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.
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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!
 |
| 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.
 |
| YOU MAKE THE CALL |
It's too bad you stumbled upon Collectors like that. If that was me, I would ignore them and trade elsewhere for A (like the Ripken )
ReplyDeleteAs for B, I post every trade and mail day I get. It's called respect. I would feel terrible if I didn't post someone's and if they didn't post mine. I wouldn't ever send again.
It's a great convo u started and hope others chime in
thanks for your response! I am slow to post cards - guilty there. I do say thank you. Since joining Twitter, I've found it easy to show a few cards in thanks to the sender who tweets as well, scanning and posting at a later date. I agree - it's respect.
DeleteI think we've all experienced those cases. Im about ready to stop sending to one that's always ask ask ask but doesn't acknowledge or even give thanks. I want to be a "giver" but sometimes it gets tiring, I'll save my cards for those that appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteWhat's more infuriating is someone who asks then when you try to get their address, goes silent. I wonder if it's the same trader lol
DeleteAngels- you are certainly a giver. On another occasion - the unmentioned Case D - I've had this too. Possibly the same person as you. No thanks ever, but quick to ask again. I'm done with that one. Mike - we haven't traded yet but perhaps that day will come, sooner than later. :) I haven't experience your situation but it's a definite waste of your time.
DeleteAs someone who doesn't have enough volume to ever feel like I'm reciprocating a trade (or gift package) fairly (I've been continuously amazed at people's generosity on card twitter) I try to acknowledge a package on twitter when it arrives AND get a post out as quickly as I can. Heck I even tweet receipts of maildays I've paid for from card twitter sportlot or ebay storefronts. The point of being in the community is to contribute in whatever way I can and if I can't send a bunch of cards back at least I can vouch for other people's excellence.
ReplyDeleteNick, thanks for your input. We obviously can't trade with everyone who is part of it. Your reference to community is on point. Contribution in whatever form it takes, and communication are its very core. I appreciate your input! You are prolific on Twitter. I enjoy following you!
DeleteForgot to mention this earlier. I've gotten a few care packages from people whose collecting interests are such that I don't expect to ever have anything to send them in response. Thankfully in those cases the sender has had a sportlots storefront which I was able to visit when I got the urge for one of those sportlots "blasters." It's also nice to shop within the community as well.
Deletei like the idea of putting $$ back into the community. I've unknowingly won ebay items from community members.there was surprise on both ends of the transaction.
DeleteI like your selection of cards and how they fit into the post. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI have had no problems as far as trading. The only gripe I do have is when there is a chance for feedback and NO feedback is given. On the TCDB half of my trades have had no feedback. Makes me wonder if there was something I did wrong. If there was something wrong I would want to know about it. I would try to make it right.
Anyway, another good post. Thanks.
More often than not I forget the feedback mechanism exists on TCDB..
DeleteFred, thank you! These cards were my way of interjecting some humor into the post. They did express my feelings well, I thought. :) TCDB - that's a kicker. I'm still trying to find time to be involved there. Like many of us, I have an ebay addiction. I always leave feedback and have yet to leave anything negative for a seller, even for a less than perfect transaction. I do not understand not leaving fb for the other party. I can see this as even more important in a community such as TCDB where the transactions are trade based. FB would be vital to future transactions. Perhaps TCDB has rules protecting their users from scammers; those likely to just take cards with no intent to package a return. Mike, you're a genuine fellow. I'm certain you're appreciative of the trades made. We need little reminders sometimes. I just learned a bit more too about TCDB. Feedback is an option. If I ever trade there, I will leave FB.
DeleteI switched to inactive status in Trading Bases (Ygroup) several months ago because I am so understocked with material that most collectors seek. I love trading through TCDB. I have my entire collection and trade material in the database, so when someone has something I want, they are able to see what I can offer and vice versa. In this way, it is guaranteed to be a mutually beneficial trade for both parties. Not everyone leaves feedback, but more often than not, if I leave feedback first, the other will follow suit.
DeleteAs an aside- Julie you are famous here! Twice you've gifted me with fabulous cards. Please never feel unappreciated, because you are a wonderfully kindhearted person, and my collection has a nice Cracked Bat tint to it!
