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bad trade practices
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Posted by vjhale z5 MI (My Page) on Tue, Aug 7, 07 at 13:03
| I just called off a trade with a new member because the traders terms just kept getting worse and worse. But there is no place to expose bad traders if you don't let yourself get taken by them first.
First trader wanted to know how many seeds I was sending because they had 'commercial' packs, a fair question, but just because they are 'commercial seeds' doesn't mean they are better than seeds collected from someones garden. I asked trader how many in their packs so I could make sure they were compariable, trader responded in grams - this was like trading pillows for bowling balls by weight. Then trader wanted me to send seeds first so they could decide what was fair. Then told me my seeds were older so not worth as much (they were not older). Then trader wanted MORE seeds than original request - "all your 2007, 2006, 2005 --- seeds" - which would have been an EXTREMELY unbalanced trade for the 3 packs trader had that I wanted. Everytime time I would reply with a decline for trade, trader requested more seeds while leading me to believe I could trust them. These are all tactics of a scammer, not a new member of 2 weeks.
Since I didn't finish the trade, this person or anyone like them can't be rated. And just to make things more confusing, this trader has one good rating under their belt. It's frustrating that traders can't be warned. I know we are all on our own to set up trades, but there should be someplace to alert traders - especially new traders - of unusual trading practices to watch out for. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: bad trade practices
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| I think you were right in just declining the trade. It sounds like the person was not experienced enough to realize what an equal or fair trade was. Of course a 'fair' trade is one that both traders are happy with, though it may not be even, or even close to even. this was like trading pillows for bowling balls by weight.
That would be like trading squash or pumpkin seeds for poppies, Lenten Rose, or tomatoes. Then trader wanted me to send seeds first so they could decide what was fair.
Sounds like this member of 2 weeks was sure expecting a lot of you and your seeds. As Dr Phil would say..."He is either going to change, or he isn't (going to change)". It would be my guess that if he continues with others as he has with you, that there won't be many trades that get completed...just like yours. Thanks for the input. Good food for thought. Sue |
RE: bad trade practices
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| man that sounds like a trader i know of that contacts me once in a while only she offers to trade with me and then flakes off. after we just start to get settled on something. i don't like that!! but she also has some great ratings under her belt!! |
RE: bad trade practices
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| Personally, I think it is fine to cancel out of a trade if no agreement can be reached that will make both traders happy. "Stuff happens"... people need to be free to change their minds. What if they get a better trade offer from another trader, or discover they can't find some of their seeds? Or their pet dog or rabbit eats/damages the plant they were thinking of trading. And medical emergencies and overtime at work happen too! Seed & plant trading is a hobby, not a job. Not all of us can make it a #1 priority all the time. So, I try not to call cancelling a trade "flaking off..." People often have *very good* reasons to cancel, whenever they cancel... But this is just my personal view, not everyone will see it this way. :) |
RE: bad trade practices
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| i do agree, but with her i call it flaking off, cuz she does this to me all the time, and we seem to get further and further in, and she'll say something happened last time, and me being the believing person i am, i say ok, just this last time i was like ahhh can't do this no more, i'm not a mean person. you know that, i mean i've traded with you. it takes me a while to get rubbed the wrong way. i even really like her. been there with the seeds, errrr!!! LOL ummmm "kids" LOL :')) |
RE: bad trade practices
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| I wouldn't feel bad about canceling a trade if the other person was being unreasonable. If I had more than one dealing with them,I'm afraid I'd be rude and delete their emails w/o replying. Sometime just one brick falling on their head doesn't work...it takes the whole darn house before they get the idea. PP |
RE: bad trade practices
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| I sent money for shipping and handling for some tree cuttings in March. Have emailed several times. Still get no response. Acknowledged the first e-mail said would send and now just silence. Ann |
RE: bad trade practices
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Ann,I am so sorry to hear that happened to you. Did you post this under the members name? If not you should,I am sure most folks wouldn't trade with this person if they knew this happened to you! By the way,the seeds you sent are all germinating and sprouting wonderfully! :)
~Angie |
RE: bad trade practices
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- Posted by dorisl 5 NW Chicago burbs (My Page) on
Sun, Jun 22, 08 at 22:59
| Id really rather have somebody be honest and cancel or postpone a trade than make a commitment they cant live up to. I cancelled one becaue I was all discombobulated and disorganzied and didnt know what I had or where it was. :) |
RE: bad trade practices
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| I am relatively knew to the GW, but I do the research before I collect the seeds for trade. I believe in doing it right or not all. I did a trade recently with a new member and got non-viable rose hips that had been harvested prematurely. Prior to this I had had only great trades. Obviously everyone does not have good standards. I always try when setting up a trade to get my expectations and the other trader's expectations in writing. That way hopefully everyone ends up happy. I have been trying to live by the rule of not giving a bad review unless I received nothing; haven't figured out how to politely and delicately tell someone on a public forum that they don't know what they are doing so I just don't trade with someone twice if they don't meet my standards. That is the only discreet way I can think of to handle bad traders - they just get no future trades from me. It is very frustrating to go through the process of setting up a trade and then get non-viable seed. And it is also very nasty to get pet hair all in the seed package. I trade for seed not pet hair. LOL Oh, and seed should be dry when you get it. Had that problem with a new trader too. Had to dry out and then repackage the seed. I now know why people get really specific in their requirements on their postings; they are not crabby gardeners they just have standards. If I refuse to trade with someone more than once I figure it is a discreet means of communication and gives the individual a second chance to learn to do trading right, only with others. :-) Best to you,
Quiltingfox |
RE: bad trade practices
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| And here is why I do not jump to do a bad review. The other member was new like me and we have been able to work through the problems involved in the trade by keeping communications open. Some trades just take more time and effort than other trades, but that does not necessarily make them bad. So I opt for the time being to only do a bad review when I receive nothing and get no communication from the member I am trading with. Oh, and I do like animals; I grew up on a farm and have raised a lot of animals. Just wanted to clarify that. Best to you and yours,
Quiltingfox |
RE: bad trade practices
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| This happened to me after I had been trading seeds for about 2 years. I sent out what I thought were butterfly bush seeds. Well, they were indeed the seed pods, but mine never did open. I had been told before that that you just sent all of the 'fluff'. Well, I found out that wasn't so, after I once saw a dry pod that split and I could see the tiny tiny hair like seed. I guess I was just a slow learner when it came to butterfly bush seeds and pods. I opt for the time being to only do a bad review when I receive nothing and get no communication from the member I am trading with.
