skip to main content

The Seed Exchange

how long is a respectable amount of time.....

15 years ago

....to allow for seeds to arrive (receiving end of a trade)...before contacting the other person by email. I don't want to rush anyone (but it's kinda' like Christmas, looking forward to the seeds in my mailbox). I want to be polite and allow sufficient time....so how long do you usually wait???

Thanks,

Linda

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

scottrell
15 years ago
I don't think that there is anything wrong with asking when the seeds were sent. When I set up a trade with someone I tell them right away when I will be sending out, like "These will go out first thing in the morning" This usually gets a response "Yours are going out tomorrow too" I do my best to send them out right away, and I always try to tell them when I send out my envelope so they can know when to expect it. It only takes about two seconds to shoot off an e-mail saying "Seeds sent today" If I am running late I tell them that too. I think it should be expected to tell a person when seeds are sent and when they are received.

When did you send out yours? Did they receive it? How long have you been waiting?
kwyet1
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Scottrell,
I've really only been waiting about a week, they will probably be in the mailbox tomorrow ( :
However, I DO always send everyone an email when I send out my part of the trade.....there are just 2, that I haven't heard from. So, I'm thinking, if I don't hear or receive anything by the end of the week....I can email them and ask when they were sent out???
Thanks,
Linda
Related Discussions
Time questions -- how long till...?
Q
Comments (24)
I do have Miracle Gro and was using that until I got the Neptune's Harvest about three months ago. I could start using it again, but frankly I didn't see any real difference. I figured it would be okay to use it until it's gone, because now that it's bought it's going into the environment no matter what I do with it, no matter whether it gets dumped on my garden, down the drain, or in a landfill. But I really thought that Neptune's Harvest would be better all around. Not only gentler but more effective than Miracle-Gro. They also have fertilizer specifically for tomatoes. The tomatoes are in containers. I could either put them on the porch next to the house, or I could carry them inside. They're rather heavy, though, and it might be a problem keeping the cats off them. (The cats actually outnumber the tomato plants.) I could also move them to where they could get more sun. I have a shed, but I don't know how much protection that would be, and they'd get no light. I have a cold frame that I still have to put together. I could put that over the melons and maybe add a week or two. It's doubtful that would be enough, but who knows, I may luck out. Broccoli can freeze solid and still survive, although if it's frozen it can't grow. But brassica are hardy enough that I might actually get something this year. The potatoes were a little late going in, but not more than a week or two. I'm sure I'll get potatoes this year. The zukes and maters are iffy, but with luck and some protection, I wouldn't rule them out. It's possible I could get a couple. The melons...well, it's kind of a matter of pride now. I'll keep them going for as long as I can, and if nothing else, that'll teach me what the hot hats and cold frame can do.
...See More
Amount of time per day your kids spend on electronics?
Q
Comments (9)
I'm one who has (or should I say, had, my kids are 17 & 20 now) strict rules. Ok, so I'm going to say up front that my rules are probably way more severe than most people's, but it worked beautifully for my kids. First of all, they have never been allowed to own a game boy/nintendo/ whatever brand of hand held game. They could play with them at their friends' houses when they visited, but owning one was out. Second, we watch no television. When they were very young, I decided no more prime time -- I personally didn't want to watch it anymore for lots of reasons but in addition to that I just didn't feel comfortable to exposing my then 2 & 5 year old to most of the stuff you see on prime time. I let them watch cartoons on Sat morning, simply because I'd watched them growing up and hey it's kid stuff and they were kids! But what I observed was that too much of that made them cranky. They would start watching at say 7 am and by 10 am when I was ready to get them out of the house for something fun to do, they were whiny and cranky and annoyed -- all of this I attributed to too much time in front of the TV. I began limiting them to one hour on Sat morning, each could pick one half hour show. From there it was easy to just turn the TV off all together. And yes, it did eliminate that lethargic crankiness! We did watch movies -- lots of age appropriate stuff, you'd be surprised at how many really good old Disney (and non-disney but still age-appropriate) movies from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s there are out there on video that are still very entertaining today. Especially the older stuff where there was no obvious sex because it wasn't allowed, even if some of the dialog is sometimes risquÃ©, most of that stuff goes over their heads when they're young. In any case, movies are so much easier to control because we would watch them as a family, it was our evening entertainment instead of TV one or two nights a week. What did we do on other nights? We played games, read books, and generally the boys had to find ways to entertain themselves either individually or together on a regular basis without Mom or electronic aid. I'm proud to say that both of my boys are avid readers (still) and have great vocabularies and to this day they don't feel deprived of electronic entertainment. My 17 yo has a room completely packed with books, and I still hear him use new words on a regular basis -- he mispronounces them sometimes but uses them correctly so I know he read it in a book, got the meaning but just didn't grasp the pronunciation. So, like I said, my rules are very severe, but we all benefited from them. Sometimes, when I do turn on the TV to watch a video, I get caught up in a TV show that happens to be on. After watching about three minutes, listening to inane jokes with canned laughter and idiotic commercials I think to myself, yeah, I'm not missing a thing.
