Post by *Gypsy* on Jan 9, 2008 16:18:26 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]New Swap Policies~ Please Read!
Beginning Jan 1st 2007 the following policies will be in effect for all swaps hosted in the Witches Community forum.
1) Signing up for a swap:
If you sign up for a swap you are agreeing to follow all of the rules of an individual swap & the policies set forth here. These include checking in with the host when you contact, send, & receive your packages in the correct thread as well as meeting all deadlines and budgets set by the swap host. All swap info will be on page 1 of the thread.
2) Deadlines:
Each swap host outlines the package ship deadlines for his/her swap. By signing up you are agreeing to send your package by this date!! The deadlines must be adhered to. There will no longer be the option to extend the deadline by agreement between partners. Any late shippers will be added to a “slow swapper” list for 180 days. If an individual is placed on the list twice within any 6 month period they will then be placed on probation and not allowed to participate in swaps for the following 90 days. No allowances will be made to this policy. We do realize stuff happens even to the most organized of us. An illness, an emergency, an unexpected bill can impact our best laid plans. This is why we elected to go with “slow swapper” and it taking two separate events to add one to the probation list. The key is to communicate between partners & swap host so a name isn’t moved to the Bad Swapper List.
3) Budgets:
Each swap sets their own budget & each swapper is expected to spend at least the minimum amount. If you elect to spend more on a partner’s package that is up to you as an individual, but your partner is not expected to do the same. The budget does NOT include postage.
Recently more complaints have been lodged concerning package contents. We have no way of policing contents between swappers. By signing up to swap with someone you don't know you do need to be aware there is a chance you won't be thrilled with your package. You may also love everything you get & make a lifelong friend.
4) International Partners:
We are aware international shipping takes time & costs more. If you agree to swap internationally, be prepared to wait for your package & be prepared to faint at the post office when they tell you how much your package costs to send. LOL Each swap will give you the opportunity to decline or accept swapping internationally during sign up. International partners are given extra time before being placed on a bad swapper list as packages do take time to arrive. They are however expected to follow the shipping deadline. It is YOUR responsibility though to contact the swap host when your package does arrive.
5) Bad Swapper List:
If a partner fails to send a package the name is forwarded to me by the swap host. The name is then placed on the Bad Swapper list and this person is banned from participating in all future swaps or events in this forum until the situation is resolved. I do contact them to try to help rectify the situation & be sure the information I have is correct. The only way a name is removed from the list is to send a package. Yelling at the Forum Host won’t help anyone get their name removed from the list.
We have had successes in the past. Many times though this does nothing for the current partner. It does however prevent someone else from being burned by the same swapper.
6) Dropping Out of a Swap:
If you see that for some reason you will be unable to participate and need to remove yourself from a swap there is no penalty for doing so as long as you contact the swap host before partners are announced.
I have been working with past swap hosts on their experiences & suggestions over the past few months. The new policies you see here are the result of those meetings. The biggest frustration for all of the hosts has been the length of time the swaps are taking and the endless checking they are having to do. Some are spending months following up on a swap. A swap is meant to be a short term commitment for the host. We need to remember these are volunteers who are giving their time to organize a fun event for others. Swapping should be fun for them as well. There has also been an increase in failed swaps and disappointed swappers which is unfair to those who are sending their packages in good faith. The group elected to enforce the changes you see above to make swapping a better experience for everyone.
I truly believe the majority of our swappers are already following these common sense expectations. This is meant to be a reminder so swaps remain a treasured tradition. Let's set a goal to make every swap here a 100% success and fun for all parties.
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THS SWAP IF YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT CARRY THIS SWAP THROUGH - IT'S NOT FAIR ON YOUR SWAP PARTNER!
If you have any questions please let me know.
The Staff[/glow]
Beginning Jan 1st 2007 the following policies will be in effect for all swaps hosted in the Witches Community forum.
1) Signing up for a swap:
If you sign up for a swap you are agreeing to follow all of the rules of an individual swap & the policies set forth here. These include checking in with the host when you contact, send, & receive your packages in the correct thread as well as meeting all deadlines and budgets set by the swap host. All swap info will be on page 1 of the thread.
2) Deadlines:
Each swap host outlines the package ship deadlines for his/her swap. By signing up you are agreeing to send your package by this date!! The deadlines must be adhered to. There will no longer be the option to extend the deadline by agreement between partners. Any late shippers will be added to a “slow swapper” list for 180 days. If an individual is placed on the list twice within any 6 month period they will then be placed on probation and not allowed to participate in swaps for the following 90 days. No allowances will be made to this policy. We do realize stuff happens even to the most organized of us. An illness, an emergency, an unexpected bill can impact our best laid plans. This is why we elected to go with “slow swapper” and it taking two separate events to add one to the probation list. The key is to communicate between partners & swap host so a name isn’t moved to the Bad Swapper List.
3) Budgets:
Each swap sets their own budget & each swapper is expected to spend at least the minimum amount. If you elect to spend more on a partner’s package that is up to you as an individual, but your partner is not expected to do the same. The budget does NOT include postage.
Recently more complaints have been lodged concerning package contents. We have no way of policing contents between swappers. By signing up to swap with someone you don't know you do need to be aware there is a chance you won't be thrilled with your package. You may also love everything you get & make a lifelong friend.
4) International Partners:
We are aware international shipping takes time & costs more. If you agree to swap internationally, be prepared to wait for your package & be prepared to faint at the post office when they tell you how much your package costs to send. LOL Each swap will give you the opportunity to decline or accept swapping internationally during sign up. International partners are given extra time before being placed on a bad swapper list as packages do take time to arrive. They are however expected to follow the shipping deadline. It is YOUR responsibility though to contact the swap host when your package does arrive.
5) Bad Swapper List:
If a partner fails to send a package the name is forwarded to me by the swap host. The name is then placed on the Bad Swapper list and this person is banned from participating in all future swaps or events in this forum until the situation is resolved. I do contact them to try to help rectify the situation & be sure the information I have is correct. The only way a name is removed from the list is to send a package. Yelling at the Forum Host won’t help anyone get their name removed from the list.
We have had successes in the past. Many times though this does nothing for the current partner. It does however prevent someone else from being burned by the same swapper.
6) Dropping Out of a Swap:
If you see that for some reason you will be unable to participate and need to remove yourself from a swap there is no penalty for doing so as long as you contact the swap host before partners are announced.
I have been working with past swap hosts on their experiences & suggestions over the past few months. The new policies you see here are the result of those meetings. The biggest frustration for all of the hosts has been the length of time the swaps are taking and the endless checking they are having to do. Some are spending months following up on a swap. A swap is meant to be a short term commitment for the host. We need to remember these are volunteers who are giving their time to organize a fun event for others. Swapping should be fun for them as well. There has also been an increase in failed swaps and disappointed swappers which is unfair to those who are sending their packages in good faith. The group elected to enforce the changes you see above to make swapping a better experience for everyone.
I truly believe the majority of our swappers are already following these common sense expectations. This is meant to be a reminder so swaps remain a treasured tradition. Let's set a goal to make every swap here a 100% success and fun for all parties.
PLEASE DO NOT ENTER THS SWAP IF YOU FEEL YOU CANNOT CARRY THIS SWAP THROUGH - IT'S NOT FAIR ON YOUR SWAP PARTNER!
If you have any questions please let me know.
The Staff[/glow]