Saturday, March 10, 2012

Shadow Exchange Guidelines and Ideas

Random image of a bookmark I found in a thriftstore book years ago. I have a hard time looking at the bookmark because I feel so sorry for the sad lonely man on a bummer. I hope he called to rap.

Below are some parameters and dynamics, totally up for revision and input. Just leave a comment here with any ideas you have.

Shadow Exchange

Here's how it works:

-I will stuff a small flat rate priority USPS box with a variety of beads and findings and send it to the first person on the exchange list.

-That person will go through everything and remove whatever they would like, replacing the removed items with similar quantity and quality items, so the box is stuffed again. They will send the box to the next person on the exchange list.

-That person will go through the box and repeat the same process of removing whatever they'd like, and replacing it, and then send the box to the next person.

-And so on and so on and so on...

-Until the very first person (me in this case) receives the box back, filled with a crazy mixture of things from everyone.

Ideas
-Participants must have some affiliation with the forum at Fanciful Device's blog.
-The box should remain in one person's possession for a maximum of three days. With 8 people participating, that's around a month for the box to complete its full circle journey back to the original person.
-I will keep the names of the participants, and let people know who they send to, and provide email addresses so people can privately give home addresses and work things out.
-To prevent too much dilution of supply, let's say you must switch out at least 1/16th of the stuff, but no more than 1/2.
-Don't fret over exact number of replacements--no 'bead for bead' kind of anal OCD thing. Just the general spirit of replacing similar value and amounts will suffice. The idea of keeping the box stuffed should be a good guideline.
-Also don't fret too much about the aesthetic of the next person on your list.
-It might be fun to take photos and blog about what you're taking/replacing. how do others go about this kind of exchange in that respect?
-I'm not sure if the priority boxes can be reused. But, they're free from the Post Office. If you aren't in the habit of going to the post, you can leave a note for your carrier to drop an empty one off for you with your mail delivery. just ask for a 'small flat rate priority box.' It's really the most economical way of shipping. The amount of supplies you can stuff into a regular box and pay a regular first class rate with is about $10 otherwise. The boxes are 4 something online and just over $5 in person. So make sure you have a small flat rate priority ready.
-What else have I not taken into consideration?
update:
-One thing I didn't take into consideration is the idea that people could possibly be receiving from the person they were partnered with in the first exchange. I was thinking there is going to be such a mixture of items that it likely won't matter much, but the idea that 1/2 the loot can be replaced is a lot of stuff from the same source. We obviously all loved our sources, but of course the idea here is to mix it up, so if you see your previous partner's name above or below yours on this list, please contact them and make arrangements to send to the next person on the list instead. Let me know, and I will amend the list as it develops. I have amended the list order a bit, and the updated one is in the comment section below.

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As I was thinking about this, it struck me that one's placement on the list is loaded with 'trade off' dynamics. This is one of the things about it that appeals to me. For example, being first, I have to wait forever for the payoff. But--I get arguably the most interesting score from it all--a hod podge from every single involved--but they are almost all rejected items! But I get to keep the whole box. And also, I get to see if there are any of my original items left--things no one wanted! Surely there will be. Makes me want to put really good stuff in it. Trade off, trade off, trade off. I love that.

Likewise, the second person on the list only gets stuff from one person, me. But--they don't have to wait very long to get a bunch of new stuff. Quick payoff.

So--leave comments with ideas and/or expressing your interest in the exchange. Beacause people have replied here, there and everywhere, I can't guarantee that your placement will be in true order of request, but I'll make it close. But it's all a trade off anyway, like I mentioned!
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20 comments:

  1. Richelle, this sounds like a fun idea!! I'm excited just thinking about it, I'd love to be included.

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  2. I think you've nailed down the important aspects (especially how long to keep the box, how much to take, how much to leave, etc). Lorelei did something similar to this with charms/pendants a few months ago, and she did take pictures to document the trade-off. So those of us with blogs could put up pics and link to the next lady to receive the box so the progress could be followed.

    As to my participation, as I've already said, I am all about this one, but I'm going to be out of town from March 16 to 25, so it would be best if the box isn't sent to me during that time so I don't slow down the chain. And so my apartment neighbors don't get so curious at seeing this tantalizing parcel at my door that they give into the temptation to spill its treasured guts and peek inside. I have that temptation when boxes sit outside doors for too long. I've been good, though--I leave them alone--just stare longingly at them every time I go past.

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  3. can't believe i hadn't found you sooner! as an etsy fan, i am now your blog fan too. lucky me. your post is intriguing and i did see it on the forum. i'm in as all of the possibilities with the different supply swaps are very enticing and exciting. thanks for doing this!