...See More
Respecting their wishes...bit long
Q
Comments (33)
KKNY, We have looked at the court order again, to see what we can do. So it states that "both parents agree to be flexible in regards to the arrangements", but it also states that proposals for change need to be discussed by phone. So far BM has been putting FDH on the spot in the presence of the kids, and usually that is last minute anyway so it does not leave any time for FDH to think about it. Otherwise she'll send a text message, which is also last minute. F.e. at 4.30pm he might receive a message to say the skids will not be there at 5. Anyway, we have been to a counselor yesterday, and we discussed the options. She advised us to stick to the court order to the letter. FDH should not accept any other way but for BM to give FDH a phonecall. Otherwise she is breaching the court order, not us. And this is the thing; in 4 years BM has not rang FDH once, not once. She plainly refuses to ring him. Because FDH and BM went to the court counseling and were then talking again FDH has tried to keep this fragile contact by caving in whenever BM would bring things up in presence of kids. Just to keep the peace. The kids were so happy to see BM and FDH talk and he did not want to yeopardise that. The counselor advised us to not accept it any longer, just stick to the court order and unless BM rings, no more changes. FDH will write BM a letter and send it in registered mail, so we have the proof that he has asked BM to stick to the court order. Unfortunately it will have to be like this. But I'm sooo relieved that at least the phonecall is stated in the court order specifically as the only option to discuss any proposed changes. It's nice FDH tried to be easygoing, but it's not working so time to take this court order to the letter. And FD, you are right to say that the kids might tell both parents that they want to stay with them. I'm 100% sure that it happens. But this is what BM does, she will manipulate kids to say they want to stay with her; and then she actually believes it herself and so she feels that she's respecting the kids' wishes. She creates her own truth and then she goes with it. She's not mentally healthy.
...See More
Whats a reasonable amount of time to wait for a countertop quote?
Q
Comments (10)
In this Oh-BLHA-Ma-Conomy, guys should be JUMPING to get work... I know that here in PHX, guys are turning around bids in a day or less - there just isnt that much work out there - contrary to all of the "media talking head's chatter on the networks....... After your discussions with the fabricator in question, (especially after you corrected him) -he prolly threw your drawings in the "round file" and decided to put you in "mega" mode (make 'em go away)..... There's two sides to every story, all we've heard is yours - maybe he's a jerk - maybe you came off as one to him... I dunno................. not saying that you are at fault here...... but if you started arguing over a 25 sq ft job that's 40 sq ft in your eyes - maybe he figured your job and the aggrevation of dealing with a customer that thought they knew more than him) wasnt worth it to him.... again, we're only hearing your side of the story.......... IMHO - the better road for him to have taken, would have been to tell the truth and say that your job wasnt what his company does or just wasnt worth it to him....... We all rub people the wrong way from time to time - Lord knows I do !!! LOL....... WHen I'm in a situation like this (speaking from the other side of the fence) I usually tell the prospect that "I don't think I can give you what you are looking for" and refer them to someone that I know that can or is willing to take the abuse that I'm not... usually, if it's a PITA customer, I send them to a guy that's really "deserving" of that kind of quality in a customer...LOL in any event - I'd move on. find a guy that's willing to do the job, contract him, have him do the work, pay him, and keep moving forward..... sorry of it's not what you wanted to hear, but I hope that helps
...See More
scottrell
15 years ago
I would e-mail right away and ask when they were sent out. I do not consider it bad manners to ask when the other party plans to send out their end of an agreement. You sent yours out, right? Did they let you know they got it?
Sharon
kwyet1
Original Author
15 years ago
...Yes, I did send my part out right away...but they haven't let me know if they received it or not. I'm finding that 'most' people (that I have been trading with) do NOT let me know if they received my seeds.
SusanC
15 years ago
Hi Linda,

I wait two weeks from the time that we agreed upon the trade and then send an email like this:

Dear ABC,

I am curious about our trade, did I ever send you my address? By now, I hope you have received my seeds, but as I was searching for your original email I was wondering if I sent my info. If not---- please let me know one way or another.

Our trade was for my xxx seeds for your yyy, and I sent the xxx seeds to you on 11/29.

My address is:

Seedy Susan
123 Happy St.
Happy, CA

Thanks,
SusanC from Gardenweb

If they simply forgot about me, it gives them a 'save face' out if they want.

