Fairness

[crafthaven]

Another issue several people have brought to me is the issue of fairness.

What if someone donates some items, gets their vouchers, and then can't find anything they want to trade for?

Here are my thoughts, but as always, this is open to debate, suggestions etc.

Maria suggested the possibility of letting people pay for vouchers, and also allowing them to cash out unused vouchers, but to be honest I really don't want to involve money in Crafthaven at all. Especially as this puts me personally at risk for having to give people money if more people want to cash out than buy in. And as I've said before, while I'm willing to put lots of time and energy into this, I'm wanting to put in as little money as possible while still making it awesome. (I also don't want to set up a feel of buying/selling--this is really meant to be a big, friendly swap, where people can get some new crafty stuff without spending money.)

I'd like to write up some disclaimer wording about things you bring being DONATIONS--which is to say, we give you value back by giving vouchers, but we do not owe it to you that you find something you want. Ideally for those that don't find things they want, they could use their vouchers to "buy back" what they brought, if someone else has not claimed it. Alternately, they can keep their vouchers to use at the next swap event. But I don't think Crafthaven as an entity (or more specifically, Crafthaven volunteers) should be responsible for making sure everyone leaves with a trade they wanted, because there's no way to know what will be brought or what people are looking for.

DISCUSS.

Comments

[amazonvalkyrie.livejournal.com]

Totally with you on the whole "we don't guarantee a trade." Vouchers should, of course, carry over between swaps. I think this will keep most people happy--especially if you're clear in the legalese that once you accept vouchers for your donation, the donation becomes the property of Crafthaven.

Also, a "first come, first served, first dibs" rule would also be the easiest/fairest to enforce. If you see something you want, grab it. I know you'd talked about membership and allowing people to "claim" items between swaps, and while this has merit, I think on actual swap days, there should be a one-hour time frame at the beginning to pick up held items, then once the official swapping time has begun, there should be no "holding" of items until the end of the meet. (At which point, if you want to put a hold on something for next time, that would be alright.)

Might also want to type up all of these things in an FAQ flier to hand out, once they're finalized . . . random thought.

As far as bringing money into it, I do see your point of wanting to make this a "freecycle" type place, and I totally agree with that philosophy. Buying/cashing out vouchers was more a brainstorm idea than anything else. I'm fine seeing it go.

[amazonvalkyrie.livejournal.com]

Erm, this is Maria, BTW ;-)

[crafthaven]

Hee, I guessed that :D

[crafthaven]

Buying/cashing out vouchers was more a brainstorm idea than anything else.
Yeah, I mostly put that in there to kind of let folks know what ground has already been covered in email discussions :)

I definitely think you're right about imposing a time limit on between-event holds...it's not fair to hold an item aside for someone who never shows up. I think that would be part of both the holds page and the reply email that would confirm a hold--"You must show up by [Bla time] to claim this item, otherwise it will go back into the available trades."

once you accept vouchers for your donation, the donation becomes the property of Crafthaven.
That is actually perfect wording--I was trying to figure out how to make it clear without making it really verbose.