Thank you Doe, for the kind comment! I'm happy to have contributed to your collection and hope to make another donation in the near future. Your presence on the blogs is refreshing. It's good to have you among the traders in this community!
DeleteYeah, I've had a couple interactions like that. I generally send out cards that I either no longer need/want, with some things added specifically for the trader that I've stumbled upon opening packs or purchased for the trade. In that way, I protect myself a little bit from disappointment.
ReplyDeleteBut it sure does stink when thoughtfulness goes unappreciated. For someone as generous as you, Julie, I can't imagine a person being anything but appreciative and thankful.
My rule is inspired by a former president - "Fool me once, shame on... shame on, shame on you. Fool me twice? Won't get fooled again!" I never regret sending out a 1st package, and if nothing comes back I just make a mental note and move on. I've been sweet talked into sending a second package of cards a couple times with nothing to show for them, but in both cases I was pretty sure I wasn't going to get anything back.
Brian, you can be sweet talked? I'm making a mental note now. Thanks for your kind words. Your a generous fellow yourself. I've been a recipient of your high quality cardboard package [my last post.] Yes, after two instances - the same mistake a third time would be a shamer. Fortunately, I stopped at two. The inspirational Bushism? Funny indeed. He's no Yogi Berra for sure.
DeleteI'm pretty bad about leaving feedback myself, in that I usually forget...one in particular really bothers me, because it was totally my fault. A friend who is not a blogger but does read them sent me a 21 pound box of cards...I wanted to figure out what was new and it took me a while, because 21 pounds of cards is a lot to move through, and it took me longer than I expected. When I pulled up my email to send him a thank you, there was a message asking if I had gotten them...I felt like a heel. I hadn't even finished but I felt bad about waiting so long. In retrospect I should have thanked him right away and THEN figured out what was new, a lesson I have learned from that.
ReplyDeleteCase A seems really odd to me. They don't buy them so they don't trade? That doesn't seem believable to me. Somebody who doesn't have enough money to buy cards is MORE likely to trade, I think. I suspect they might be the type- I think you know what kind of type I mean- who are still backwards enough to think that a woman can't possibly collect cards. Without knowing who they are, I can't check their posts to see if my thoughts may be confirmed or not, but I would not be surprised in the least.
Situation B is kind of unusual as well, I don't have an idea what that reason may be.
I feel bad when people send me stuff and I have nothing they are interested in to send back to them. In the blogosphere it's kind of regular, because I don't have baseball to send and that is mostly what everybody wants. I know a few years ago now I won some cards from Dennis of Too Many Manninghams that he stated no return was required for but I would have liked to anyway, yet I had nothing that fit. YOU sent me a package a little over a year that I had nothing to give you as a thank you for. And there are lots of others who have done the same.
Ironically I have thousands upon thousands of cards I could and would gladly give to people, but who else on the blogosphere wants NBA and NASCAR? The few people that collect what the majority of my stash is generally have more money to spend on the hobby than I do and when I'm buying blasters, they are buying multiple hobby boxes...makes giving stuff away difficult, actually.
Julie, I suggest you sign up at the Trading Card Database. There's always trades going on there and there are at least three other Tigers fans who would surely have a duplicate stash to find things to trade with you. It takes time to enter what you have and want, which I know is at a premium for you, but you could work on it whenever you a few free moments. It really is the best card site on the internet, in my opinion.
Billy, who could ever doubt your sincerity? Your TCDB contributions are famous. Your knowledge of cardboard history, equally so. Everyday you are out there contributing to the community, giving back. We may not trade baseball but we share interests in the overall sportscard hobby. We want the best for and look out for, our fellow collectors. I do believe the cards I sent were without obligation. Your gratitude was thanks enough. :) Perhaps I'll use TCDB for organizational and educational purposes. I doubt to ever have time to do rounded trading there but would certainly use it as resource to check out want lists. I've also read many of your posts there. Thanks for sharing Billy. You have an enormous heart!
