Code of Conduct
Please be aware that MoNB and Swap N’ Shop are PRIVATE groups. The goal of the admins is to ensure that both the MoNB and Swap N’ Shop boards remain positive and informative. We are continually keeping the bests interests of the group as a whole in the forefront of any guideline changes. Please do not use these guidelines for use on your own personal page, as we volunteer and have taken a lot of time to develop these!
The following guidelines are to try and make buying and selling fun. As a buyer or seller, you are responsible for adhering to the guidelines. Guidelines are to:
*Follow local laws and regulations
*Make an enjoyable buying and selling experience
SELLERS
- Location
You must list the location (neighborhood name, landmark such as "near Wal-Mart", etc.) of the item you are selling. This group is for the benefit of the moms who live in New Braunfels, so if you live outside of the city limits you must be willing to meet in town for pickups. Those who live outside of NB, add "will meet in town" as your location.
- Picture
You must post a picture of the ACTUAL item you are selling. If you do not have a picture, you can post a stock picture of the item (example: from Wal-Mart or Target website). If posting a HANDMADE item, it must be a picture of the actual product YOU made. NOTE* If you own an online business for handmade items- please read the section below pertaining to Small Business postings. PLEASE DO NOT POST MULTIPLE PICTURES OF AN ITEM- you can add more pictures to a posting by posting the pictures in the comments section on your post.
- Condition
You must post the condition of your item. Note any imperfections, stains, missing pieces, broken pieces, etc. Please be open and HONEST.
- Flaws
You must note any flaw and be willing to let the buyer look at the item before purchase.
- Multiple Sites
You must disclose if the item is listed on multiple sites by adding the word "POMS" (Posted on Multiple Sites) on your post. *Update * Please be aware that Varage Sale recently updated to automatically cross posting your items on all nearby communities. TO TURN OFF THIS FEATURE (which we recommend, because of the security feature of being a MoNB member and knowing that someone coming to your residence is in fact a MoNB and not from some nearby community) follow the following steps:
- Go to settings and then click on "items Selling", then turn OFF the "additional nearby communities" feature. That is it!
- Claimed Items
First claim gets the item. A "claim" is a member stating interest and/or asking a question- members are NOT required to press the "interested" button to claim an item. Please answer questions from any interested party. It is courteous to give precedence to that person, pending answers. Please do not be rude and pass buyers over, unless you have given them adequate time to respond back to you. Typical wait time is 24 hours before passing. It is against guidelines for buyers to message a seller out of turn to claim an item. Please direct all inquiries for your items to post on the thread itself. Failure to do so- or accepting a message to sell item out of turn can get you and buyer removed. If this situation occurs, admin will message you requesting the name of the buyer who violated this guideline and if you decide to not provide it to admin, you will be suspended or removed from the group.
- Quick Sale
We typically allow 24-48 hours timeframe for a buyer to pick up an item. If you wish your item to be sold, and picked up, prior to this timeframe, you must post that in the description. This will ensure that everyone knows you will not be able to wait for buyers to get back to you later.
- Tagging
Seller can tag someone in a post. It is the sellers' discretion as to how long they will wait for a response from the tagged person.
- Completing the Sale
Once someone has claimed your item, please Private Message (PM) them the information for pick up. A good rule of thumb is to put as much information in the PM. For example: 1. Regarding item ______ 2. Regarding price _____ 3. Pick up location. Using this information will ensure the buyer has all the information they need on the item you sold.
If a sale is not complete (meaning not all items were provided, etc) seller will be removed from group until such transaction is completed.
- Pricing
You may list an item as “Make Offer” or OBO (or best offer), but if you set a price and someone commits to buying your item at the asking price, you may not back out of your commitment because someone offers more money. This is NOT a bidding site.
- No-show as a Seller
If a buyer makes plans for pick-up and you, as a seller, neglected to have the item available for arranged pick-up, you will receive a formal warning message. Another guideline infraction of any kind after a formal warning will result in an immediate 30-day suspension from this group. This includes making arrangements with a potential buyer to get item, then not being home.
- Hijacking a Post or Piggy Back Posting
You may not sell the same item as someone else by posting a comment on their thread. You must post your own item for sale.
- Deleting Pictures
With VarageSale you only need to change your status of the item to SOLD and it will automatically delete in 7 days.
- Complaints
Complaints are to be handled OFF BOARD by private message. Please do not post complaints on the actual Swap N' Shop board within a post or thread. It is for buying and selling only. Please copy and paste messages from members to admin and a resolution will be made.
- False Postings
You may not post an item not legitimately for sale. Items posted for sale that are only posted to illicit mocking or laughs will be removed and poster subject to removal from the group. Swap N’ Shop is for buying and selling only!
- Items posted for non-members
If you are posting items for people who are not a member of this group (for example, family members, neighbors, friends, etc) then YOU accept responibility for the sale/validity/condition of the items.
- Independent Consultants, Store-Front Business Owners & Online Business Owners
If you are selling something as an independent consultant, own a store-front business, or an online business- please post only one ad in the Small Business category and on Sundays only. You may change your ad but please only have one "live" ad at a time. We require businesses to provide an EXCLUSIVE discount or “perk” for MoNB members in exchange for the free advertising and exposure. Please state specifically what the discount/perk is.
