Pet Peeve- lack of communication!

[amigurl55]

My own personal swap rules state that the swapper must post in the thread at least once a week so we know they're "alive and crafting."  In short, so we know their not flaking.  After several reminders, this last group of swappers I had still didn't get it.  2 of them went on vacation without telling anyone, one of them sent late and wasn't going to say anything until I PMed her.  One sent a partial package (another pet peeve, and against craftster rules) without notifying me.....

Sometimes the only way to do a swap you really want to is to organize it because no one else will.  But after all the heartache and trouble us organizers go through, is it worth it?

[Antidigger]

Oh dear. Big hugs, hunny.

[amigurl55]

Thanks.

In all my organizing, an excuse I get all the time for not communicating is "I'm really busy."  I realize we're all busy.  But if you're that busy, shouldn't you not be doing a swap (or several as the case may be)?

[tiffi_333]

That sucks, I wouldve thought that people would be more excited for the swaps they are in. I havent gotten past the signup stage for my frist swap, so im not sure how well the communication will be after they get partners, but hopefully it'll be strong. Ive joined swaps that said to communicate one a week, Im not sure if I did do it every single week, but I definately tried to, even if it was something really small and almost pointless lol. One of my last partners didnt really talk at all though. I asked her what something was on her questionaire and it took over a week for her to get back to me, i replied with another question and she just never got back to me. I didn't hear from her until she thought my package was lost in the mail because it took more than two weeks to get there. When i got the package she gave me i told her and thanked her for it, but she never even responded to that one. When someone does that, it makes me think that they dont really want to take part, and they just really care about receiving their gift...I think it definately took a bit of fun out of that swap, but i was lucky to have 2 partners. If they were my only partner, I dont think I wouldve had fun with that one though.

[Larissa-Rasputin]

I have seen swaps posting that they will turn down swappers if they have "poor communication" or "late sender" in their feedback.  I am organizing my first swap and am hoping I don't have any flakers. 

[amigurl55]

That is a REALLY good idea, Larissa.  I probably won't organize any more swaps after the 2 I'm doing now, though.  It's a big pain.

[GeekySweetheart]

I know what you mean... I've done one and know I will have to wait a whle to recover before trying to organise another one.

The worst thing is, as organiser, you feel guilty for the good swappers who invariably get partnered with the "oh no I couldnt get to the post office today, maybe next week/month/year"* people.

I also found it frustrating that no matter what, unless someone falls off the face of the earth completely they still get 'positive' feedback... thank god for the comment section!!

I will CERTINALY be considering rejecting applicates with multiple instances of 'sending late' or 'bad communication' in their feedback IF I organise another swap.

x GS

*NOT a specific example from the swap I organised.

[LadybugsAndBumblebees]

It's been my experience that the swappers who have consistent "poor communication/sent late" in their feedback are not a good bet to have in a swap. 

I've also noticed that, just like in 'real life'  , some people "JUST DON'T GET IT"! (i.e.-If you sign up for a swap, that means you are agreeing to abide by its requirements! DUH!)

I've had a terrible organizing experience and will not be organizing/co-organizing for a good, long while.

(But...I do have to say, that when it goes good...it's great!)

[amigurl55]

Aside from some issues at the start, my video game swap has been going great.  The one I started slightly before the video game swap just went so awfully that it turned me off to organizing for a good long time.

[MareMare]

If they have poor communication, note it in their feedback. And when you approve people to your swap, really look at the comments and if there are a lot of that kind of thing, don't let them in. Swapping's a privilege, not a right.

[LadybugsAndBumblebees]

Amen, sister! 

[Alatarial]

The first swap I was ever in was a pet swap. It went well until about two weeks before sending... Then my dog was hit by a car and died. I was devestated, not just because I loved my dog, but also because she was my seizure alert dog. Up until then, I had contact with my partner every other day. But after my dog passed, I didn't contact my partner for about two weeks. I knew that the lack of communication was an issue and tried to make up for it by sending two extra items. I felt pretty bad about not talking about my partner.

What I don't understand, though, is how people think it's OK to not have communication with their partners.

