Newbie Questions - How is a RR supposed to work

14 years ago

Well, I should have asked this before I attempted a trade, but I didn't find this forum till recently.

I'm just curious about etiquette and good practices in round robins.

Am I supposed to request the same number of plants that I offer?

Say, for example, I offer 60 plants in a trade and request 115 -- is that bad form?

What is the rule for when a trader offers five of a certain plant; is it okay for me to request four of them? Should I wait a couple of days to see if other people want them?

How are extras divvied up?

Say I send in more than 30 plants, and get back less than 20, does that mean that I can expect extras in my box?

Or does it depend on offering more unusual or popular plants instead of quantity?

If I thought I was getting extras, but didn't get any, how do I address that?

I think I've learned that sending cash for return postage is just a bad idea, what is the preferred method?

If there is an FAQ, I missed it.

Any tips you've learned, I'd appreciate.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

auntyara
14 years ago
Hi Genez,
I see you said sending cash was a bad Idea.
Did something Bad happen?
Laura
rosepedal
14 years ago
Genez,

I assume on my part you had a trade go astray. Did you contact the host and try to work it out? The rate and review is here to protect traders from bad ones... I would reccomend you send a email to chemocurl she helps everyone on Gw and can give great advice... I am sorry if you felt you were burned...There are bad traders out there and we must protect each other from them... Good luck Barb
Related Discussions
How to gather enough stuff? (Newby question)
Q
Comments (25)
Back to the question of how to collect enough stuff for composting. Browns, or Carbon rich ingredients: Is there a better ingredient than leaves? Not in my opinion. All of my neighbors collect their leaves bagged on the curb, and a very few even shred them first! I think of paper as the MacDonalds, and leaves as the fruit/vegetable/meat meal. Leaves keep long periods without problems. Green, or Nitrogen rich stuff: Your fruit/veggie wastes. Those of your neighbor as well. Kids probably would take more of an interest than adults. Grocery stores have been less keen over the last few decades to let dumpster divers paw over these goodies. Most store use closed systems. There are a few types of stores where one might be allowed to dumpster dive. Two years ago I quit packing my small hatchback with 600 pounds of green stuff, none of it yet smelly. I quit because my soil was improving, and it was too much work to cut it all up. So I will give you my best advice, seafood and Asian grocery stores, if you are looking for a LOT of produce. And lastly, the coffee store. Starbucks is the famous one, but others may also give away the used grounds. Interestingly, I found the large bags (later small 10# bags) of Starbucks expresso grounds was not the type that worked out best. The larger bags with dryer grounds with filters, mixed with trash, was easier to mix with leaves and other materials. You probably will have to have some type of relationship/friendship with one or more employees of a grocery or coffee store, to see that you get your share of the goodies. The Starbucks nearest me used to pitch 75-90% of the used grounds even when they were promoting the grounds-give-away. When I was going to the last grocery store giving away greens(I could get 1000# just of bok choy), I would have viewed any other dumpster diver looking at 'my' dumpster, and considered composting him/her.
...See More
Newbie question how to open for the season?
Q
Comments (4)
I always chuckle watching my neighbors pay to have their systems turned on each spring. It's pretty much just turn on the water then monitor each zone and head to make sure they're working correctly. Then go out for dinner and spend the money you just saved. Sprinkler systems are very low tech - if you're handy you can learn how to adjust or replace a head, or fix a valve pretty easily. If you're not comfortable then call in a pro if you need maintenance or repairs.
...See More
newbie questions - how much to feed, leachate?
Q
Comments (10)
Yes we started with a lot of worms. We generate about 6lbs of kitchen waste a week according to my husband. In the past 6 months (we just moved to N. Mexico last fall), we've been putting this, together with a lot of animal poop plus garden greens and browns, into the big compost bin. So far we have about a volume of 4' x 4' x 3' of compostable stuff which is decaying very slowly. Our hope is to add worms to the big bin some time when it's cooler. Then we'll keep a smaller population in the rubbermaid bins, feeding it on the kitchen waste. I don't know how the worms will do in the big compost pile. This is all an experiment to try to speed up the rate of composting. At the rate we generate compostables, the big bin would overflow in a few months. My concern isn't too many worms, not for a while. I assume that if the population in the big bin is too large, the worms will escape and be eaten by the birds. We are adding bedding, mostly damp cardboard and some paper, regularly and keeping everything covered with bedding. I assume the lack of any leachate means I'm not overdoing the food. I don't have room to freeze or blend the kitchen waste, it's too much volume and mess. I hope the week or so in the outside bucket starts the decomposition process. The next hurdle is harvesting. I need to think on this - I'm still too squeamish to handle the worms with my hands. But the garden desperately needs organic matter and nutrients, so I'm looking forward to the proceeds of my worm colony.
...See More
Newbie question.....how do you cut batting?
Q
Comments (10)
The quilting class I took this summer, was just a lap/crib size. We were told to cut the batting about two inches larger than our finished top (used scissors). The quilting takes up the batting some. Then we trimmed again after the quilting. I know you want to do squares but I think it would be the same. If you are doing squares, a rotary cutter (& cutting mat) would be fine, if you did a big quilt, you would have to move the matt alot and I would think scissors would be quicker and easier. You can cut with whatever you want. To cut fabrics is so much faster, I love the invention of the rotary cutter! tish
...See More
purpleclover
Original Author
14 years ago
Being my first trade, I didn't know how to anticipate shipping costs. It cost around $34 to ship out my box.

