Swap Vet Survey

I'll go first

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping?

Getting to know new people and getting items in the mail. The swaps give me inspiration to make items I may not have thought of originally on my own.

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping?

Not having an enough time or money to do more.

3) What was your favorite swap to make for?

I had the most fun was with the Tim Burton swap, cause it was my first one after the newbie swap. But, I also had a lot of fun making the Rockabilly and skull swap one.

4) What was your favorite swap to get?

I think it is between the Alice in Wonderland swap and the Rockabilly swap. But, I do have favorite pieces from all of them like my Eric doll from the spooky swap and my oogie boogie man from the Tim Burton Swap, which both now hang out on my bookcase.

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap?

I think between 5 to 7 items, is best.

6) How long do you think a swap should take?

I think away from 2 to 4 weeks is a good amount

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy?

Candy and small items are always nice, just as long as there are some handmade items as well, then it’s all good.

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future?

The two I would like to do, which were done before my time, are a Halloween swap and a new age swap.

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch?

As much as needed, I think when you are first partnered up there will be many messages going back and forth.

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap?

Set strict rules as guidelines, but I’m not sure what would be the best rules to help this. I also think you should contact your partner before the send out and tell them you are ready to send out and if you don’t receive a message back in 3 days then don’t send out.

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping?

Being pushed into making new things and have to work around a theme. Getting cool stuff in the mail is the cherry on the top=)

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping?

Having a million ideas that I can't realise because of lack of supplies=(

3) What was your favorite swap to make for?

The skull and kawaii swaps have been my favourites so far.

4) What was your favorite swap to get?

I don't know really, I've had some cool stuff from newbies, I keep remembering different swaps I've done now, but can't pick a fave.

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap?

5-7 is good, definitely do-able.

6) How long do you think a swap should take?

Agree on 2-4 weeks, you gotta have time to make things properly, but you don't want it dragging on forever.

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy?

Um not really, I don't eat much candy (apart from gum, does that count?), I'm far too old for stickers. I don't usually put stuff like that in myself, unless it's requested.

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future?

Yeah some of the older ones that I missed out on would be good.

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch?

As long as I have their address, general likes and dislikes, and I know when they're shipping out I don't need to know anything else. I don't need to be constantly checking up. I was in one swap and I was getting messages every other day, it drove me nuts. To me, just posting on the board is fine, though I'm not a fan of the PM=)

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap?

NAME AND SHAME THEM!!!!! Maybe have a board thread where you can write up your bad experience, we can all check back on it and people will think twice about flaking if they're gonna end up on it.

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping?
The inspiration to get making. I often try out new things when I'm making for a swap too so I like having the push to try a new craft technique.

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping?
Sometimes the postage if its high. I have no problem posting abroad but if the swap requires you to craft a lot of items this can increase the weight of the parcel and then the postage can be a bit steep.

3) What was your favorite swap to make for?
Probably the tiny swap, both rounds.

4) What was your favorite swap to get?
The new age swap was cool - I loved all the bits that were made for me.

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap?
5

6) How long do you think a swap should take?
between 2 - 4 weeks

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy?
I like getting extras, especially sweets but the crafting is my favourite bit.

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future?
not sure - i'll have to give this one a bit of thought

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch?
probably a minimum of twice or if they post regularly on the relevant swap board thats good too.

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap?
I like the idea of getting people to do the newbie/vet swap first but I think people are still sidestepping this by signing up for the newbie swap but not actually completing it before signing up for more. Maybe only take people who have been on the site 3 months and posted a minimum of so many times. I find the main problem is that people loose interest in the site after a few months and then flake out of any swaps they have signed up for. I find that really disheartening and haven't signed up for any since the spooky swap for that reason.

What an awesome idea Jeanette! Here I go:


1) What is your favorite thing about swapping? Making new things for someone that i am getting to know!

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping? People who FLAKE out and send really LAME things

3) What was your favorite swap to make for? I'd have to say Tim Burton, the spooky swap and now the Skull swap! I'm weird like that!

4) What was your favorite swap to get? Your going to make me decide? eek, Um I plead the 5th, i love all of them!

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap? 5-7

6) How long do you think a swap should take? 2-4 weeks depending on difficulty!

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy? Yes, but only if there is a couple of them...it's a craft swap!

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future? The Halloween one again!

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch? As much as needed, i like making new friends and getting to know them!

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap? I'll have to agree with Laurel, let everyone know that they are flakers, it's not fair to anyone!

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping?
making new friends,getting all inspired to make new stuff and getting cool stuff in the mail.

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping?
going to the post office.argh...rude post office people...

3) What was your favorite swap to make for?
newbie swaps,tiny swap
4) What was your favorite swap to get?
I loved ALL my swaps!especially our newbie swap with KraftyKokatie and everything Melissa sent me.

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a
swap?
5-7

6) How long do you think a swap should take?
I agree with everyone on 2-4 weeks

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy?
Yes! I love to get stickers and candy,and I put something extra in the packages too.
8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future?
I missed out on the Kawaii Swap,Halloween Swap,Monster themed swap

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch?
Usually exchange addresses,likes and dislikes and if we have things in common we become friends and stay in touch after swapping too.

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap?
I think its a good idea to have a thread on exchanging experiences and naming the flakers. I never had a flaker so far...

I want to answer the questions as well. I havent become a super swap vet yet, but ive been in a few

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping?
Crafting the items that go with certain themes because it can be a challenge. And recieving something in the mail, its the only time i check the post.

