Oddly high number of shafting lately. Discussion/concerns.

Let me preface by saying, I'm not complaining about not receiving because I want more stuff. I'm complaining about not receiving as a breech of trust. If all you have to say is stuff about being "grateful for the opportunity" and "it's about GIVING" then go somewhere else, because this is exactly about people not giving when they're supposed to. I signed up on a website to both GIVE and RECEIVE, so no, I won't be grateful for an opportunity to get a gift, because that's not what I signed up for. And you should feel bad for trying to make anyone feel guilty about that.

So far this year (2013), I've signed up for 9 exchanges. Each item(s) I sent included a tracking number and a heartfelt note.

Of those 9 exchanges, 4 of the gifts I was to receive were never sent/given to me. 2 of those 9 are incomplete (no info traded yet/still matching). So thus, that brings the total to 4/7 shafts for complete trades. Those odds aren't good.

Of those 4, I've since gotten rematach gifts from 3 of them, and am awaiting confirmation that I didn't get the remaining one.

I have some serious questions.

1. Is there any actual consequences for not sending a gift? It sure seems like more than half of all gifters don't send lately. And I'd like to know what happens to them after they don't send.

2. How easy is it for some doucher to sign up to get a free gift then not send in return? What are the new prerequisites for joining? Because it sure seems like redditgifts has been full of dishonest gifters lately.

3. Why isn't it required to provide tracking information or at least proof of purchase via tracking number and/or screencap with website name+transaction number+transaction date? Out of all 4 shafts, all 4 of them claimed to have shipped but never actually did, nor provided proof of it. An easy way to fix this is to create two columns and make it a requirement to either submit an image OR to fill out the tracking number/shipping company before allowing someone to even click, "confirm gift sent".

4. Why can people now upload gifts without posting pictures? It really breaks my heart how much effort I put into a gift, then to have a giftee confirm and write only the basic description about what I got or made them without even showing how much effort I put into it. This needs to be fixed. If a person can't photograph a gift, they're either lying in this day and age or they need to find someone who can help them photograph their gift. Maybe make it a prerequisite for joining to take a picture of themselves with a piece of paper that contains their reddit username and sign up email address to help prevent that issue?

Regardless, change needs to happen to stop the high number of shafts that have been happening lately.

To all people who sign up to be regifters: You guys deserve more credit than you get. You are truly the spirit of giving and generosity. I wish redditgifts didn't NEED you, but I'm glad they can rely on you.