Plant Swapping

[Jen]

It would have to be something along the lines of:

topic title: Offering Val spiralis
topic descr: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Message: Hi, I have some val to offer anyone looking for it. Maybe looking for some crypts if you have any to trade. Will mail within Canada.

Seriously... that's a real offer.

 

[Ste_J]

Seriously... that's a real offer. wink.gif

Has it started already?

I just did a prune last night and ended up throwing a load of cuttings away - such a waste so count me in

Many a time have I bought plants that just don't grow in my tank and ended up throwing them but at least this way others may benefit

I wouldn't be interested in charging postage either as it wouldn't be worth the hassle and I can send most things through works mail room

 

[IovaykInD]

Seeing as how the topic started this morning, a lot of people will be interested in it. There should definately be regional subforums, to avoid any extra trouble of having to find someone where you live. One thing you might need to think about though, although it may increase the relationships of many of our forumers, there will also be inconsiderate people who just want in for the plants. They might say they have plants and will trade, but who says they will ever post the plants anyways. It will have to be on the traders responsibility to know who is real and who isn't. If you know someone very well on this forum, you can trust them, but other people..well, I wouldn't be too sure of trading with them.

EDIT
Sorry..i didn't mean to offend anyone, its just my own thoughts that I'm babbling out.

 

[atmmachine816]

I would assume i would be one you guys probably wouldnt trust since i have only been here for a little over a month. Do love it though i got the idea of a fish forum at Christmas and with some time off from school found this one but i think a plant exchange would be good i know i would use it a little but not much since i can only use a select amount of plants but some of my plants are starting to grow to big and as soo as i give some to my friend i dont know what to do with them. And about the money thing just my 2 cents i think it should kind of be up to the person sending the plants because i know if i were sending the plants depending on the time of year and how much it cost i would ask for shipping since i am 14 and my only job is a paper route 10-15$ a month and i need to save for college but in the spring and fall i ref so i get lots of money there i wouldnt mind sending some of my plants to somebody for free. And for some reason my plants dont get covered in algae and my tank is in dierect sunllight. Guess what my crypt just grew another leave i am happy. Can i replant this to grow another crypt?

o i just got my grade 8 reffing license so i might be able to get another tank this summer if i can convince my parents and it will be a heavley planted tank and i will need some ideas

so thats just my idea

 

[ChrisP]

I visit another forum that does a plant exchange and it seems to work well. With a good volume on here it should do too.

 

[RYO]

To be honest when i have a gardening session (read hack ) im only too glad to send the cuttings to people.
What stuff i have posted to people has cost next to nothing and if not sent would be filed under B1N.
For some reason my Java moss and Eusteralis stellata grow like there's no tomorrow, so i tend to have plenty spare.
I think the adds could work two ways, 1 stuff people have spare - 2 stuff people are trying to obtain.
If you live out in the sticks like me certain plants (other than off the net) aren't available easily.

 

[bennett]

good idea. i think it'd be a very good thing. when offering plants i think basic parameters should be suggested aswell, so that people who don't have the equipment to grow certain plants would be detered.

my idea!-
ok this may sound a bit weird and long winded bit in order to make sure one person doesn't get EVERYTHING how about a credit system? i know it'd be a bit hard to police, but would promote transparency between the community.

eg- we each start off with 2 credits. if u get sent something you lose a credit. then the only way to get a credit back is the send someone something? from this you could also waive credits if the receiver is just starting a planted tank.

as the offer ends all it would need would be the sender/offerer to type
"offer closed. me +1 credit whoever -1. ta!" or "me +1. whoever waived!"

 

[IovaykInD]

my idea!-
ok this may sound a bit weird and long winded bit in order to make sure one person doesn't get EVERYTHING how about a credit system? i know it'd be a bit hard to police, but would promote transparency between the community.

eg- we each start off with 2 credits. if u get sent something you lose a credit. then the only way to get a credit back is the send someone something? from this you could also waive credits if the receiver is just starting a planted tank.

as the offer ends all it would need would be the sender/offerer to type
"offer closed. me +1 credit whoever -1. ta!" or "me +1. whoever waived!"

That would be a little too hard to handle, and people could bypass it by creating new usernames and 'start a planted tank'. It could work though, but there are drawbacks

 

[bennett]

sadly it relies on people being honest and everything. one way to get around that could be to have a certain amount of time they have to be a member for?

 

[Waterloo Kid]

The main difficulty of this idea in my mind is that it's got to be a trust thing. Credits etc. are all well and good but in the end it's all down to trust.
The nature of this forum could be the deciding factor for this scheme. To my knowledge the majority of participating members of this forum have formed a true online community and share mutual trust. It's why this forum works so well. The danger comes from the vultures out there who want something for nothing. Believe me, news of freebies will travel!
I'll throw another idea in here. How about making it the responsibility of the receiver to send the giver the packaging? You know, the sender gets sent a stamped, self addressed envelope from the receiver with a zip lock type bag in it. It shows willing on the part of the receiver. Still, saying that I'm still in favour of the no money approach.

Another thought. Not sure how the online plant companies would see this if they found out. Not that there's anything they could do about it!

WK

 

[karlp]

once you have exchanged things with fellow members your online relationship gets stronger

Ooh err... we are just talking about plants right ?

It would have to be something along the lines of:

topic title: Offering Val spiralis
topic descr: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Message: Hi, I have some val to offer anyone looking for it. Maybe looking for some crypts if you have any to trade. Will mail within Canada.

I think Jen has hit the nail on the head. The KISS principle.

I'll throw another idea in here. How about making it the responsibility of the receiver to send the giver the packaging?

I like this idea a lot. It's a lot lower hassle and does involve a bit of effort on the part of the person wanting the plants, so hopefully putting off some of the freeloaders or at least if there are free loaders, I wouldn't begrudge sending them plants if they've sent me a SAE with zip bag.

The only complexity to this is that following on from Jen's suggestion, we'd have to specify postage to the person wanting the plants. e.g,

Plants: Val Spiralis
Description: Available
Location: London, UK
Total available: 6 plants
Postage: Send an SAE and clear zip bag with 25p stamp for up to 3 plants, 32p stamp for more or local member can collect

We could also have members looking for plants:

Plants: Val Spiralis
Description: Wanted
Location: London, UK

 

[DaveW]

This idea is great!

The format suggested by Jen and FM is nice and simply.

"At the end of the day" what ever format, it will still come down to trust!

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

Can i just add to this and say all you people who i've sent free plants and snails to can feel free to send me plants in return, i'm gonna have to buy some vallis soon as i'm sorting out another tank.

I usually ask for a self addressed stamped envelope when i send people stuff but quite a few people have had MTS and java moss for free which has cost me post and packing. The only thing i have had sent to me was the original MTS from Littleme, thank you they are doing great.

Emma

I did offer the plants and snails to people so i don't really expect anything in return.

 

[Waterloo Kid]

I think a wanted section is very quickly going to become swamped.
Jen's format looks good. That way you can see, even before opening the thread, what's on offer and (importantly) the location. Location is very important as (I think someone stated this before) importation laws will m=need to be carefully followed. I think Australia has some of the most onerous laws and we wouldn't want anyone carted off to the clink due to this swap thing would we!

WK

 

[Jen]

I think the key to this would be keeping it simple. It should be up to the sender if they want to ask for shipping money, I think. And if you are doing a swap, then that cancels it out, so swapping would be beneficial to most people (so long as you have something to swap.)