Venting. I haven’t used this
blog as a forum to complain but this is a vent post which also includes a
personal apology.
I
absolutely love sending cards around the blogs. Some are specific
trades, others are sent with no expectation for any return. My
entrance into the Twitter-verse has opened my eyes and left me scratching my
head at times when reading some of the trade tweets.
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| Stating my case |
I place before you three occurrences:
CASE A: There have been a couple of occasions where
two different collectors told me they did not purchase cards themselves, so
therefore didn’t do trades. I appreciated knowing this in advance and
willingly sent cards to both of them with no expectations. Funny thing is
– for a while now I’ve seen them both trading all around Twitter. From
what I can see, they’ve been trading on twitter long before we ever interacted.
So I don’t understand this at all. Of course, they are no longer on my
ship list. I’m not calling them out by name because some of you
trade with them.
CASE B: Around the first part of
November, I worked out a new, first time trade with an established blogger then
something went wrong it seems. The blogger said it might take a while to
return a package. That’s absolutely fine. I packed over a hundred cards, told them goodbye and shipped them to their new home. Two weeks later, I emailed
to confirm receipt. Yes, it was received – and not a word since.
Did they like the cards? Who knows. They are still actively
blogging so are quite alive and well, trading with others and sharing recent trades.
No, I don’t believe they have forgotten me.
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| They're likely just an ... |
Trades deserve to be acknowledged.
(See Case B) I am a slow poster but we know this. What is important
though, in the very least, is confirmation of receipt. Someone took their resources and time to
select and package cards or send a PWE. A timely emailed or twittered thank you only takes a moment.
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| Thank you? |
CASE C: What's terrible here? ME! How long it’s taken to get a return package to our
Canadian friend Buckstore Cards!! Doug has been more than patient and
likely gave up on me. I admit this here and now to avoid any sense of
hypocrisy. I am human and messed up. In November, Doug sent cards
as a Supercollector. His return address was washed out. I could
only see the package was from Canada. I’ve owed him cards for a LONG
time, likely a year but he still sent another package. I recently sent a small box to Canada in an effort to make amends. Doug, I owed you an apology and this message was
sent to you privately but I’m sharing it here too. I am so sorry for
overlooking you!
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| It was her fault. |
My point in sharing these stories is
to focus on the intentions of the recipient or sender. I’ll leave Cases A
and B for your discernment. Were these instances of dishonesty, human
fallibility or discourteousness? Regarding Case C, I take full
responsibility for my inaction. Those who know me fairly well surely know
I am sincere.
To those who’ve been recipients of
‘no strings’ packages, please know this vent is not directed towards you in
anyway. I will continue to send cards with no expectations to those with
whom I have an established trading relationship. Giving without
expectations = gift. Gift is self-explanatory.
Have any of you experienced A or B, and if so – how did you handle it? What's your call? I’d love to read your responses.
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| YOU MAKE THE CALL |
