Information

[sweetjanette]

So here goes the holiday cheer with complaints, frustrations, accusations, howling, mail fraud issues, along with warm and fuzzies.  Not only from people involved in the swaps, but surprisingly enough a welcome to those people who just like adding their opinions in to stir the pot to boil.So I will start out with this....regarding Public Forum Swaps from one hostess.  To say - I care too much about everyone receiving a decent swap - making additional items or pulling out all my stash to fill in the gap.  Always picking up the pieces where they were dropped.  Shorted items, damaged items, missing items, not labeled, no bags, etc...  Using the hostess’s bags so that swaps aren’t all mixed up. And yelp, I was paying for other's postage, just to get it out to you using my unemployment funds. As I patiently waited for items; when others were given extensions and extensions with no response to pms, yet on the board elsewhere. Always keeping in touch w/hostess.How to solve that and any other issues?  Pay for delivery confirmation to show proof of delivery?   Set up new rules for hostesses. Set up number of swaps to host per month.  Maybe there shouldn’t be holds on swaps.  Maybe you should pay regular priority mail box one swap per box! Just an idea! Who's at fault - if a package is shipped with just ordinary stamps?   Who’s at fault - if they want to get into every single swap and fall behind due to being overwhelmed, family issue, personal issues, or waiting for a back orders or just forgot to do it.  Who’s at fault - if the hostess gives more time due to good communication?  Who’s at fault - if someone drops of the face of the earth and still given time to resurface? Who’s at fault – if someone is given a 2nd or 3rd chance?To one and all I am so sorry for swaps being late!  Even if, at times is totally out of my control on extensions, I am still so very sorry.  So very sorry that I wanted all swappers to get 15 out of 15 items from a swap they joined in on.  Instead of receiving 9 out of 15 items and the remaining 6 items you made are returned.  I know I didn’t like swaps returned to me like that, at all!I have been quite literary busting a rump to sort, replace, and make any missing items and packaging them full in boxes before they go out since Jan 07.  BUT if you would like a Priority mail flat rate box that cost you $8.95 mailed with only a few swaps in it.  Then I will gladly send it to you now - providing that you have already paid for postage.  But don’t forget that there is another two months worth of swaps being sorted and replacements being completed this week.For everyone who has been receiving personal pm’s when boxes went out, sorry that a pm wasn’t enough info for you.  For those of you who have wanted your priority flat rate box sent with 2 swaps in it now, sorry that I wanted each of you to wait for the box to be completely filled up before postal.  Ooops, I already said that.  Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, and sorryI have been shipping out about 4 boxes a week since October.  And now I have sent the hostess 8 boxes yesterday to ship as I am out of postage from everyone who has sent it in - as oppose to cash, check or paypal.   I have another 15 plus - just about ready to go and they are filling up every day.  I should have about 25 boxes sent over by Dec 2ND  to the lucky hostess.  My tour of duty will be competed. YEAH HEEEW!  Swappers Rock! Hostess Rock!! This board all around Rocks!!Thanks for all those wonderfully missed comments and warm and fuzzies during this very very desperate and well warranted time of need on all these very past due swaps from May through Aug.  We were all overwhelmed with floods of swaps, personal issues, and just forgot to do, but that’s not enough explanation for those who were done and only joined a few swaps on time. AND All this I did - come to find out that it's just wasn’t enough for you and you and you and you.  No one can make anyone happy here or no one likes to stay happy here, it seems. Everything will be to the hostess by Dec 2.  There will be a personal pm sent too!For those few of you who have been patient and understanding THANKS!!  Swaps Rock!!BYE…............

Janette,I've never been in any of the swaps that I know you're working on sorting out for jsilva or any of the ones you've hosted.  But, I see by the posts all the hard work you've put into them.  I think you deserve a hand for all your hard work.   

