Safer Trading
Submitted by Lavender2 on Fri, 03/28/2008 - 21:37
(3 votes)
Although there is no possible way to ensure that all trades will be perfect, there are some precautions traders can and should take when considering a trade.
- Consider not trading with any member who has not posted a trade list, or has not posted the trade in the trade list area. Our trade list area is set up so traders can be rated and trade comments posted.
- Check the members account page and only trade with members whos profile is complete. (use 'search' or click on the member's name) * Your name and address are not viewable by other members when you complete your account page profile... only your state, zone, and comments you choose to make public.
- Do not trade with a member who contacts you by email. (through the contact link from your account page)
- If a trader is new to you begin with a small trade, get to know the member, read their posts.
- It is common and a good practice to require new members to send their end of the trade first.
- You have the right to kindly refuse any trade or offer.
- Use the rating system. This is provided to benefit all traders. Keeping in mind the respectful nature of our trade area, please feel free to leave an open and honest comment about your trade with the member.
Remember...
Wanted to bring this back
Wanted to bring this back up to the front page for our newer members - with a warning for all.
- Do not trade with a member who ONLY contacts you by email. (through the contact link from your account page). There should be a post on the site regarding your trade before email is used.
If you receive a trade request from someone with an address in Red Oak, Iowa, please pm myself, Lavender2, Garden One or skbeal with their user name right away. This may be a bad trader we have to block regularly.
DizzyD %-}
Lavender Poppy
In addition...
For now, since the PM feature isn't functioning, disregard that remark about not trading with anyone who contacts you by e-mail using your link....Until the PM feature is fully functioning here, we will have to rely on e-mail for trade communications.
Please make sure you keep records of your trades. There are many ways to do this....I like a simpler approach. You should keep track of when the trade was arranged, what the specifics of the trade were/are, who the person you are trading with is....be sure to get both their GH username and their name, snail mail address and e-mail address if necessary.
If you have an issue regarding a trade with a GH member, you are encouraged to post something on that member's trade list to let others know that you haven't received your trade. Please restrict your comments to what pertains to your trade agreement.
If you receive an e-mail
If you receive an e-mail from the above mentioned person, please forward that e-mail to me as soon as possible.
As for the trade list requirement, I wouldn't necessarily NOT trade with someone who didn't have a trade list. When I first joined the site, I didn't have a trade list. I'd moved over 1,000 miles from where I had lived for 22 years. I wasn't able to bring any plants with me, and in all honesty, at that time, the thought of harvesting seeds had never occurred to me and if it had, I would be clueless as to how....pretty pathetic for someone who had been gardening for as many years as I had, but that was how it was. Several members of GH were willing to trade with me. I started out small.....and traded for postage. It took a fairly long time for people to get to know me and trust me, but I was intent on proving myself. You can get a good sense about someone from the tone of the PM they send you when inquiring about a trade. If that member offers to send you postage from the onset, then perhaps they are sincere. I wouldn't trade my favorite things or things that are considered rare of valuable, but I believe in giving people a chance. I've been burned before, but I've had so many wonderful experiences on this site and met so many amazing people that I can accept the few times that I have been burned as water under the dam.
Trust your instincts. If you get bad vibes from someone, your inkling is probably right.
The only thing I ask of everyone who wants to refuse to trade with someone is that you be polite, diplomatic and civilized about refusing.
Susan, the Texas Yankee, the Texas Rangerette and the Assistant Administrator
SKBeal's Snazzy Tra
There are many, many
There are many, many wonderful generous traders on GardenHere. These tips are not meant to discourage trading with new members or new gardeners. Sharing your garden with new gardeners and new friends is exciting and very rewarding.
But, if a trader who is new to the site avoids posting in the trade area or anywhere else on the site and keeps all of their trading activites completely private, it may be a red flag concerning the trader's previous trading experiences.
~ Connie ~ Zone 5 ~ MN
Good point! Another red
Good point! Another red flag would be someone who doesn't post anywhere on the site and confines their activities to the trade area....that's a pretty good indication that that person is LOOKING for things, but you have no way of knowing whether they intend to uphold their end of trades or participate elsewhere on the site!
Susan, the Texas Yankee, the Texas Rangerette and the Assistant Administrator
SKBeal's Snazzy Tra