I'm not in any position of authority but I have been around the block a few times and have done mass distributions of cuttings in the past.  People who want cuttings can make it easy or hard on on those who give out cuttings.  If you make life miserable for your benefactors you won't have any more benefactors.

Here's how to make life easy on people who give out cuttings.  If they have a good experience they'll want to give out cuttings more often.  If they have a bad experience they may never give out cuttings again.  Your choice.  :)

1. Read the descriptions carefully and don't file complaints against people who are giving you cuttings for very little money (or anyone else, for that matter) until you're absolutely sure the date you were supposed to get them by has passed *and* the sender won't work with you.

2. Don't badger the sender if you haven't sent money.  If cuttings were supposed to be available Dec 1 and it's now Dec 25 and there's been no word, be patient.  My figs are still bleeding white latex.  Usually at this time of year all the figs are dormant but take a look at the weather.  Cuttings wait for dormancy.  Even if it's been cold and plants are likely to be dormant all kinds of things can happen - family or personal emergencies or what have you.  If you're contacting the sender so are 300 other people.  No one has time to answer all of those PMs.  Be patient.  I know several people who can't post any more because they get too many emails/PMs every time they do.  Others have disabled their PMs for that reason. 

3. Be patient.  Once the plants are dormant it takes hundreds of person-hours to cut and label branches, then cut and label cuttings.  If it took less they wouldn't be offering them on a large scale (publicly on forums).

4 YOU pay the fees on PP.  I usually send a few extra $$ as a way of saying 'thank you'.  That encourages people to send cuttings more often.

Many people want to give away cuttings for low or no cost other than postage.  Be grateful, patient and generous in return.  Tread softly on their time and energy.  In the long run you'll reap a lot more cuttings that way  :)

Great suggestions- thank you.

Yes thank you wise words. I have been overjoyed at the generosity of the members and hope to continue to share the joy of the varieties. I still have an abundance of cuttings to trade of Daisy's BT from AZ for anyone else interested.
;-)

This should be pinned up top, i couldn't agree more with all your suggestions. This is my first time offering up cuttings and boy i didn't expect the tidal wave and i think #2/#3 is a big thing more than anything. Just be patient and respectful as you would with friends and family and this community will be great to you. I didn't have any bad experiences with anyone on this board (or any web-forum), which i'm very thankful for...facebook is another story in itself ;)

That's why you're my Idol Bob!!!! Awesome posting once again my friend.

So are you saying you have cuttings available? ;)  jk  Great points and great advice, I am new but have been making sure to include 3-4% additional (if the paypal wasnt sent as a "gift") to cover paypal fees on anything offered inexpensive or for shipping cost.  I appreciate everyone thats offered cuttings.  

It does take great effort to share/give away cuttings for postage.
But sharing can be the most fun experience with figs as I have ever had.

Doug

I instinctively looked for the "Like" (thumb's up) symbol for this posting. I am a complete noob to figs as of mid-THIS year, and am off and running with at last count cuttings of 18 different varieties, only four of which I bid "extra" for on ebay. The others were in essence at-cost gifts from the folks on this and the ourfigs.com forum. I hope mentioning the "other" forum is not a faux pas. In any case, getting into this addiction has been fairly low budget, and the graciousness of the members has been really noteworthy. Nice community you all have going here, very glad to be part of it

And I hope I did a decent job of thanking those that helped me. I'm talking about YOU GreenFin, ADelmanto and DesMoinesWAfig. Thank you again, and publicly

Right on!

G R E A T post, Rcantor! Thank you! Many people dont appreciate what others do here or otherwise. And, especially with cuttings...it is a labor of love! Personally, I feel so grateful for what I have received.

Esteban...i too look for the "thumbs up" function!!

two green thumbs up Rcantor

My wife had a friend whose grandmother was over 100. When asked by child how to live that long, she responded, "Be nice!"

I hope everyone here lives as long as Bob is going to.

Thanks bob for the post that can help both the cuttings donors and the recipients. 

The point is to avoid actions/situations that can cause donor fatigue so the donor can happily continue providing cuttings in exchange or under whatever other terms that were agreed upon but remembering that all here are hobbyists and there could be delays for good personal reasons or the weather conditions can cause delay and/or affect cuttings quality.

It is not too difficult to imagine what can cause donor fatigue. 

Well said!!!  Thanks for posting, Bob.

Wise man! This should be pinned at the top!

A wise man started this post,I agree we need to encourage donors. I really love getting figs.Larry

I second pinning this topic. The F4F code! Can't wait till my figs get larger so I can trade and give back to the others that helped me out this year!

I am new here and I love that people offer cuttings.  I am very appreciative.  Thank you for the reminder to be grateful, patient, and everything else.  Someday, I hope to be on the giving end.

And we all screw up.  I promised 3 airlayers 2 years ago and couldn't get a single one to survive.  People were patient with me and now everyone's happy.  I wasn't able to provide what I promised but we worked out something that I could provide and that they were happy with.  As Dale said, we all have to be nice to each other and easily forgiving each other.

right on, great post.

Rcantor, great points made.

Although I do not do mass distributions preparing even small quantities of cuttings does take time and effort. Courtesy is important because life does happen. If you are worried about whether your communication was received, its ok to check up on it but there are nice ways of doing it that do not put the person offering you the cuttings on the spot.

Much of what I am growing now is due to the generosity of members.  I take pleasure now in finally being able to do the same. Part of the pleasure I have felt is that sharing cuttings has resulted in my meeting several people which over time have become friends. Had my first experiences been poor, I would not have bothered and missed out on meeting some nice people.

Why can't you select the "gift" setting and avoid the fees? If the person only wants postage/handling covered that seems appropriate, they are gifting you the cuttings and you are reimbursing for shipping. If someone is charging money for it and it's income for them, the fees are on them not sure why someone should reimburse. This goes for any business transaction.

Great advice!

Great advice. Offering cuttings to others is a labor of love especially considering the time, effort, years of expertise (failures and successes) and down-right love of the hobby and desire to share unselfishly with others. I am a grateful recipient of the grace and gifts shown me, and those of you who do this for others make figging a wonderful life experience. Thanks to all.
 

Well said, Bob.