DeleteLike you, I can be slow to post a "thank you" on the blog, but I always at least try to say thanks via email or Twitter first, with the post coming up later whenever I'm able. I'm sure I've missed one or two (never intentional!), and hopefully that happened with the blogger you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI do appreciate your optimism, Lost Collector. I do believe the intentions of at least 99% of our community are honorable. I'm thinking the last 1% includes these two fellows. It's a shame really. Case A will continue to move from one generous collector to the next. A couple of non-reciprocated trades will have him going elsewhere. I doubt my cards were of Case B's high-end standards. I did wait for several months. After joining Twitter, the stewing began. I kept hoping for something more from them. It's likely time to block them and be done.
DeleteYou know I can be slow or fast in thanks for cards, and I definitely look for people to thank me in response as well. I get annoyed, too, when there is no acknowledgement -- especially when I put some effort into the cards I've sent. I try to acknowledge all the packages I get even if it's mostly cards that I do not need.
ReplyDeleteTony, you and I go back a few years now- my second trade package! You've always been generous and kind. When I mention time management, I think of you. How you pull it off with your marriage, career, hobby, blogging - it does blow my mind! I am finding Twitter a great place for a thank you message as I open the fun mail! You've been doing this for awhile now. It's what prompted me!
DeleteI'm glad to hear that someone appreciates my large thumbs holding cards in front of my face in my computer's camera posts on Twitter. :-)
Deletelarge thumbs? I thought you were showing off minis!
DeleteOh dear... I have one of your most appreciated packages sitting on my desk unopened as we speak. I promise, it has not been forgotten and it'll be posted (because that's what I do).
ReplyDeleteI'll return a package with cardboard goodness as soon as spring break gets here!
Tom, we have a great relationship. You've probably had that package all of two days. I just mailed it. ;) There's never a rush for return. I would never call a friend out publicly. That's not friendly at all. Communication forms the basis of any good relationship. I do not consider lying a good form of communication. Whoops. Did I just call Case A a liar?
DeleteI know I can be slow to get stuff out and to blog about receipts sometimes, but I always either let the person know of receipt via Twitter or an email. It's just common courtesy.
ReplyDeleteHey Mike! I responded above to your comments but here let me just say, I know you're an established and courteous trader. I read your posts and comments. Your reputation is solid! Thanks for your input here.
DeleteI’m amazed by the response to this post. Perhaps I wasn’t clear though. My words are not directed toward those of you who trade with me regularly. You are the most generous and friendly group of collectors. I am so fortunate to be included among you. If it takes a few days to say thanks, that’s ok. We’re all busy. Perhaps ‘timely’ was a poor word choice. Timely = at your earliest convenience. I have a difficult time managing my work/life balance when commute and work take at the minimum 11 hours every day. It’s harder still In March, April, Sept, Oct. Throw in regular life responsibilities, blogging, trading, the hobby itself, we know it can be challenging. This doesn’t include emergencies and the unexpected.
ReplyDeleteI’m perturbed by the dishonesty and what appears to be deliberate deception of Case A. To say you don’t trade but then do so was wrong. This person blogs and tweets. I’ve only been on Twitter since June. It was just a matter of time before I’d notice. I was dumbfounded actually. You do trade, just not with me.
Case B – WTH? If you don’t want to trade with me, that’s just fine. Say so. I will gladly send cards to someone who appreciates them. Don’t waste my time and money. I don’t expect everyone to like me. I don’t send cards for that reason. I don’t have high end hits but variety I got!
My trading friends, please know this is not directed towards you. I already know you’re
grateful. I’m not concerned with a return package. I know you will reciprocate when able to do so.
Case A seems just plain shady to me -- can't say I've ever come across anything like that before. Case B is something I've tried my best to work on throughout my blogging career. I've been backlogged with trades for a while now, so sometimes it's about a month or two before I can get a proper post up on the blog, but if I get a package, I at least like to email, tweet, etc. the person who sent it to me just to let them know it arrived and to show my appreciation. If someone takes the time and effort (and money) to send a stack of cards to you, the least the recipient can do is acknowledge the gesture. I don't think it's asking too much. You're one of the best out there, Julie, and it sucks you were forced to deal with the blatant assery of Cases A and B.
