Panhandling is NOT allowed!

[ipb]

Because it's come up a time or two this week, we said in the guidelines (emphasis mine):

'Panhandling' for particular scents via pm is also strongly discouraged! It's one thing to ask a friend if you can try something they have, but it's another to try to solicit an imp of something you want from a stranger or a casual aquanitance. That kind of behavior wouldn't be deemed acceptable offline, and it's not welcomed here either. Repeated begging can be considered harassment, and may earn a warning if the person complains.

This means that no, you cannot ask someone if they'd be willing to swap or decant an oil they've reviewed or talked about elsewhere (regardless of it showing up in their "have" list) unless it's already listed in their swaps. It also means that NO, you cannot approach several people one time in such a way.

 

Stated as clearly as I can thing: If someone has a disfavorable review, you should not contact them and ask if they'd be interested in swapping (unless it shows up in the swap area). If someone has a favorable review, you should not contact them and ask them if they'd be willing to decant a bit so you can try it (unless they offer to do so in the swap area).

 

We have been getting reports, off and on, for several instances of this kind of thing happening. We would appreciate it if you would let one of the mods know if someone does approach you, unsolicited, to swap something that you don't have up for swaps.

[ipb]

Bumping the reminder - we've had a few reports of panhandling via PM lately.

 

If you are reported for panhandling, you can and will be warned for it. I don't care what it is that you're trying to get, or how badly you want it, or how rare it is. It is unacceptable.

[ivyandpeony]

Every reminder needs a bump now and then. And if you'd like a bit of a refresher in what's allowed and what's not:

 

You're free to contact each & every person who's posted stuff for swap or sale in the swaps forum - by posting there, they are tacitly giving you permission to do so. They're also indicating that these are things they want to get rid of and they have the time & inclination to communicate with other members about swaps or sales.

 

In contrast, you should not be contacting someone to swap or sell you an item on the basis of their negative review of it or an offhand comment they've made in the vein of "Off to the swaps pile with this bottle!" Until they list it on their swaps page, they aren't sending you those tacit signals listed above. So you are contacting someone without their permission about something they haven't said they want to swap or sell without knowing if they have the time or inclination to deal with you. That fits the definition of bad manners, and bad manners violate our guidelines. It's also a violation of swapping outside the swaps forums.

 

Although you might not be bothered if someone did it to you, many members have reported this happening to them and ARE bothered by it - enough that the mod team has had to make repeated announcements asking members not to do it and ultimately announcing that you can receive a warning for it. If it doesn't bother you, you don't have to report another member for contacting you - but be aware that you could be reported and warned for doing it to others. And if you are in a position where you've been suspended or banned from swaps and are using this technique to circumvent that, please be aware that it could result in a penalty from permanent banning from swaps up to and including banning from the forum.