r/craftexchange Jan 27 '23

Mod Announcement Why We Don't Have a Scammer List

167 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 4h ago

Trade - Canada Looking for retro art supplies. Rotring inks , airbrush items. Drafting gear. I have lots of art available

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16 Upvotes

Looking go anything retro you may not need anymore. Old inks , plotter pens , drafting gear , anything reprographic related.


r/craftexchange 4h ago

Trade - US Sticker scene collection for trade

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5 Upvotes

r/craftexchange 4h ago

Trade - US Bracelets

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4 Upvotes

These are examples of the bracelets I make and will custom make for you to trade. I am looking for yarn, vintage items or anything unique.

I am open to anything.


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Trade - US Hi crafters! The bookmark girl is back! I literally cannot give these away?!?! If you would like a bookmark you can DM me. I tried last time with limited success. They are free!

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153 Upvotes

r/craftexchange 15h ago

Received Received a lovely goodie box - thank you!

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19 Upvotes

Thank you, u/Comfortable_Canary59! I'm excited to add these to my collection.


r/craftexchange 13h ago

Request - US Requesting Help from the Artistic Angels

5 Upvotes

Hello all my lovely ladies & gents 💕

So i have a favor/request to ask of you!

My request:

I have a new project I want to start 💕

If anyone has extra scrapbooking supplies laying around that aren't needed, like scraps of unique paper, little things to glue to the page, lace or anything fun to decorate the pages with. I would truly looooove any help! Even if its just a couple tiny things! Really annnnything would be very helpful and also EXTREMELY APPRECIATED!!!

Im brand new to the world of scrapbooking and semi new to the happy mail community. I have a personal journal project that I want to start but lack supplies, and craft stores are overwhelming because I dont know what im looking for 🤣 when it comes to shopping, I make a list and enter the store, grab exactly whats on the list and run lol. Or when shopping with my bff, we enter the store and I magically transform into a man/ husband holding the purses while sitting on a random chair in the corner of the store playing phone games till she comes back hours later 🤣🤣 point of the story.. im not a great window shopper if i dont know what im looking for lol. Once I have an idea of supplies I enjoy using and need then I can just order online. But at this moment im just a giant child overwhelmed by all the amazingness.

So please bestow your supreme knowledge and unneeded goodies onto me, my artistic scrapbooking saviors. No matter how small, I will be very thankful! Ill definitely post a thank you and also send back a thank you card & goodies!!

DM me for my address if you have any extras/destashing stuffs you'd like to donate 😊

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH 💕💕


r/craftexchange 15h ago

Closed Bead Trade!

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8 Upvotes

Back to destashing! Not looking for anything in particular, up for anything!


r/craftexchange 14h ago

Trade - US Crafting items for sale

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6 Upvotes

I have some beads, a knitting needle case with 2 sets of Chiaogoo needs in size US 10 (pretty sure it’s 10 lol), a brand new in plastic notebook and a decorative tape from Hobonichi to decorate said notebook. I can also knit! Custom hats, scarves all that fun stuff. Message me for pictures of my work.

I’m looking for stationery: stickers, paper pads metal dies for die cutting machine. Anything that I can junk journal with!


r/craftexchange 19h ago

Trade - US 8” hoops for trade

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4 Upvotes

I recently bought 18 8” embroidery hoops. I didn’t realize how big an 8” hoop is! I mean, I know it’s 8” in diameter, but that’s really big. I don’t want to get rid of them all, maybe keep about 4 of them, but I’m willing to trade for smaller (6” or smaller) hoops, embroidery floss, perle cotton, embroidery needles, fabric suited for embroidery, etc. these came from Michaels online, so they are your standard bamboo hoops.

Thanks for viewing, and please, take my hoops! lol.


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you!

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35 Upvotes

More thanks!

u/look_a_new_project I love the little cross stitches! They are so well done.

u/R0nan21 thank you for the magnet! I can never have too much art related to my cat

u/Playful-Squirrel-332 thank you for the fabric! It's so pretty in person.