ReplyDeleteNick, you killed me with assery. I knew the Sadecki humor wasn't lost on you. I needed to vent a bit and get some feedback here. It feels better getting this off my heart. Active on the blogs and twitter, Case A is so odd. By all appearances, a friendly guy - which works to his advantage. He is trading on Twitter, not through the blogs, though does blog. It rings shady, for sure.
DeleteOh man... I really, really hope I'm not the guy in Case B. We've sent packages back and forth before, so I'm going to assume I'm not... but if so, I'm super sorry. I typically only send out care packages twice (may 3x) a year... so I'm pretty sure that most of the bloggers I exchange with understand that it might take me 4 to 6 months for me to return the favor.
ReplyDeleteAs for Case A... I don't trade on Twitter. Heck... I don't really even trade on Blogger. I just enjoy sending care packages (with no strings attached) and receiving them.
Oh my Fuji - if you must ask, then you know it isn't you. ;) You are a thoughtful, sincere fellow. No, the message has likely reached the intended recipients by now - who'll look the other way, block me etc. I'm ok with that. Their loss, as far as I'm concerned. It means there are others out there who'll want those cards, and appreciate them.
DeleteI've only had one truly awful experience with a "trader" where I felt I was taken advantage o, heinously, and what I got back in return was--eventually--truly, truly paltry and without effort or enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteKrukberry, who could take advantage of you with anything less than enthusiasm?? Not me, not ever. From the responses here, it seems we've all been duped at least once.
DeleteWhew, checked my email for November, so it wasn't me. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not on Twitter, am I missing out?
You could be missing out! I use Twitter more than FB. My twit feed is baseball-centric, no more personal than I allow - and mostly drama-free. I enjoy it more than expected. Get over there and be a Twit.
DeleteSorry to hear you've had such disappointing experiences lately. I've had similar issues recently, concerning someone who pops up on the blogs when there's a giveaway but doesn't comment any other time. I've traded with him before (when I did my 50/50) and I was worried he wouldn't send anything, but he eventually did. Something told me not to worry the second time he offered to trade with me, so I sent him a PWE of cards he liked and got nothing back. I gently nudged him with 2 emails, but still haven't had a reply or a return PWE. Not giving him the benefit of the doubt anymore.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to be that guy, who only trades with people I trust (either someone I've traded with before, or someone who has an established reputation on blogs or on TCDB) but I guess I'll have to. Even the Secret Santa swap has backfired; both years I've participated I've received cards but the person I sent to never thanked me.
I enjoyed our trade Chris. I don't know who it was that took advantage of your generosity. I'm sure there's more than one mooch around the blogs but it could be the same fellow. I hate hearing you were dissed two Santas in a row. Unresponsive Santa recipients should be disqualified from future participation. Thank you for sharing your experience here.
Deletei've got over two dozen "open" trades going back several years, many with established bloggers to whom i sent first and have not yet seen a return. i started a trade tracker to help me keep track. now i tend to stick to a smaller number of trading partners.
ReplyDeleteas far as posting and thanking goes, i used to be automatic, but i am not the best at it anymore. with sporadic posts, i know i have missed some trades. i'll try to do better
GCRL- I'm not an automatic poster either but do appreciate the trades. Hard to think you've missed any. :) I too, keep a spreadsheet of traders with their interests, incoming/outgoing packages.
DeleteSorry for your experience! While I try to acknowledge every trade on my blog, I need to be more timely doing so. I still try to at least send an email to the person who sent the cards the day I receive them. Either way, I need to get better. (I also need to get better at responding to the comments on my blog)
ReplyDeleteJ - thank you. Lots of room for improvement on my part for certain. Several of our trade partners make time to take pictures and post trades upon receipt. Impressive, to say the least. I may be slow in doing so but try to respond to comments left here. They are part of a bigger conversation. I enjoy this community!
