....
It is nice to have things labeled, but then again if it's only one item in the box, that person should really know what's in that box.
Newbies are stressed enough these days trying to "Get it right" with us seasoned gardeners in trades.
I think it's always benificial to have a thread that shows how proper packing is done. That' s crucial to the life of the plants during shipment. Why would you want them to sweat the small stuff......
I am in no way trying to stir the pot, cause trouble, or have a vendeta against anybody here.
If you want your traders to PUT THEIR NAME INSIDE THE BOX. Then you should dmail them during your trade, and request this.
There was no screen name on the outside of the box. I'm shipping and receiving almostly daily as are a lot of people. I don't think it's too much to ask to send a plant with with the name of the plant and a screen name inside the box .. even a screen name on the outside would be acceptable.
It takes less than 30 seconds to jot down a name on a piece of paper and stick it in a box.
X
Then you should dmail your trading partner and request this of them, but not request it of everybody here on daves as your post states.
Not everybody feels the same way as you do. I for one won't do it, and there are many that won't and many that will.
It's up to us to keep our own records of who we're trading with that way when a box comes and says kathy algood on the outside of it, that person will know what's in it and who that person is on daves.
BTW, I ship l0 to l5 boxes a week. I can truly tellyou I do not have time to put in my garden name.
If someone requests if of me I would do it though.
And of course, your right, It's not alot to ask. for you.
For me, I think it's too much to ask of anybody. Spend more time packing those plants right and labeling them, and IT'S ALL GOOD!
Not all of us here are going to go along with it though.
I'll not put any more dampers on this thread.
Everybody knows i'm not going to be upset if my boxes don't come to me in a perfect fashion, as long as their packed well and labeled and healthy . Which is the most important thing. Everything else I have writen down here at the house, and I know your box is coming and what your garden name is......
nough said.
Well your the first one that has indicated they have a problem .. most people agree with me. I'll keep that in mind.
X
Eliminate some of this stress by keeping track of your trades. I don't expect others to as fanatic about plants as I am so I make sure I keep good records of my trades. Some are doing good just ship the plant (s) you requested in one piece. I dont' forget I was once a newby so I will give the newbys a break...after all if I wanted everything perfect I would never trade...just buy what I want on line and eliminate all the problems. But THAT is not what trading is about.....its about sharing. Soooo when I trade with someone I tell them exactly how I am shipping my plants to them....(teach by example). Then I record all my trades. This will always include the senders Dave's name, thier real name, address, what they are sending and what I am sending them. Its very simple to do on a word document. Dave's has something called the "trade tracker" that works very well. Try, it and don't sweat the small stuff! You will enjoy your trading experience alot more in long run.
This message was edited Mar 13, 2008 5:04 PM
In my unimportant opinion, I tend to think that threads that announce blanket expectations for traders as a group might leave some people feeling embarassed or inadequate to trade. I've seen similar threads elsewhere and afterwards talked to many new folks that felt intimidated about trading and they had to be talked into it. The trading primers are in place, and if there's anything additional needed, communicate with the trader.
With plants, the health of the plant and packing are my main concern. But everyone has individual preferences, and that's perfectly fine. I did finally remember from an old thread that you can go to your tradelist and add a new "entry" (like a fake plant) where you can write a note to your traders on packing, etc. That way everyone understands what you personally want, and you can refer people to your personal trading preferences from the start.
I am the MOST disorganized person I know, and I also have to say that there aren't too many folks here that traded plants at the volume I did last year (FJ & kathyann more than me probably).I've never used trade tracker, but what I have found has been helpful for me to keep track of my trades:
--I have created different folders for plant trades, seed trades, and completed folders for each as well. I move mail where it needs to go and people are easy to find that way
---and I write things down somewhere so I can remember
---I use usps.com to print labels if at all possible, and it keeps everyone's address if you save them (you can use the dgname as the quickname for the addy
---and I beg the other person to help keep me straight
I love trading, it's fun and a great way to meet people. I'm going to make my little trading note after I give it some thought.....
and just to keep things fun, I think I'll very lovingly wrap and package a bunch of dishrags or something and send them to mamajack....in an unlabeled box with no return address ;)
turd!!
LOL, you know you miss me....
Tropicanna,
That's great information on the folders! Thanks for adding that important step.
I aslo want to add that a friend of mine who is not as computer literate as most keeps all her trades in a spiral note book by date and then by DG name, Real Name, Address, Trade To and Trade From...she also adds a promised date so when question boxes arrive she can go to that date and can you believe everything she ever wanted to know about that little box is at her finger tips! All of it is done in PENCIL because, well, nobody is perfect~
flowerjunkie, thanks, always good to see you
a warning though...after awhile when you start to glance through your completed folders, I noticed how much of a problem I REALLY have! lol
LOL! You mean you need a 12 step program? There isn't one...so just go with your problem...