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping?
Havign to swap international because of the high postage. Canada post is only out for the money! Hearing about people flaking on the swaps,and having my packages lost in the mail.

3) What was your favorite swap to make for?
The plushie's i made for the pokemon swap, spooky swap, and the plushie swap.

4) What was your favorite swap to get?
The spooky swap because of recieving my first t-shirt

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap?
I like 5, because depending on the size of the items, 7 can make high postage.

6) How long do you think a swap should take?
Unfortuanly i normally take forever sending out, but between sign-ups and craft time, i would say a month should be enough time

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy?
I personally would not include extras in my swap. But i think its up to the partners to talk about extras. Some people might only like crafted items, or be diabetic so the candy would not be a good idea.

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future?
I would like to see a swap before halloween, like you craft an item for somebodys costume or something. Another round of the spooky swap!

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch?
I like to be in touch with the intial likes,dislikes, addy, etc.. Other then that i only mail when im not sure of something to craft them, or your not mailing till later.

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap?
I agree with everybody else on this one. Flat out name the people who have flaked so they dont join another swap and it happen to another person. The membership lengths and board post requered is also good, i know some other swap sites do this as well

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping?
Meeting new people and making things that I may not have done before, and receiving parcels of goodies from all over the world.

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping?
Finding out your parners likes etc, making things to suit them, and then never hearing from them again!!! I have three neatly-packaged swap parcels ready for posting and the swap partners have vanished without a trace

3) What was your favorite swap to make for?
The spooky swap and skull swap, but I've enjoyed all the swaps I've done.

4) What was your favorite swap to get?
I've loved all the swaps I've received I've had some really great ones the past few weeks

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap?
Five items is just about right

6) How long do you think a swap should take?
3-4 weeks

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy?
Yes, it's always a nice surprise, and I also like to get a little something from the home area of my partner...a postcard, tourist brochure, something local like that.(I don't get out much!!)

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future?
More of the Spooky, Skull, halloween swaps perhaps?

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch?
Contact first to find out preferences, get address, and agree on a swap date, then maybe once a week to check everything is going ok and you're both still on target...but if a swap partner is not going to send out, at least they should contact you to let you know!!! I'd rather they said they were too busy, or even had changed their mind about doing it, than to be left waiting and wondering.

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap?
I suppose Name and Shame...although maybe some flakers do have a good excuse, like illness in the family, or no internet or something, so perhaps there should be some way of enabling them to redeem themselves.

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping?
trying a new craft, searching for ideas, being inspired by all the great work you guys do here

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping? worrying whether or not my partner will like the things i made, receiving a package where my partner obviously did not try their very best or did not listen to my dislikes. never had a flaker but yes i have been sorely disappointed.

3) What was your favorite swap to make for? anytime i can make a plushie, and i used to really enjoy the atc swap, will join that again when i have more time

4) What was your favorite swap to get? i've had some great swaps lately, tiny swaps (both rounds) plushie swap, atc's. my newbie swaps - oh gosh most of them have been very spot on!

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap? 5- or maybe just one very large item. i like to put a lot of detail into something so i like when we only swap one thing sometimes

6) How long do you think a swap should take? 3-4 weeks i hate to feel rushed.

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy?
um, sure! a surprise is always nice, although i usually don't do anything like that in my packages

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future?
i dunno. i plan to host a pin cushion swap sometime soon

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch? a few in the beginning to get to know one another and on or two at the end to make sure we are sending out at the same time. but the messaging system doesn't always work here, so that can be frustrating

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap?
well, i would same name and shame, but that seems kinda mean but i can't think of any better way to solve the flakers. life happens, you know? i was extremely tardy with my last swap and did not have internet access for about 2 weeks so I know my swap partners were probably wondering if I was gonna flake. i feel bad about that. would that put me on probation or something?

Wow that's lots of great ideas and information. I love reading everyone's. I think I may have to start a Halloween swap, with so many wanting one

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping? Getting a package in the mail that someone's spent alot of time on

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping? The post office. I'm always having issues shipping to other countries.

3) What was your favorite swap to make for? The Newbie swap

4) What was your favorite swap to get? The Kawiaii swap. She put alot of time and effort into it and it was her first swap.

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap? It really depends on the person your swapping with.

6) How long do you think a swap should take? Again depends.

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy? A little but if its all store bought stuff then I wouldn't like it.

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future? Hmm.. A bag swap would be fun

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch? As much as possible, or that's needed.

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap? Don't know. On one hand I agree with the name and shame them but there's plenty of people on here who will do it if their angry at someone. If it could be kept strictly to Name the people who you haven't heard from since then I'd agree with it.

On that note though it just seems like it would open up a whole bunch of hate. That's like saying we should start a board with peoples swaps we didn't like and name them there. If it could just be a simple name who didn't send out then I agree. Sadly it won't happen though and it'll turn out as a flame board.

1) What is your favorite thing about swapping? - exchanging ideas and crafts with new people

2) What is your least favorite thing about swapping? -the postage

3) What was your favorite swap to make for? -oooh all of them

4) What was your favorite swap to get? - kawaii

5) What do you think is a perfect number of items to make for a swap? -5

6) How long do you think a swap should take? -2-4 weeks

7) Do you like to get items that were not hand crafted in the swap, like candy? -oh yes

8) What type of swap would you like to see in the future? another p5

9) How often do you think swap partners should be in touch? as much as possible

10) What do you think is the best way to weed out the people who flake on a swap? -communication with the other vets on the community