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Pods For A Cause (milkweed)

thedutchtouch said:
Apologies because I know it's somewhere in these 10 pages but i didn't see it when I was just looking back... Remind me about forms of payment etc, were you wanting checks sent made out to sowf? Debated sending as PM but perhaps someone else is wondering and this will kick them off the fence with me.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm taking checks or money orders made out to Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Don't make checks out to me.
 
Pods for a Cause generated a lot of interest in the first couple of years but it seems to be losing a little steam. Time for a jump-start?
I've changed a few things. Tell me what you think...Frank opinions are welcome.
I'm getting a few questions and requests for pods.


This is a cut and paste from my last reply.......


I have a ton of pods that have been in my cupboard since last year. It's well dried and ready to use.
I'd be happy to send you some.
Some things may have changed over the few years since I started this. I went from taking PayPal, to not taking PayPal, then I was only taking checks or money orders (made out to SOWF, not to me), and then there were enough guys telling me they don't even use checks anymore. Some asked me if they could just donate directly to SOWF. The more I think of it, the more I realize that direct donations aren't such a bad idea. It certainly would simplify everything for both me and the guys donating. A minor downside would be that the donations wouldn't be showing as coming from "us" (Saddle Hunting Patriots) but in the end does that really matter? Hey, as long as the donations go to SOWF, it really doesn't matter if SHP gets the "credit" or not.

One other possible glitch could be that guys would get the pods and then forget to actually send the donation. I can understand how that could happen. A person has full intentions of doing something "next week when I pay the bills" or whatever and then it gets buried on their desk for a few months. That kind of stuff happens...just ask my wife!

So what I've done with the last few guys is to request they message me some sort of proof of the donation. That's working pretty well. But I've made it clear that I will pester them if they forget or procrastinate and I will definitely call them out publicly on this site if they try to duck their pledge. Seems like we have a lot of new, unknown faces on the forum and I guess there has been some scamming on the classifieds.

As always, I'm willing to continue paying the shipping (which is costing me a little over $5 for postage, the bubble envelope, clips, etc) so I've always asked guys to add another $5 or so to their donation...that kinda makes it so each order that I send is like me donating the extra $5 (i.e. my shipping cost turns into a donation). The only problem is it seems like most guys aren't actually adding much to the amount??

Let me ask your opinion...Should I start setting a minimum amount for donations? Maybe $20 or $25?
I have had some people donate only $15, and I think one guy gave only $5. That just seems a little cheapskate.

One other thing that I'm going to change is I won't automatically "rig" the pods with clips. I will ask how a guy intends to carry them. If they want the clips (which in my opinion is the best method) then I will rig clips. But after reading so many posts from guys asking how people carry their milkweed and seeing all the answers of the various containers they use, I started asking myself why I'm going to the trouble (and small expense) of rigging clips on pods if the guy is just going to stuff all the floaters in another container. And if that's the case, I don't even really need to send the pods. I can just remove the floaters and stuff them in a baggie and mail it...lighter, cheaper postage, and definitely easier for me. But IMO, it's really inferior to damage all of those pristine floaters. Mother Nature designed these to float best right from the pod, not from a pill bottle or coin holder. But hey...whatever a guy wants to do. I can only give suggestions.


So what are your thoughts? How would you like these shipped? And what is your complete shipping info?

Thanks and God Bless.
Tom
 
Allegheny Tom said:
Pods for a Cause generated a lot of interest in the first couple of years but it seems to be losing a little steam. Time for a jump-start?
I've changed a few things. Tell me what you think...Frank opinions are welcome.
I'm getting a few questions and requests for pods.


This is a cut and paste from my last reply.......


I have a ton of pods that have been in my cupboard since last year. It's well dried and ready to use.
I'd be happy to send you some.
Some things may have changed over the few years since I started this. I went from taking PayPal, to not taking PayPal, then I was only taking checks or money orders (made out to SOWF, not to me), and then there were enough guys telling me they don't even use checks anymore. Some asked me if they could just donate directly to SOWF. The more I think of it, the more I realize that direct donations aren't such a bad idea. It certainly would simplify everything for both me and the guys donating. A minor downside would be that the donations wouldn't be showing as coming from "us" (Saddle Hunting Patriots) but in the end does that really matter? Hey, as long as the donations go to SOWF, it really doesn't matter if SHP gets the "credit" or not.

One other possible glitch could be that guys would get the pods and then forget to actually send the donation. I can understand how that could happen. A person has full intentions of doing something "next week when I pay the bills" or whatever and then it gets buried on their desk for a few months. That kind of stuff happens...just ask my wife!

So what I've done with the last few guys is to request they message me some sort of proof of the donation. That's working pretty well. But I've made it clear that I will pester them if they forget or procrastinate and I will definitely call them out publicly on this site if they try to duck their pledge. Seems like we have a lot of new, unknown faces on the forum and I guess there has been some scamming on the classifieds.

As always, I'm willing to continue paying the shipping (which is costing me a little over $5 for postage, the bubble envelope, clips, etc) so I've always asked guys to add another $5 or so to their donation...that kinda makes it so each order that I send is like me donating the extra $5 (i.e. my shipping cost turns into a donation). The only problem is it seems like most guys aren't actually adding much to the amount??

Let me ask your opinion...Should I start setting a minimum amount for donations? Maybe $20 or $25?
I have had some people donate only $15, and I think one guy gave only $5. That just seems a little cheapskate.

