JUST MY OPINION... I am not really in favor of leaving someone a favorable comment simply because they followed through in sending an SASBE in order to get seeds. To me, it's like praising someone for coming to the dinner table and eating my food. And if we leave positive feedback for those who send out their SASBE requests, then shouldn't it follow that we leave negative feedback for someone who doesn't follow through? If that was the case, I'd be leaving negative feedback for dozens of people, as I'm sure anyone who has offered seeds for SASBE would as well. Though it's frustrating to hold seeds for someone who doesn't follow through, I don't really think it's an important enough of a matter to leave negative comments over. The whole concept of posting comments regarding SASBEs has other drawbacks. Last spring I offered a lot of seeds for SASBE, and one in particular stuck out. When I had looked at the person's want list, I saw she was looking for hardy geraniums. I found a few odds and ends, small amounts of several varieties, so I packaged them separately and included them as well thinking she'd be happy with the additional surpise. I was quite taken aback when she emailed me after receiving the SASBE and told me that I needed to read the FAQs, that "10 or 12 seeds was not considered a sufficient amount of seeds" and she would be leaving me negative feedback. I was stunned. Fortunately for her, she didn't leave the comments, or I would have responded with words including "ignorant", "selfish", and "ungrateful"... (Can you tell I'm still a tad steamed, LOL...) I think the sample comments for negative reviews are very good ones--Jack Webb of Dragnet would be happy with the "Just the facts, Maam" attitude. However, there are a few gray areas I am wondering about. What do you suggest regarding feedback if the trader sends mismarked seeds (ie, agastache instead of lavender); unviable seeds (such as sunflower seeds that were flat, white, and bendy, obviously underdeveloped); or a trader who waits until he/she has received the other person's seeds to tell them that he/she is out of several of the seeds they wanted and that they need to pick substitutes. I've always handled these matters privately. I know honest mistakes happen as in the first two cases--but the third example has happened to me a few times now (twice with the same trader--not going to trade with her again) and is starting to bother me as I feel it may be a bait and switch tactic. Still I'm not sure I'm comfortable about leaving negative feedback even in that situation. I'm sure it sounds as though I am focusing on the bad side of trading/SASBEs, which I am, but it's only because good trades and positive feedback are pretty self-evident. Kate

Hi Kathy645, YIKES!...There is a major malfunction at Rate and Review, and I see what you are talking about. In doing a search on my name there it says that there are 86 replies with the last one shown (on the search page) having a date of Feb 14, 10. In actually looking at the thread, there are 77 replies with the last reply being made on Jul 29, 09. (like you said...) So is everything since July 09 gone including my post? Or can other people see up to Feb 2010? Is that why a search of my name does not bring up your name as one I have rated? > Well, it looks like there is a window of time that some reviews got dropped (disappeared) from 'some' threads. In looking on back a few pages, and the dates threads were started and replied to, I really don't 'think' entire threads were lost. In checking my 'saved emails' I have an email from you dated 12-12-09, and on 12-13-09 I replied and thanked you for the kind review you had posted......so your review disappeared sometime on or after 12-13-09. In doing a little looking around there at R and R, and counting some replies, I see that there are also replies missing on member disneynut1977, it shows there are 28 replies, yet when counted there are only 26 there. It looks like they are missing sometime between Mar 4, 09 and Mar 16, 10. Member name Jeanne shows there should be 43 replies yet there are only 31 replies probably missing between Jan 22, 09 and Mar 15, 10 Member poppy_power says 46 follow-ups) yet there are only 29..probably missing between May 8, 09 and Mar 15, 10 Member name kmpsmom shows 43 replies yet there are only 40...probably missing between Mar 5, 09 and Mar 11, 10 Member name Liznbeatle shows 17 replies, yet there are only 14 dirt_under_my_nails-(reviews missing )shows last post is Dec 20, 09, yet the last one in the thread is Jul 4, 09 I will contact GW (via the Contact Us link at the bottom of every page) and link to this thread. Hopefully the lost reviews can be found. Hopefully it won't be like finding a needle in a haystack for the tech folks. Sue...loquacious as usual.

I tried posting a link to gardenwatchdog and got a spam alert about a week ago. That was new as I'd always posted that link before. When did they put "the other site" on the spam list? As for the original question I grow both and the small seeds are definitely snail, large squarish ones corkscrew. Unfortunately I rarely get ripe corkscrew pods even though I get loads of blooms. I posted pics of both flowers on one of J in GA's offer threads saying that they are easily identified when in bloom. He responded that his flowers looked like the corkscrew but there's no way those seeds are from a corkscrew vine, imperfect or otherwise! I never had a bad trade with the individual in question but was irritated by the note he enclosed with postage that he sent for one of my seed offers. If you want to contact me privately I'll explain. If you are still looking for this in the spring I can send cuttings. It's already been cut back and is dormant.

We've just created a new forum to help you rate and review the trades in which you've participated. Please use the forum in the spirit in which it was intended and do not use it as a way to post personal attacks. While it's okay to post negative reviews, we encourage dialogue in working out problems that you may have encountered. And, as always seems to be true, we often are quick to complain about the problems and don't take the time to offer a pat on the back for a job well done. So, please take a moment and reward those good traders with a kind word. For traders -- Once you have a review thread on the new forum, you might think of linking to it in your profile or 'have' posts. This is simply an announcement -- please do not use it to discuss the new forum. Kindly visit the Conversations area of this forum for discussion purposes. Thanks! Here is a link that might be useful: Rate & Review Exchanges