So I have a suggestion for the next swap...

[tnyr5]

Since, as our swaps have grown to monstrous proportions, it has become increasingly difficult to find each other at these events, I propose that we borrow an idea from the Cleveland swap and set up a dry-erase board with a floor plan of the swap venue. Swappers can then write their fragswapper handle( I can't tell you how many times I've seen people with usernames like "rarefishfreak2029" write "Bob" on their name tag - drives me nuts...but I digress) on the dry erase board with a marker and then everyone knows where to find them. It requires minimal effort from all parties and would make a world of difference in my opinion.

 

[PAStreetGlide]

Good suggestion Tony. That also drives me nuts.

 

[Just Jim]

Absolutely! I was just talking about this with some other people. And something else, write your name (username) on both sides of the tag so when it turns you still know.

 

[lflint]

Sounds like a great idea. We will do it. Thanks for the suggestion!

-Larry
V.P. of Education

 

[PAnanoguy]

I greatly agree with the above posts and I would also like to add that if people are going to be posting frags on fragswapper for people to pick up at the event, that those people be at the event on time so people don't stand around waiting for an hour. If someone isn't planning on being at the event on time, they could note that on the fragswapper listing as well. I noticed that there was only a few people there at 11 when the event was actually supposed to start, and I was not able to stay for the whole day, so it was frustrating that I missed a few people that I had trades with because they weren't there.

 

[gbru316]

I greatly agree with the above posts and I would also like to add that if people are going to be posting frags on fragswapper for people to pick up at the event, that those people be at the event on time so people don't stand around waiting for an hour. If someone isn't planning on being at the event on time, they could note that on the fragswapper listing as well. I noticed that there was only a few people there at 11 when the event was actually supposed to start, and I was not able to stay for the whole day, so it was frustrating that I missed a few people that I had trades with because they weren't there.

This is a great suggestion as well. At both swaps I attended (last spring, this past fall) I ended up waiting over an hour for one or two pieces. I noticed that there were several others in similar situations.

 

[jrhaughey]

You could go so far as to use the white board idea, when people check in, assign them a spot or even pre-assign spots. Also add to the board the time each person is expected to stay. If you take the pre-assigned spot suggestion, somehow mark when they check in.

 

[Fizz71]

I also think we should have some sort of "Check In List" at the event as well. Not everybody has a table so sometimes you have swapper A walking around looking for swapper B. How many times has somebody asked you ... "Do you know who X is? Is he here?" I don't think I've been to a recent swap where this hasn't happened to me atleast once or twice.

Just have a check list of everybody that registered so when they walk in the door you say: "Did you register on FragSwapper? What was your name there?" ..and then highlight them on a sheet of paper or something like that.

When I helped run the swaps WAY back in the days I used to pre-print all the badges with peoples names, that way they came in and grabbed their badge and you knew they were here because their badge was no longer on the table. I'm not saying you have to go back to that, I'm just saying a replacement of the "did they get here yet" concept would be good.

 

[ganjero]

I like the idea of the board, with check-in and check-outs. Maybe for people with listings in the fragswapper it can be pre-made in a alphabetical order.

I disagree somehow with the comments of "being on time", the swap was advertised as "When: 11:00 am til 6:00 pm Oct 5, 2013", IMO if I get there at 5:50pm I'm still on time. On the same lines of "being on time", if you mean being there at 11 or close to that, you could say that why do people leave early, they should stay until 6:00pm.

I think the seller/buyer, like many do, should comment on expected picking up times. I had other unexpected errands to do before the swap and came in at 1:00pm so I missed one of the frags I was looking forward to get, and some other people sold the frags I requested. Unfortunately I did not have the sellers' cell number to let them know I would be in at that time, and I did not know they would leave early or sell my stuff.

 

[rogersb]

I like the idea of the board, with check-in and check-outs. Maybe for people with listings in the fragswapper it can be pre-made in a alphabetical order.

I disagree somehow with the comments of "being on time", the swap was advertised as "When: 11:00 am til 6:00 pm Oct 5, 2013", IMO if I get there at 5:50pm I'm still on time. On the same lines of "being on time", if you mean being there at 11 or close to that, you could say that why do people leave early, they should stay until 6:00pm.

I think the seller/buyer, like many do, should comment on expected picking up times. I had other unexpected errands to do before the swap and came in at 1:00pm so I missed one of the frags I was looking forward to get, and some other people sold the frags I requested. Unfortunately I did not have the sellers' cell number to let them know I would be in at that time, and I did not know they would leave early or sell my stuff.

I agree. Communication between swappers needs to improve. If you need to meet buyers/sellers/swappers in a certain time frame that should be made clear. I bought a frag that was labelled for you Ganjero. I assumed you cancelled last minute but must be the seller was unhappy with your arrival time.

 

[jrhaughey]

You would think that the people who are not committed to stay for the entire event that they would coordinate meeting times.

I planned to stay for the whole event, until 6, but by 4 everyone was packing up or already gone. I was one on the last to tear down, but that was because TPP was not letting anyone in.

