Do other peoples swaps work out? I've only been involved in a couple of swaps so far and both times I've not heard back from the receiver of seeds, am I being picky? I would have thought an email of thanks when the seeds arrive would be common courtesy and if they have agreed to send you some seeds back in return for yours then surely they should? My swapies haven't! Maybe it's just me but it's left me wondering if it's worth agreeing to swaps again.
Perhaps yours got lost in the post, I see no problem in asking if the seeds arrived safely, that might just prompt somebodies memory.
I have had no problem, but I nearly forgot myself once that I owed an outstanding swop. A gentle reminder soon sorted it. Some of us are very disorganised and there are a few that old age has not been kind to ;D
Now where has the post button gone
Quote from: ACE on January 06, 2007, 10:28:27
Perhaps yours got lost in the post, I see no problem in asking if the seeds arrived safely, that might just prompt somebodies memory.
I thought that they might have got lost in the post as well so I did enquire with my first swap a couple of weeks later and I received an email to say that they had arrived, maybe you're right in the fact that people are just busy and don't get around to it straight away or just forget! ::)
I find that if i don't do something straight away it goes completely out of my head, and then i forget for ages, until something (like a gentle reminder email!) triggers it off in my memory. I don't think anyone would take unkindly to a polite reminder if they 'owe' you swappsies. x
Hi GW, at the end of the year i ask if we could have a buy section for seeds at a low price on a4a, IE ones that people saved from their own plants or last year seeds they don't want, and i received loads of free seeds from loads of kind friends who willingly gave them away, but i found that some people never bothered to place there name and addresses with the seeds, which i found hard to thank, i think they thought that they were the only person sending seeds, if only they new, i did place a thank you thread on the site, i found a load of people on here who said they would help me did, and I'm very glad i know all these kind people on here as they helped me out of a big problem, so all i can say is No I've never had any big problems sending seeds or plants, or receiving them.
windy
You're right GW, I think that I normally send a quick note to say the seeds have arrived, or in some cases not, and always seem to get them from swappees. As ACE says, some of us get confuddled and I'm sure no-one would want you to feel out of sorts as a swap. Maybe you've been unlucky and I'm sorry to hear you have, this seed swapping is great fun and leads to wonderful discoveries. I hope you keep going, and that the good interactions start to outweigh any problems :)
did you send us some barlottos, we received some and I don't know who they're from, if you've sent us some, I apologise now :)
This is a bit embarrassing but there was a lady who said she had a huge number of indoor plants she needed to give away (they had been outside all summer). I said yes please but heard no more. I realise that she (hope it was a she) may have been overwhelmed but it would have been nice to be told so.
Hi GW. I agree that a PM or email to say that the seeds have arrived is good manners and the least you should expect. I've sent and received many seeds and rarely has there been a problem. My memory isn't great so I keep a note book by the pooter and make sure I keep a record of things I've promised or been promised. And if I have ever forgotten to thank anyone for seeds then I apologise unreservedly. :)
G x
I am terrible at saying seeds have arrived, so those that sent to me over this last week, I think I said thanks to you all, but in case I missed any, THANKS YOU GUYS-YOU ARE GREAT! Often I receive seeds in batches, and some have no note with them, so I forget who did what. Also, now we can't have unlimited messages in our inboxes, I empty mine, they realise I have deleated peeps answers, so I forget who sent things. I don't believe I have ever let anyone down if they have asked for seeds - I might not always be quick, but I do get there in the end, promise.
If you feel let down, then pm/email the person. Or, when you have sent seeds, pm/email them to let them know they are coming, then it will prompt them/remind them who was sending what. :-\
I have done a lot of seed swaps and do the same as Georgie: I write it down in my special book. I do this because most of the people who send me seeds do NOT write their name or forum name on the envelope ??? ??? and in the beginning I had to check who did offer certain seeds!!!. I would ask: PLEASE write a name
on the envelope ;D
[url]http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,28/topic,24178.0[/url
Needless to say, I will not be SWAPPING seeds again, I went to quite a bit of trouble for this character, he's dissapeared without trace.............. I still have his address though, you never know when I'll be in the area ;)
I have to say i am not great at recording anything as i try and sneek this in when i am at work as i cant always use the pc at home.
