Swapping Protocol?!?
I usually do it in a gram/ounce amount, sometimes by cups but my scale needs a job when it’s not cooking time. Since I’ve gotten so many extras from the amazing people here on Steepster, I’ve started trying to include more than usual or a few other things. I especially love if I have something on their shopping list.
I used to have a ton of 3×3 bags I got from eBay but I ran out of all of them. Here’s the seller’s listings in case anyone’s interested: http://www.ebay.com/sch/pzlb/m.html?nkw=&armrs=1&_from=&ipg=25&trksid=p3984.m1439.l2654 . There’s a number of different sizes and they’re really cheap (100 bags for $2-4). But mainly now I use the snack size baggies so I have more room for the tea. And double bagging is really smart when it’s something strongly scented. I wish I had figured it out sooner, but that’s what swapping again and again is for.
I sometimes use Mylar packages when I have them on hand… otherwise, I use a biodegradable zipper baggie type bag (I think the ones I use are 4×4). I double bag them using a regular sandwich bag when the tea is especially fragrant and I worry that the aroma may insinuate itself into another tea in the package. I don’t usually double bag everything, though.
Do you really think the short time it takes to get it shipped there would be much bleed over of flavors? All of the orders I have had come in have all smelled wonderful still in the box! I don’t feel the tea companies are that hard core about it. But I would trust you guys over most companies. They probably are packaging just well enough to get it to you without it exploding all over the box.
It depends upon the tea, really. There are some seriously strongly flavored teas out there. The first example that comes to mind is the Market Spice’s signature Cinnamon Orange blend. That would be one that I’d definitely double bag even in a short distance because it is HEAVILY flavored and those flavors will bleed. That’s probably the most extreme of examples though, because I don’t think I’ve encountered a stronger flavored tea than that one. But teas like masala spice chai blends tend to have very aromatic spices and tea absorbs flavors quickly. VERY quickly. That is one thing I learned as a tea artist… the tea leaves are very osmotic.
I double bag really strong teas (chais, spicy blends, I also have a few chocolate ones too that are SO fragrant—like “you can smell it through the box” fragrant), and also really delicate ones (lightly flavored/pure greens and white) to be safe. I think it’s mostly a “just in case” thing: better to use an extra ten cent baggie than potentially contaminate a very nice tea!
I really miss swapping on steepster, it was fun for a while :-)
Just swapped with too many who never bothered to keep up with their end of the deal then they up and disappear from here, dont get me wrong there are a few folks here I still swap with so everybody isn’t like that of course. I do monthly swaps on facebook now and I got a Tea Lovers group there I’m thinking about maybe starting a swap on there so its all good :-)
Yep, its ok tho there there lots of great folks on here and that’s what matters more :-)
For me its the opposite. I have never had one person here on Steepster fail to send their swap to me. On the other hand I did have two really bad experiences in a facebook swap group. I guess its just playing the odds.
It’s such a shame that people back out of swaps, or maybe never really intended to swap in the first place… which is an awful thought. I think it’s generally safe to swap with people who are established on the site as good swappers, but then again what about the newbies who want to start? If Kittenna hadn’t trusted me enough to send stuff out on my very first swap I never would have started down the road of swap-adventures!
I was still a newbie here myself when those few bad swap happened so maybe that had something to do with it, like maybe they thought I wasn’t gonna send. Its all good tho. Azzrian I know what your talking about im sorry that didn’t work out for ya.
I now judge whether or not I want to swap with someone based on their activity on the site, their promptness with replies, and other such things. General impressions. Hence why I had no worries about swapping with everyone I’ve swapped with, even if they haven’t swapped before! Haven’t had a bad experience yet, and my four in-progress swaps are likely to all turn out quite well :D
Haha, Anny, don’t worry about the amount you sent! It really depends on the person, and how much tea YOU have to part with. Missy and I have a pretty large amount of tea (mostly because I have no money control). So, it’s a great way for us to spread the love :)
Besides, our sample box is so ridiculously overflowing, that I’ve stopped accepting teas in return ;)
Oh wait, did I say sample box? I forgot, we have THREE sample boxes now.
Lol. Still I feel like a heel. As I collect more teas, I will send out more samples. Most of my teas are samples themselves, but as I test different teas and buy more than samples of the ones I like, well then I can spread the love also!!
Thank you everyone!!!
Yeah, what he said! I wouldn’t feel bad if I was you. We did talk about what was going to be sent before hand. I agreed to it with out any hang ups what so ever. You seemed interested in vanilla and I have a few vanilla teas to share. :D
I agree that you shouldn’t worry too much about it! I think in most cases, people send extra samples to share their love for tea, not because they are secretly hoping you will send more back. If you want to do “mystery samples” and expect mystery samples back, I think 99% of the people here would mention it explicitly (i.e "hey want to throw in a few random samples? I have some other teas I think you’ll love!)
For example, I try to include little snacks and candies in my swaps (though I’ve only done a handful), but it’s not like I get annoyed if the other person didn’t include candies for me! Quite the opposite. I just want to spread the love.
You know this such an awesome group of people. This going to sound absurd but I have to thank Teavana. They reeled me in and took me for $425.00. But look what I got out of it…all of you!!! Oh and the wonderful world of tea of course.
Now if I could get all of you to rescue an English Bull Terrier….heaven. ;0)
You’re definitely overthinking :) I usually like to clarify everything in PMs before I swap (like how much of each tea, which teas, and how many teas to make it an approximate 1:1 swap, which I feel is only fair if the list of teas I want is really long, and the list the person I’m swapping with has is very short!) I almost always include extra teas as well, as long as it doesn’t bump me up a shipping category (swapping to the States is expensive enough that I try to keep within a flat-pack 100g package if possible, or have a big swap and go for a 250g box). Like Azzrian always says to me, swapping is supposed to be fun, not stressful!
Login or sign up to leave a comment.