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Location

Message

Date Posted

Going Green

I have mentioned to my wife that it is time consuming and fustrating to send a grower a self addressed stamped envelope. 1. I have to get thier address. 2. I have to have envelopes and stamps on hand. 3. I have to guess how many seeds they will send and put on the right postage. Is $1.30 enough or to much? Will they send 1 seed or 7! I always feel bad when they had to add extra postage! 4. Will the postoffice declare the envelope to thick and charge another 20 cents.

I would rather send a person $3.00 for them to buy stamps and envelopes and to put in the seeds and mail them to me.
They definately know how many stamps they will need and what size bubble wrap!

My wife tells me that AG growers have such bad hand writing from lifting giant pumpkins that the post office can not read the address so I will never get my seeds!

I bank online and the bank pays the postage for the check to go out to the grower willing to part with seeds. It is quick and easy for me and the grower has enough money to purchase the bubble and pay for stamps!

12/10/2008 10:41:05 PM

phil are you from dakotas or missouri?
time consuming for you to send?
so those who will give you seeds they can run to buy stamps then run to buy a bubble for you then lable seeds then buy and put them in coin envelopes then run to post office so its easier for you then write out all the adresses on envelope-try that 400 seed requests or more

12/10/2008 11:20:26 PM

Cincinnati,OH

rofl

12/10/2008 11:27:23 PM

Port Alberni, BC, Canada

Rule of thumb: NO BUBBLE & NO NOTE = NO SEED

12/10/2008 11:56:28 PM

Woburn, MA.

It is simple just send out less requests. How many seeds do you really need? Remember the grower is doing you a favor not vice-versa.

12/11/2008 12:37:09 AM

Going Green

What gets me is that it costs me 83 cents and another envelope to send a bubble to someone. When I send out seed I do not ask for anyhing but the address to mail them to. I want them to grow my seeds and be successful and I have and will pay the postage for them to get the seeds to grow! I feel thankfull that they would grow my seeds and those who I have sent seed to often time return the favor by sending me seeds without requiring a bubble be shipped to them.

For example: You post saying that you have seed available. Just email you. So I email and tell you a little bit about myself and my last year of growing AG. You ask for a SASE.
(((I already have them on hand as do you!)))
The problem as I see it is not the envelopes but the time it takes for me to ship you an envelope and for you to return it. Turn around time and the post office loses 100's of letters every day! Whats more I have to decide how much postage to apply. I normally go with $1.60 on the bubble which can be way to much but $1.30 can be way to little. It depends on how many seeds you choose to send me. I have recieve seeds from notable growers and the were able to put 83 cents on the bubble. In that case my $1.60 would have been way to much.

I certianly appreciate the seeds and I followup with a report on the seed that hit the ground and what happened.

I also want to say Don that I know this is a sore spot with those of you who have been doing this for many years! We have always done it this way! I am of the opinion that there must be a better way! My way is to send you seeds at my expense postage and envelope. I can give you names if you would like.

And in answer to your question Don...I was born and raised in South Dakota and lived there all my life. I retired to Missouri and I now live in Missouri but my heart is in South Dakota. Perhaps if we have enough global warming I will be able to return someday without freezing!

12/11/2008 12:58:34 AM

Going Green

Continued! I have asked if it were possible for me to have the bank send them the money instead of a SASE and 35% of the people say sure! If they want a SASE I send a SASE! I also include in that envelope a letter to the grower telling them of my growing experience last season! To me I want to grow a hugely competitive pumpkin...that is important and I won't tell you different., but I also want to make pumpkin friends and I have made several!

12/11/2008 1:05:32 AM

Alex, IN

I agree with Jake!

12/11/2008 5:52:08 AM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

I don't think you're going to make any more progress this time around m3f2.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=274953

12/11/2008 7:36:23 AM

Ohio

m3f2,,, I thought we went through this post once before?????? http://bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=274953

Come on man! If your that pressed on putting a extra stamp or two and sending your own bubble envelope ,then just don’t send out a bubble.
If you want the seeds that the growers has,,,, put FOUR 41 cent stamps on the return bubble, plain and simple. If you think your going to be wasting a few cents this way then I don’t know what to tell you, cause guess what, your going to be putting on extra postage even if it cost less to send it back, its going to happen,ALOT!.

Growers do not want to go through the hassle of cashing a measly 3.00 check and then go thought the hassle of buying the stamps for you, buying the bubble for you, writing the address on the envelope for you, then taking the time to put all that together and then send it out! Why should they be the ones to do all this work for you? YOU are the one wanting the seeds! Could you imagine the time Quinn, Jutras, Wallace or any one that has great seeds doing this for everyone?? Or do you just want to be the exception?

How about you go cash your 3.00 check yourself, you go buy the stamps, and go buy the bubble and ,write your return address on it and put it all together with FOUR 41 cent stamps on it.(mind you, you lick the stamps and put them on the bubble, or do you want the grower to do that for you also?) and send it to the grower. (Or is that to much work for you? )That way all the growers has to do is drop seeds in bubble and send it back to you ,,,,, PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!!!!!!. I really don’t understand why you have a problem with this? to me there is no problem doing it this way? BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY THE GROWERS WANT YOU TO DO IT! And there is no other and better way!

I apologize to the other growers reading this thread , I hate to act like this on here, but I don’t know any other way to tell this guy the proper way to get see

12/11/2008 8:10:06 AM

Minnesota

I don't get it, I get my envelopes, soak them in soap, dip them in water, get them nice and bubbly and send them off-and I never hear anything back, talk about getting the f4 alt...he he he..who's going to come out with the orange bubble envelopes that giant pumpkin growers use, these yellowish envelopes make me think I'm growing bananas or something.