[tiffi_333]

My first swap sendouts have past and it was shocking to see how many people had really poor communication. I expected one or two people since my swap only had about 13 people in it total, but about half had horrible communication. One person just vanished right after partners were given, but the partner was silent as well so I didnt even know there was actually a problem. I understand when bad things happen or you get busy, then you send and explain, but to not talk throughout the entire swap for no real reason bothers me. One person didnt even tell me when they sent or received their partner had to tell me because I didnt get any response to messages (apparently because they went on vacation without telling me). It's not going to stop me from organizing swaps because i know this will always happen a bit, but its bothersome to have unhappy swappers.

[johnson.mom2two]

I've found that I really enjoy organizing. I love the "getting to know" aspect of everyone a little more than just with one partner. I've found some very great people while organizing that I wouldn't have gotten to talk with as much if I was just in a swap and not organizing.  But the lack of communication really irks me too.  The first swap I organized, still fairly a newbie to swapping myself, I was much more "oh gosh, it's been 7 days and they haven't posted" but I've become more laid back, but still, when the swap requirements are stated "post once a week" and you don't even get a "I'm still here" or "I'm still crafting" it's quite frustrating.  It's also very frustrating to not get the "sent" or "received" messages that are vital to organizers. Or, to have to hunt someone down to find out if they've sent/received.  It makes a lot more work for us.  I know life can get busy, but like any commitment, I agree, take it seriously and keep up communication even if it is to let us know that the communication will be less for a while. 

[rackycoo]

I guess I've been very lucky with my swaps (knock on wood!) I seem to get great communicators and senders, and it's been quite a while since I've had a flaker. I'm sorry some of you have had bad experiences organizing. I hope that you still feel that the benefits outweigh some of the issues.

[raewolo]

I try to check in at least once a week once the swap gets going. I'm not a super chatty person, and the discussion pages go fast, so I try to just pm back and forth with my partner. Also, I get kind of distracted once crafting starts so I'm usually not around Craftster much once partners are given. That must be frustrating for some partners of mine! lol

[leighi123]

The first swap I was ever in was a pet swap. It went well until about two weeks before sending... Then my dog was hit by a car and died. I was devestated, not just because I loved my dog, but also because she was my seizure alert dog. Up until then, I had contact with my partner every other day. But after my dog passed, I didn't contact my partner for about two weeks. I knew that the lack of communication was an issue and tried to make up for it by sending two extra items. I felt pretty bad about not talking about my partner.

See stuff like that is hard, sometimes "life happens".   I have some spots of bad communication on my feedback because I got really really really sick and had a hard time even getting out of bed, I couldn't function well enough to type up a note to anyone on craftster, not dying was more of a priority than crafts!  I blew my ear drum in the process and was so dizzy I couldn't even see straight, I couldn't read at all for a long time, it was disorienting and awful.   But the feedback just ends up saying poor communication, without really explanations as to why that was.   It sucks because it tarnished my 'record' but wasn't something I could control.  Its also something unlikely to happen again (I hope!!).   

I also feel very left out in swap chats.  I feel like some people 'know' each other, and I don't, and I don't really have anything to share other than "yep I cut out some fabric for one of the swap items today", which seems weird to throw out there when everyone else is talking about things happening in their lives or something.    I've always been anti-social so its hard to jump into conversations once a week, even online!   

I always do my best when I put together a package though, and I spend a lot of time and effort on making something that I hope my partner will like.   

[ThreadOrYarn]

I have some spots of bad communication on my feedback because I got really really really sick and had a hard time even getting out of bed, ...   But the feedback just ends up saying poor communication, without really explanations as to why that was. 

Have you asked if a swap mod, or the organizers, can add 'due to illness' to the comments?  It just seems to me that it's a helpful thing to know instead of just "poor communication"

I also feel very left out in swap chats.  I feel like some people 'know' each other, and I don't, and I don't really have anything to share other than "yep I cut out some fabric for one of the swap items today", which seems weird to throw out there when everyone else is talking about things happening in their lives or something.    I've always been anti-social so its hard to jump into conversations once a week, even online!   

Me too

[LadybugsAndBumblebees]

But those of us that seem to know each other may just be people who swap all the time, are truly chatty, or may have made a Craftster friend or two thru swaps and PMs.  I know that all three scenarios are true for me.  Sometimes, too, you might post just a plain, ordinary comment that may spark a discussion!  You've just got to put yourself out there a bit!