Buying, selling, and trading online comes with inherent risks. The rules in this category are strict to try to minimise those risks, but they are never zero. The last section of these rules explains who is responsible for issues and what you should do if anything goes wrong. If you break these rules you may be banned from participating in the sales category.
Rules for sellers and traders
The rules are the same regardless of whether you are selling as an individual or a business. You may create one discussion in the sales category to offer sales and/or trades. Posts in the sales category must be approved manually by mods before they become visible - this might take a few days. If you make duplicate posts or fail to include any of the information in these rules, your post will not be approved.
You can edit and update the original post as much as you like to keep the information current. You can also post a comment to "bump" your thread up the feed when you have an update, but don't do this more than once a week. Do not start private discussions with potential buyers unless they explicitly invite you to.
You can either list your sales directly on the forum, or you can post to link to a shop hosted elsewhere (e.g. on etsy or your own website). Either way, your title must specify:
- Which location(s) you can ship to, and/or the approximate location buyers/traders can collect from. Remember this is an international forum, so make sure to specify country as well as any smaller regions. Remember also that illegal activity is not allowed on the forum - so be sure to follow any local and international laws like providing phytosanitary certificates and not exporting protected species.
And the rest of your post must contain all of the following information
- Your refund policy specifying whether or not you are responsible for shipping issues, what time limit buyers have to get in touch about problems on delivery, etc. If the policy is detailed on your shop website you can summarise and include a link. If you are only offering trades, you must still specify whether you will offer replacements if there are shipping issues.
- Your shipping methods and prices, including how long it will take for orders or trades to be dispatched. If the shipping price depends on location or what's being ordered you can give an estimated range or explain how it's calculated.
- The payment methods you accept (if applicable).
When you make a sale or trade, you must keep proof of:
- You and the other person agreeing on the order contents and final price or trade,
- The buyer paying (if applicable),
- You sending the shipment,
- The shipment being delivered.
I may need to see these if a buyer or trader reports a problem.
Buyers are encouraged to reply to sales posts with reviews (positive or negative) after a transaction. If a buyer posts a negative review, you may reply to it to explain your side of the situation. Remember to stay civil and factual.
You can only sell Commelinaceae plants, seeds, and cuttings here. You can't advertise other plants or other gardening items on the forum, but it's okay if you have other listings in your shop.
Rules for buyers and traders
You cannot create a discussion to make requests unless you are also offering trades (see above). You can comment on sellers' and traders' posts to ask if they have what you want available.
If you want to buy or swap, start a private discussion with the seller to arrange it.
Sellers and traders are required to publish their locations, refund policies, shipping information, and payment methods. You are responsible for considering this information and deciding whether you are comfortable with the risks of arranging a sale or trade.
When you make a purchase or trade, you must keep proof of whichever are applicable:
- You and the other person agreeing on the order contents and final price or trade,
- You paying,
- You sending the shipment,
- The shipment being delivered.
I might need to see these if a seller or trader reports a problem.
You are strongly encouraged to comment on the seller or trader's discussion post with a review (positive or negative) after your transaction is finished!
Disputes and responsibility
If you sell, buy, or swap with other members here, you must accept the risks. I will work to prevent any illegal activity such as fraud on the forum. But if those things do happen, I cannot get you back anything you have lost. And I am not responsible for customer service issues like problems with delivery, disappointment with what you get, or new plants failing to thrive in your care.
Illegal activity is:
- You paid a seller and they never sent your items.
- You paid a seller who has a policy of refunding for shipping issues, and they refused to refund when your items were lost in transit.
- You sent items under the promise of payment and the buyer never gave you the money.
- Someone sent plants internationally without the required phytosanitary documentation.
If any of these happen, flag the sales post or private discussion where you arranged the transaction, and describe the issue in the note. I will contact everyone involved to ask for evidence if necessary.
If I conclude that a member used the forum for illegal activity, they may be banned from participating in the sales category, or from the forum entirely. I will not take any further action to recover money or items you might have lost.
Illegal activity is not:
- You arranged a no-money-involved swap, and the other person didn't send what you agreed on.
- You bought or traded plants and they arrived damaged, unhealthy, or otherwise disappointing.
- You bought or traded plants and then learned they were misidentified or mislabeled.
- You bought or traded plants and they failed to thrive or died after you received them.
If any of these happen, you are welcome to post a review on the seller's discussion post. Remember to be civil and factual - personal attacks are not necessary to decribe a poor customer service experience, and they are still against the forum rules even in the context of a negative review.