PETS / ANIMALS
Pets/animals are NO LONGER allowed on this site as this is also a VarageSale policy! This includes any type of re-homing animals, even if they are free.
PROHIBITED ITEMS TO BE POSTED ON SWAP N' SHOP
Alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, pornographic items, prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs (except vitamins as long as they are not opened & expired), firearms, weapons, ammunition, knives (except kitchen knives), expired car seats, recalled items without recall fix, counterfeit designer items, expired products of any kind, recalled items, used makeup and opened food/drink products. If in doubt of an item please contact an admin prior to posting. If an admin does not notice an item that has been posted and is prohibited, please let us know!
*IF YOU ARE POSTING A CARSEAT PLEASE NOTE THE EXPIRE DATE IN LISTING!
BUYERS
- Claimed Items
You must claim an item by responding to the thread stating you want the item. For example: me, next, please, I want. Indicate to the seller that you would like the item. DO NOT MESSAGE SELLERS TO OFFER MORE MONEY OUT OF TURN TO GET AN ITEM. YOU WILL EITHER BE SUSPENDED OR REMOVED FOR DOING SO.
- Holding Items
Please be considerate of the seller and don’t expect them to hold an item for an extended period of time. If you have to check with someone else (husband, children, etc.), please indicate that when claiming the item. Please try and have an answer to the seller as quick as possible. 24 hours is a reasonable waiting period. If you cannot have an answer by that time, expect the seller to move to the next person on the list.
- Tagging
If you tag someone on a post, it does not mean they have first dibs. It just means you want them to see it. The seller is under no obligation to give it to the person you tag.
- Picking Up an Item
If you claim an item, please pick it up as soon as possible. Make arrangements with the seller and follow through. Expected pick up time is 24 to 48 hours after committal of the item. Communicate to the seller if you have any problems delaying you from following through with the pick-up. If you pick up an item and leave the incorrect amount of money- then your membership will be revoked until the correct amount of money is provided to the seller. If item is not available for arranged pick up- contact admin.
- No-Show as a Buyer
If you do not pick up the item on the date that you agreed with the buyer, you can be reported as a no-show. As a group- we allow 3 no show violation reports on a member, and then a formal warning will be given to the member at that time. Another guideline infraction of any kind after a formal warning will result in an immediate 30-day suspension from this group.
MISCELLANEOUS
- Use of Profanity
Members may not use any profanity on the Swap N' Shop board. Any profanity OR slang profanity with ugly intent OR could be misconstrued as ugly intent by others will not be tolerated. Comments that violate this guideline will be removed by admin without notification.
- Dishonesty/Theft
Dishonesty will NOT be tolerated in this group. If it is determined that someone has stolen items and/or money from members in the group, that person will be banned permanently from the group immediately. If a member is found to have a prior criminal history, the admin reserves the right to remove that member if it is deemed appropriate.
- Refund/Return of Items Protocol
If the item purchased is electronic and it is determined that the item doesn’t work properly after taking said item, then the seller must make arrangements to meet with the buyer to exchange the item for a refund IN A TIMELY MANNER (no more then 7 days). BUYERS: It is YOUR responsibility to look at the items you are purchasing before you leave with them. Once they are in your possession, they are yours to re-list if there is an issue with them (i.e.: stained clothing, clothing that doesn’t fit, etc.). The only reason why the seller would have to provide a refund is if the item was falsely represented in their posting and/or the item is an electronic and doesn’t work when you get it home to plug in or change batteries.
- Profile
You must be a member of MoNB On Facebook. You must also use the same name and profile on your facebook page as on MONB varagesale must be the person that is a member of these sites. The profile is not to be used by any other person. The profile name must be your personal name, not a business name. This is a requirement of Facebook.
VIOLATIONS OF THE GUIDELINES
For any member who chooses to violate guidelines, the following actions will be taken:
- First Violation: Warning
You will be contacted by an admin and given a warning and an explanation of the guideline violation. Please do not see this as a personal attack. Each violation by any member is conveyed to (at minimum) 2 admins prior to messaging said member.
- Second Violation: Suspension
Whether for the same guideline or a different one, membership will be suspended for 30 days.
- Third Violation: Possible Ban from the Group
All admins will discuss circumstances and make a joint decision whether to remove the member and institute a ban from the group (including Swap N' Shop). It is not the admins desire to have to remove any member from the MoNB or Swap N' Shop. The decision would not be one taken lightly. Please act accordingly.
please note that admin reserves the right to revoke membership, without warning, if a member decides to violate guidelines and is not willing to work with admin or respond to admin messages
QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, OR COMPLAINTS
If you have a question, concern, or a complaint involving a post on the board or another member PLEASE private message an admin. You may also tag an admin to make them aware of a questionable post. Our admin team will discuss the issue and come to a consensus as to what action needs to take place. Remember this site is similar to a garage sale- check out items you are purchasing before you purchase them! We are not to be held liable for any transactions that do not go well.
SWAP N' SHOP ADMINS
Swap N' Shop admin are Ellen Parsons and Melba Mcconnell-Burks . If needed, you may contact our head varage sale admin- Jennifer Dreiss AFTER you have contacted one of the above 2 admins. If you are still unsatisfied, you may contact Abbie Maberry (AbbieandBill Taylorand Teagan). The admins work as a team to address concerns but this will alleviate any one particular admin from receiving all the questions and concerns.