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Introducing Orchid Trader

Discussion in 'Forum News' started by Brent W, Oct 24, 2012.

  1. Brent W

    Brent W Owner Staff Member

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    Hi everyone,

    As we grow we are going to see a lot more activity on the forums when it comes to selling or trading Orchids. Having the ability to leave feedback to buyers and sellers will be important in helping people make a good choice when deciding whether or not to deal with someone.

    We now have a tool just for that. In the navigation you will see a link that says Orchid Trader. Clicking it will bring up information about our members (once we get it populated).

    Leaving feedback for a member is easy. Simply click on their username when viewing their post (see screenshot) and select Leave Feedback:



    After you click Leave Feedback you will be presented with a page, asking you to fill out some options. You are required to click on the thread that relates to the feedback that you are giving.



    Once you are done simply click Leave Feedback. Simple as that.

    Feel free to go back and leave feedback for past transactions so that we can begin populating our database.
    Screen Shot 2012-10-24 at 6.56.38 PM.png Screen Shot 2012-10-24 at 6.56.45 PM.png
     
  2. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    Not really sure how this works..., quite interesting. Most of the forums (if not all) don't even want to get involved with this kind of thing. I can see some unpleasant things happening here if the feedback is not positive.
    Can anyone else besides the buyer or parties of trade leave a feedback? Can we see who leave feedback?
     
  3. Tropic

    Tropic New Member

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    I will definitely be looking forward to using this Orchid Trader. How best to get exchanges going after we do so many divisions at year end and many orchids are eager to find a new home and adventure. Share the love ...
     
  4. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    Tropic, I, for one, would love to get plants from Costa Rica legally. Unfortunately it isn't easy due to the restriction by CITE. In some cases, it is impossible.
     
  5. Brent W

    Brent W Owner Staff Member

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    You can see who leaves you feedback. Only buyer and seller can leave feedback.
     
  6. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    Just curious how this new thing will work:
    Are you going to set this up like Ebay? How can you identify the buyer or seller at the current setup? In the trade or sales section of the forum, most of the deals are done through private message and the buyer's name will never be published.
     
  7. Brent W

    Brent W Owner Staff Member

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    It will be up to the buyer and/or seller to initiate the feedback. Once you as the buyer or seller are done with the transaction you can then decide to leave the feedback.

    If you are still confused I can try to put together a more comprehensive how-to.
     
  8. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    Since you can't identify the real buyer or seller, anyone else besides the real buyer or seller can go to your account and post a feedback without any restriction. When that happens, would you or the mods like to be in the middle to straight things out and "ban" the person who leaves a false feedback?
     
  9. Brent W

    Brent W Owner Staff Member

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    Yes. In the case of false feedback the user would be banned.
     
  10. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    That is good to know you are willing to do that if that kind of thing happens, which I think it will happen in the future.
    I do trade or sell things here once in awhile, matter of fact, I'm still waiting for someone to finish a trade deal in his part which should be done months ago... I do hope things are handled in public by all parties in a fair manner. (edit: and a fair chance for the other party to defend if there is a negative feedback.)
     
  11. goods

    goods Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    One of the other hobby forums (not orchids) does a fairly good job of vendor feedback, but it does get contentious at times as well. They allow a buyer/seller to submit a post, which is reviewed by mods prior to being public. If there is an issue or negative feedback, the other party is notified, so that a resolution can be reached behind the scenes and the negative feedback revoked if a solution is reached. Obviously, this method would only be effective if there was a misunderstanding, etc. and not an intentional scam.
     
  12. oisifml

    oisifml Active Member

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    This is certainly a useful tool yet it can bring its fair share of controversy…especially amongst members who are not regular vendors.