But if i have missed sending anything to anyone i am sorry and i dont mind people asking if they got them.
I know however of only one person whos post got lost and i lucky enough still had seed to send a second lot.
Maybe that we need are some guidelines that new users can see?
I have never swapped but just want to add that sometimes things happen in our lives and other things that were important have to take a back seat.We have had plots on our site that get left and get full of weeds and you think maybe the person doesn't care etc but then hear that something bad has happened to them.Try and remember that when complaining.
I keep PM's from people who send me plants or seeds until they arrive. That way I can refer back if I need to.
I keep all PMs from people till they deal is completed both ways. I always send a personal reply once I have received the package. If I don't hear from who I send stuff to, I PM asking if they have received. Just to make me feel better knowing they have not been lost in the post. Nothing has as yet - touch wood.
Only had one unfair do with this all the time I have swapped.
QuoteTry and remember that when complaining.
All very well but would a simple email kill them?
Hey Merry Tiller, Did you ever get hold of the Japanese Black Trifle seeds you were after? I have some spare, want some, not after a return I´m all set for spring!
Quote from: manicscousers on January 06, 2007, 15:28:51
did you send us some barlottos, we received some and I don't know who they're from, if you've sent us some, I apologise now :)
golly I can't remember :-[ ::) ;D ;D ;D
I have received two lots of seeds from very generous people and although I can not give or swap anything at this time I have offered to send others seeds from Netto to people who cannot get them as they live to far away.
Yes I thinks it only polite to thank someone for their swaps..
I do think to would be helpful if you could check the PM for the messages you have sent as well as those you have received. Or have I missed how to do that ???
Any way thanks to all who have offered and sent bits to me.
BB
Especially around Christmas it has been a bit hard for me to keep track of swaps. In addition to spending a lot of time with the family I have been travelling more than half of December. Sorry if I have forgotten a PM!
Personally would appreciate a reminder PM if there was a swap I hadn't completed or if I haven't sent the 'they arrived! thanks!!' PM yet.
I have only had good experiences with swapping on this forum.
What is Netto
and do they sell chilli and pepper seeds?
I have never heard of Netto
hi
netto is a supermarket like lidil or aldi they sell european brands at low price and they sell quantity so they can keep there prices low.
google them you may have one close.
cambourne7
Quote from: silly billy on January 06, 2007, 19:12:49
I have never swapped but just want to add that sometimes things happen in our lives and other things that were important have to take a back seat.We have had plots on our site that get left and get full of weeds and you think maybe the person doesn't care etc but then hear that something bad has happened to them.Try and remember that when complaining.
Gosh I seem to have put a cat among the pigeons! I didn't mean to upset anyone and if I have I'm sorry, I agree that we don't know what has happened in peoples lives and I would never knowingly upset someone or complain, it just seems strange that people don't always say thanks, we are all different and I was brought up in a certain way and that included how to say thanks.
I have never contacted people that haven't said thanks because I am worried that I will upset them or something may be wrong but maybe this thread will remind people that common courtesy and manners don't cost a penny.
Agreed, manners cost nothing
I've been around for less than 2 months, and already had 2 very nice swaps. I confess that I'm probably tarred with the 'unfair' person, as I still haven't sent what I promised. Only managed to get round to digging up the bamboo roots that I promised today, and hopefully the second person I swapped with will be delighted by the end of the week:)
There are always going to be people that abuse this, but there are also going to be some that benefit. It'd be nice if there was some form of recommendation as to who was an honest swapper, and who wasn't...but does it really matter that much? Worst case is that you lose the postage cost.
Best case is that you make a new contact, and get an interesting swap. I like to believe that gardeners are 'salt of the earth', and don't deliberately set out to abuse trust.
Bottom line is that by sending a swap, you are adding a bit of good 'karma' to the world. I just wish that more people would do the same:)
QuoteThere are always going to be people that abuse this, but there are also going to be some that benefit
Trouble is abusers will benefit
:)I'm with Womble and MT on this one.
