July 19, 2008

I Just Keep Learning More & More

Hi Wendy ,You made me a contact on flickr and I saw your blog web site so I decided to see what you wrote on swapping.My daughter and I also wrote about bad swappers and its good to see that there are people getting alert on bad swappers.Thank you for posting on this subject. Have a great day.

Thank you so much for your visit and for leaving a comment. I would love to read what you and your daughter wrote about bad swappers. Seems to be very common, and I just never knew.


July 13, 2008 2:29 PM

I just wanted to let you know that I am one of the few around flickr and swap-bot that is called a swap angel! I don't call myself an"angel", I call myself "A fairy swap Godmother"! I am not even close in real life to being an angel! My family calls me the brat of the family!! I love to help sending out swap packages to those who don't get a package in the many groups that I swap in. The admins. in the swap groups know that all they have to do when they need a missing package sent to someone, is drop me a line! I love giving back to those who don't get those packages! So next time someone's package goes missing, remember me, You fairy swap God mother!!I enjoy your blog! keep up the great work!!

What a great heart you have. I think it is so awesome that you took it upon yourself to still bring that joy to someone else's mailbox. Thank you so much for visiting and for your comments as well. I like your term as well, "A Fairy Swap God Mother". Too cute!

If you have a similar story, please share it with us. You can even mark the "anonymous" box if you like. Just trying to spread the word here and help others deal/vent. Thanks!

July 17, 2008

Anonymous said...

Hello,You posted your blog on one of the groups I belong to on Flickr. Thisblog that you started kind of strikes me funny. Not because I haven't received swapped items or in past swaps I ended up giving my own project(s) away so that somebody else wouldn't feel "screwed". Or hostessing a huge swap and have two people drop and one go MIA. I guess venting on line is helpful for some. Do people really want to read about losers that don't follow through or know how to communicate? I probably am exposing myself to being criticized for asking this...Are you really make a black list with people's real names? Is that legal? Can you the owner fo this blog be the one held accountable for sladerous remarks? Just food for thought. Best of luck with your blog! I wish you all happier swapping experiences in the future!
July 17, 2008 9:26 AM



Hello Anonymous,I appreciate your comments and have taken some of them into consideration. Only Marta's first name and country name have been given. The only reason she is on here is because four different people have complained about her now. So it is just a heads up for others.

Personally, no, I don't want to read about losers that don't follow through. But, I do like that not only have I been able to vent about this but others have been given that opportunity as well. It really sucks that this stuff has to happen. I felt very alone in my feelings when I was screwed over, which has happened to me more then once now. And in doing my research, I have found that it is a much bigger problem then I knew.

I agree that full names, etc. should not be listed, but I for one am happy to know about Marta and that she is one to avoid in swaps.

Sorry you got "screwed" on the swap that you hosted. That sounds like a problem as well. I would love for you to tell us more.

Thank you again for your comments and the well wishes. I hope that you will visit again and that all of your swaps are happy ones!

Wendy

July 16, 2008

More Viewers Experiences

Hi Wendy ,You made me a contact on flickr and I saw your blog web site so I decided to see what you wrote on swapping.My daughter and I also wrote about bad swappers and its good to see that there are people getting alert on bad swappers.Thank you for posting on this subject. Have a great day.

Thank you so much for your comments. Hopefully we can all make a difference and make others aware. Hope all of your swaps are happy ones!

July 13, 2008

I Had No Clue

In my quest to let other's know about my blog I have learned a great deal about swaps and the amount of people that have been "screwed". What I didn't know is that there is also terminology that has already been created in the world of swapping.

I was a bit nervous to use the term "screwed" but am glad that others have gotten a chuckle out of it. After all, that was my intention. Personally, that is the way I feel. I have been screwed over by those who have YET to send me my swap package.

Did you know that there are people known as angels? While exploring flickr, I read about one gal, who had been screwed over by her swap buddy. Another person asked if she had gotten an angel for that particular swap. She was very happy to reply "yes" and she didn't know that there were "angels" out there either. I asked, "What is an angel?"

An angel is someone who sends you a swap package to replace the one you never got.

I am thrilled to hear about this. But how do you get one? I would LOVE to have an angel for either of the swaps that I got screwed on. I am so bummed to this day and fear of participating in another swap. They both happened so closely to one another. It just isn't fair.

The other thing that gets to me, is that there has to even be a term for this, that there even has to be a purpose for an angel. I am still just in shock to know there are so many "flakers" out there.

So, I have heard of flakers and scammers used as terms for the person who "screws" or "burns" one on a swap. What other terms are there? Do YOU know of any other terms that have been given to those in the swapping community? I would love to know more.

I have noticed that so many have checked out this blog, but not that many have left a post. Please leave a post for me or for those that have so graciously let me share their stories. Let me know that you have stopped by and that you got something out of your time here. I really just want to help others out there that feel like me. I would also love it if any of you would spread the word about this spot. Over on the right I have made a button that you can add to your blog or site.

