Quid Pro Quo is something that happens a lot within the Trollbead Community. There are a lot of forums and groups and organised swaps as well as individual ones where people want to swap beads they are no longer using or that just didn't work for them for others that might. As well as groups and forums, it happens between friends quite a lot, sometimes it can be a straight swap, other times it's a bit more involved.
Whichever way around it happens, group or individual, organised or informal, the main element is TRUST, often you're sending stuff off with no guarantee other than someone's word for it that you will receive something in return (the Quid Pro Quo).
The organised ones I take part in are secret swaps, everyone decides whether to put their name forward or not, 1 person organises the pairs, but the nice thing is the partner that you send to is not who you receive from. Therefore you have 2 partners, 1 you know of that you're sending a secret parcel to, and 1 that you don't know that you receive a secret parcel from.
What comes in them, apart from the pre-agreed spend limit on the bead/s, is totally random and chosen for you by your partner.
The Swaps are a fun part of the Trollbead Community and as I'd already used my S for... (oops almost spoiled the surprise), I'm delighted to be able to blog them under Q! It was either that or you were going to get a Quiz, which at this point in the challenge I figured might be a tad cruel, also I figured looking at pictures of things sent and received might be a lot nicer!
At Christmas there is also Trollbeads Share a Christmas Card which I've taken part in 2 years running, but that's a whole other post!
Have you taken part in anything similar, secret santa, swaps between friends or something more formal? Whether you have or you haven't, what do you think?
I've taken part in a few secret swaps (both for beads and for many years within a pug community) and it's always been a blast! Although I tend to stress out a bit that the other person won't like what I get them, and yet every time I LOVE what I get so I know I really shouldn't stress as much!
ReplyDeleteAnd I am a huge fans of swaps with other individuals to change up my collection or to find new homes for beads that didn't quite work out as I expected. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right swap, so I've found that patience is definitely required! But I've gotten some really great beads through swaps. And so far (knock on wood) none of my packages have gotten lost in the mail. :)
I think we all stress out about if we've chosen the right things for our partner! It's the hardest part of the swap, and like you say you always enjoy what your partner sent you because they chose it so it all works out :D
DeleteI love swapping beads, after the challenge I'm going to have another sort through my bead box as I need to make a bit more room for what's coming, plus I'm getting more strict with myself about passing beads on that I'm not using, although bangles have helped in that area as mini-combos help for those beads that look fab together but never quite make it onto a full bracelet!
Mars xx
I love swaps! I've never swapped beads before, but I have swapped candy as well as things for BJDs. Swapping is such a lot of fun and, IMO, really worth the cost of the shipping because getting something from another person (maybe even another country) is just so special!
ReplyDeleteI love the other country aspect! My last swap was from Australia, my partner amongst other things sent me a tin money box and some pencils, probably little things to include but they get loads of use in my office (I prefer to empty out my purse of copper (1p & 2p) and the tiny silver (5p) so it's filling up nicely!
DeleteMy partner was in the US so amongst other things I sent over was a packet of Yorkshire Bonfire Toffee... of course I had to buy a packet to do some quality testing first!
Mars xx
Thank you for sparing us the quiz! Yikes! Not sure I could handle it right now.
ReplyDeleteI've never participated in one of these swaps, although I debated joining one for books a while back. The shipping would have killed me, and it was right after that when eBooks started to appear. Although, if you want to get into it, I do participate in a community of trades--the writing community. We read and edit for one another all the time. I'm critiquing this really great historical fiction right now.
True Heroes from A to Z
Yeah the quiz would have been too cruel this far in!
DeleteI think I had a bit of alphabet fatigue yesterday - My friends were laughing at me as I was working on the blog and commented "You know I always think Q comes later in the alphabet than it does, it always catches me by surprise" - even in context they thought it was funny... then we argued about what value it has in Scrabble as they didn't believe me when I said 10, so we looked that up and I was surprised by J being worth 8... it was all numbers and letters yesterday ;)
Reading and editing swaps sound like a good idea, I guess you get to read some great drafts too!
Mars xx
These trades sound awesome-- I enjoyed your take on the challenge.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2014, My Latest post
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Thanks Damyanti, I love the series you've been doing for the challenge, I've been sending quite a few people your way for a read!
DeleteMars xx
I love the idea of that, and it sounds like lots of fun. The things I could get involved with once I'm retired! Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, I'd love to be retired, the day job gets in the way of way too many things! Will pop over to you later as we're heading out shortly...
DeleteMars xx
The group of authors I debuted with drew names and exchanged gifts. It was a great way to get to know each other better. I still treasure my T-shirt from Maclean. She gave me something I'll use for a long time.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great way to get to know each other! I'm always amazed at what comes in a swap package. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteMars xx
I don't know what a Trollbead community is. Hmmm. Maybe I'll find that out somewhere. Love clothing and household swaps here.
ReplyDeleteMaui Jungalow
We recycle a lot generally and not just the beads; a friend is moving house and downsizing so there are lots of furniture swaps going on at the minute.
DeleteMars xx
Learn something new every day! Never heard of the Trollbead community and I guess that's to be expected when one isn't a beader. Thanks for sharing the information!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa
DeleteThanks for stopping by! Yes there is a lovely community of folk who are into Trollbeads, a real passion for the beads and design... it was something I discovered slowly as time went on but has become a part of everyday life now.
Good luck with the rest of the challenge!
Mars xx
How fun! No, I've never participated in something like that. A book swap might be fun. I tried to do one once where people mailed a book to someone in a group after they were finished reading it but the book never made it past the first or second person!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephanie, yep it does depend on everyone doing their bit, yours sounds like a classic lack of quid pro quo!
DeleteI once had a book randomly arrive from a friend as part of book month - wonderful surprise package!
Mars xx
This sounds like so much fun! :) Some pretty cool stuff in those pictures. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ava, I've had some wonderful partners in the ones I've taken part in - I just hope my partners liked the stuff I sent them as much!
DeleteMars xx