[corriekate]

Well I guess I don't understand something then...I am not trying to be a female here..just want some clarification.Postage on a swap for one is 4.60, 2.00 more for 2 swaps and so on.  So as an example....Cuz I didn't know any different...I sent in the correct postage for each swap...I didn't know ya'll put them in one box and went bulk...does that mean I am out of postage?  What box do you ship them out in...that way when I go to the PO next time I can see it and know.

[moodyonceamth]

a welcome to those people who just like adding their opinions in to stir the pot to boil. Thanks for the welcome! 

[dianagirly]

  (( cackling ))

[TheFiberLady]

janette, I think girls are just overly worried because in the rules it says that you need to keep in contact (which should go both ways) and some of the swaps havn't been updated like girls expected them to be.  I for one never said you had to make the extras...just send my own extras back, i like everything i make and my neices can use them in their scrapbooks.  send the items back and don't let the flakers join anymore swaps. it's gotten out of hand and if hostesses keep being enablers, they will just keep walking all over their kind hearts and maybe they don't realize that it makes it more stressful on the hostesses who have to take the flack.  But if you let late swappers into your swaps you might as well just expect stuff to not be turned in on timeIf i were you i'd sort everything up until october 30th and do the snooze ya lose game.  the only way some people will take responsibility is if the rules are followed (on both sides)  screw it i say send the duplicates back and then you AND jaime won't be so stressed out nor behind...it will be like starting over and i'm sure way less stress. It's nice that you want to go out of your way to make all the extras but seriously it would be easier for us to use 6 extra items than you to use up 6 whole extra swaps.  If people havn't sent postage then you don't send their boxes i wouldn't pay for it ...btw jaime had my flat rate postage last spring for my box that is going to be sent to me shortly.  Could you also check her other thread because it said i was getting 2 and i should be gettting 3 swaps back.thanks for all the hard work, but there is really no need to put yourself under that much stress, lose that much money, or use all of your free time to make all the extras. just send without and maybe have less spots next time around and weed out the habitual late swappers.wendy

[Art_Teacher]

I second what Wendy said!  I appreciate that you were trying to fill in the gaps making items for flakers, but I really did not expect you to do so!  I don't think anyone did.  What we do expect is for the threads to be updated when our items are received, marked with postage received, etc.  I, for one, have always sent postage. It has not always been marked, however, and I am not surprised to find that months later, it is unclear whose postage is whose.  I did send postage for a flat rate box, which it is fine to wait and fill.  However, the swaps I signed up for June and July should fill a flat rate, and it is the end of November.  I am not unfeeling, impatient, or mean.  I just want hostesses to do what they say they will do...just as I wish those who signed up for swaps would follow through.  If you say something will be sent out in a week or two, then it should be.  If you say you will only wait a week or two for flakers, then that's all the time you should wait.  People have taken advantage of the lateness and the large volume of swaps to act like it doesn't matter if they get things in on time, or at all.  Secondly, the chronically late should not be allowed to join swaps until they meet their commitments.  I did this, following Wendy's lead, with the swap I hosted and amazingly, everyone I let in got their items in on time!  The swap went out a week later.  I'm not suggesting that the number of swaps you are dealing with is anything like what I did, but it is 5 months later on the June swaps!  I really am sorry that Jamie has this headache and that you, while trying to help her, have taken on the headache, as well.  The holidays have nothing to do with this, other than I, for one, am worried that if this goes on into the New Year, we may never see these swaps fulfilled.  I wish you both Happy Holidays and I hope you will feel better to get this mess straightened out once and for all!

[nene]