And if anyone knows of an angel, or someone that needs an angel, please let me know that too. I would love to help someone out who has been "flaked" on.

Hope all of your swaps are happy ones!

July 11, 2008

Sugarbliss Has Something To Say - Beware of MaRta from Spain

I think I know our first gal for "The Black List". Sugarbliss gave me permission to add her post from her page. I have been in touch with another gal who has been burned by THIS SAME PERSON. You can read sugarbliss' experience below and get MaRta's info as well. MaRta is our first Black Lister!


Watch out: SCAMMER.

sugarbliss says:
Hello,Recently (alright, maybe not so recently. Back in May.) someone named Marta contacted me through flickr mail asking to swap. She offered to send "strange lip gloss flavors" such as cocoa, coconut, etc. I've never swapped before, but I was like "Hey, why not?" I sent her a package, but 3 months after we are now in July. She is not active on Flickr anymore, so I am telling you guys to watch out!!!She uses a lot of emoticons, and laughs a lot in her mails (Here's a quote about swapping: "it can be great ^__^ cant it?why dont we try???") . Marta loves lip smackers lip glosses and Hello kitty items. She seems sweet but you have to be careful!Marta is located in Spain: Marta E. ****************** CórdobaSPAINI really am pretty sad at this point, but oh well, what can you do. : )


Thank you so much sugarbliss for being generous enough and bold enough to spread the word so other's don't get "screwed" by MaRta either.

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on YOU! Shame on you MaRta! Well guess what, word is out about you!

Here is Piyoyi's story entitled "Private swaps. trust or trick????)"

Here is a gal that has inspired me on my blog even more. This is her story and she gave me her permission to post it here. If you have a story to share let me know or post it under comments and I will add it for you. You can also comment over on the right under "web messages".


Private swaps. trust or trick????)

PIYOYI says:

Hello everybody:I write this because I feel really sad, when I started with all this swap world a lot of persons advised me that everything is not nice and cool, there´s s lot of fake people over here that want to swap with you and you get really happy ans excited, prepare your package with love, effort, expending your time, your money, your feelings and send to that person that is living so far away from you and you never received anything and the worse thing that person never respond your mails and really pass of all of this compromise. You feel really disappoint, betray and sad.I just want to advice all of you to take really care with who you make privates swaps, there´s not to many honest people over here. I know my case it´s not the first one in flickr so I propose to develop a black list and everybody posted the name of the person that mislead you or some case could be a online store that you buy something and never receive the product, I thing everybody have the right to know how is this people to take care and never have any contact with then.What do you think?

Thank you so much for letting me share your story Piyoyi! I hope that all of your swaps from here on out are HAPPY ONES!

July 10, 2008

To Black List or Not To Black List

I have loved hearing from so many of you and I especially love those who leave their comments on these posts. It is your input that keeps this blog going, so please add your thoughts. You are here for a reason, so please let that reason be known. You can leave your comments anonymously so come on, give it a go and help out others who are feeling frustrated.

I have heard from many of you and have heard it mentioned a few times now that many want to start a "black list". Here is a message I left for someone who was very upset the other day about not receiving her swap package. She mentioned a black list as well.


Hi ******,
I am so sorry to hear about your experience. I have been "screwed" a few times and it really burns me up, hurts my feelings. I always put a lot into my swap partner's items and when they don't even send and especially don't even acknowledge what I have done, just bums me up.

I recently started a new blog called "Did I Really Get Screwed On That Swap !?!?" I would love for you to post your story on my blog. I started it as a way to vent about how I was feeling, get a giggle and so that others could do the same. Thought it might be kind of therapeutic. When people post, I add it to my post. I even have it set up so people can post anonymously.

I haven't joined as many swaps now, but I know there are still a lot of good people out there to swap with and have been lucky enough to know some. I hope that you will get through this and continue in this wonderful community that we have.

Your idea of a "blacklist" cracks me up. My plan was that if people did visit my blog and share their stories, I might just do that. I thought people could send me private emails and I could start a list, and if someone was named twice (which if you read my blog you will hear another gals story of just that) then I would list that person. You know the saying, "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me". It is a problem here in our community, full of people who just want to share what they love. Now we have ratings to have just to be in a swap. Pathetic! I can understand that stuff happens, but once a person does it to two different people, that is just WRONG! And to those people I say GET A LIFE!

Sorry to say so much, you have touched on a topic that is obviously very close to me. Please visit me... and thanks for sharing your story with us!

So there you go. I am willing to start this list if others have an interest, but you have to let me know. I think it is necessary to note as well, however, how you have tried to contact the other party and what their response has or has not been.

I would like to add as well a list of those who have "screwed" others over in a group project. I have read about many book swaps, pass along books that people take turns doing pages in, and books where each person makes a page and sends it to one person who then sends each person a finished book. I have read about lots of people who have dropped out last minute without so much as even telling anyone that they are not going to take part. This not only messes up the book, but makes it so another person who wants to add to it can not because the swap is full.

So, keep those comments coming. I need YOU to make this work.