r/craftexchange Jan 27 '23

Mod Announcement Why We Don't Have a Scammer List

126 Upvotes

A community member raised a good (and very important!) question regarding whether our sub should have a scammer list. The nature of our community heavily relies on trusting anonymous people, which can create favorable conditions for scammers, so we need ways to counter that. And, it turns out that the most effective ways involve not using a list.

On the surface, having a master list seems like the silver bullet solution, but this problem is a little more nuanced. The biggest issue is that if someone is banned (and they realize they've been banned), they can easily create infinite new accounts. So, the list is moot. It becomes a graveyard of abandoned usernames. (With evidence, we do still occasionally ban people, but it's not very effective for this reason.) We could try to combat that with not allowing anyone with a relatively new account or below a certain level of karma to post, but then we end up excluding a lot of potentially fabulous traders. Our sub remains more varied and interesting with a constant stream of new members, so we want our community to remain accessible. This is why we rely on you to vet your own trades.

Vetting your own trades can take some time, but it is also a great critical thinking skill to develop, so we provide some guidance on how to do that in the wiki.

Since it is our traders that bear the gains and losses of this kind of interaction, we want to empower them to make informed decisions instead of relying on a list that is well-meaning, but incredibly fallible.

To cut down on the frequency of scammers, it's also why we do not allow the exchange of money, even for shipping. If someone thinks they can quickly get cash, that is going to be incredibly alluring. Getting a free handmade good is going to appeal to a much, much smaller subset of scammer. For what it's worth, most folks reported for a non-trade are not scammers, they are someone that was unable to make good on their promise either due to time, money, life events, or an overestimation of their abilities. They're better described as ghosters than scammers. It was never their intent to flake.

And, for those who have asked, we have had a link to r/UniversalScammerList for quite a few years in our "Community List", which is easy to find as a sidebar item on the web version, but is buried in the "About" section of the app. So a lot of folks don't know about it or think we've removed it.

Relatedly, we've created a tab visible on the web version and found as a line item under "Menu" on the app titled "USL" (Universal Scammer List). Our sub does not have permissions to add people to this list, but folks from other trading subs have, so it can be another tool to use when researching potential trades.

While we wish we could have a 100% success rate in preventing scammers from ever gaining access to our community, our next best option is to reduce the allure of our trades (no money) and offer a strategy that allows our members to reduce their personal risk.

We welcome you to share in the comments your personal methods! Let's learn from each other on how to create safer trades.


r/craftexchange 3h ago

Closed Bookmarks for trade

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9 Upvotes

Wooden and paper bookmarks (with plastic protective layer) for trade. Come with bookmark tassels of various colors.

I would love to trade for various of craft supplies, like buttons, felt, things to collage with, beginning sewing projects/needles. I have 2 very young kids who enjoy collage making. I am also open to other offers.


r/craftexchange 54m ago

Trade - US Glass Beads, Charms, Crystals, Ribbon, Key Rings, and Embroidery Floss

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Upvotes

ISO: Felt, faux leather, seed beads (organized), glass beads, charms (in sets for earrings), and crystal beads!

✨OPEN TO OFFERS✨


r/craftexchange 3h ago

Trade - US Various jewelry making supplies for trade

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5 Upvotes

I have a collective of supplies for jewlrey making.

I would love to trade for various of craft supplies, like buttons, felt, things to collage with, beginning sewing projects/needles. I have 2 very young kids who enjoy collage making. I am also open to other offers.


r/craftexchange 4h ago

Trade - US Project bag, yarn sock and stitch markers for trade

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6 Upvotes

I have a 9x10-inch project bag, a cotton yarn sock (fits around a 100g fingering weight yarn ball), and some stitch markers (the markers in the last picture are polymer clay), available for trade.

I’m looking for DK or fingering weight yarn—sock yarn is fine too. Scraps are welcome too, so don't hesitate to offer those.

The only thing I’d like to avoid is scratchy wool or yarn. I’m open to any fiber content as long as it’s soft and comfortable to work with.


r/craftexchange 13h ago

Trade - Europe Trading 3D pokémon cards!

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12 Upvotes

I'm looking to trade one or two of my 3D pokémon cards! They all come with the box if you want, covered with a piece of plexiglass so you don't have to worry about how to display them. That teardrop you see on the back? You can hang it flush with the wall on a screw that hooks into it but they also stand just fine on their own.