    I hang mainly on one French orchid forum, I would say we have a pretty healthy forum; Over the years the orchid care posts have about 25 000 subjects and 260 000 answers and the chit chat is getting to 380 000 answers… not to mention the picture gallery . Orchid selling/trading has 1200 posts and 12 000 responses. This selling section is only available to members that have a least 100 posts.
    Well on this french forum, everyone knows everyone and it is never any bodies fault and it is very hard to be give your opinion about a transaction let alone vent your hanger publicly if you get a half dead plant with no roots… you are told you “break the harmony of the forum” or that “you don’t understand those specific orchids” sure.. I understand catasetums do have a dormancy period and I also have noticed some very shriveled flattened catasineas never wake up! or that “ Duh.. no I had not checked the roots.. but the phragmipedium bessae I just sent you will quickly make new roots” no it did not. It was fun to receive restrepias made up of 2 leaves freshly buried in sphagnum; Aren’t they supposed to simply sprout new roots? So at first as an enthusiastic new member I did buy from forum members feeling it was the right thing to do. I was wrong.

    My conclusions

    1. 1 Often forum members are just as, if not more, expensive than professional sellers.
    2. 2 When no photo is provided, don’t buy.
    3. 3Very often women sellers are much more honest than men when it comes to describing the plants and their condition.
    4. 4 If no roots are mentioned, expect there will be none so it is good to ask about them. ( many times this simple question broke the sell)
    5. 5As much as possible pay with Paypal

    So now I only buy from forum members- preferably women members- those rare plants I cannot find from commercial sellers and of course with time, among members it is more a matter of trading, gifts and exchange; the rest I buy from professionals.
     
    Marni and Brent W like this.
  13. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    oisifml, I pretty much agree what you just said except your #3 conclusion. I can't say women are more honest than men in orchid trade/sale.
     
  14. oisifml

    oisifml Active Member

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    While on vacation in the States this summer , I bought two plants from Sarah and I can only say it was a very good satisfying experience. So I stick with my# 3 conclusion :) . I would buy your $250 cryptopus for the sake of scientific comparison but now I am a little too far away.. :D
     
  15. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    I am glad you had a good visit... but if your experience with Sarah is only thing you can come up with to back up your conclusion, that is a little bit too fast...(edit; I am not saying men are more honest either)
    I would sell you plants if you have legal papers to bring plants out of U.S and into France. The same will go to any foreign hobbyist. The price of my Cryptopus is not for everyone, and I certainly intend to make a big profit for it, otherwise, I have no other good reason to sell it and it isn't a charity event. You want comparison? You can always pay me $250 and I'll send the plant to your American friend as a gift from you... and I will be more than happy to take photos of my plant to back up what I described if you have any interest to send a gift to your friend. Xmas is coming!
     
  16. oisifml

    oisifml Active Member

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    That is why I mention I am to far away now...:) mercifully the island of Réunion where Cryptopus elatus grows is still.. french territory! and Marcel lecoufle had an ample supply of those plants before he closed down.. (30€)
    Back to my inclination to favor women sellers as more honest.. well it comes from my experience here in France...so I have to consider that Sarah is an honorary Frenchwomen..:)
     
  17. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    So I'm curious to know when will we see the list of traders populated? If all goes well and were able to keep it honest and unbiased it has the potential to become a very useful tool.
     
  18. Brent W

    Brent W Owner Staff Member

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    This system fully relies on the community to populate it. Any past transactions done on the forum can be added. If you need some help getting started let me know.
     
  19. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    Ok that's simple enough. I figured I'd break the ice and start populating. I do have a few suggestions. Tom and I traded a few plants a while ago so I used that transaction. We discussed the trade over a pm but when leaving feedback there isn't an option under the select a thread pull down that would suggest it was a unadvertised trade. If that's possible perhaps it could be added in the tab. The other suggestion would be to increase the amount of character in the feedback portion. You can really only get about 2 short sentences in with 80 characters.
     
  20. Tom-DE

    Tom-DE Well-Known Member Supporting Member

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    Thank you, Zach. It was a great experience and I will do it again any time!