Ask Angie & Greg: How about a swap section to the YLF site? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie & Greg: How about a swap section to the YLF site?

AJ

Veteran

Reading about Taylor gifting shoes to April who in turn gifted shoes to Paige made me wonder if we could add a swap section? A place where we could post pics of clothing and accesssories we would like to trade or just give away to a member who is interested.

Do you feel that would downgrade the quality of YLF?

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14 replies

Latest reply was from AJ

Maya

Veteran

As long as there are some guidelines and it is strictly a swap and not a marketplace (involving money), I think this is a fab idea and have thought of it myself as well. It's a great way to encourage people to do closet sweeps, especially if they get stuff they actually want in return

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like the idea, AJ. But I do worry that things get "messy" (to Maya's point). Anyway, we can think about it further, and Greg and I have spoken about it already actually.

Thanks for your thinking cap!

Kate

Veteran

I like the idea too!

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

I think that this is a really good idea!

Maybe it could be a once a season thing for say a period of 10 days - 2 weeks? That way it would encourage closet sweeps, not get too messy.

Maya

Veteran

I think the main issue is that it is so much a trust-based system. I think it would be asking too much of Angie and Greg to police the whole process and make sure everyone acts responsibly. I would not expect any issues to arise, but you never know. This is the internet and there is no use being naive.

If I were laying down the ground rules, I would say 1) this is not a marketplace for buying and selling. It is for swapping or donating only. Members can set their own terms for each transaction, and the only time payment is acceptable is when it is used to reimburse shipping fees.

2) all transactions are between the members involved in the swap and no one else. Angie and Greg cannot be held responsible for unfulfilled swaps or other disputes. By participating, members acknowledge that these are all good faith transactions and not binding. If any disputes do occur, they are between the two members involved and should stay off the forum itself.

I should have a job writing contracts :p

AJ

Veteran

Sounds good to me, Maya!

Dashrashi

Veteran

(The person who writes the contracts is usually a lawyer. I don't know that I recommend it.)

Maya

Veteran

I'm aware, but everyone says I should be a lawyer anyway...

Lisa

Veteran

I like the idea, set for a limited time frame, and maybe limit to active members only?

Queen Mum

Veteran

maybe I'm the only one who might feel this way, but I would be more than happy to swap or give to those who I have "gotten to know" here, but wouldn't be as excited to do a transaction with "lulu lurker" Not that Lulu Lurker is a bad person, and we all started out as lurkers but I would like the swapping to be between those who have become part of the community here. Am I way off base in my thinking?

So... if my mindset doesn't mean I'm a horribly cliquish person... how would one handle the situation where she offers an item for swap and Nancy Newbie, who only joined 2 seconds ago because she saw this great bag or great pair of shoes that she wants, offers something to swap. We don't "know" Nancy Newbie and she hasn't established a reputation here. To say "thanks, but no thanks" does seem snobbish to me but honestly I don't think it's out of line to want to do business with someone only after we have "gotten to know" them here on the forum.

Am I way out of line? Does this resonate with anyone else or am I a lone snob?

Maya

Veteran

Well, as I said, members set their own terms and conditions. Some ebayers cancel bids from people with 0 feedback. Similarly, if you are not comfortable with Nancy Newbie, you are not obligated to swap with her. I'm assuming there will be a sticky with the rules, and there should be something stating that because this system is based on trust, your reputation is important. If you do not have an active role on the forum, there is nothing to base your reputation on. I think any reasonable person will understand that. If they find it mean and cliquish, well, I hate to be a b***ch but that's their problem. Can't please everyone. I wouldn't want to trade with a total stranger either. It's different on a site like ebay where there are various securities in place, but that isn't the case here.

MNsara

Veteran

I have to in chime in here and add my (unsolicited) 2-cents worth Warning: lengthy story ahead without a happy ending. . .

My only other forum I have taken some time to actually participate in was TPF (The Purse Forum) and it has sub forums (by brand of purse) that I was in. In one of them a lovely generous woman had a handbag that she had barely carried, but felt it wasn't right for her and wanted to give it away via 'random number generator' to someone else in the group.

She shipped it to the winner (even in another country), and the recipient actually ended up being quite ungrateful!!!!! It apparently didn't quite suit her either and she actually said so!!!! This was a $600 handbag and she couldn't have the courtesy to act gracious There was a lot of unhappy people for quite a while. We felt so bad for the generous giver and wanted to throttle some sense into the receiver.

I don't think the ungrateful receiver had much of a negative forum history - it just came out so unexpectedly and was like a dark cloud over such a happy group of ladies. They eventually recovered the old spirit, the ungrateful one seemed to go into hiding, and I believe they later saw the handbag being sold on ebay.

I would NEVER wish something (even remotely like that) happening here, to Angie and Greg, and any of you ladies. But I haven't forgotten how upsetting it was.

So, although I love the idea of swapping, I would hesitate putting it under the YLF umbrella. (I have some orphans that need a new home and they belong with another YLFer, not just put out to the consignment pasture. ) Can anyone thinkof a brilliant idea that involves Craigslist (because it is easy and free) or . . . and during a limited time period we can just notify YLFers of our listings? But all arrangements can be done outside YLF via email. Too hard for me to think until I finish my coffee.

Debbie

Veteran

I love this idea. I have several things I would like to give to a good home.

AJ

Veteran

Queenie, you make a good point. I don't think it would be fair for a lurker to swoop up a bunch of items. Since we have these status codes already in place, maybe we could allow access to the swap shop when you reach a certain status level?