DeleteThe first cards I ever sent out went to a blogger (and fellow Orioles fan) in Australia. Thies was years ago when I first started blogging. I packed a box full of nearly every vintage Orioles dupe I had..and that was a bunch. It was a costly mailing to boot. End result....zilch. No acknowledgement, no post (in fact the guy abandoned his blog)...nothing. I never ask for cards in return for anything I send. Nor do I hope for a blog post but I would like to know they arrived. That's just common courtesy. I ++try++ to end a message the day I receive a package or the next day at the latest. I've failed a few times for good and lousy reasons but I always get to it.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes it took me awhile before I sent anything else out to any other collector. Once burned, twice shy as they say. Happily I have never had a similar experience since. Not everyone is quick to let others know a gift or trade was received but every blogger I've dealt with since that first one has been top notch. Lot's of great folks out there.
Ouch! i know that took a bite out of the wallet! Half-way around the world!?! That's a shame. My first international trade was to a young gal in Canada. I don't remember her name now - she was here for a very minimal time. Had a sob story, seemed to be working in cahoots with a young male blogger...I figured much later. I've felt sorry for more than just her but pity posts don't work on me anymore. Many of us have problems and ailments. Fortunately, there are many top notch traders out there. Thanks for reading and sharing C-Bob!
DeleteI lost my arms and legs in WWI. The only thing that keeps me going is getting all of Julie's extra cards. Pity post. Did it work? :D
DeleteKaiser - you are alive and well! a WWI Vet? yes, your pitiful comment worked. I'm having your cards sent to the local VA.
DeleteI have fallen behind on acknowledging mail days recently, and I know I've probably missed responding to a couple of e-mails. I hope that I haven't offended anyone in the trading card blogosphere, but there's a good chance that I have. By rule I don't trade anymore because it stresses me out, but I do enjoy sending and receiving packages. I try to hit back everyone who sends me something, but again, I may have missed some people, especially over the last year or so. I think that if someone saw the state of my desk right now, they would understand how things might be easily lost in the shuffle. If anyone reads this and feels that I owe them something, I hope they will let me know. I'd rather have a chance to right the wrong, and I think most people in the blogging universe mean well. On Twitter, maybe not so much.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought, re:twitter. My stress is somewhat self-imposed and related to posting trade packages. I'm trying to find time to do this and also blog regularly. Haven't worked this out yet. Hopefully your trade partners understand your situation. I feel you're an effective communicator. Keeping those lines open is the biggest part of the battle. A hobby should should be fun, and maybe relaxing or therapeutic. I hope it is for you, Raz!
DeleteCase B is the only thing from keeping Secret Santa from being a well oiled machine every year. I beg and send dozens of reminders ever year, but certain people refuse to acknowledge incoming packages. Thankfully this year was much better, but still no reason why it can't be 100%.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about the bad experiences piling up in such a short span. I've dealt with both Case A and B a lot when I first started blogging, but thing things have been pretty smooth sailing the last couple of years. Like Brian mentioned above, I to keep a mental log of bad experiences and just eliminate that person from future packages. This usually eliminates the trolls and contest hounds.
Matt, I've always been impressed with your ability to balance family, work and the hobby. You are quick to share trades, blog regularly...just amazes me! I think the non-responsive should be uninvited to the Santa trades. There is no excuse for the ungrateful. Trolls and Contest Hounds - sounds like a great post! Thanks for your friendship Matt!
DeleteI'm not able to speak from personal experience as someone who has set up trades with others in the blogosphere...but it still seems to me that "CASE A" is not only a deceptive individual in saying they "don't buy cards so can't trade" (when in fact, they can and do) but also a mooch. It is wrong to prey on the kindness and generosity of those who trade only to further your own collection. In my book, it makes them more of a "traitor" than a "trader". Save your postage, time, and cards for those who appreciate it, Julie. I've read enough of your blogs and others to know that you are a generous giver who only seeks honesty in return.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words Tiger Pride. "Case A" buys enough to trade when he wants. I won't be the only blogger who gets "a shamming." Perhaps I'm fortunate to have only come across one real mooch. Surely there are others out there. Perhaps they'll think twice once they see we are a tight community; we stick up for and support one another. I refrain from name-calling since that's for children (and the current President...) heh.
