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

[(Anonymous)]

This is Jillian! I could totally talk to you about this tomorrow, but I want to comment in your shiny blog.

I do agree with everyone else, and you, that you don't want to bring money into it, because really, who wouldn't want a little extra cash for unwanted craft supplies? The nice thing about Crafthaven would be getting new supplies, guilt free!

And really, I think if you're controlling what is accepted as a donation, you aren't going to take stuff that someone won't want. It's like any donation or thrift, it's not about getting rid of your junk - at least it's not supposed to be - it's just about liberating things you can't or haven't been using but someone else will. You wouldn't want to donate something you would never want, and you've a keen enough eye to only accept what is going to find a new home.

[crafthaven]

I guess my concern is less having things that nobody wants, and more that people won't find things they specifically want. I mean, in several of our craft swaps I've gone home with less than I brought, just because nothing necessarily struck my fancy. And that's okay, I didn't feel cheated or anything because I didn't go into it assuming I would leave with the exact equivalent of what I brought, but I'm afraid some people might.

I do want to encourage the culture that we had in our swaps--like you said, bring things that are good but you just don't have a use for, and get things that are useful (and new to you, if not actually new) in return. I just know that I can't control whether everyone sees it that way.