Thanks for the welcome. Now, I'm going to add my 3 cents.#1 In the fall/winter of last year, Jamie decided that there needed to be rules about late swappers and that she was going to be SO strict so that her swaps were never late again. Hmmmmm, didn't happen. Some of these swaps are 6 months old and YOU have the nerve to whine about trying to get them out? What about those people who DID follow the rules?#2 Jamie also complained about the lack of communication from her swap players. But, yet---she turned over ALL of this to you and the only time you post is to whine about how unfair everyone is. If she couldn't handle the communicating, then she should have cancelled the swaps and sent stuff back to people right away. Not dumped it on you.#3 When Jamie FIRST posted all of her 1 million and 1 swaps, it was suggested by Wendy that maybe she was biting off more than she could chew. Guess her mouth is still full and both she and you are choking on it. But, Wendy got slammed for even suggesting that this could present a problem down the road. Niiiiice! I have watched Jamie point fingers at other hostesses and even try to claim mail fraud against them. What have they done that she herself and you aren't doing? PEOPLE, swaps are EVIL. Friends don't let friends swap. As long as you continue to play along with these games, the SAME things will always happen.If you always do what you always did, you always get what you always got.

[twinsmom1]

I will admit that I have been late and maybe even forgot about a few of the swaps.  I have also had a hard time financially and emotionally here lately.  I know that some of us who swap together regularly have had some hard times, too lately.  It is beyond our control.  But, I want to say thank you to janette for doing what she did.  she didn't have to do that but she did.  I know it is hard to try to figure out what you need and get items made or bought.  And I think she said buyt=ing them out of her unemployment money.  If her unemployment check is anything like mine, it is not very much money at all.  I now make in one week what I used to make on a saturday night.  It sucks when you are used to bringing home the money in the family.  I was able to buy and get everything I needed for the swaps but now it is hard to do that.  I know I joined them before I had these life issues, that is why I am trying to get them done and not flake.  I know I am late, but like I have said, I would rather be late than be a flaker.  Again, thanks janette for all you have done.  When I get in a better financial position, I will send you a little something to say thank you for all you have done!

[corriekate]

Since I am newer to swapping I can't really go in to detail about things that happened a year ago.  I only Joined ACOT in MAY of 07.I agree with this .......she should have cancelled the swaps and sent stuff back to people right away. Not dumped it on you........ God Bless your soul for helping Jeanette...and I know the desire to help out a friend...but these were her swaps...There is no reason for you to be taking the flack on this ordeal...you should have referred all questions and comments to Jamie.  Would have saved you some headache and hard feelings.If anyone has an answer to my issue with postage...I would really like to know how postage is handled so that I can be more prepared...if I do this again...Thanks Jeanette for your extra hard work on the open spots...unecessary but I am grateful.

[LKappy]

Nene- So you are saying that Jamie flamed people for being late...then turned around and did the same thing...she would never do something like that....oh btw... are any of these swaps for sale?? --- I put it in because I do not like hypocrites and I do not like to see people get walked all over because they are too nice to say anything...so I like to think of myself as their voice, saying what they want, but can't out of fear that they will never see their stuff again...Laura's (art teacher) swap was the PERFECT example of how it should be done! It can be done...so the hundred excuses are just a lot of blah blah blah...And the postage thing... if people sent in postage...you do not have to cover their costs, just simply mail it to them... and yet they still get nothing back...where is the postage going? What's your excuse for that?so...bah humbug to the grinches who stole the fun of swapping...

[deerewife]

I'm not sure why you are getting the grief Janette - but for me it's probably because EVERYTIME someone asked Jamie for an update she claimed you had them and you had to update - and there was no update.  Now, was this your fault for offering to help?  Not really...but the buck got passed.I'd love to know the answer to the postage question too.  I know I sent more than enough postage to get at least 3-4 flat rate boxes back.  What happens to my extra??  Why am I out money because the swaps were late?Jenna

[TheFiberLady]

janette,jaime pm'd me and she has 1 of the swaps that is supposed to go with the other 2 that you have of mine to go into my box.  and she should still have my flat rate postage from last spring unless she put it in one of the other bags that you have.

[Charliesangel]

I think the whole mail fraud thing is about hostesses that NEVER come on.  I btt ed a swap due last year and the hostess has been mia for that long.  Nope wont EVER get that swap back.  THAT is mail fraud.Did Jamie host more then she should have? probabally.  Did we all sign up for more then WE should have?  yup.  Jamie and Jeanette have been wonderful hostesses. for people to come on here an bash them when they don't know the whole story is just bull but that's all part of the swap board.  Hummm that could be why I'M not in here that much anymore either.  To much bs from people that are not even apart of it.High school called and want their drama back!!!!!