Hope that helps,
Susan
kwyet1
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Susan.....I'm thinking maybe 2 weeks also.
Linda
Chemocurl zn5b/6a Indiana
15 years ago
Seedy Susan,

Love your addy!...but you forgot your zip...lol

Great follow-up email, btw.

Sue
SusanC
15 years ago
Darn; I did forget my zip code. It's:

9(-:(-:(-:(-:
remy_gw
15 years ago
Linda,
I don't understand the not letting people know they received the seeds. A quick "thank you, they arrived" is all that is needed. I remember a discussion about this one time, and one poster actually said they don't have time. I didn't write anything since I didn't want to start a fight, but I was thinking what the heck?! How time consuming is it to thank someone and let them know the seeds came?
I also think 2 weeks and a happy letter like Susan's is a good idea.
Remy
jaleeisa
15 years ago
I know the feeling about them not letting you know. That bugs the fire out of me, so I put in my emails to please let me know. If I haven't heard from them in a week or so, I email them asking. Remy, you're right, it doesn't take but a moment to drop a quick note and is much appreciated. At least I know that my end got there in good order.

Linda, I'm with the consensus, two weeks is long enough and I use a "format" similar to Susan's. I'll ask if I had remembered to send them my address (because I've honestly forgotten to once or twice!) and restate the seeds being traded. AS she said, it does give them a way to save face if they've not mailed yet and lets them know that I do follow up.

Occasionally things get lost in the mail, I had my first package that I've mailed get lost. After I mailed it, it still had not arrived after two weeks. We gave it the second week because it took a week for hers to get to me. But I kept tabs on it and I don't believe this person would tell me it hadn't arrived if it had, so I promptly mailed another set. In a day or two we'll see if it arrives to her. I hope so, because though I was able to completely make up the agreed trade, some of what I sent the second time were the last of what I had.

So, it does happen that things get lost, but staying in touch helps a lot. At the very least it lets the other person know that you're concerned about your trade and that you follow up and keep good communication going. I'm always more comfortable with someone who stays in touch. Even if it's to tell me that life has happened and they're going to be delayed.

Kathy
SusanC
15 years ago
Re the letting people know the seeds have arrived. I am good about that, and it used to bug me a little when people didn't let me know. However, recently my mom had a really scary health crisis while I had some trades going on. I was so spun around that I did forget to thank a couple of people during that time. So now I realize that sometimes people might not let me know because something like that is happening to them.
dorisl
15 years ago
I wonder if packages get lost because of errors reusing envelopes. If you forget to write the new address on an envy, it would go to the wrong palce and you'd HOPE that the person would let you know they got the seeds by mistake, although I suppose its likely the address already there is YOURS hee!

If you tape an address on the envy and it gets ripped off in the machines, it would never get where its supposed to go.

Related Stories

RANCH HOMES Houzz Tour: Respectful Updates for a Midcentury Atlanta Ranch

An expansion and renovation give a Georgia home a bright new look while honoring the original profile

COLOR How to Add Just the Right Amount of Dramatic Black

By April and the Bear

Done right, black can add punch and personality to just about any room. Here’s how to go over to the dark side in style

TRADITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: Respectfully Updating a 1929 Farmhouse

By Becky Harris

Period details mix with new features for a family home as idyllic as its pastoral surroundings

ARCHITECTURE Get a Perfectly Built Home the First Time Around

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Yes, you can have a new build you’ll love right off the bat. Consider learning about yourself a bonus

BASEMENTS Design Workshop: Is It Time to Let Basements Become Extinct?

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Costly and often unnecessary, basements may become obsolete — if they aren’t already. Here are responses to every reason to keep them around

Kit Houses Stand the Test of Time

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

See how these mass-produced catalog houses have made their way into the modern day

INSIDE HOUZZ How Much Does a Remodel Cost, and How Long Does It Take?

By Erin Carlyle

The 2016 Houzz & Home survey asked 120,000 Houzzers about their renovation projects. Here’s what they said

DECORATING GUIDES Divide and Conquer: How to Furnish a Long, Narrow Room

Learn decorating and layout tricks to create intimacy, distinguish areas and work with scale in an alley of a room

DECORATING GUIDES Improving a Rental: Great Ideas for the Short and Long Haul

By Laura Gaskill

Don't settle for bland or blech just because you rent. Make your home feel more like you with these improvements from minor to major

DECORATING GUIDES Ask an Expert: How to Decorate a Long, Narrow Room

Distract attention away from an awkward room shape and create a pleasing design using these pro tips

Sponsored

Dave Fox Design Build Remodelers

49 Reviews

Columbus Area's Luxury Design Build Firm | 17x Best of Houzz Winner!