By the way has anyone got any spare seed. ;) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :-*
;DLOL
If I've got the seed I just post it off without asking questions about what, if anything, I'll get back. Maybe a few people will take the mickey, but what other people send me more than makes up for it.
what goes around comes around.
Quotewhat goes around comes around.
I do hope so
i'm sorry to hear some people have had bad experiences. and i'm particularly sorry in your case merry tiller.....it just sounds a bit odd. like silly billy said....people do go through some bad times in there lives. but never the less, if you have time to recieve seeds in such a bad time...then i'm sure you have time to let the person know you got them and to return the favour. or atleast keep the communication open so that the other person knows what's going on.
i've been going through some crap over the last year.....and i've done a lot of swaps here, even received stuff off people for absolutely free....and i'm thankfull to all of you. and while i was doing my swaps and telling people i recieved the post.....i too left things really late sometimes. but i did inform everyone in the end as to what was going on.
i hope i don't owe anything to anyone here...i'd hate to be the person who took advantage of someone or made false promises. if i do owe you something, let me know.
I did quite a few swaps over summer,
If I owe people anything let me know...
Thanks to all who sent me seed
:)
I’m sorry if I seem a little bitter over this but it wasn’t just a case of me sending one packet of seed in return for another and never receiving anything in return
Someone on here was offering to swap some seeds I’d been after for quite a while so I replied to this person requesting that particular tomato seed and offering a choice of any of toms in return, I sent him a list of around 60 varieties to choose from. He then asked me how many different varieties he could choose from the list. I was expecting him to chose just one as a straight swap but as he seemed enthusiastic and as I’m a generous kind of chap I said it would be ok for him to chose any 6 from the list He replied with a list of 7. I should have realised at this point that he was a Mickey taker and withdrawn from the whole thing but as I said I’m a generous chap so I duly counted out the seeds, packeted them separately, labelled them up and sent them off
That was the last I heard from him, despite numerous attempts to contact him.
As they say, you live and learn :'(
PS. I’d just like to thank Biscombe for her kindness in sending me the seeds I was after in the first place, I hope her garden flourishes ;D
Quote from: Merry Tiller on January 10, 2007, 09:07:11
I’m sorry if I seem a little bitter over this ...
I have to say that your signoff to Amphibian on the other thread had me laughing aloud.
I see that he hasn't been on here since early October, so I suspect that you'll never resolve it.
He was a fairly active member who stopped posting all of a sudden.
That's all I wanted to say.
Dan
Most of my swapsies were great. I'm often touched by people's generosity. :)
However I did have a few swaps, which I was left feeling unhappy with, as I got very few seeds in return when I sent more than a dozen packets of seeds etc.
Awww thanks Merry Tiller! sat here blushin!! you seeds are in the post on friday xx
Quote from: Merry Tiller on January 10, 2007, 09:07:11
I’m sorry if I seem a little bitter over this but it wasn’t just a case of me sending one packet of seed in return for another and never receiving anything in return
Someone on here was offering to swap some seeds I’d been after for quite a while so I replied to this person requesting that particular tomato seed and offering a choice of any of toms in return, I sent him a list of around 60 varieties to choose from. He then asked me how many different varieties he could choose from the list. I was expecting him to chose just one as a straight swap but as he seemed enthusiastic and as I’m a generous kind of chap I said it would be ok for him to chose any 6 from the list He replied with a list of 7. I should have realised at this point that he was a Mickey taker and withdrawn from the whole thing but as I said I’m a generous chap so I duly counted out the seeds, packeted them separately, labelled them up and sent them off
That was the last I heard from him, despite numerous attempts to contact him.
As they say, you live and learn :'(
PS. I’d just like to thank Biscombe for her kindness in sending me the seeds I was after in the first place, I hope her garden flourishes ;D
nah i don't think you sounded bitter....i would be annoyed. but like dan said....something might have happened.
so we never know....some bad experiences will always happen....but most of the time i think it's a wonderfull idea that works out for the best for most of us.
Perhaps the line should be drawn now?
>:(
:D