DeleteI hear you on all fronts. I keep an Excel spreadsheet for all of my trades (both incoming and outgoing) and I try to make sure I keep it up to date. I make a mark on the tabs (different tab for each trader) for whom I owe cards, and a different mark for those that owe me cards (from an agreed upon trade). I also send out a lot of "just because" packages for which I don't expect anything in return (such as my Season of Giving packages last Nov - this Jan). I also confess to being slow in terms of getting "thank you" posts up at times, especially for the more interesting or larger trades (because let's face it, a post about a PWE trade is much easier and quicker to write)! That said, I do try to let the sender know I got their package in a timely manner assuming I remember to do so.
ReplyDeleteN.G. - how many trader tabs are on that sheet? You are prolific! You're another fellow with a busy work/life balance who posts regularly, breaks, trades and still manages to keep an organized collection. Perhaps youth is still on your side. I require sleep. Thanks for being one of the good guys!
DeleteI have made exactly one trade on Twitter...its very much an unknown thing to me...and it was to a Twins fan I hadn't previously known.
ReplyDeleteMy card collection is so limited...I see the cards that bloggers post...and I'm amazed at the volume of awesome cards they've acquired.
I have also been guilty of not posting when I received cards in the mail...not because I don't want to, I do...so many times I've started posts only to be unable to finish because of my health...arthritis is a Sandy Koufax curve ball...one of my goals this year is to do much better at that.
Julie, you are a great Tigers fan, and, I'm sure, an even better person...never stop being you.
Thanks to you and all the outstanding bloggers out there!
John, yes, I think you speak of Jenny. She's new to Twitter and the blogs. It's fun having another gal around. I know my collection has grown immensely due to the generosity of this community. I think you've been the recipient of a few Tiger dumpings too. I'm sure this has helped your collection a bit. Have you ever done an inventory - just a basic card count? You may own more cards than you realize. I do understand some of what you must deal with regarding arthritis. I have bone-on-bone arthritis in both knees, a dislocated right thumb and degenerative disc disease. This will be the only time I mention this at length on the blogs. Knee replacements are in my future but I'm keeping them at bay for now. Typing can be difficult. I work around my thumb when it is hurting. I do not know the pain you must face daily. Maybe I can encourage you to share cards using a few pictures and a 'thank you' for your postings; save it if necessary and come back to it when your hands are rested. You don't have to use a lot of words when your readers already know of your struggles and must certainly understand. Maybe put some of that good ole twitter energy into a post. ;) Thank you for taking time to read mine.
DeleteI haven't delved into the Twitter-sphere to trade myself. Blog and Facebook have been satisfactory so far. I would welcome seeing if we could help each other out. Let me know. http://nolansdugout.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteHi Kyle! Yes, perhaps we can do a trade. I looked over your w/l briefly. I have 2018 Topps/inserts and some Heritage singles. It may take a week or so to find time but I can probably help out a bit. Your blog is lovely. Such a shame that old stadium came down. I hate never having had the chance to see it.
DeleteA week? Let's go with 'soon'. Tax season with an accounting firm is sucking all the hours in my day right now. :)
DeleteI have to say that your post hit home with me. I'm not a blogger, but I love reading and have reached out to a handful of folks offering trades or just additions to their collections as a fan. Most have been very gracious and even generous. I've only had one REALLY bad experience, and it was with someone who was looking for a specific Fleer basketball set. I left feedback on their blog, e-mailed them, and even sent a handwritten note saying I'd like to trade. Sent them a bunch of cards from their checklist, they mentioned my generosity on their blog and their desire to reciprocate, and then sent nothing in return. I sent a follow package with some of their favorite player included, mentioned my email and address. They posted the new cards on their blog... and then sent nothing in return. It was such a bad burn that I've stopped reading their blog. I now just stick to people who respond by email and it's been a much better experience.
ReplyDeleteI hate to hear this happened to you! That blogger covered themselves by showing gratitude. Why who would believe they weren't trading in return?? I had this experience a couple years ago when I pulled cards for someone's want list. I didn't realize at the time I was making a donation. It's good to know you remain part of the community. For me, trading is the best part of our hobby.
Delete