That's pretty well what I think and do also. We were all new and starting out at one point. I do know the first few plant trades I mailed out, were probably not very 'pretty'. Sue |
RE: bad trade practices
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see i do the same, i take a long time to give a bad review. even if the person is just "RUDE". sometimes i wish i could put that in the review. but i know that sometimes life gets ya. and ya take it out on everyone. well because you can, you don't meet these people and you never will. tabor is getting into gw and trading now, talk about nervous! i am soooo nervous, he wants me to show him the "ropes". i don't know any ropes. i've been burned. so all i can do is show him the rr and if they aren't in there, go carefully!! very carefully!! and never send money!! he will learn.
i'm showing him the way to package them right and how many seeds and all. so he has a good name. :') |
RE: bad trade practices
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- Posted by rbrady 5/Eastern Ia (My Page) on
Wed, Sep 10, 08 at 18:50
| Hi everyone! I hope I am not hijacking this thread (sorry) but I have a question.
How long do you give someone before you post a review about a trade? I mean, if you sent your seeds, emailed them a few times, have not heard back whether they received them or not, and you have not received your end. Is there a certain amount of time you give someone? This is the first time this has happened to me and I am curious. Everyone else i have traded with stayed in contact during the trade. Thanks Rhonda |
RE: bad trade practices
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| Hmmm...I don't really know. Maybe someone else will respond. If you happen to see them 'start' a new thread, or can post to their old thread, you might try that stating you had mailed your seeds, and wondered if she got them or had mailed her end yet. You might also try giving a shout out on The Seed Exchange Conversation side...and maybe if others are looking for her they will speak up. Aug 25th I sent out some plants for postage...postage had been prepaid, and I have never heard a word that they were received. I've emailed twice I think...Once when they were going out and a week or so after the Delivery Confirmation showed they had been received. I really cannot think that someone would be so ungrateful that they would not acknowledge receiving in (nice) healthy irises. I'm thinking maybe she is away from home, or has computer woes. I have had those in the past, and it is heck if one is a trader. For me to get to a computer it was a drive clear into town, and I seldom ever go to town without it being a have to situation. Sue |
RE: bad trade practices
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- Posted by remy 6WNY (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 29, 08 at 19:57
Rhonda,
I know the message is fairly old, but maybe you're still wondering or someone else is. The longest I ever had a pkg. take to be delivered was one month from when it was mailed. The trader swore they mailed it, and I believed them.(Your trader of course has made no contact.) I received the bubble envelope inside of a plastic bag. The bubble itself was dirty and sticky as if a pop had been spilled on it somewhere along the way. No clue how that happened, but that is how it looked, lol. The seeds were fine inside though.
There were a few times I mailed seeds and they took a few weeks to make it to their destination, so sometimes they do take awhile.
So taking into account maybe a week to put a pkg. together and then mailing time, I would say one month and a week is long enough to wait especially without any contact.
Remy |
RE: bad trade practices
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- Posted by rbrady 5/Eastern Ia (My Page) on
Thu, Oct 2, 08 at 17:43
| Thanks Sue and Remy. I emailed them again a couple of days ago and still nothing. It has been over a month, so I might just chalk it up to experience. The person did not have a rate and review, so I had nothing to really go by. The funny thing is I am kind of ticked off but I have plenty of seeds-I probably would have done an sasbe. I guess it is just the point if that makes any sense. Rhonda |
RE: bad trade practices
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| I'm sorry to hear that you still have not heard anything from them. I see your last post was Sept 10th, when you already had suspicions that these were 2 trades that had gone wrong. I hope you will not hesitate to do the reviews on them. In a case like this, I have made my Subject of Posting Line
Member Name-First name-from State Abbreviation-Negative
ie-dewned Jane from CA-Negative And then just state the particulars as much or as little as you care to. I suggested 'that' subject line, because there are a few of us vigilantes out there who save all the negative reviews and are forever watching out for newbies, as well as other unsuspecting folks. I'll be awatchin. Also...if you should happen to find out that there was really a valid reason as to why they had not sent, you can always ask that GW delete your review, which they can do if no one else has posted other actual reviews below yours in the same thread. Sue |
RE: bad trade practices
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- Posted by rbrady 5/Eastern Ia (My Page) on
Wed, Oct 8, 08 at 23:24
| Well, I sent one last email tonight to see if I get a reply. The reason is they popped up on the seed exchange, so I figured I would give them a chance to explain. I told the person if I did not hear from them I was going to post a R/R. I hope it works out. Thanks for the help! Rhonda |
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