I had not done any trading for several years but have enjoyed it this year, with the exception of having people email me for a trade or for plants for postage, then I reply and never hear from them again. It's frustrating and a total waste of time. I have not had anyone default on a set up trade and don't send plants for postage without getting the postage first. I think the Rate and Review Forum has the potential to be wonderful, but many others like me may not know about it and I would hate for anyone not to trade with me because of a lack of feedback. I'm actually an awesome trader. :)

YQ, I believe there is basically no change in the "new terms" as now appear on our forum, than those that have already existed for years. At least so far as theh conditions of posting pictores or information ( -I haven't yet ploughed through the rest of the guff !!) It's just a bit longer and more "up front" (- but then the electronic world keeps gets getting more complicated and people keep trying to get one step ahead of the legal ramifications, and people claim they haven't read the "fine print". To put minds at rest (I hope, but please feel free to raise this with the site-owners for confirmation) this matter was discussed with the then-owner and webmaster, Spike, some years back. At that time, it was a hazy legal area, that , by GW posting your photos on its web-site without your written approval, that act might itself constitute a breach of copyright - YOUR copyright. So the user rules were brought in to make it easier. Everyone is assumed to give GW permission to publish what they post, they also, in posting, assure they are the legal owner of the material. The second intention, as I understand it, is to help protect YOUR ownership of your pictures, by GW "assuming" ownership for so long as your picture appears on the web-site or through cached internet searches. This operates as a "back-off warning " to people who might try to lift & copy images from GW and claim as their own. I believe there is no suggestion I-Village wants to make a coffee-table book out of the pictures or information its members post. the worst might be to have your picture glorified in the archives or reference material, but I believe it goes no further than GW. If copyright is really a problem for anyone, then simply do not post your pictures ANYWHERE on the internet, if you intend to use them commercially somewhere else. However I do not believe there is any intention on the site owner's part that by posting pictures, the creator "loses" his or her unique ownership of the material. Alison (who apologises that the ramble is almost as long as the rules !!)

Hi! Just wanted to let any newbies know that there is a page where you can review (and rate) exchanges with GW exchangers and members. Just FYI. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/raterev

No problemo! I also posted this same thingie on other pages ; ) Too bad they can't make this one a stickie. Thanks for bumping!