Swap Moderators:The swap moderators are listed at the top of each swap related board. They are here to help! The best way to reach them is to open a
Help Desk ticket. Be sure to select the category SWAP-RELATED from the dropdown menu.
Signing up for the swap:• Copy and paste the signup form from the swap signup thread. Be sure to spell your address correctly, and type it in line for line, so people who may be sending from another country know where the proper line breaks are. Send this form to the swap organizer via PM (Private Message). DO NOT post your personal information in the swap thread.
• Post in the swap thread, and read all the new posts. Not only will you get to know your fellow swap participants better that way, you will be sure to be informed of any important updates from your organizer.
• If you are in possession of someone's email or mailing address because you need it for a swap, do not for any reason share it with anyone else (other than a global mod or swap mod, when necessary).
Making the crafty items:• Take some interest in your partner and make sure you communicate with them. Read their signup form, their posts, and look through their wists or other personal links. PM them with any questions you have about their favorite colors, patterns, or hobbies. Look at what they like to craft. If you have any questions, send them a pm!
• Put as much effort and thought into your crafting as you can. If you would not use it/like it yourself, then don't send it. This is all about the "Golden Rule". Send unto others what you would want sent to yourself. Don’t send items that are broken, sloppy, or look as if they were thrown together at the last minute. Be proud of your work!
• If you are thinking of using expensive supplies, or of making something that takes an extraordinary amount of time, please discuss this with your partner. We don’t want you to feel cheated, or your partner to feel guilty for not sending "enough".
• Unless you are participating in a supply swap, make sure the majority (if not all!) of the items you send are crafted. It’s ok to include small purchased extras that you know your partner will enjoy, but the large items should be handmade by you. This is a craft site! It is not acceptable to send purchased items when your partner is working hard to make something for you.
• Many Craftsters have allergies or asthma. Please be respectful and try not to have your items smell of smoke or have pet hair on them. If you are thinking of sending soaps or any other scented products, it's best to ask your partner about any allergies/aversions to scents they might have.
• If you have concerns about the level of communication or have any other issues between yourself and your partner, please contact your organizer and let them know what’s going on. If you don’t feel that they are being responsive to your concerns, open a SWAP-RELATED
Help Desk ticket.
Sending the items out:• Not everything has to be packaged in a box. If you are sending not-so-fragile things, you can use a nice, padded envelope, and save some money! On the other hand, if something is very fragile, send it in a box with lots of protection.
• Here are some other links to check out regarding shipping your package:
Waiting:• When the gallery goes up, but photos are not yet posted, "bookmark" it instead of posting comments like "I can't wait to see!" This cuts down on unnecessary posts and helps save bandwidth.
When you receive the package from your partner:• As soon as possible, send a PM to both the organizer and to your partner, letting them know the package arrived.
• Take good photos of what you've received, and post them to the gallery. Add a good description of each item. Thank your partner!
If you do not receive a package:Contact your swap organizer. It is their responsibility to make sure that everyone in the swap both sent and received. If there are other swap issues, or you do not hear back from the organizer within 2 weeks, open a
Help Desk ticket. Everyone who sends a package should receive one as well! Don’t be afraid to ask for an angel.
The "Talk About the Swap Process" boardThis board was specifically set up to talk about swapping in a general way. Topics may include shipping hints, general questions about participating in a swap, or questions you may have that you’d like opinions on. It is
NOT a place to publicly complain about another member that you may be having issues with in a swap situation. Please do not post things like, "I am involved in my first swap and my partner did the following awful things: ….", as anyone can check your profile and figure out exactly who you are talking about. If you have a
SPECIFIC swap issue about an individual, please open a
Help Desk ticket so a swap mod can assist you.