[TheFiberLady]

actually keira i don't think there would have been any drama had janette not invited it in her post.i'm not trying to be mean here  so please don't take it that way. a simple " i'm in the process of sorting and trying my hardest, i just need a few more days"  would have been better received or an explanation sooner than this post...no one expects a hostess or her friend for that matter to pick up all the extra spots...why should they?...that is way too much stress. why would anyone bring that on to themselves? I think a lot of the issues were that the swaps weren't updated in anywhere near a timely fashion and stuff was lost etc.  i know some girls were afraid to send in stuff because they didn't know what was going on.  I know jaime is overwhelmed and that janette is overwhelmed but even if you don't update right away..just post you received boxes from so and so.should hostesses wait more than a couple 2-3 weeks for late swappers? no but that is more acceptable than months.  If we don't curb the problem it will never get fixed. if the hostesses stick by their rules then girls won't take advantage of that. but if someone knows that the hostess isn't going to send it out for another 2 months, they have no incentive to send it in on time.  I'm not bashing anyone and i'm not trying to hurt feelings. it's just less stress on everyone involved if rules are followed by all who are swapping.why do hostesses keep letting girls that have no time frame into their swaps? I personally think there should be a rule for late swappers to be caught up or very close to it before being allowed to join more swaps, it would make it for faster turn arounds on swaps and everyone would be happier and the hostesses would be less stressed and stuff like this wouldnt happeni personally couldn't imagine having that many open swaps in my possession , for one i don't have that kind of room and for another i don't have that kind of ambition.  but i wouldn't let it go this long with that many swaps listed...it's just a breeding ground for confusion and chaos.  again i'm not coming down on anyone in particular or the hostess, i'm just glad it's not me, and hopefully all the swaps will be out of janette's possession soon so that she can go back to having a normal stressfree life.

[Midge]

What if the late swapper is the hostess? What happens?

[Art_Teacher]

Not much....that's where the excuses come in.  If the hostess can't get her things together she has the ability to say she is waiting on someone else, or that she has too many swaps open and will get to them as quickly as possible.  I'm not pointing fingers...I'm just saying that is what can and does happen.  Hostesses have to be careful just like swappers, because when they host several swaps and have spots in each and then they sign up for other hostesses' swaps to be helpful, they run the risk of being overwhelmed and get behind. This is from Keira's post:  Did we all sign up for more then WE should have?  yup.In response to that, I have to say that you cannot say everyone signed up for too many swaps.  Many of us did not bite off more than we can chew, and that is why we have gotten so irritated.  If folks would just admit that they got in over their heads, and then work like crazy to fix it, we wouldn't have people who are 6 months late on swap items, and Jamie and Janette would not be having so many issues with incomplete swaps.  Instead, we have alot of people who realize they signed up for too many, won't admit it, and make like an ostrich, with their heads in the sand, so maybe nobody will notice!  NOT!  It takes a big person to come on the board, admit openly that she made a mistake or that she is having trouble, and then do everything in her power to fix it in a timely manner.  Unfortunately, some people have not been that big about it.  These are the people who have to be dealt with by the hostess....either drop them from the swap and send the swaps out incomplete, or find an angel (which I know is difficult to do). The big problem has come about, though, because swaps were not updated, so it is not possible to see who the guilty parties are....I can't be sure who flaked, because there are multiple posts saying that people sent things, but they have not been marked received nearly two months later.  Several of the threads show that I did not send my items, which is profoundly untrue!  I had everything in on time, or as near to on time as possible.  I sent postage, too.  I think that is the source of the aggravation I have had, and I believe others have had.  No communication!  So, I am sorry for all those who appear to have flaked, based on the swap threads...it may not be the case.  If I host anymore swaps, I will take that into account when I am deciding who to let into my swaps.  I think other hostesses should do the same.