Co-op Rules and Etiquette for Hosts & Hostesses

Etiquette

  Before starting a co-op, ask yourself if you have the time and energy to see the co-op through to the end. Be honest with yourself when answering. If you're short on time and energy, you should probably decide to shelve the idea of having a co-op until another time, or recommend the idea for the co-op to another Disher, and let him or her host the buy.

  If something unexpected happens while hosting a co-op (such as illness, change in work situation, etc.) that causes you to be unable to fulfill your obligations, the absolute most important thing you can do is communicate with your co-op participants about what's going on. Most participants are understanding when life deals you unexpected hardship, but that understanding soon runs out if you are not vigilant about keeping people updated. If you unexpected circumstances are only going to cause a short delay, keep everyone informed as well as possible. If your circumstances are causing a prolonged or unpredictable delay, you should immediately seek out a fellow Disher to help you meet your obligations. Or, cancel the buy and issue refunds to all participants in a timely fashion. Regardless of personal hardship and unexpected life circumstances, your responsibilities as host or hostess do not end until every participant has their full order, a full refund, or a combination of the two.

  It is vitally important that you keep in contact with your participants throughout the buy, but especially if something goes wrong. Have a back-up plan for keeping in contact with your participants. Seek out the locations in your town that offer public internet access (libraries, cafes, office supply stores, a friend's house, etc.) and use those options if the internet becomes unavailable at home. The best email account for a host or hostess to use is one that is both reliable and web-accessible, meaning you can access it away from your home computer if needed.

  Make sure you list your co-op correctly on SoapSaver. The more consistent co-ops are on SoapSaver, the easier it is for participants to be informed and educated about the buys the participate in.

  Leave feedback for each participant in your co-op. It can be a time-consuming job for big co-ops, but your participants deserve it!



Rules

1. Co-ops must take place on the SoapSaver site in the co-ops section, and all participants must "bid" on your co-op to participate. Before listing a co-op, refer to the relevant sections of the SoapSaver Terms & Conditions, the FAQ file, and the Help file. Use the tutorial to ensure that you list your co-op correctly.


2. You are required to deliver goods as promised to every participant in the co-op. If you cannot deliver goods as promised, you are required to provide full refunds to every participant in a timely manner.


3. In the case that you are unable to deliver goods as promised to every individual, but are able to deliver partial orders, partial refunds may be combined with partial orders (to total the amount the participant paid).


4. All terms of the Dish User Agreement and the SoapSaver Terms & Conditions must be followed during the course of your participation in a buy. The Dish does not investigate or report instances of suspected fraud as a matter of course, but we do not stop our members from doing so on their own.


5. The Dish strongly encourages hosts and hostesses to fill in as many optional items in their co-op listing as possible to better inform prospective participants.


6. You are required to fill out each required item on the listing page correctly. If you are unclear about the correct way to fill out any item, ask the Moderator Team for assistance.


7. Threads gauging interest and update threads belong in the Member-to-Member > Co-op Updates section. You may not use any part of the Dish (with the exception of your signature) to advertise your buy or solicit sales.


8. You may not use Dish resources to advertise buys for which our members will be required to join a mailing list, register for membership at another site, or leave the Dish Forum or SoapSaver web site to participate. All pertinent details of co-ops must be included in your co-op listing on SoapSaver; you may not redirect bidders to another web page for information. Exceptions will only be made for links to the supplier/manufacturer's web site for more complete product information (MSDS, Cert. of Analysis, etc.). You are required to allow participants to contact you by email or Dish private message, or both. You may not require participants to contact you via another forum (publicly or privately), message book or order form on another site, or instant messaging device.


9. You may use your signature to advertise Co-ops & Fast Buys, provided you follow all applicable rules concerning signatures. Please keep signatures of a promotional nature discreet so that we can continue to allow them.


10. If you have a problem with a participant, please try to resolve the situation privately in a civil manner. If an individual does not fulfill his or her commitments, you may elect to leave that user negative feedback. Please consider leaving negative feedback a last resort.


11. Abuse of the feedback system or auction site will not be tolerated.


12. Any posts, threads, or auctions in violation of these rules will be deleted by the moderator team.

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