Swaps on CO+K: Can I get your opinion on a few ideas?

I know a bunch of you have been begging us for a proper swapping system on CO+K @tom is doing some contracting work at the moment, so he's only able to work in short bursts on the site at weekends, so I thought I'd do some homework and take part in my first swap (with the lovely @MischievousRaven) to get an idea of how it all works and what you guys might need.

Here are a couple of ideas I have for things we could add in the meantime:

- Swapping Rules: A sticky, that will appear at the top of the swap boards with a list of rules to take part. You guys can help me with this one!

- Swapper Profiles: For each person who wants to swap, they'll create a board topic for their swapping profile where they can give basic info on themselves, their wishlists and what kind of swaps they want to take part in. Then, when we've had a successful swap with the person, we can share photos of our goodies and give feedback. That way you can get an idea for how awesome each swapper has done on previous swaps and it also gives us a chance to see all the amazing things they've made and swapped. I bet I can get @tom to work some coding magic and have it appear on our profiles too.

What do you guys think? Happy

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19 replies since 29th May 2016 • Last reply 15th April 2021

Reply #1:

@catmorley ooooo that is a really good idea, seperate swap profiles would be good.and a perminant stickie for rules is good too. Do you think a feedback system would be good on the individual swapper profiles?

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Reply #2:

or will that not be good because i don't know about negative feedback

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Reply #3:

Well I reckoned, we could leave feedback by commenting on the individual swappers board posts - that could also be the place you say "hey, still haven't received my swap", so other swappers can get an idea from what's going on without you having to be negative.

Also, we could add a few rules like swappers must have posted their first how-to on the site (to make sure they're keen to stick around) and if they don't complete a swap, they get banned from the swapping board. Though, if they're just stuck in a rut (like all of us get something) and complete the swap late, we'll let them back into the board with a little warning. I hate being strict - I seriously can't tell anyone off ever! Love

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Reply #4:

swaps do need to be ruled really because you get people taking the mic. should be good

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Reply #5:

@catmorley craftster.org has a great swapping system, I don't know if one of their admins might be able/willing to help...

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Reply #6:

We had a pretty good system set up if you take time to review the feeds.Many members jumped ship to a facebook private page after a falling out.
It would be great to lose Cat's negative sticky and have a more positive entry to the swap pages.The Vet v Newbie swap worked well and was well set out apart from the last entry .However numbers reduced and swappers found other places to participate.
The cost of shipping has increased many fold since we started swaps here which I think affected participants.I'll be interested in how this evolves.
Regarding swap profiles:Interesting concept but I'd be concerned some people would not get to swap.Swap Hosts have a role to play in balancing swap participants.They sometimes need support.I personally enjoyed many swaps but the group became very small in the end and found the Facebook group more supportive.With current traffic I'm not sure that CO+K will regain the swap participants numbers that it once had.

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Reply #7:

Ohh @AsherahArts I'll check them!

Thanks for the feedback @EssexDebs - I'm not sure we'll get back to where we were either, but I'd sure like to try! Geek Maybe we can use our location data to help people find swappers in their area and save money? There was a cool swap here in Edinburgh at Christmas, where people dropped off packages for each other in town. Also, is my sticky still around? I tried to find it to remove it but I can't seem to find it Fail

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Reply #8:

It would be great if we could get back to the swaps we used to have here, when there was a great sense of community and we all got to know each other well..and who doesn't love getting a mystery parcel of goodies delivered from a far-off land!
The old system where we completed the newbie swap, then entered the themed swaps of our choice worked great. I think it's better to have a swap host organising a themed swap...say, 2-3 knitted items, steampunk swap, Halloween swap etc...in which participants can sign up and be paired off by the swap host.
If we all start making profiles with our swap likes and desires, it gets a little complicated and long winded, whereas if you join a themed swap, you often make yourself create things you haven't tried before, and each partner has a rough idea of what's expected from them, bearing in mind we all have differing levels of experience and skill in different crafts. Some of us "more experienced" ( ok...older!") members could often give a bit of support and guidance to newer, less experienced members.
I myself didn't move to the Facebook group, or swap bot, just got overwhelmed with caring responsibilities for a while, then involved setting up my etsy shops, but I'm happy to be swapping again now, especially with Debs who was my first ever swap partner here in 2009!
And in the old fashioned way, I will be posting a "teaser" for Debs, and pics of my swap goodies...this is important too, to give new members an idea of what the swaps usually comprise of.
Making too many rules and feedback scores may put people off joining in.
Swapping should be fun first and foremost.

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Reply #9:

I think as stated above different themes would be easier than profiles. I mean nobody will really want to go searching through a bunch of profiles(if it picks up) just to find someone that fits them. I have yet to swap or sign up to swap here because there aren't enough guidelines and I don't want to be the person who messes up and doesn't sends enough lol
It needs like a requirement section for each swap
Theme_______
# of handmade items
small______
Med______
Lg_______

also maybe like facebook groups a pinned post at the top to leave +/- feedback
I am unsure if these message boards can be made this way but comment+1 or -1 and have someone to update the total at the top.

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Reply #10:

I've not participated in any swaps before, but I am very interested! I really like this idea! Love

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Reply #11:

This is great! We need to do this, it will be fun and a good challenge for bored crafters longing for inspiration Love

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Reply #12:

Has anything else happened regarding this? I used to swap (back in the hay-day), but after a while I got other commitments. I have never swapped on any other sites or on fb It was good fun but was also quite a time-drain at times. I might be up for doing/hosting some small swaps in future, but definitely couldn't commit to looking after one of the major swaps like newbie vs. vet or happygrams.

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Reply #13:

I used to be a member of this site years ago. Just now coming back. Would love to do a swap! How do i sign up?

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Reply #14:

Hi @Harmonee I’m afraid most of the swap threads on CO+K aren’t active anymore Fail they are also unlikely to start up at the moment due to the covid-19 situation atm.

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