 

[ganjero]

I agree. Communication between swappers needs to improve. If you need to meet buyers/sellers/swappers in a certain time frame that should be made clear. I bought a frag that was labelled for you Ganjero. I assumed you cancelled last minute but must be the seller was unhappy with your arrival time.

:angryfire: Which of my zoas did you get? :rollface:

 

[gbru316]

I like the idea of the board, with check-in and check-outs. Maybe for people with listings in the fragswapper it can be pre-made in a alphabetical order.

I disagree somehow with the comments of "being on time", the swap was advertised as "When: 11:00 am til 6:00 pm Oct 5, 2013", IMO if I get there at 5:50pm I'm still on time. On the same lines of "being on time", if you mean being there at 11 or close to that, you could say that why do people leave early, they should stay until 6:00pm.

I think the seller/buyer, like many do, should comment on expected picking up times. I had other unexpected errands to do before the swap and came in at 1:00pm so I missed one of the frags I was looking forward to get, and some other people sold the frags I requested. Unfortunately I did not have the sellers' cell number to let them know I would be in at that time, and I did not know they would leave early or sell my stuff.

I emailed every one of the people that I had arranged to purchase frags from letting them know that I needed to leave early, and only 2 replied. I know fragswapper has had some email issues lately, so maybe that's to blame.

Perhaps sellers could update their info on fragswapper with planned arrival/departure times prior to the swap?

 

[rogersb]

:angryfire: Which of my zoas did you get? :rollface:

Candy apple reds or whammin watermelons. I got 2 frags and don't remember which one had your name.

 

[Fizz71]

I emailed every one of the people that I had arranged to purchase frags from letting them know that I needed to leave early, and only 2 replied. I know fragswapper has had some email issues lately, so maybe that's to blame.

Perhaps sellers could update their info on fragswapper with planned arrival/departure times prior to the swap?

Feel free to blame the site...but if 2 got it then they ALL should have gotten it. But you're right, the site's email has patches of up and down--I have lots of apologies from my host, but when it's up it's up.

 

[ganjero]

Candy apple reds or whammin watermelons. I got 2 frags and don't remember which one had your name.

Whammin Watermelons, you are going to have to bring me a frag next swap.:beer:

 

[rogersb]

Whammin Watermelons, you are going to have to bring me a frag next swap.:beer:

No problem

 

[PAnanoguy]

I like the idea of the board, with check-in and check-outs. Maybe for people with listings in the fragswapper it can be pre-made in a alphabetical order.

I disagree somehow with the comments of "being on time", the swap was advertised as "When: 11:00 am til 6:00 pm Oct 5, 2013", IMO if I get there at 5:50pm I'm still on time. On the same lines of "being on time", if you mean being there at 11 or close to that, you could say that why do people leave early, they should stay until 6:00pm.

I think the seller/buyer, like many do, should comment on expected picking up times. I had other unexpected errands to do before the swap and came in at 1:00pm so I missed one of the frags I was looking forward to get, and some other people sold the frags I requested. Unfortunately I did not have the sellers' cell number to let them know I would be in at that time, and I did not know they would leave early or sell my stuff.

If you are just selling or swapping frags and don't have commitments from fragswapper, I would agree that you can get there when ever you want and stay as late as you want. From a "customer" stand point, I feel that if the hours of the swap are 11-6 then yes, as a "seller" you need to be there at 11 and ready to go, and stay till your orders are fulfilled. If you are not able to do this for some reason, then that should be mentioned in the listing with the frags you are selling on fragswapper, for example "I will only be at the swap from 1-4".

 

[Fizz71]

If you are just selling or swapping frags and don't have commitments from fragswapper, I would agree that you can get there when ever you want and stay as late as you want. From a "customer" stand point, I feel that if the hours of the swap are 11-6 then yes, as a "seller" you need to be there at 11 and ready to go, and stay till your orders are fulfilled. If you are not able to do this for some reason, then that should be mentioned in the listing with the frags you are selling on fragswapper, for example "I will only be at the swap from 1-4".

I agree and disagree. Although I have (and always will) mention in my ad that I would be there late people still don't read it some times as I've had people say "I didn't see you here so I bought it from somebody else". I think a short window of trading is important but I don't think it's fair to lump somebody trading 4 or 5 corals with the "sellers" who to me are the people with the tanks at the event (and huge frag systems back home).

I think if you're pre-trading you should be there in the first 2 hours maybe, but not be required to be there when it opens. Some people drive pretty far to get there.

But you're right, communication is the key which is why I'm REALLY ****ed that my host's email is up and down on a daily basis. But what can I say..it's a free site so what advertising dollars I get only covers cheap hosts which sadly are where spammers go to buy disposable accounts to flood people's email with crap and hose my email server. :headwally: ...but I digress.

Not to mention opening time at the swap is usually a zoo!

 

[tnyr5]

Oh good Lord what can of worms have I opened this time lol