One other thing that I'm going to change is I won't automatically "rig" the pods with clips. I will ask how a guy intends to carry them. If they want the clips (which in my opinion is the best method) then I will rig clips. But after reading so many posts from guys asking how people carry their milkweed and seeing all the answers of the various containers they use, I started asking myself why I'm going to the trouble (and small expense) of rigging clips on pods if the guy is just going to stuff all the floaters in another container. And if that's the case, I don't even really need to send the pods. I can just remove the floaters and stuff them in a baggie and mail it...lighter, cheaper postage, and definitely easier for me. But IMO, it's really inferior to damage all of those pristine floaters. Mother Nature designed these to float best right from the pod, not from a pill bottle or coin holder. But hey...whatever a guy wants to do. I can only give suggestions.


So what are your thoughts? How would you like these shipped? And what is your complete shipping info?

Thanks and God Bless.
Tom
Click to expand...

I would pay you $25 no problem. I found I was opening just the pointed tip of the pod and getting floaters out that way. I did not use the clips at all. And then I tucked it in a pocket.

So my vote would be $25, no clips, leave floaters in the pod, stick in a ziploc and mailed.
 
katiesmom said:
I would pay you $25 no problem. I found I was opening just the pointed tip of the pod and getting floaters out that way. I did not use the clips at all. And then I tucked it in a pocket.

So my vote would be $25, no clips, leave floaters in the pod, stick in a ziploc and mailed.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply.
For a lot of years, I used them just the way you described. Peel the tip back, pluck a floater, the stick the pod in my pocket.
The trouble that I had so many times was the pod ended up on the ground 18 feet below me. That's why I started using the clips.
I put them on the pods that I send out because if that's the way I do it for myself, I wouldn't rig them any in any lesser way for someone that's donating money for them. But to be fair, I never asked how someone wanted them, so I will now make asking a standard thing.
 
Agreed, I'd rather pay you 25 bucks and trust that you handle the donation logistics than do it myself. And now that I've said that publicly... I guess it's time to do it. Keepe posted when you make a logistics decision and where to send the $. (I do have a checkbook somewhere but prefer electronic/PayPal/Venmo)
 
I,ve always carried mine in a clear change purse on my pack strap but you are right, they are much better if never taken out or smashed. What is the clip you use?
 
Blacksmith said:
I,ve always carried mine in a clear change purse on my pack strap but you are right, they are much better if never taken out or smashed. What is the clip you use?
Click to expand...
It's a clip used for ID badge.
Any little clip will do as long as it keeps the pod quickly accessible with minimal movement and keeps me from dropping it.
 
Me personally, I would not ship them until you had proof of donation or a donation in hand. The pods I received from you took a lot of time, and effort to rig the way you did. Not to mention, you have to gather, and ship the pods. If you are going to take the time out of your life to do this for an awesome cause then the recipients can do their part too. I bet they won’t forget about it when they are sitting in the stand wondering which way the wind is blowing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Milkweed doesn't grow where I am and I need some more. I would definitely send $25 to donate and get some milkweed. Just let me know if you are still doing this
 
Allegheny Tom said:
You guys need to send me a PM with your name and address. Also tell me if you want them rigged with clips.
You will donate $25 (or more) to SOWF. When they email you the acknowledgement, take a screen shot of it and send it to handymantoms@gmail.com.
Click to expand...
It was early when I made post #217 and I neglected to mention a couple things.

1) When you email the screen shot of the donation acknowledgement, please put your Saddlehunter forum handle in the subject line. It will help me keep everything straight in case I need to contact, or pester someone :)
This is the honor system. I will ship asap, so I'm not waiting for proof of donation in order to ship. But I will become a pain in you rear if you duck out of paying your pledge and everyone on this site will know about it. :sunglasses: Reputation is gold on this site.

2) And I guess there is no reason to send me a PM 1st. You now have my email address so we can do this thru email. PMs are still okay, but I realize some folks don't always pay attention to their PM box, and I know a few more that seldom check their email box. So please pay attention and answer correspondence. Also, in the past, the forum server or whatever has gone down for days at a time, so emailing me may be the better option.

3) I've mentioned this before but it bears repeating...PLEASE double-check your shipping info (FULL name, FULL address) and make sure it's correct. If you leave out a detail or mis-type your zip code etc, I can't ship it without having to reach out to you for a correction. And sometimes the person goes "dark" and doesn't answer the PM and I'm left hanging (no pun intended!). It also causes me to make extra drives to the post office...gas is expensive these days.

4) I will be out of reach for a few weeks from Tuesday 9-5 so if you need pods before the end of September let me know by Labor Day (tomorrow!) and I will ship on Tuesday. Otherwise, have patience and I will answer you and send them when I get back.

5) As always, I will send you a tracking number when I have one.

Please try to help me keep this as uncomplicated (for me) as possible. There have been several times that guys ordering pods have made this more difficult for me than it needs to be. As long as this new procedure goes relatively smooth, I'm happy to continue doing this.
If there is a detail that I've overlooked, reach out with your suggestions on how I can make this better.

Thank you all for your generosity to Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
I'm sure that there are some new members or readers of this thread and may not be aware of some things...
I am not affiliated in any way with SOWF, and I do not make a dime from any of this. In fact, each order costs me about $5 for packaging and postage. It's the reason why I request a $25 donation instead of $20...For each order it's like a $5 donation from me.

Thank you for your generosity and patience.
God Bless and have a great season.
Stay safe in those woods!
Tom
 
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