Swaps on CO+K

I like option 3. Though mostly swaps on here go well, I think if the swap feedback thread was kept as a sticky at the top of the swap board then everyone could see it was there and it may make people think twice before flaking. It may not but at least people have somewhere to warn other swappers.

What Laurel said. I totally agree.

However, I reckon it would be a lot more work for you guys to moderate it all and how would things be 'sorted' fairly is another thing to consider... How would your own system work?

We have an idea which would link swaps to projects... so the big change would be that you would have to post a photo of your completed item before you could take part in the swap. This would hopefully stop people from signing up to swaps and then not having time to make something. Also the way people would be paired would change and be automated, along with tracking... it's something we'll have to work out in more detail though.

I'd support option 3. I used to do a lot of swaps on here and every so often I'd get flaked on and I was okay with that. What put me off was that I got flaked on 3 times out of 5 swaps I was in for and it put me off joining any more. I felt thoroughly crap about it as it was a big highlight for me getting a package in the post and I especially loved the challenge of making stuff for someone else using the info they'd given you.
I don't think posting pics before you join a swap would help as it would stop the swaps from being personal. You would be making for someone before you'd even been assigned a partner. I've never minded what I got from my partner so long as I got something and it would be a shame to loose some of the mystery.
Is there a way we can include swaps in our profile (a bit sugar and several others have on theres). I'm thinking of a system where you sign up to new swap and that appears on your profile. You have a tab to update your status to say if you are creating, have sent out and a final option to say swap recieved/completed (this could only be filled in by someone else (i.e. your partner or the person running the swap)). A bit like Ebay and Amazon have when you are buying from them.
I'm not computery so I don't know how much coding that would involve but its just a thought.

I think an ebay account styley thing would be great. Bid for a partner lol! Nah I mean like a star rating out of 5 on were you happy with it, communication, and postage. So you could have a little grid at the top of your profile with the title of the swap and the feedback for it on show.

In school we have a colour coded system for grades
1 = Bright green (outstanding)
2 = Green (Good)
3 = Orange (Satisfactory)
4 = Red (Poor)
5 = White (could be black as I think it looks worse - for incomplete)

So the aim would be to have a Bright green grid for swaps at the top of your profile for everyone to see.

It motivates the pupils at school, so it could work on here.

I don't think posting a picture would help as people could take a picture of any random items and claim that that's what they are sending and then not go through with it.

I agree with Arty KitKat, maybe some sort of swap rating like on eBay. Then if people don't want a bad rating they don't flake. Obv extenuating circumstances should be taken into consideration, but many people do that anyway with the swaps.

The whole point of the swaps is that you make unique items for people and it's a bit of a surprise so it kind of defeats the point I think.

I totally disagree with option 1... I'm not being funny but there's not much going on here lately -- in the boards at least I find -- and it would be even quieter without the swaps!! Swaps are fun to take part in if people were to follow the rules.

I also noticed that in my bio bit I put a list of the swaps that I had participated in but they have disappeared? I didn't delete it!! It would have been nice to have had a message explaining why it had to be deleted...

Thanks for the feedback everyone. We'll definitely have the ebay style feedback! As for posting the images of the projects... the idea would be that you guys can create a theme for a swap and then to take part, members would create a project and then upload it to the site (this wouldn't appear live on the site at this time), once they've added the project they'll be able to enter the swap and will be paired with a partner. Once the partner has received the project, they can confirm it arrived and then the project would appear on the site. What do you think of this? It's just an idea... so we're really open to any other ideas!

Lolly.bot - we didn't delete anything from your profile... that's very strange. Did it all go missing?

I'm sad to see that swaps arent working out! Option 3 is the most appealing for me... the only problem with linking to an outside site is age requirements. (Most have an 18+ rule)

I really like the idea of 'secret projects' for swaps, although it would be REALLY nice if we could know who we are crafting for! Also, a 'status'/ebay system would be fantastic, even if it is managed by users. Also, I think it would be helpful if there were a set of rules that ALL swaps must follow (Ex. Those new to swapping need to send to their vets first, or s request that people not talk about their partners on outside websites without their partner's consent, etc) Also, if there is a 'star' rating system involved, I think that it should mimic Swapbot's...