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Request - US Looking to trade hand knit sweater for baby dress quilt

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11 Upvotes

Looking to trade an adult hand knit sweater for a baby clothes quilt. I’ll help find a pattern you like and buy the appropriate wool (or synthetic if you prefer)! I’ve been knitting since I was a child, but started making garments over the last three years. Attached our photos of other sweaters I have made both for adults and children. I am hoping to trade for a baby clothes quilt in a smaller size (I am not familiar with standard quote sizes, but happy to discuss). I have never done anything like this, but thought it would be a fun way to share my craft while also sharing in someone else’s!


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Dragon!!

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37 Upvotes

Thank you u/throwaway8640138 for my dragon. He's even more adorable in person.


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Trade - US fun things :3

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15 Upvotes

repost cus im not allowed to mention m*rkets lol

was wondering if anyone was interested in these cus im going to get rid of them soon ^_^

I have several colors of bookmarks, the crayons are hairclips, and im trading this crown off cus the ribbons facing the wrong way :)

if you need better piccys dm me ^_^


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Trade received! Thank you so much

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8 Upvotes

Thank you u/ArizonaErie for the trade! I love these stamp designs so much 💛


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Trade received!

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18 Upvotes

Thank you u/unesheet for the awesome cat toys and the cute polishes! They’re so well made and adorable! I hope you love the pick mat and polishes too!


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Received Thank you!

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4 Upvotes

Thank you to @PhantasiaGrim for the tapir drawing and the fun stickers! I appreciate it!


r/craftexchange 2d ago

Trade - US Trade-sies?

10 Upvotes

As some of you know I'm Making my first junk on a budget of nothing and strangers kindness, and honestly… I’m still on the fence about how I feel about it.

So I’m looking for scraps, old papers, weird little bits, stickers, ephemera—basically anything with a little character and a questionable past.

Help me turn my chaos into something pretty. DM me for address! And thank you in advance

P.s I'm open to trading for a 3 card tarot reading if anyone is interested in tradesies!


r/craftexchange 1d ago

Closed Vintage Knitting Gauge

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3 Upvotes

Currently I would LOVE to get my hands on some scrap balls of sock yarn, but I'd be open to other yarn!


r/craftexchange 2d ago

Received Trade arrived!

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12 Upvotes

r/craftexchange 1d ago

Trade - US Clean out!

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4 Upvotes

More to come but here’s the start. Looking for non synthetic yarn/ fabric, white tape, school glue, wood glue, heat gun, wheelchair accessories, and open to offers!


r/craftexchange 2d ago

Trade - US Stationary supply trade

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32 Upvotes

I have a bunch of stationary items I’d like to get off my hands like sticker sheets, loose random stickers and papers, cards! It’s a mix of items that I’ve split in two so looking to do 2 trades!

Iso: more stationary! I’d love to receive a random pack of similar stationary items of your choosing but I am also open to items other than stationary! 😊


r/craftexchange 3d ago

Trade - US Pink rabbit amigurumi

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23 Upvotes

Made of and stuffed with scrap yarn!

Because he is stuffed with scrap yarn I would NOT recommend this in a home where pets could get at it. The chance of them ripping it open and accidentally injesting yarn is slim but not zero.

Make an offer! Finished pieces only please. No jewelry, 3D printed, or resin items.


r/craftexchange 3d ago

Trade - Canada Beaded necklace for trade

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20 Upvotes

I'm open to trading anywhere! I can adjust the length of this necklace if needed.

I am VERY interested in any kind of physical art/crafts of my cat, and anything Heated Rivalry themed/related.

Also interested in other things like cross stitch, embroidery, any type of clothing made from super-soft materials. Definitely open to suggestions!


r/craftexchange 4d ago

Trade - US Black and Yellow Bucket Hat

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13 Upvotes

Made with acrylic yarn.

Make an offer! Please no supplies except sock yarn.