Taken Messages
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This is a sample Admin message you can use to send to your group.
ADMIN: TAKEN MESSAGES - WHO, WHEN, WHY and WHAT
Hiya everyone!
Okay, just to clarify a few things about Taken messages. Some things you might know about, others maybe not.
Who needs to send in a Taken message?
The only person who needs to send in a Taken message is the person who sent in the original "Offer" email. There are only two messages per transaction, and both done by the same person. This is to keep things as simple as possible, as well as keeping the amount of emails from the group to a minimum.
When should you send one in?
You should send it when you no longer have the item you have Offered. However, if it's a popular item you may send in a Taken when you have made firm arrangements for pick-up with one person, so that you stop getting more messages asking for it.
Why do you send in a Taken?
It closes the transaction. When you've given your chosen recipient your Offered item you send in a Taken message so other members know not to email to ask for the item. Or earlier, as above, to stop more emails coming in.
What needs to be in a Taken message?
Quite simply the only thing that should change in the subject line is "OFFER" becomes "TAKEN". All the other info should still be there, including the area! In fact it should all be exactly the same - as long as only the items taken are listed.
The body of the message can then include the Yahoo ID of the person you gave the item to. This helps show the other members that things are being evenly distributed to people on the list. Or not, as the case may be. The only way for anyone to know if that is happening is if you put their ID in the Taken message.
- Moderators would like to encourage all members to include ID's in
their Taken messages***
Do I send in a Received message when I get something someone Offered to say thanks?
No. I know it sounds as if you can't say thanks, but you can send a thank you email off list after you get back just to let the person know you appreciate them giving you their item. If you really want to say thanks publicly then you may do so on our Cafe group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/<cafegroupname>> but there's no guarantees that they're a member there.
Many folks just want the essential emails from the list, and so things are kept as simple as possible - there are just the two emails to the group for each transaction. "Received" goes after "Wanted".
I 'took' the item, why can't I send in a Taken message?
It would mean that it would be possible for someone to send in a taken message to stop any other emails going to the offerer so that that person stands a better chance of getting the item. For that reason we ask that the Taken message is only sent in by the person who originally sent in the Offer. Not to mention, to keep things simple!
I hope this helps clarify how TAKEN messages work, but as ever, if you have any questions, email the moderators at:
<groupname>-owner@yahoogroups.com
This address lives permanently at the bottom of the home page, so you always know where to find it.
<yourname> <groupname>
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