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  4. Thanks so much ...what fun I’m having with these exchanges. Anvil sent me such fab things (not that bird however) things I would have never gotten myself. My email is cawolff29@yahoo.com.
    Good of you to get this rolling...Cheers!

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  5. Ok guys--I'll make a better post about the list, but I thought I'd at least make a cursory list of the chain so far. Here's what I've got now in order as best I can get of the responses:

    Richelle sends to---->
    Juliette sends to---->
    Tracy sends to---->
    Eclectic Tea"" to---->
    HerWhimsy """" to---->
    Beatnheart """ to---->
    jackie sends to---->
    Chelsea sends to---->
    artisticreju " to---->
    Richelle

    So this makes 9 people! Let's let it develop naturally without soliciting for more participants and it if turns out that it's going well and there are up to 12 or so people that want to receive and send the package, we can add them as it unfolds.

    I did begin to mention in the guidelines the notion of dealing with a possible issue of being able to commit to receiving & sending the package within your designated roundabout timeframe (due to travel, getting slammed, etc.) but because this doesn't really depend on who-gets-what-when, I think it'll be easier to emphasize the idea of making a contact with your recipient to determine if the package should be sent.

    For example, using the example of Chelsea as she mentions in her comment and her placement on the list: Jackie will email her to get her address and make sure she will be available to receive the package when it is projected to arrive (priority boxes usually take between 2-3 days in transit.) If Chelsea doesn't respond within a reasonable timeframe (because she's on an airplane or having fun disco dancing the night away on vacation like all the young kids like to do these days) or responds saying, Oh, I'm disco dancing--go on to the next person, Jackie will then deal with it by emailing the next recipient on the list, and noting that Chelsea did not receive the package. The next recipient (in our example, artisticrejuv)will accept the package as normal, and remembering Chelsea did not receive it, send it to her vs. me (next on the list.) Chelsea will then receive it when she returns from her travels, and send it to me. Make sense? It'll all work out. So don't worry too much right now about your placement on the list and projected timeframes. We've got the blog here, FDs forum, and of course email and convos to keep it all in line.

    The one thing I would like to consider is trying to shoot for getting the package back to the original send within a month. Not that I'm in a rush, but just to keep it alive and active. I'm also thinking it might be fun to start another one in the meantime with anyone who happens to have a ton of destash. It'll be like singing a 'round.' But let's get this one going (I'm sending the box to Juliette tomorrow_ and then we can talk about goin' nuts.

    Please leave me a comment or email me shipwreckdandy@yahoo.com if I made any mistakes with the list of names or duplicated a name (due to people's real names/shop names.) Or especially if I left anyone out.

    I will snap some photos of the things I send just so you guys can get an idea of what it's starting out like.

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  7. For some reason I can't get the font color to engage in the posts--but I made an update in the original post, regarding how to deal with the possibility of receiving the same partner as the last exchange. Read the update, and let me know if you guys think it's a good solution.
    Richelle

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  8. Richelle --->
    Tracy-------->
    Juliette----->
    Eclectic Tea->
    Chelsea------>
    Beatnheart--->
    Jackie------->
    mikala------->
    artisticreju->
    willow------->
    Richelle

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  9. Uh-oh, I received lovely treasures from Beatnheart in the last exchange, if you could just juggle my name a bit that would be good. Richelle, this is going to be such fun, thanks for putting it all together.

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  11. Richelle --->
    Tracy-------->
    Juliette----->
    Eclectic Tea->
    Chelsea------>
    Jackie------->
    beatnheart--->
    mikala------->
    artisticreju->
    willow------->
    Richelle

    How's this?

    So--here's what I'm thinking to deal with the who-send-to-whom issue: you guys feel free to copy and paste the latest posted sequence, making the changes as needed. That's all I'm doing to amend it, so this way it goes through one less channel (me) and takes less time. Not an issue right now, but down the line it might be important to know who is next on the list immediately for shipping. So--look over the list and if any changes need to be made, just copy and paste it in a new comment and switch the order as necessary, with a little note stating why.

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  12. I would love to be a part of this :)

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  13. Hey everyone! I'll be sending out the Box of Cool to Eclectic Tea on Wednesday, March 21 :)

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  14. Hi Gang, I just got the package today and I'll be sending the package out to Chelsea on Mon the 26th. It is soooo stuffed. I can't figure out how I could take stuff out, replace the same amount and it barely fit?!! Lol! Have fun ladies!

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  15. I can't wait to see the end result!

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  16. Yay! I love it to be stuffed! I'm all excited about getting it; I've been compulsively checking my mail. Now--are we taking pictures to document any of this? What we see when we open The Box, what we choose, what we add? Or is it a better mystery?

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  17. Unfortunately, I didn't take photos of the original contents--not sure if anyone else has. Someone should, though!

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