DogsNDaylilies said:Sandy, if you've had experience with seed exchanges gone wrong, could you TreeMail me (or post here without using names, etc.)? I'm hoping to build in safeguards to make the seed exchange here on ATP as fool-proof as possible.

Fortunately, I've had no bad experiences; but then, I've only participated in one major exchange, Ella's Piggy Swap (on Cubits.org) last year.

There are just a lot of things to think about, though... what to do about a member that complains they didn't get everything they were supposed to get, or didn't get enough of a certain kind of seeds, or the seeds they got turned out to not grow into the expected plants? Or if someone doesn't send enough $$ for the postage to send their seeds to them? Or when packages go astray in the mail?

I'm not trying to discourage you -- but this could be a complicated undertaking, in my mind.

No worries, it doesn't discourage me. There are always things that could go 'wrong'...but knowing what to do if something goes 'wrong' and being prepared is what will make it successful. I appreciate your trying to figure out what hiccups there might be. Please keep the thoughts coming because even discussing pitfalls helps in the preparation and success of handling those pitfalls.

Even swaps where "something went wrong" or where there were a few complainers are usually hugely appreciated by most or all of the participants ... even the complainers.

And ATP is far above-average for people being considerate, sensible and sensitive.