1. Good traders POST PUBLICLY in the group, and do not
go around emailing members in private to try and set up trades.
New members who email privately draw suspicion upon themselves,
as this is how many scammers and cheaters in trading/swapping
groups operate.
We ask all members to post publicly on matters concerning trades
so everything is out in the open, and so that there is an archival
record of what is said between both traders.
WE ADVISE ALL CURRENT MEMBERS TO IGNORE REQUESTS FOR TRADING
VIA PRIVATE EMAIL FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION.
2. Good traders keep records of what they promised to whom.
3. Good traders PROMPTLY follow thru on what they promised
(that means within 5-7 days of an agreement to trade or receipt
of another person's trade, NOT 2 months later and several
reminders asking for it).
4. Good traders send an e-mail letting the person know the
trade is in the mail so they can be watching for it.
5. Good traders acknowledge with a simple 'thank you' when
a trade has been received. They should do this in the group by
posting a Nomination so that all may know that the sender is a
trader who makes good on his/her promises. If the Sender was
someone who did this as a Random Act of Kindness (RAK), then
etiquette dictates that the Receiver of such a gift should post
a RAK Nomination as a way of thanking the Sender for his/her
generosity.
6. Good traders OFFER something if they want something from
another trader. That offer could be plants or postage, but either
way, it should be a fair offer. For example, one should not
expect someone to trade to them an expensive rooted plant for say,
just a bunch of common flower seeds. If one does not have plants to
trade in exchange, it is entirely acceptable to trade what you
may have that your trading partner finds acceptable such as garden
books or supplies, craft and hobby items, collectibles, etc.
All offers for trade must be posted PUBLICLY IN OPEN
FORUM,and all REPLIES TO ANY OFFERS POSTED IN THE GROUP, MUST BE
POSTED PUBLICLY IN OPEN FORUM. Private messaging to set up any trades
is forbidden in this group. We do everything publicly until addresses
are exchanged, which should then be done privately. Members who continue
to set up trades privately are acting in violation of our POLICIES &
PROCEDURES, and shall be banned from the group.
7. Good traders keep records, receipts and confirmation numbers
of evidence of having sent their trade to another in the event
questions later arise as to whether or not they indeed followed
thru on sending their trade as had been agreed upon.
8. Good traders do not go off emailing lots of people in the
group willy nilly trying to get as much free stuff as they can.
They look for ways to make a mutually satisfying trade, rather
than just taking what they can get. If one does not have plants to
trade in exchange, it is entirely acceptable to trade what you
may have that your trading partner finds acceptable such as garden
books or supplies, craft and hobby items, collectibles, etc.
9. Good traders do not email someone in the group just because
they noticed that this someone is sending seeds, cuttings, or plants
to another member, and having noticed that, they would like to have
some, too. Unless, that member has specifically offered such items
in open forum to ALL who want, it is presumptuous to email or to
post to another member asking for something that had originally
been offered to someone else.
10. Good traders should not even mention the fact they want
something if they have nothing to trade, or do not expect to send
money (or postage) at the time a trade is offered as a post in
the group. Money or postage is expected to be sent promptly to
the member sending the package. Many traders post because they
want to get rid of their extra's NOW....not baby it until the other
person gets around to sending postage for what they want that is
being posted at the time.
11. Good traders don't promise to send something and then back
out of the deal once they get their half of the deal. If you only
have a certain quantity to trade, tell your trading partner that
at the start.
12. Good traders realize that postage costs, envelopes, etc.
are expensive, so please be fair when sending postage if someone
agrees to do a trade for postage. If you are reqesting seeds for
SASE, please be considerate and provide a ziplock baggy for your
seeds, and include a mailing label with your name and address.
Many good traders round up to the nearest dollar or add an extra
stamp or two as a courtesy to cover expenses like time and gas
to the post office etc..
13. Good traders try to make their trading partners happy and
do their very best to send out viable seeds, and healthy fresh
cuttings and plants, of a sizable nature which they, themselves
would be proud to receive.
If a trader continues to trade out sub-standard and poor quality
plants, seeds and cuttings to their trading partners, that trader
shall be removed from this group after 3 notifications from
different members within the group who post publicly that they
have received "junk" from the same trader.
14. Good traders READ THE GROUP'S POLICIES & PROCEDURES (found in
the group's Files section) BEFORE STARTING TO TRADE, so that they
don't have problems in the group with other traders.
Be aware that many traders in here have been trading for a long
time and openly discuss good and bad trading experiences they
have had with others, both privately, as well as openly in the
group when it is called for. It is to your benefit to start off
on the right foot by being a fair and honest trader because once
you establish yourself as a dishonest trader (and it only takes a
few times of ripping people off before word gets around), it is
extremely hard to recover your image as a decent trader, and it
won't be long before people in the group will be come leery of
trading with you. Good traders are rewarded by having many friends
and others to trade with as people are eager to trade with good
traders. Bad and/or dishonest traders will find that their
reputation will follow them around to several other gardening
groups, as many of us also belong to other similar groups, and
word travels fast.
Bad traders may also want to be aware of Mail Fraud Charges
which can be filed against them. Here is a link explaining what
that is:
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx
Traders who have exhausted all means and who have followed
procedures indicated above, may wish to print out the USPS form
to file MAIL FRAUD charges against someone who has received
monies for plants, but who neglected to send what was promised.
The link to print out the MAIL FRAUD form is located here:
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/radDocs/ps8165.pdf
Other Considerations:
If you feel that you have dealt with a Bad Trader, before you
report that person to the group, the following should be taken
into consideration:
Many traders are involved in several trades in other gardening
groups, and it does get confusing. People do forget, everyone
is human. Sending a friendly reminder sometimes helps. Also,
a trader experiencing problems with family illness, medical problems,
and other obligations may be unable to spend time in the garden or
on their computer answering emails. During these stressful times,
they may put seed and or plant trades on the back burner.
*****NOTE REGARDING ATTITUDE & BEHAVIOR IN THIS GROUP:*****
It is a privilege to be able to hold membership in this group and
to be allowed to trade in this group. Be warned, that those who
exhibit negative attitudes and behavior will not be tolerated in
this group where others are here to enjoy themselves.
Malcontents in this group who are disruptive, and who threaten
the cohesiveness of this group will be summarily removed for their
negative attitudes, disrespect to other members and/or the
moderators, as well as for divisiveness.
A HAPPY GROUP WITH HAPPY MEMBERS IS IMPORTANT TO THE WELL-BEING OF
THIS GROUP. MALCONTENTS AND UNHAPPY PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SPREAD
THEIR NEGATIVITY IN THIS GROUP WILL BE REMOVED.
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(c) COPYRIGHT 2008,2009,2010: No part of the above may be reproduced,
altered, or used in any form or by any means without the express
written permission of the author, littleme_hi@yahoo.com.
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