Thread: Should we try a box pass?

This is something I have seen done in tobacco forums and I would think it would work here as well.

Basically, people sign up to be part of the pass. The person hosting the pass either fills the box with shaving items (S)he has or solicits items from the people that sign up. This could either be random shaving items or built around a theme (Shaving soaps, splashes, etc.). Then the box is mailed to the first person on the list. That person is able to keep the box for 7 days before mailing it on to the next person on the list. (S)He can try out any re-usable item or any open item. Everyone is responsible for their own sanitation prior to using anything. You also may "take" items from the box as long as you "put" back something of equal or greater value.

Each person is responsible for reporting on what they use as well as their "Puts" and "Takes". The are also responsible for the cost of sending it on to the next person.

I don't quite know what happens to the box at the end of the list, however.

Comments? suggestions?

I don't want to put a damper on this but, I think in order to make this as successful as possible it's important to understand and discuss the potential problems beforehand, so that means to address them and the expectations are set accordingly.

Originally Posted by Pyment

I don't quite know what happens to the box at the end of the list, however.

Comments? suggestions?

From the past history of such boxes it seems that the box disappears before the end of the list. The longer people are allowed to keep it the fewer stops before it disappears. 7-days hold time plus 3 days in transit means 3 people/month. If there are 10 signups the last person would have to wait over 3 months.
(I was on such a list at one point, but no holding timeframe was set so the box ended up spending several months with every person who received it. No matter how anhious and enthusiastic they were while looking forward to its arrival, once that happened they were swamped with other life duties and the trying out the stuff before passing the box along was their lowest priority.)

It would make sense to limit the number to something that can be completed in few months, certainly not half a year. It can be restarted at the end of it with a new set of people. It only makes sens to end where it started, or if there's a subsequent box pass it can be transferred to it.

Also you probably want to think about possible limitations on eligibility for participation.

Anyways, just my thoughts on the subject. Good luck with it.

Gugi's thoughts are very pertinent. Also, the monthly giveaways kind of fulfil what you want, but as he says, good luck.

There are too many what ifs to consider.

What if the box is lost in transit, what if someone removes something and replaces it with something of "equal" value or just takes something period, What if someone damages something or you use items that really can't be sanitized like open bottles of splash or soap and someone catches something.

The list can go on and on and that's why this subject has been broached before but never acted upon.

But if you are a brave adventurous soul good luck with your project.

Also, just consider the forum management does not and will not sanction or sponser this undertaking and this can't be an official site project. The only reason I'm saying that is so all understand the "Forum" has no liability if something goes wrong.

If you want to have an official site box pass around you'll need to get advance approval from the management FIRST before you do anything.

If I were to attempt it, I would keep it among the people I have actually met or people that I really get along with for all of the reasons listed above. Theres a big time trust issue here, I am not saying that there are people here not on the up &up, but life does happen.