I'm an extremely disorganized person. But it does at times keep things interesting. So I can't gripe when on occasion I have to go searching through my dmail or threads to see what the sase is for. I have on occasion had to go to the extras forum and type in the zip code on the envelope to find who the person is then go searching through the dmail etc. I hope that others will be patient with me when I do it to them. I try not to but I'm pretty sure that I have. My friends make fun of my A.D.D. gardening style too. lol
Anne
We have all been new at one time or another. I was never so nervous as my first trades. We must not put such high expectations on each other to stay a friendly group. I am grateful for whatever I get in the trade, but even more for the friends I have made in doing a trade. (Hey, if I remember correctly, Tropicanna and I have the same b-day!!!)
I saw a thread on seed trading a few weeks ago that seemed to take on a very negative twist. Instead of asking what things a person can do to improve in their seed trading, it only seemed to complain about all the problems. It could have potentially made most new persons afraid ever to trade. (I am not new anymore, and it scared ME!) And that new person may have had JUST the seed you were looking for!...
I must agree with flowerjunkie that to teach by gentle example is the best and friendly DG way. We must not eat our young...
X, I am sorry that you were disappointed with your trade (it wasn't me!), but I would gently suggest that you mention your preferences with your next trader...if it is me, I would do whatever you prefer and will seek to please you.... Hey, what do you have to trade?...X, I will have to check yours out!!!
RatherB
To me, pretty much the most important piece of information included with anything that's sent (seeds or plants or SASBE) is the person's DG name... inside the box, outside the box, anywhere. If I have that, I know I'll be able to figure out everything else.
I do my best to keep track of trades, but I don't make trade tracker entries for all my "seed for postage" offers (I'd rather spend that time packing & labeling seeds). Since I might have a couple of offers going on different threads plus a few through Dmail at the same time, it could take me a while to figure it out if somebody sends me a SASBE with no DG name and no request note inside.
I should add that I do ask people to include their DG names, and that generally does the trick. :-)
Kathy, since your DG name and your real name are similar and since you list your location, I'd probably be able to figure out that a box is from you. But it doesn't seem like such a big deal to ask you to add "Kathy_Ann" to your return address. The real mystery boxes are the ones with no note inside and no return address!
I use a folder method also and I always know what is coming and going that way. I have folders called:
Send NOW! (Means ASAP)
Send Later (for something that is not quite ready, like seeds drying)
Sent
Recieving
Spring Trades (for when the trade is discussed when it is still too cold to mail)
Fall Trades (for trades discussed when you are still gathering seeds or before chopping
down Brugs)
Finished trades
Trade again (For especially nice traders or for plants you may want more of)
I have been known to send a d-mail to myself to put in a folder, for example, when a future trade is discussed on a thread rather than a d-mail.
Where there's a will there's a way! I have not even looked at trade tracker because I love my method.
Edited for form
This message was edited Mar 14, 2008 2:04 AM
This message was edited Mar 14, 2008 2:05 AM
And I said I'd list my garden name if someone asked me to. But im not going to make a regular habit of it. and I'm not goin gto get on daves garden publically and critisize my traders for not doing so. And hollering that EVERYBODY should do their trades like that , well, Can't you see how it would scare folks from trading?
I print all my labels off . I usually don't write on the outsides of the boxes at all.
All i'm saying is it should be done with your traders one on one. Discuss it with your trade partner how you want your trades packed, that way there's no disappointment,
Do you see what I'm saying Critter, I will pack the box, do what ever my trader asks of me during our trade, after all, we're all just wanting to please each other with our trades. When that person dmails me for a trade . And she requests all that personal info on the inside and outside of the box, I may not agree, but I will do it if I want to trade with this person.
But why do it, if not everybody wants to request that info or has to request it . Every trade is going to be different. I like to make things as easy and simple as possible in my trades, and so far it's working.
I have nothing against X asking all her traders to pack the boxes and put info in her boxes the way she wants, that's the way it should be. And I have nothing against X .
Having a post in a forum making suggestions for being better traders is fine, if that's what's being done, suggestions to make packing easier, labeling, etc... only makes for better trades right, but that's not what was being done here on this post originally.
