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ADMIN Notices - Correcting Message Formats
Here are a few examples you can use for your files regarding Message Formats. Simply copy and paste... and feel free to edit as necessary!
***Replace all XXX references with your local group name***
Example #1 - Message Format - Subject Line
Hi and welcome to XXX Freecycle(TM)!
As one of our newer members, you probably haven't had time to read the guidelines that were sent to you when you joined the group.
When you post an Offer or a Wanted to Freecycle, please follow the format described in the general guidelines and on the XXX Freecycle front page.
The
1-2-3 of subject format:
1. Begin each subject with OFFER or WANTED
2. Include your item
3. End each subject with your location
One
example would look like this:
OFFER: Some unique treasure (your location)
WANTED: Red Ball (your location)
This allows our many members to make a decision based on your Want or Offer, location, and pertinent information regarding your special item or unique request. Please redo your subject line and resubmit your post.
Thank you for your understanding on this very important issue. We hope you continue to enjoy your experience on XXX Freecycle!
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example #2 - Message Format - Subject Line
Subject: Oops! Did you forget something?
Hello and welcome! You must be a brand-new member. There are some things about posting to this list that you may not know yet. Your post was not approved for one of the following reasons:
In the subject line of any post, it is required that you use the word OFFER or WANTED to let people know which it is, without having to read the email to find out.
Your post was in all caps, which is considered yelling in netiquette terms, and no one wants to give to a person who is yelling at them. If you have a special need to post in all caps, please drop us a line and we will make sure that this doesn't become an issue with you in the future.
Using the phrases PLEASE HELP!!!!, DESPERATE, or NEEDED are unacceptable, because XXX Freecycle(TM) is not a dire need/situation and we do not allow pleading for items.
If you would make the necessary change, we would be happy to submit your request to the list. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example #3 - Message Format - Subject Line
Subject: Yet Another Subject Line Reminder
Hello XXX Freecycle(TM) Member,
Every time we get a batch of new members, it seems like we spend a lot of time fixing Subject lines.
Why is this important?
When posting an Offer or Want, you would like every interested person to read your mail. You also want someone to respond who will follow through, and finish the transaction.
If you are just reading the postings, you want clear information in the subject line, so you can delete posts that don't apply to you, without reading the whole message. And, if someone were offering something you want, you'd also like to know how far away that poster lives.
Make sure that in the body of your post you describe the item you have or want as clearly as possible. This lets the community know the specifics of the item without having to send additional emails back and forth. It cuts down on questions which ultimately cuts down on traffic to your in box.
In the shortest form, here's how to write a proper subject line:
OFFER:
Steam radiators, your location
TAKEN: Steam radiators, your location (use only in conjunction with OFFERs)
WANTED: Moving Boxes, your location
RECEIVED: Moving Boxes, your location (use only in conjunction with WANTEDs)
Thanks for reading this! We hope that every Freecycle experience you have is a great one!
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example
#4 - Message Format - Subject Line (Keep It Simple)
Under the heading of "keeping it simple", your Freecycle(TM) moderators
are asking the following:
Please
limit subject headers to one of the following four, making sure to always put
the item in the subject line and your general location for wants and offers.
OFFER: thingamajig (your general location)
TAKEN: thingamajig
WANTED: thingamajig (your general location)
RECEIVED: thingamajig
TAKEN is used in conjunction with OFFER and
RECEIVED is only used in conjunction with WANTED.
RECEIVED tells the rest of the community that you have been given a
gift that you asked for from the community after placing a WANTED post. Like
the OFFER/TAKEN, it closes out that particular transaction. At a later date,
the Moderators match up Offers/Taken and Wanted/Received posts, keeping the
message boards clean and clear of extraneous traffic.
Although
it's nice to say that you have RECEIVED something lovely from someone else and
you'd like to thank him or her for it, it does not follow Freecycle guidelines
on posting. In place of posting thanks, we encourage you to follow up with a
private e-mail to let the person know that you appreciate what you have received
from them. It's not public acknowledgment, but it speaks volumes in maintaining
community spirit!
We
thank you for your contributions to Freecycle. If you have any question regarding
this issue or others, please drop us a line and we will get back to you as soon
as we can. Thank you!
