Believe it or not, they can actually charge for bartering. I used to have a friend who did a lot of bartering and they audited him. The question came up about something he owned and he told them he bartered for it. They asked him other questions and before you know it they taxed him on the bartering that he wasn't able to hide. His style of living didn't match up with his reported income.
He fixed my air conditioner and didn't make a ticket. He wanted to trade childcare at my daycare center (his child was already enrolled) instead. That was cool with me and I didn't write a receipt on the childcare either. LOL
I guess unless you do a lot of it you won't ever have to admit to it. The day they tax us for plants that we swap is the day I organize a walk on the Whitehouse to protest the high incomes that we pay out to senators and congressmen etc.
Charlene
Equitable Trading
Charlene,
How pimpy of the govt.! I was just kidding about the bartering thing- I didn't know they could actually do it!
I'll be right next to you picketing the White House, and Capitol Hill!!
Hmmmph...
Marsha.
The only problem with bartering is that after awhile you don't believe in just paying for things anymore. A guy tried to sell me a new garden window - and I tried to barter by telling him I would put a BIG sign for his company in my front yard ("Look, it's good advertising - I live on a thoroughfare practically...you can keep it up for several years. I don't care how big the sign is...in return...I want the garden window FREE! ")
He wouldn't bite.
I guess the only way to get rid of a huckster is to be a bigger huckster than he is...
I couldn't get rid of him until I said that...then he couldn't get away fast enough...
I'm just going to wait by the front door for the next person who tries to sell me something...
I always embarrass Hillis with my bartering lol.
Ill barter at Walmart and walk away with things for cheaper than marked.
He's good at it when it comes to Lowes though lol.
Ive learned in big stores like Lowes/Walmart you can catch someone on or going on break and ask them what something costs that's not marked and they'll mark it down cheap to get rid of you, LOL.
I can tell you if it doesn't have a sticker and isn't a high price item - IF the lines are long....you can get it for a cheaper price (unless it's a new cashier) LOL...most the time I honestly DON'T know the real price and that's what I tell them. They laugh and say...a buck? Will that work? Ahhhh - yes it will!!
I've done a ton of trading both here and on That Other web site, and I've learned a few things (sometimes the hard way).
Communicate UP FRONT, before the trade, about what you're getting and what you're sending. Is it a seedling? Second year plant? Exactly the variety you're looking for? Knowing the details before the trade is so important, to avoid surprises and disappointment.
Trading can be expensive (postage, materials) and very time consuming. Are you sure you can't buy the plant locally? Trades involving several plants are much more cost effective.
DG people are great. I've found most traders to be extremely generous, and I always try to send a little extra - it makes the trade that much more enjoyable.
I always send xtras too. what is "that other" web site? Packing plants is time consuming thats for sure. Often I just ask for postage but 1/2 the time a bonus will accompany the postage pmt. Often getting or sending small thinfs is because the person is new and its the best they can do. Other times plants are small becaust the plant is a miniature, as are many alpines.
I have only completed about a dozen trades so far and all of them have been wonderful. The packaging varies alot, as do mine. But I have received nursery stock with excellent packaging and the plants are broken inside. Stuff happens. The most difficult thing I have packaged so far was a mature rose bush called nearly wild. That is a thorny sucker! Even with gloves I was bleeding from ten different places on my hands before I was done packing that one! I am almost afraid to trade off the other one...lol
Brightstar, I LOVE it. Will have to remember to use that one. Now if I can just get rid of the "marketing callers"...
I have gotten some beautiful looking plants through this swap site.On the down side though , the seeds of late have been kinda dissapointing, NOT from everyone but just a few. One sent 2 seeds in a packet, now these are seeds you can go the Wally world , Lowes or sit down and order, nothing special. Boy, I hope at least 1 seed germinates! I had some with 5-10 in, I must be out of touch or something because I try to send 20-30 or more per seed. Unless I am down to the end of that type of seed, then it is what is left. with something extra.
Anyone who ships roses has my respect, I hate thorns! Rose or Locust tree thorns are the worst!
KAthy
At the very top of the Plant Trading forum (1st entry) is a sticky on how to pack plants for trading. It's very good advice - I use that method (with some minor variations), and I've never had anyone complain about getting a broken plant.
"That Other" web site is Garden Web. It's been somewhat of a competitor to DG. For my money, I think DG has it all over that site. I've abandoned it, and stick only to DG.
Steve
I think there are quite a few refugees from GW here. I'm one.
This site is 1000 times better in so many ways...
Marsha.