X, I see you edited your top post, rather than adding a post to this thread... that makes the whole thread pretty confusing for anybody just coming across it, since you removed the part about getting mystery boxes with unknown plants from unknown traders.
i try to always send a thanks you note with my real name and my davesname
sometimes i forget in a hurry to get the package out! but i try!
i write all my trades down and check them off as the go!!
thats the NOTmartha way! ;)
i like a daves name on the box myself. because honestly, unless i talk with you on daves i am most likely not going to remember your REAL NAME or your city. and yall can all hate me if you want to but i remember trades by the name of the plant that i am wanting. if i don't get a plant name then i'm sunk.
i really think X was just frustrated and didn't mean any harm. i am going to start a thread about newbies because all i have heard lately is how afraid they are and we don't need that. so yall come find that and let's welcome them properly.
As someone who just joined (2 days ago) but hs been trading as a guest for about a month, and has 5 successful trades, all the notes above are good. I wasn't afraid to try to trade, but I will add that I have been upset by the number of people who I have requested a trade (and I had what they wanted) and yet get no response. There is a certain cyber etiquette that we all try to follow, and as a newbie, I didn't know exactly how to initiate trades, let alone how to pack or ship. I try to be polite, and always ship more than what was requested. I package everything with labels, put the dmail thread in the box with the plants that I have sent (if there are to be more shipments) in the box. I have not been putting my DG handle on the return address, but will do so in the future. Once the package has been shipped, I always dmail the recipient to let them know it is coming.
What more could I be doing to
1) get more to positively respond to my requests for trade?
2) make the trades easier?
Any acvice for newbies is always good.
BTW, I joined our local garden club last year, but have had more fun, found more friends, and generally learned more here in a month than a year at the local club. Thanks for being such a wonderful group.
Liz
Lizzy, I think you're off to a great start!
If I get no response after a week, I figure there won't be a trade. There's any number of reasons for this, so I wouldn't take it personally. Trade lists aren't always up to date (mine isn't), and some people aren't actively trading unless they have a thread up. I suppose you could try including something like "I'm new at this, so I just wanted to add that "no" is a perfectly good answer... but please respond to this Dmail so I know you've read and considered my offer to trade. Thanks!"
I'll have to agree with you liz, I joined our garden club last year as well. Nothing in the learning department comes near as close to what we learn here on DAves.
I think it's wonderful that folks are trading with you, and you've done so well so far. I've had folks not return my dmails, it's frustrating to say the least. I've even have had them not return my dmails for just a single question and no trading involved.
Speaking only for myself, I don't generally mind a gentle nudge... sometimes I click on a Dmail and don't have time to respond just them, or I might need to look something up or to think about whether I can add on another trade at this time... If I don't remember to click "mark unread," the question or request can slide down my inbox list and get lost. It's not intentional, and I think I do manage to respond most of the time. A simple "Have you had a chance to consider my trade/question? Thanks for your time!" might do the trick. If not, drop it and move along... :-)
Adding... I don't think most people would mind a nudge either, especially if you can keep from sounding annoyed (even if you are, LOL).
Thanks Critter,
I didn't know if a nudge was poor DG ettiquette.
Another question, if someon has LOTS of haves, but few wants, is it acceptable to offer SASE for some of their haves without offering a want? I have shied away from doing that, again unsure of disrespecting someone.
Thanks
I think "nudging" or making requests like that all depends on how you ask. If you're asking nicely, I don't see how anybody could have a problem. I know some people hate to say no, so I always make it clear that that's a perfectly OK answer... I've had a few Dmails go unanswered, but I haven't every had anybody get miffed with me. Have you read the trading primer? I think those points are mentioned in there, probably better than I've explained them here. :-)
I ran across this thread while looking for another post and can't believe the tone of the issue. I completely agree with Kathy_Ann. I do tons of trades, co-ops mainly, and I don't have time to write personal notes, etc. The main thing in a trade is getting the details down first with the person - as Kathy said, each trade is different in all respects.
Another key word here is FUN. We all share one thing- the love of plants and that brings us together as a family in that way. We need to send healthy plants, labeled if large numbers are being sent but if someone knows I'm sending them a red phlox then - they know it's a red phlox. I also do not know real names unless I've become buddies with that person on a level beyond DG business. Packing is very important, timing of the shipment is important - not to send on Fri or Sat and let it sit in the PO for an extra day.
I forget some times and need a nudge ! Gladly, remind me. I just posted on the seed trade to let me know what I owe you - I have tons of seeds but didn't or haven't taken time this winter to clean the seeds. That is a huge time consuming thing. So I've asked for a reminder of what I owe and they will get what was promised. I was a bad girl but will complete my trades - seeds should be labeled too.