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example #5 - Message Format - Subject Line/No General Location
Dear Freecycle(TM) Member,
We're sorry, but we cannot accept your post for one of the following reasons:
We are not allowing any posts to go through that don't have OFFER, TAKEN, RECEIVED, or WANTED in the subject line. Please remember to put the nearest general location in your post as well as the item you are offering or requesting.
We are also not accepting any WANTED posts that have LONG explanations for why a particular item is wanted (long sob stories not good - a short "why I want" is fine). People feel the need to justify their requests and it really isn't necessary. Either your group has the item you want or they don't.
Most importantly, we are absolutely *not* accepting posts that request or offer any of the following: pornography, tobacco, alcohol, money, firearms, or any other weapon.
NO POLITICS, NO RELIGION, NO SPAM/ADVERTISING, NO DRUGS (legal or otherwise), NO MONEY, AND NO PERSONAL ATTACKS/RUDENESS: MODERATOR RULINGS ON INAPPROPRIATE EMAIL USE ARE FINAL!
So will you please fix and resubmit your post? We do appreciate it!
If
you have any additional questions on this or other issues, please don't hesitate
to email us!
Thank
you for your attention on this very important matter!
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example #6 - Message Format - No General Location
Hello Freecycle(TM) Member,
Your message was not approved because it did not contain your general location or nearest cross streets in the subject line. Please resubmit your message including your location in the subject line, and we will see that it is posted as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding!
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example #7 - Message Format - No General Location
ADMIN: Location, Location, Location!
Hello Freecycle(TM) Members!
When posting an OFFER or WANTED, you would like every interested person to read your mail. You also want someone to respond who will follow through AND finish the transaction.
If you are just reading the Subject Line, you want clear information so you can delete posts that don't apply to you without reading the whole message. And, if someone were offering something you want, you'd also like to know how far away that member lives. This is why it's VERY important to either post your CROSS-STREET or approximate LOCATION. A potential recipient can choose your gift based on where you are and not be surprised when you reveal your address.
Posting an approximate location will match you up with a recipient who is prepared to travel. This also decreases the likelihood of a NO SHOW due to the unexpected information of your location revealed after the fact. That makes for a positive Freecycle experience!
In the shortest form, here's how to write a proper subject line:
OFFER:
Steam radiators, your LOCATION
TAKEN: Steam radiators, your LOCATION (use only in conjunction with OFFERs to
indicate your item is taken)
WANTED: Moving Boxes, your LOCATION
RECEIVED: Moving Boxes, your LOCATION (use only in conjunction with WANTEDs
to indicate that someone answered your wanted post)
RE-OFFER, PPU and NEEDED are not to be used in the subject line. We greatly appreciate your cooperation on this matter.
If you have additional questions regarding this or other issues, please drop us a line! Thank you!
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example #8 - Message Format - Using Promised vs. Taken
Subject: Make No Promises
Greeting Members!
We have noticed a trend here that we'd like to nip in the bud before it becomes a standard. Members are posting "PROMISED" rather than "TAKEN" when an item has found a new home. Please note that it is proper to post "TAKEN" whether or not the item has been physically picked up. More than likely you will have a list of members to work from if the first respondent does not show, and remember you can always repost if you need to.
These are the only acceptable subject headings any others will be changed or deleted at the moderator's discretion:
OFFER
TAKEN (used only in conjunction with OFFER)
WANTED
RECEIVED (used only in conjunction with WANTED)
Thank you for your cooperation.
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.
Example #9 - Message Format - Using Praise and Thanks
Dear Freecycle(TM) Member,
Please do not use PRAISE as a key word in the Subject line. The only acceptable Key Words are OFFER, WANTED, TAKEN and RECEIVED. Using PRAISE makes a lot of extra work for the moderators regarding removing or editing posts, or placing a member back on moderation.
If you would like to thank the member for items received and have responded to an OFFER, please take a moment and send a thank you privately to that member. If you have received items due to a WANTED that YOU placed, you may post a RECEIVED and thank the member for item(s) received.
Thank you for your understanding!
Your
XXX Freecycle Moderators
XXX-owner@yahoogroups.com
(C) 2003, The Freecycle Network(TM). All rights reserved. Freecycle and the Freecycle logo are trademarks of The Freecycle Network in the United States and/or other countries.