This may not be the proper place to post this - if not I apologise and please disregard it.
I've have a number of trades recently that have failed because the sender did not ship the plants properly. (Roots exposed, plants placed in walmart bag with loose dirt in box, etc.) I think most of this has happened because the sender did not know how to ship them. I've tried to use the review page of everyone I trade with and leave feedback but a lot of members don't use these features or don't know they are there. Is there a way we could make those tools get more exposure so people will notice them and use them more??
Feedback Tools and Reviews for plant trading
I think just saying this could prove to be a reminder. It gets too easy/busy during trading season for some (sometimes me) to catch up. The thing is..once a bit of time has past..so has the the thought of doing it.
I have tried to do it as soon as I let the person know that the package has arrived, this way there gets to be a history for them and folk can check in.
Thanks, I hope this gets noticed :)
I don't like to grumble a lot and I can forgive a beginner that really doesn't know. I always try to show them the methods post if they don't. I just got one notice from a trader when I explained this that told me basically "tough, that's how I do it" that really burnt me up. I've already spent 10.00 shipping a 2nd shipments of crape myrtles (healthy) when she claimed the first didn't arrive - then dead plants this morning. Sorry about the venting. But I needed to say something.
rjones- I can definitely sympathize with your venting! If someone says "tough, that's how I do it" and then their plants arrive dead, I would (now, nontheless) give them a short time to fix the situation, and post bad feedback if they don't. Is this the same person who claimed the first plants didn't arrive? If so, you might want to dmail other people who might have traded with this person and find out if their packages arrived or not.
Also, if someone has this attitude, you can always choose not to trade with them instead of taking a chance on receiving dead plants.
The attitude came after the plants arrived and I was trying to resolve the trade not when I made the trade. I guess that's what made me mad but I've let it go.
That was my reason for mentioning the review and feedback tools. If there are no reviews/feedbacks we have nothing to go by. I have done quite a few trades and very few people left feedback. I know it's forgotten a lot of the times and I can understand it's quite easy to forget about it. I for one did not even realize it was there until a few months ago and went back thru all my trades to make sure I did leave something for everyone I traded with. I do think it is important and thought maybe there were others like me who wasn't aware it was there.
Where is it?
In that case, I hope that you do post negative feedback, so the rest of us will have an idea of what we might be getting into if we want to trade with that person. I, for one, would likely stay away. Though most people will say that they've had far more good trades than bad, almost everyone I've dmailed with has had at least one bad experience, and it's good for all to know who these people are.
Edited to add:
Mittsy, it's on everyone's member page, top left.
This message was edited Oct 1, 2008 6:47 PM
mittsy - I decided not to post any negative feedback yet. She got back with me this evening and we came to an acceptable agreement so maybe there was a misunderstanding between us - she offered to make it right and was very nice about it. I am willing to give her a second chance.
But please everyone when you think about it do use the feedback tools and reviews! I have had more good trades than bad but I don't like going thru that kind of experience with anyone if I can avoid it.
I always check feedback. I think it is important to check before you trade. I agree though I don't think everybody posts to it. I try to leave feedback with every trade. Thanks for bringing this topic up.
After I've gotten a trade and am d-mailing the person about receiving I usually mention that I'm going to leave feedback. That is usually a good reminder for people.
I had not noticed the feature until just recently. I went to checkout a couple of people and there was no feedback. I will try to remember in the future to leave feedback.
Just went back to catch up giving feedback, surprised on how far behind I was..especially when I had to go to page 2 !!!
Again, hoping this gets attention. I both give/get feedback on For Postage items. It is a great way for those starting out to establish a trading history.
I don't think alot of new members know about the feedback and many non-members don't. I think it would be a good tool if say you use trade tracker and once you click on receive, it will ask if you want to leave feedback. That would help. Something for Dave's to consider - as if he doesn't have enough to do.
One thing we all could do is after a trade and you leaving the other trader know that you left them a positive feedback. That would give them a little reminder that they too can leave you a feedback. I try to leave feedback as soon as I receive my plant(s) or seeds, otherwise I will forget.