Originally Posted by starshine

Yes Dotty, I follow the $20 guideline, if it is something I bought on sale and put in a box to use in swaps I count the cost. I think it is important to follow the guidelines for a few reasons. One is integrity, in the the guidelines it is stated that if you sign up you agree to follow them.

And I know there are people who have participated in swaps(this one and the monthly one) and don't continue because when they see the amount of some packages they feel bad for the person they send to because they can't spend more and don't have a huge stash like some have mentioned having, and they feel the person they sent to is shortchanged because they did follow the guideline. This situation is one that I think it is more generous to follow the guidelines so that everyone that joins is on equal grounds on both ends of the scale, and no one will feel the package they sent that was following the guideline is too little because others have sent a lot more. And on the other side, no one should send something that is of less value than the guideline either, and if you take it from your stash don't inflate the value to try to get by without meeting the guideline.

If someone is pulling stuff from their stash or buying things through out the year are they figuring what the cost would be? Or are they taking from their stash and not counting the value for another reason? Some have said that if they are spending money on postage to sent they want to get their money's worth. This would only be a viable reason if yo are sending overseas where your postage is the same for anything 4 pounds or less as that is the starting price whether it is 1# or 3, or 4#s, and if more weight it will be more cost. But domestically you don't have to send by priority mail so it really isn't viable as a reason for sending in priority flat rate box, if you don't have a heavy gift to send.

The person I had last year stated on some thread here that her sp spent a lot more and when I saw that, I posted that if it was more it was only $1 or 2 more. The reason I think that she thought that was because in the summer I picked up a miniture tea cup and saucer at a rummage sale, thinking it could be used to make a cute pincushion for a swap. Well the person I had happened to collect teacups so instead of making a pincushion I included the $1 teacup & saucer. I am sure if I went to one of the antique stores and bought that same one it would have been more.

Someone stated that if they order something they don't include the shipping charges--but the guidelines clearly state that postage is not included in the $20-so no one should include shipping charges for things they order as well as the cost to send the package.

And if I get a package that follows the rules I am absolutely happy. If I get a package that is double or triple, yes I am happy to get it. But my preference would be to get a package from someone who follows the rules so anyone is comfortable being in the swap.