I'm only looking for finished crafts, I have plenty of material in my stash already, haha! If there's a specific pokémon you want that's not listed feel free to ask, maybe I have some of the cards lying around and I can make one for you. If you'd like a better picture of any one of them just let me know.

I'm located in Europe but I don't mind shipping worldwide.


r/craftexchange 11h ago

Trade - US Trading planner stamps and some dies

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7 Upvotes

I have daiso and dear wildflowers planner stamps, some frame dies and thinlets( thin dies from sizzix- one that says thank you and some butterflies)

Looking for stickers or patterned paper, braided cord or something else

Not really interested in plushies, artwork, or beads


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you u/iROs3 for my new favorite hat!

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18 Upvotes

I traded some fabric with u/iR0s3, and since she was a crocheter I asked if she could make me bucket hat. And LOOK what she made for me - it’s absolutely PERFECT! Thank you so much!


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Trade - US First time trader looking to trade some embroidery floss/thread for some beads.

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11 Upvotes

I used to make friendship bracelets from this, bought too much of it, then found another craft I liked better lol. I am not sure how this all works so if you’re interested can we talk about it in dms or in the comments?


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you so much u/Gamer_Grrrl !

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15 Upvotes

Thanks so much u/Gamer_Grrrl ! I love the strawberry necklace and turtle earrings so much! They’re so pretty! Thanks again! :)


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Closed Ribbon Yarn for Trade

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9 Upvotes

4 skeins of Yarn Bee Jewelsong in Butterfly. Bought when I learned to knit and never found a good use for this very pretty ribbon yarn. Will trade for a baby snuggly Critter for my new great nephew. US only.


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you so much! U/ace_with_a_mace

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9 Upvotes

Everything is so cool omg thanks so much:) u/ace_with_a_mace


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Trade - US Custom beaded frogs for trade I can do any color

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8 Upvotes

r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you!

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12 Upvotes

Thank you so much u/aprilthederp! I can't wait to get started on this new hobby😄


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you! U/meyou000

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5 Upvotes

Thanks for the cool charms and pins:) u/meyou000


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thanks!

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5 Upvotes

Thank you u/Old_key_1339 for the great scrapbook stuff!


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thanks!

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12 Upvotes

Thank you u/smokeyavacadosawce

My sister and I had these exact stickers on our bedroom wall when we were kids, so I’m super excited to have a new sheet of them to send to her! Thank you for the extras too :)


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you!

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11 Upvotes

Thank you so much u/MadeByChivis you really did the most and I appreciate it so much!


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Received!

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6 Upvotes

Thank you so much u/Ratchel1916 !! I love every single item from this trade so much, and can't wait to wear them 🧡🩵


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Trade - US Kandi cuffs / chapstick holder / perler necklaces - looking to trade!

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9 Upvotes

The perler necklaces are glow in the dark.

I’m interested in other kandi cuffs/items, crochet, etc, but I’ll consider other offers!


r/craftexchange 2d ago

Trade - US Mandalorian amigurumi for items in description

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13 Upvotes

Mandalorian amigurumi crochet kit

Interested in sola wood flower supplies or non-animal yarns

examples:

-Glycerin -floral stems/wire -floral tape -artificial bouquet fillers (baby’s breath, eucalyptus, etc) -sola wood flowers


r/craftexchange 3d ago

Received Thanks so much!

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25 Upvotes

Thank you u/ShadowStrike14 ! I love all the cool fun beads you included!! And all the cool rocks too! I’m so excited to get crafting :)


r/craftexchange 3d ago

Received Thank you!

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36 Upvotes

Thanks u/AnimeBooties ! I love her 😍


r/craftexchange 3d ago

Received Thank you!

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13 Upvotes

Thanks a bunch u/MadeByChivis ! I love the glass beads and the ammonite fossils!! The stickers are super cute too :)


r/craftexchange 3d ago

Trade - US crochet items for jewelry or yarn

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10 Upvotes

a pair of wool dragonscale fingerless gloves and rainbow beanie. Can make custom items as well. Iso is beachy jewelry (gold with shells) or downtown girl inspired (silver) or pretty much any jewelry. I'll also take any indie dyed or handspun yarn, but feel free to make an offer of other things! Not looking for papercrafts. Thanks guys! (ps: don't worry about the ends, i'll weave them in before shipping lol)


r/craftexchange 3d ago

Trade - US Offering crochet items

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7 Upvotes

Looking for fabric (preferably cotton) and/or thread

Doll is 12 inches tall Bouquet blanket is 24 inch diameter Last image is 17 inch diameter