I expected I had less stuff coming back, so I sent $25 +$1 for DC. And received no change back even though the sticker on my return box indicated I should have more than $10 returned.

I emailed the host, but no word yet. But there has been more than enough time to slip the money in an envelope and mail it.

A week or so after the first trade, I joined another round robin that specified no cash, stamps only.

I will contact Sue, still interested in general guidelines.

Thanks, G
rosepedal
14 years ago
G did you contact Sue? I would highly reccomend it...Cleaning carpets I will email you later..Barb
divahethr
14 years ago
ya that happened to me too. I sent in 20 bucks in a very big box that I assumed was going to be used to send my stuff back but instead a lg flat rate box was used to smoosh my plants back to me and the justification was that I sent in crappy plants. And I understand why you sent in so much money too because You live all the way on a different coast I only the next state over. Ya good times...I wish good karma on all who have it coming to them.
auntyara
14 years ago
Hi divahethr,
ever get your $ back?
I know I didn't.
How about you Genez?
I've sent the hostess more than enough emails.
How insulting, my plants are very special to me and if anyone thought they were "crappy" I would have hoped then sent them back to me rather than insult them.
Laura
divahethr
14 years ago
No Laura I sure didn't. I was kind of upset but people are vicious and it wasn't worth the trouble Of drama. I've had a few bad trades before and it wasn't a pleasant experience people took the side of the bad trader.
auntyara
14 years ago
divahethr,
please contact chemocurl. she really helped me.
This nonsense does not belong here.
you may not get your $ back, but you may save a gardener like us from a very nasty trader.
(( hugs))
Laura
diene
14 years ago
I did not know this side of the forum existed until today and I thought I would comment on some of the issues raised.
First, until recently I have not seen many of the large trades that happen where one person takes all the plants and redistributes them. That type of trade is problematic at best when you consider PO screw ups and the logistics of everyone mailing when they are supposed to. Life usually gets involved in all Round Robins.
Originally, a round robin traveled between the group with people adding and removing in equal amounts as it traveled. It was usually seeds and stuff at first. Now the most common is a swap between members of a particular round robin.
As far as sending cash, GW has a firm rule about no money being exchanged. You are supposed to send postage, not cash. Anyone caught selling (as accepting cash could be considered selling) on GW is removed. If any member has requested you send cash for plants, contact GW immediately. Send a copy of the e-mail with the request for cash and stay away from that person.
As far as a hierarchy on plant values that is very subjective and should not be considered. Trading is just that, trading, a plant for a plant.
I guess the real thing to be aware of is if it sounds wrong, it probably is wrong and just don't do it. There are lots of good people on this site and it is a shame that the bad ones make everyone unhappy.
Did any of this help?

Newbie Questions - How is a RR supposed to work

Comments (9)

auntyara

rosepedal

Related Discussions

purpleclover
Original Author

rosepedal

divahethr

auntyara

divahethr

auntyara

diene

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Newbie Questions - How is a RR supposed to work

Comments (9)

Related Discussions

purplecloverOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

purpleclover
Original Author