OT- Problem with swaps

[SusieStone]

I just came in April and thought everything was great on the board but it seems lately "issues" are cropping up.

As this been an issue before or is this new.

When I came, it seemed swaps were pretty safe over here.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I would say that the swaps with hostesses who have proven themselves are indeed very safe.

Unfortunately, the ones with new hostesses have not turned out so well. I myself have invested a lot of money and time into one of these swaps and am NOT happy about the turn of events.

 

[hopemax]

It has been an issue before. Last summer, there were issues too. IMO, it is always a case of "buyer beware," and so for me, the same rules apply, "don't commit to what you aren't willing to lose." You can read old swap threads, see who is always on time both as hostesses and just as participants and who is not. But that is not always a guarantee, sometimes emergencies happen, sometimes a bad stretch clears up, and people get speedier. Last year, it got bad enough that people were talking about having backup hostesses, in case something happened.

With the usual hostesses, you can count on them to all back each other up. Plus, there are other swappers you can count on to have a hostesses back. Like if Kat ever gets into trouble, I can go over there and pick things up and make sure they get where they need to. But with a new hostess, without an established swap record, or a record of being tardy, the ground gets less stable.

 

[nicurn]

yes, it has been an issue in the past. it got very heated a year or so ago over lack of returning. yes it happens but I'm particularly irked at the moment because we all had to check in every few weeks with progress reports, etc and now well now it's um shall we say, not pretty? .Most swaps here work well, most of the new people have "played well with others" I think basically you just can never tell, doesn't matter who the hostess is or the other players, sometimes it just falls apart. I'm done with swapping though because I'm tired of being burned. maggie

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

We had a lot more problems in years past with flaking. The calendar has helped with some of this but on occasion, things happen. We try to give the benefit of the doubt to everyone but some times things go awry.

hopefully we will get some results soon on the swaps that are having issues. But Hope is right it all comes down to buyer beware, swap at your own risk. Ant the boards and the mods have no more control over the situation than you or I do.

It will all pan out in the end, don't worry.

 

[hopemax]

It will all pan out in the end, don't worry.

Yep, even with all the problems and delays of last year, everyone eventually got their stuff.

 

[New England Eeyore]

Welcome to the wonderful world of DIS swapping. I have been in, oh, about a zillion swaps, give or take a few, over the years and while there have been a handful of problems, the vast majority have been smooth sailing. There are certain hostesses that you know you can count on 100%. But these things will always happen every now and then.

I think we all know there are no guarantees - we're dealing with human beings, not businesses. But I agree that it is very frustrating, especially if you are the conscientious type that I know you are, Susie, to deal with the waiting and the not-knowing. I think we all understand that life stuff happens, but it's difficult when there is no communication.

 

[Tigger1221]

When I signed up for my first swap here I never thought about that. I hope everyone gets there stuff soon.

The AK swap I am in will be my last swap for awhile(not b/c of this). I am way to busy now (school, work, house, scrapbooking). I would be furious if I worked hard and got nothing back!

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

Yep, even with all the problems and delays of last year, everyone eventually got their stuff.

No, not always...another DIS'er and I each had a circle journal stolen. The girl who had them just basically disappered...we tried PMs, emails at home and work, phone calls, offers to go to pick up the stuff at her house....never heard anything, and never got the books back.

That's why I've been keeping an eye on the swap threads that seem to be having problems...I feel so bad for you guys and know exactly how you feel!!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

As most of us know.. it's like a "buyer beware" atmosphere w/ swaps... the mods will even tell you this. I have probably been one of the lucky ones.. I came in after the blow up...(don't know what happened; don't want to know)...but there were times we had flakers and there were times swappers informed hostess of problems and angel spots were filled.

I know when things got tough last year w/ a family crisis , I asked for help and many of our regular swappers were the first ones to jump in and help me out... and they know I would do the same for them... BAMB and I have told one another.. you need help, call me.. we'll have everyone mail to me.. or mail what you have and I'll help get it out... AWM and I live close enough we could get together to help each other out.. sometimes it's nice for a hostess to have another DIS'er that has their back in case of an emergency...

In life some things happen out of our control..but just send a little note or call someone so there can be updates.. We all need to communicate... I'm sure everyone gets tired of my continual updates..but I wanted swappers in my swaps to know what was going on/ why/ and how things were being handled.

I too am done with swapping for the time being.. why? I have so much accumulated, that I need to put it to good use... if not my stickers may not stick anymore, my slide mounts may slide out the door, and my shakers boxes won't shake any more!!!! I don't have any more room to store swap items.. do I enjoy it.. yes.. am I disappointed in what happened w/ one of the swaps (or for that matter several of the swaps that I'm not even in) YES!!

 

[Downrivermama]

I've been swapping for over a year now. My first swap was with Maggie as hostess and she was great. Last summer a swap I was in was really late in getting returned about 3 months, which now makes me leary depending on who the hostess is. Still waiting for the brown paper bag swap. I understand things happen, but when the hostess stops posting or posts and said they went on vacation - that irks me.

 

[MazdaUK]

I was in the delayed swap (or one of them) last year and I nearly gave up swapping - and that was my first swap!

And then when the stuff came back everyone elses was so much better than mine I nearly renounced scrapping altogether

But since then all the swaps I've been in have been OK up to the last couple of months. People go on vacation - often booked a long time ago, don't forget - and stuff happens to get in the way. Even work sometimes gets in the way As long as hostesses keep everyone informed, it keeps things calm. But we all spend a lot of time and money on these swaps, and when they don't turn up or you have to put aside an idea because you're waiting for something it is a PITA. I always think to myself "What on earth would anyone do with x identical y's anyway" to remind myself that some people don't view deadlines the same way I do. (I'm fretting I haven't posted the circle journal 10 days before the posting date!)

I do (try to) have faith it will all come out in the

 

[nicurn]

I've been swapping for over a year now. My first swap was with Maggie as hostess and she was great.

aw shucks. thanks, that was a fun swap too. I think mazdauk was in it as well??? can't remember now. maggie

 

[MazdaUK]

I've lost track! But probably

 

[mickeyfan2]

I am so sorry for all of you. I am hosting now and always try to get it back on time. Some times not all stuff arrives on time. I know that all my return packages are addressed and all the stuff I have is sorted. Not much more to do when the last items arrive.

As a hostess I can easily see how it could be about two weeks late but at that point it is time to send back.