Swap limit poll
Oct 20th 2008 12:15:35 pm
Originally we wanted Swap-bot to be as free as possible with members each being personally responsible for their behavior and swap reputation. However, lately we have been warming up to the idea of a swap limit for all swappers (not just new users). The tricky part is deciding how many active swaps each user should be limited to sign up for. Should the limit be based on a swapper’s experience (the number of swaps they have completed) and rating history? How many swaps do you think is a reasonable limit for established swappers? PLease answer this poll and add your comments. It would be most helpful to know how many swaps you believe is a fair limit.
Thanks for your help!
19 Comments » Categories: Polls
rachel on 20 Oct 2008 at 12:38 pm #
I’m thinking about a limit of 20 active swaps for average users (but an unlimited watchlist, of course), but once you complete 50 swaps (or get 50 “5″s), let’s say, your sign up limit would be increased to 30… then when you complete 100 swaps, your sign up limit would increase to 40. That is just an example of an idea. What do you all think?
pat on 20 Oct 2008 at 1:22 pm #
I like this idea! Once any swapper is rated a “1″ and a month has gone by, I think that swapper should be frozen on any more swaps to sign up for until that/those are fulfilled and rated for. So many times I have come across swappers (even very established) who haven’t taken care of their unfulfilled swaps and their partner still exists and logs in frequently. If this was instilled I think a lot of swappers would think twice about “letting things slide”.
choke on 20 Oct 2008 at 1:59 pm #
My only suggestion is to place another tier in between 50 and 100, that’s quite a big jump to only gain 10 more swaps, maybe for every 25 completed you gain 10 to be able to sign up? Also, if I sign up for a swap that has 10 partners, and only 9 of my partners rate me, does that mean that swap won’t “count”? Or would a 10 partner swap count for 10 swaps?
oneofthosegirls on 20 Oct 2008 at 2:26 pm #
With the watchlist, I really don’t see why it’s necessary for anyone to sign up for dozens of swaps at a time, established or not. There must also be examples of well-established swappers who flaked on a whole slew of swaps, either by choice or because of personal problems; I just haven’t been around long enough to know of any. I feel like it would also create a problem of doing a bunch of “easy” swaps (and maybe even swaps that they aren’t really interested in and so they are half-assed) to get one’s numbers up to the next bracket. For these reasons, I voted the straight-up “yes” option.
I think the limit should probably be 20 or 25 swaps.
MissyChrissy on 20 Oct 2008 at 2:32 pm #
I agree with oneofthosegirls: the Watchlist is a brilliant addition and takes the pressure off of signing up for swaps and then worrying about if you can fulfil them. I think the limit should be 20 swaps, that’s enough for anyone to be going on with. They can always have the rest on their Watchlist!
NymphetMaggot on 20 Oct 2008 at 5:45 pm #
I’m kind of on the fence between the limited number of swaps and the tiered system. I do like the idea of limiting people to, say, 20 swaps because that’s less damage control that has to be done in the event of a flaker. However, that doesn’t take into consideration swaps with multiple partners. So, if a person were to sign for, and then flake on, 20 swaps with anywhere from 1-10 partners per swap, well, we’re back in the same boat with having to angel tons of swaps.
I do like the idea of a tiered swap set-up, though. But again, just because someone has 100+ completed swaps and the 5’s to prove it, doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t turn into a flaker. If that were to happen and they were allowed to sign up for 50 or more swaps, imagine all the angeling that has to be done.
It seems like it could work, but I think there are still some kinks that need to be ironed out.
lisajhoney on 20 Oct 2008 at 7:27 pm #
with the watchlist i think it makes it a lot easier to keep a limit on swaps. I would say 20 swaps is more than enough to keep on top of, then the rest of the swaps you’re interested in can be on the watchlist.
Canariangal78 on 21 Oct 2008 at 4:22 am #
Totally agree with oneofthosegirls and MissyChrissy! with the watchlist now in place why sign up for a ton of swaps? 20 sounds like a good number for both seasoned and newbie swappers, the latter once they have passed the probation period successfully.
Thanks for creating this poll Rachel; a swap limit is a feature we badly need on the site now that recently lots of flakers have started to appear from anywhere!
HeideC on 21 Oct 2008 at 7:31 am #
I think twenty is a good number of active swaps. With the unlimited watchlist I don’t see why you would need any more. I have sometimes found that swappers with long active swap lists have more trouble rating because they can’t keep track of who sent what. (This does not point to any one swapper and DOES NOT include all swappers with long lists)
runswithscizzors on 22 Oct 2008 at 8:27 am #
Having been here just over a month, I was SO excited about FINALLY being able to do more than 5 swaps at a time… it seemed like I had to let so many slip by that I would have loved to do. That said, I do think it’s very important for a newbie to get a real taste of what’s required and expected before they get in too deep.