I don't know why I'm even adding my 2 cents to this anyway. It should be directed at the person with how the trade was made.
Kathy
hello, texas lizzy, have you been over on the texas gardening forum? come on over so the folks can meet you. where is south lake? we are having a plant swap/garden and nursery tour thing in waxahachie next month that you might like.
like critter said don't take it personal if someone doesn't respond to your request. but one thing i would say if you don't have any feedback yet is to ask the people who traded with you to give you some. that makes some people feel more comfortable knowing that you have traded successfully. the other thing.....get your trade list up to date. some people may look at your trade list and not find anything they want and then not wanting to say no just don't respond at all. or when you make your request you might offer some things that you consider EQUAL to what you are asking for. and finally when i make a "cold" request from someone i always add something like "it won't hurt my feelings if you don't want to trade". when i first started trading someone wrote that with their dmail and that just seemed to decrease the pressure.
Sometimes things go awry in someone's life and trades won't be on time. Like haveing the flu and taking a couple of weeks to get back to the more fun part of life. Or more recently a death in the family. I always try to let my trade pardners know what's going on and that things may take a little longer than they should. Like someone said further up, communication is always the key.
Anne
Dear Mamajack
Thanks for the tips. Yes, I have ben the TExas gardening forum. Just posted along detailed construct on how I made my dry creek. I don't know if I will be to bronc's in April. Depends on hubby's sched. It is the same weekend of hte Main STreet Arts Fest which we always take in.
SPeaking of trading equals - I see you ahve lots of hems. I should have new intros from my dad in MO (Adamgrove) and would love to trade iwth you this fall.
L
i remember you now. how is your dad's part of the world with all the flooding? and i would be happy to trade if we can.
I just saw this come up on the most recent posts thingy and I had to check it out because of the title of the thread. I haven't read through every post here, but I would like to add something...
I've been dealing with some health issues since....well, since probably this time last year. I have some seed trades that have been put on the back burner for a long time now. (If I owe anyone reading this seeds, you WILL get them!!) Now, in the time since I started these trades I've forgotten who the heck each person is....screen name, real name...at this point it doesn't even matter anymore. I know I'll probably have to empty out most of my seed stash trying to make this up to these people...and that's fine, that's only right on my part....
I do have the d-mails that my trading partners and I set up the trades in. However, it would make life so, so, so much more simple if I just had a note from each person with their screen name, real name, address and what they were to receive back in trade. I agree it only takes a few short seconds to write all of that down and it can save many, many headaches for each trading partner.
I often print off little business card size slips of paper to include with my trades. I include my screen name, real name, and address on them. On the back it's easy to write what is being sent and what I expect in return. Actually, I've *never* sent out a trade without a thank you note in it....that just seems rude to me. If you have these little cards all printed out and cut up it takes 1/2 a second to throw one in a box or envelope. It takes about 5 minutes to make them up, print them out and cut them up. You can do enough for 6 months worth of trading in a short time.
Also, printer ink will often run if it gets wet, so will some ink pens. That's why I often go one step further when I'm trading plants and put all my paper items into a ziplock baggie. I've just always considered this part of good trading.
I've never gotten a box from something I purchased without an invoice, and I guess I expect the same for trading. I don't expect everyone to be super organized...I'm not now, although I used to be. I used to keep a trading book, but it took too much time and sure wasn't fun to do. It felt like I was running a business rather than doing something for fun...and life took over and I couldn't keep up with it.
Just my 2 cents here, but I do think it is only good trading practices to include all this info with every trade. Besides, how many of us have gotten an envelope/box and not been able to read the writing on the return addy...or have ripped it off while opening it? Life is too busy and messy. Just be polite and ensure yourself a good trade, that's my thoughts.
Hi Just a QUESTION?
I was new last year and had some(all) very nice traders,but I did not leave a response on the feed back. First I didn't know about it ,then had to figure out how(computer challenged) then I thought it was too late.
Is it too late ? Should I just do better in 2008, or should I respond now? (better late than never)
Never too late to leave feedback if you have learned now, you can go back through all your dmails and try to find the person who you traded with and then leave them feedback.
This message was edited Mar 20, 2008 2:08 PM
I admit, I often send out BE's with nothing in them but the seeds I'm sending (all my seed pack labels include my DG name). I do my corresponding about the trade via Dmail. I'd have a harder time putting my hands on notes that people sent than finding their Dmails... I guess we all have different systems!
me too critter. seeds in an evelope is all i do too. but i try to say real nice stuff on my pre-trade dmails. lol. i have 2 kids and half the time can't find paper or pens so no notes from me.