@Dave has posted that people should not request anyone for plants unless that person says the plant is for trade or sale. People are ignoring his request and I've had too many requests for specific plants, along with "instructions" for how to dig/wash off/pack even though I've sent well over 100 packages in the past. I don't need or want instructions and I do not want anyone contacting me. There are some plants I simply can't dig and won't pay my local guy $50.00 an hour to dig them for someone else!

When I spot "New member" I can't help but wonder if they only joined to try and get free plants.

Is it possible that we could each report all offenders to Dave or is that too much of a burden, Dave? You do such a splendid job with ATP that I hate to ask you to do more and yet don't know how to get the message across to people. It's so irritating. Perhaps if they knew their name would be on a list of abusers they'd reform.

Though I do enjoy trading plants with special people, I'd like it to be on my terms, not theirs.

Even more annoying is that when I did send two packages neither person ever said they received them, nor did they thank me. Have manners ceased to exist?

I see a couple of options for you. #1. Make your list private so no one can see it. #2. Add a note in the info box at the top of you plant list page, that say not to contact you for trades. To create or add to the info box scroll all the way to the bottom of your plant list page and click on "Add or change your list infobox"

Thanks, Jay.

Where do I go to make my list private?

Where do I find my plant list page?

Thank you for your help. I appreciate it.

When I was on another plant site (not DG) I learned that yes, people do join just to get free plants and seeds. It was one of the reasons that I left that site and came her to ATP. When I see one of the people from that old site join here I cringe. I want to scream and yell at people..."Don't send them anything!!!"

Making your list private is probably the best option as Horntoad suggested. Dave likes to keep things 'positive' around here, so posting the names would probably not fly.

Don't respond to them; maybe they will quit asking.

One asked publicly, three times. It's tiring. We're not all 30 years old, filled with energy, or have the time or wish to trade.

I'm not talking of Dave make the names public but if he got 10 notices from people that others were being pestered then maybe he could send them a request to cease asking for plants.

Making your list private is such a drastic step. Your list helps other gardeners in your zone know the plants that probably will grow well there, and many of my purchase decisions are made because I see that the plant is being grown or is wanted by many members.

On the other hand, adding a note to your info box doesn't work. My info box says that my plants are not available for sale or trade, but I still get requests for them. After the first few cases in which the person was sweet as pie until I mailed the plants, after which I never heard from the person again, not even with the courtesy of a message confirming the receipt of the package, I stopped acknowledging the requests. For a while, I responded to the requests with a polite denial, but now I just ignore most of them.

Some people, however, contact me because they've seen that I grow a certain plant and they want planting or growing instructions. I'm happy to respond to these messages, but if my list were private they would never know that I grow the plant and wouldn't be able to ask.

So sorry you have experienced this aggravation, Arlene. You have no need to justify why you do or do not send off plants and every right to avoid boorish behavior. If nothing else, in that specific incidence, asking three times certainly exceeds the limits of good manners in my opinion. Would you be comfortable with a simple, "I am sorry, but that is not practical for me." or "I am sorry, but my plants are not available for shipping." Some such statement like that anyway--you can just keep it in a file to copy and paste when needed. Then ignore any other statements or requests from that person.

Just ignore them. We don't want to police the situation and you're under zero obligations to respond to someone.

If you feel it's needed, you could always add a note to your signature line that shows up at the bottom of every post. Use the "Change your public profile" link on your profile page to access the page to add that. That might (?) help with some of those pestering you on threads. Scammers are hard to dissuade, though.

That won't stop anyone. You'd be amazed how many people won't read things like that.

True. Plus, I think unethical people may read it and choose to ignore it anyway.

Dave, do we have the capability to block certain members from tree-mailing us?

No, that capability does not exist.

Okay, thanks.

Thanks for your post, Zuzu. I can see the disadvantages connected with having my list made private.

Dave, you're so right - certain people will ignore that which they do not want to accept. From now on I'll just ignore anyone who bugs me.

This was the request yesterday, and my response. I did not include the name of the poster.

Good response.

I've noticed that some new people seem to be confused about the purpose of the website. They seem to think that the Plant Database is one gigantic mail-order catalog from which they can place an order. Some of them seem genuinely interested in purchasing a plant.

Wow, could you imagine a such a extensive plant catalog? Be still, my heart!

Thanks, Debra.

You're right, Danita. One huge catalog and here for them to enjoy.

We gardeners get to a certain age when it's enough of a job to plant a new rose but somehow we're supposed to put our work on hold to tend to their wants. No thanks.

Danita said:I've noticed that some new people seem to be confused about the purpose of the website. They seem to think that the Plant Database is one gigantic mail-order catalog from which they can place an order. Some of them seem genuinely interested in purchasing a plant.

Wow, could you imagine a such a extensive plant catalog? Be still, my heart!

I agree. I have only twice had requests despite not listing stuff for trade. I do think many people come here just to trade or buy. It really is a shame.

Frankly, how are they to know this is not a sales site?