As soon as my probation period was over, I self-imposed a 15 swap limit. I think I’ll always keep it that way, too. If I want to sign up for something, I’d better be making some room on that list!
I am amazed at some of the lists of swaps people have. I could NEVER keep it all straight, and I know it.
Some of the things I’ve read about people not being able to remember who sent what, what was received, who didn’t send… and then just to be done with it all and on their merry way, just giving everyone a “3″ instead of figuring it all out. Yikes! I put lots of time and work into my swaps, and that just scares the hell out of me.
Patricia on 22 Oct 2008 at 5:40 pm #
I would like to see the swapper who rated her partner a “1″ be banned from swap-bot! This was r-e-t-a-l-i-a-t-i-o-n and there is no question about it! This goes against the entire Swap-bot motto and agreement! She had an agenda and broke the rules! This is NOT the first time either!
Bucket on 24 Oct 2008 at 11:49 am #
I think it makes perfect sense to limit everyone’s number of swaps to say, 10, or something. A lot of times things come up for people (who are good swappers!) and they aren’t able to complete swaps or even access the internet for a while! Even if they signed up for fifty swaps with good intentions, unforeseen circumstances could render them a flaker!
I know that I make use of the watchlist and tend to sign up for swaps just a few days before the deadline – this allows me to be sure that I will be able to complete them and if something should happen to me, I won’t be signed up for a bunch of swaps with no way to cancel my participation.
This would also eliminate the issue of someone feeling very excited about lots of different swaps, signing up for many, and then feeling overwhelmed.
Those are my thoughts!
vronica on 24 Oct 2008 at 12:58 pm #
I would like to see a limit of say 20 swaps. I have absolutely no clue why people are signing up for a gazillion of swaps! I suppose everyone has a day-to-day life and lots of things happen……….even over smaller periods of time: I have very busy weeks and weeks with more time on my hands (and more time for hobbies!!) How can you possibly handle a huge amount of mail swaps. Even smaller swaps often have multiple partners assigned. How does one keep track of all that?
I think the watchlist is a brilliant idea! I have , as many said before me, a whole lot of swaps on my watchlist and sign up one or two days before the signup date so that I’m sure I can follow through with it. Often I check if I have everything needed for the swap on hand BEFORE signing up
tash on 24 Oct 2008 at 1:18 pm #
I answered yes. why? because when i first was able to do more than 5 swaps i went crazy….and only just coped!
I found it harder to rate people, harder to get things out on time, and cost myself hundreds of dollars.
I now self-impose a limit, but i think it would be much easier, with a watchlist and a limit of 20 or 25 to not have to worry about that so much!
Shanda on 25 Oct 2008 at 9:38 am #
There should be a limit because the people who sign up for 20 or more swaps at a time send out junk.
Laura on 25 Oct 2008 at 5:29 pm #
Yes, there needs to be a swap limit. Some people don’t have the self control to not sign up for too many. And, as already said, many who do sign up for excessive swaps have a tendency to send out packages that don’t come across as carefully put together as a swapper who doesn’t take on too much. The number part is a challenge. I would say 25-30 swaps (?) Those numbers are still more than I can manage personally. But for those who have more time to devote to swapping & crafting, it may be a fair number. With swap # limits, people will high grade thru swaps listed to prioritize their selections. It will make good use of the watchlist too. Thanks again for taking our input into consideration. Keep up the great work! oxo myrrhmaid
Margaret on 31 Oct 2008 at 11:35 am #
I don’t understand how anyone can keep track of 20 or more swaps. I actually impose a 1 swap at a time limit. I don’t even look at the find swap list until I have mailed out my current swap. I broke that rule once and had 2 overlap and I won’t do that again. I was a day late sending out the second one. So I think 20 is more than plenty and 5 until you have 10 MAILED (not email) swaps under your belt.
The only drawback is that the one 3 I got when I had to resend and the receiver called it late, has been hard to make up because I don’t do many. (And the resend happened within a couple of days of MY getting in touch with the receiver because I hadn’t been rated.) I always get a confirmation of receipt now!!!
You will notice that I consider email swaps less important than mailed swaps. Hmmm, do they even get rated?
Swap-bot Weblog on 17 Nov 2008 at 8:38 pm #
[...] a previous poll I asked if there should be a swap limit on all users. Eighty-two percent of respondents thought [...]
Christine on 08 Mar 2009 at 7:50 pm #
I like Rachel’s first idea. If you have 100 swaps. You should be able to sign up for at least 25 swaps I think.