Looking forward to seeing what swapping with CO+K will become, and I'm optimistic that the changes made will be for the better.

I like number three as well. I have hosted swaps that have had people flake out, and its not fun.

I like the 3rd option as well because a lot of people have to some cool ideas for swaps and I would like to continue swapping here, as I have done my most recent swaps on swap-bot.
I also like the idea about the feedback and maybe there can maybe be an option to be able to rate your partner with a comment once you received your swap which will reflect in the feedback reading.
This is how swap-bot's rating system looks to give you an idea:

* 5 - I got my stuff and it met posted swap requirements.
This was an extra special package. Give a heart! (this is optional for the receiver if they feel that the sender did an extra special job or something, and there's a check box for this and will also show how many hearts the swapper has accumulated on their profile)
* 3 - I got my stuff, but it didn't meet the posted swap requirements.
* 1 - I never got anything.
* I do not wish to rate at this time.
Comment:

I like option 3. I've only taken part in one swap but I'd still love to do more

I think we have good system going with the end swap feedback and conclusion to this was not to rank swappers.
I'm a little surprised at the automated partnering concept.Being a swap host involves taking into account peoples differing requirements and matching them up.
I'm not too keen on the idea of producing item prior to partnering-swaps are people specific for me.
I still think we need to discuss swap host role and maybe explore buddies for first swap host experience.Looking back at the swaps that were unsuccessful these were new comers to the site who then disappeared maybe this could be a way forward.

I agree with Debs..
I think the swap system is working out ok at the moment, and the fact that the end swap feedback allows us to see who has not completed their swap goes some way to preventing people signing up for swaps that they may not finish. As Debs says, this was mainly a problem with new swappers signing up for swaps without properly considering what was involved, and then dropping out much to the frustration of their partner.
I would like a simple feedback system, showing how many swaps you have successfully completed, but I must admit I am not at all keen on Selina's grading system...I always try to do my best at swaps and make something my partner would like, and after sending it, I worry about what they will think of it, but I wouldn't like to be rated in that way....if i got a "poor" or maybe even "satisfactory" it would put me off sending anything again. Would I get a "poor" if my sewing wasn't quite straight?
Anyway, we are all (mainly) adults here, and I for one don't really want to be treated like a school child.
The swap bot system mentioned by creativemind looks a better option.
I always take into account my partner's likes/ dislikes, age etc when producing items for a swap, to make it a bit more relevant and personal, so I don't like the idea of making the items first, before getting to know my partner .
Most of us post a teaser before sending, which is great because it lets the recipient know that there's something on the way, and builds up a bit of excitement and anticipation. But as for uploading your swap items as projects, some people have a problem with this, either no camera, pictures haven't turned out, or quite simply don't have time to upload projects, especially if you are sending your partner 6-7 items, which happens regularly.
I don't want to see what I'm getting in advance, I love opening the parcels and getting awesome surprises!
This is just my opinion, and I look forward to hearing others.
I really enjoy swapping on this site, and have always found it rewarding. Most swappers are awesome here. I've had great swaps so far, and I can overlook the flakers I've had as just one of those things that happen from time to time.

I think Creativemind's system would be much better. As Nora said, it's nerve-racking enough when sending out some hand-made stuff just in case the person you are sending too doesn't think it's 'good enough', even if you have spent hours on it! If it matches the theme of the swap, was posted and received that is all that needs to be said surely? Plus communication, obviously.

I got flaked on on my first 3 swaps, all people who had previously swapped so yes a majority might be the newbie swappers but not <u>always</u> the case. If I had been flaked on in my 4th swap I would have given up altogether. Not sure why I even signed up to a fourth but I'm glad I did now because the swapping experience is good fun!

I'm not 100% clear on this picture/project thing though. You mean we 'publish' a project with our swap items then when it's received it gets published? That could work but I wouldn't want to see before hand, the surprise is most of the excitement of it all