It has come to my attention tonight that we again have new member(s) sending Private Messages asking for seeds, without having posted on the Grapevine at all. THIS IS AGAINST THE RULES OF SEED SWAPPING. The Seed Swap board is for ACTIVE members of the Grapevine, and the good nature of seed swappers should not be abused by what is essentially begging.

If you offer seeds for swap or SAE and receive a PM from a non-active member, please forward it to a moderator, or click the Red Triangle on the top right of the PM so that we can deal with it. Whatever sob story is being peddled, doesn't prevent the 'beggar' from posting an Introduction

I Have to just clarify that I have been a member since only the beginning of the month, but have offered swaps for seeds in PMs. I am hoping as I am quite proactive and intend to continue being an active member that I have not broken any rules.
If I have, I would really appreciate knowing, and if that is the case I will of course not participate in the seed swap scheme until the neccessary time.

It's ok Thea (is it Thea tonight? ). I'm talking about people with Zero posts here! Not even an Intro or a hello!

I've had a few of them. They google "free seeds" and are directed to our forum.

Happy to say all my PMs are from active members!

Big scary 6ft7 GRRRRR at the freeloaders.

*holds hands up in a scary manner*

Hmmm, I think I may have been duped, how annoying

Ah well you live and learn, it won't happen again.

On the subject of SAE I have learned this morning a very important lesson. I thought I had followed instructions carefully but because I hadn't paid the full due for the letter I have put someone to great inconvenience and expense to retrieve said package from the PO.

Originally Posted by Brengirl

On the subject of SAE I have learned this morning a very important lesson. I thought I had followed instructions carefully but because I hadn't paid the full due for the letter I have put someone to great inconvenience and expense to retrieve said package from the PO.

I pay for my postage online nowadays. You simply weigh the item and you can print off your own postage*

I don't bother with stamps anymore - not for sending parcels.

*some steps shortened and simplyfied

Originally Posted by HeyWayne

I pay for my postage online nowadays. You simply weigh the item and you can print off your own postage*

You just have to make sure that you get one of the cardboard 'thickness gauges' from the PO to make sure you put the right postage on your letters.

It's only skinny letters that are thin enough for normal post - seed packets are often in the 'large letter' category (though not all), and this is deffo the case if you are sending seeds in a padded envelope.

ETA - I've just thought, surely on-line stamps aren't any good for sending on an SAE as they have a 'send by' date on them?

Originally Posted by Hazel at the Hill

You just have to make sure that you get one of the cardboard 'thickness gauges' from the PO to make sure you put the right postage on your letters.

Or you could use a ruler/tape measure like wot I do.

I'm less nice than Sarz and will simply ban all seed beggars. For 2 reasons

a - the instructions are quite clearly displayed with all sorts of 'read me' attractors; funny how they can't read the rules but still manage to PM all and sundry

b - they will beg for good seeds but you have NO idea whether anything is coming back; or even if these people just take your address and store it up for future reference.

Grapes - check out those that are sending you PMs and to whom you give your address to.

New Grapes that join in first are different; to trawl through our nonsense for a few weeks and post themselves first are less likely to be 'dodgy'.

Grapes with just one post in response to a seed swap post or whose only posts are about seed swapping - are here for your seeds only.

I hate good natured swappers being taken for a ride. This is a community first and a foremost and we do what we can to keep it that way.

Originally Posted by HeyWayne

Or you could use a ruler/tape measure like wot I do.

You are cleverer than me

I can't measure thickness of an envelope with a rular easily, and although I am a tightwad and hate to pay more postage than I should, I'd be mortified if I underestimated postage and a grape had to pay the extra & a fee.

Originally Posted by zazen999

I'm less nice than Sarz and will simply ban all seed beggars.

And I think you're right to, for all the reasons you said I just used last night's as an opportunity to practice some of the Mod 'tools' that we haven't used before... Naughty of me?!

No, not norty see - nice!!!

Aww, fanks

Anyway, at least everyone knows to be a bit careful now. It's sad, but as the 'Vine gets bigger, these little niggles are bound to crop up.