12/11/2008 9:14:06 AM

Williamsburg,KY

Man oh man, get real. Everyone should be polite, send the dang postage and stop gripping. How many seeds can a person plant anyways. If your seeds are so hot then people should send return postage for you to send. Whatever, just hush about it now.

12/11/2008 9:37:26 AM

Ham Lake, Minnesota

The least amount of frustration should be had by going to the garden center and paying $3.99 for some generic seed. As east as it gets and not a lot of writing or math involved! LOL

12/11/2008 9:57:37 AM

Cincinnati,OH

Just tell the post office what you want to pay. I'm sure they will understand.

12/11/2008 10:05:37 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

I think it has to remain in the SASBP model because that is what minimizes WORK for the addressee. You gotta do the work and pay all the costs to get the seed!

Actually, I'm intrigued about using an Ebay style of model. Set your shipping cost, set maybe a 99 cent opening price, then open it up to the masses. That way the seed gets to those who really want it, the grower gets a small fertilizer fund, and waste is minimized... but for a top grower this could quickly turn into a full-time job!

So, right now I don't think there is a better option than to join a club, or stick with SASBP.

12/11/2008 10:25:23 AM

seedoutlet.com has made getting great genetics easy and cheap alternative for the masses,,,pretty painless for anyone to use his site

12/11/2008 10:50:44 AM

Western NY

I'll second the seedoutlet idea. both for those in need of seed, and those wanting to get theirs out to more people.

12/11/2008 10:56:37 AM

Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia

Tell me this thread is just a joke? Please...

12/11/2008 12:08:01 PM

Grants Pass, Oregon

Phil, sad for me to say this, but its not a joke.

12/11/2008 12:20:26 PM

Rocky-r@stny.rr.com

I love the offseason.. It brings out the best in people!

I like cheese.

12/11/2008 12:51:47 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

m3f2,

If it is "time consuming and frustrating" for you to send a SASB....don't do it.

The majority of the seed requests go to the heavy hitters. These growers can get hundreds of requests for thier seeds. Those of us that ask for some of their seeds make it easy for them.

Putting $1.51 of postage on a bubble, addressing it, writing a note and then mailing them in a larger envelope is not a big deal.

In this age of the internet is is refreshing to send someone a letter and it is always fun to get a bubble in the mail and see what seeds are inside.

12/11/2008 1:07:29 PM

ordinary,VA

hahahahahahah

12/11/2008 1:12:34 PM

Adams County

Other than Santa Clause, nobody should be burdend over giving out presents ( seeds ) if you want them do a little work for them. a small amount to pay for great seeds.gmo..

12/11/2008 6:21:03 PM

Farmville, Virginia (mfowler@hsc.edu)

I'm with Phil D...this post is for real??? You gotta be kidding!!!! Thats like sending a letter to a friend asking to borrow a power tool and then asking him to drive it over to you to save you the inconvenience! The concept CANNOT be that hard to understand...

12/11/2008 6:28:20 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Sending and receiving bubbles is just one of the things I enjoy about this site and growing giant veggies in general. Do I really have to participate in the giant veggie exchange? No, I could easily order online what I want but where's the fun in that. When it comes to AG seed requests, a little humility goes a long way. The SASBE method with a note of thanks works just fine.

12/11/2008 6:45:22 PM

Nova Scotia

i don,t see what the big deal is ,i send out 3 bubbles this year and put 3 dollars in each one.i think if i want the seeds i can,t aleast pay the postage.

12/11/2008 8:32:18 PM

If you're willing to send 3.00 because it's easier, quit complaining that 1.60 might be way too much postage.
I'm with Chuck... if you think getting an address and having envelopes and stamps on hand, just don't send out bubbles.

12/11/2008 9:51:48 PM

Greencastle, PA

If sending out a SASE is too difficult for you, then you will never be able to grow a giant pumpkin. The hard work starts when you get into the patch!

12/13/2008 1:36:18 PM

Shell Knob, MO

1st season with giant pumpkins!!! Still thrilling !!!
If you want to play with their marbles, you must follow their rules. We've sent 6 SASE's out and have recvd 2 back.
Also,we have recvd 6 requests for our seeds SASE's and have returned them with a 1 day turn around. Even had a request from New Zealand. That was exciting.

12/13/2008 7:36:25 PM

Central Connecticut

I hope I'm to busy to address and mail a couple of letters when I retire, because I have very little time right now :)

12/15/2008 12:50:25 PM

Colorado

hey m3f2,think outside the box.How many seed requests are you mailing.If youre a world champion contender,youll get in the hundreds of requests.Do you really think they should not only send you seeds,buy bubble envelopes,figure postage,place your address and make that trip to the post office.Then wait for your payment on paypal.try to see the forest through the big tree youre standing next two.The whole idea is;if you want a seed-make it as painless to the grower to send them to you.less pain more seeds-more pain way less seeds

12/15/2008 3:03:19 PM

Webster, NY

Just to put in m 2 cents, when I send out a request, I include a note, a stamped bubble addressed inside a stamped mailer. The senders are doing me a favor, so I don't expect them to pay for anything. It should be as easy as possible for them to help me.

12/15/2008 6:05:02 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

You really do have to be on the receiving end of dozens, if not hundred's or requests for seeds to understand this situation. If I was in business of selling seeds, then yes, it's just the money. But I am in the business of sharing seeds, and that means you need to do whatever you can to help make it easy for me.

Remember that there are always a good handful of over seas requests, which there is no really good way to make that easy. I spend a lot of time filling out shipping forms for those.

So, prepare your SASBE. Put your address on it clearly. Put a small note in the package telling me what you want. I probably have lots of different seed offers out there, so be specific. Also include some interesting seeds that you are sharing, so that I get something from it also.

12/23/2008 10:42:23 AM