Zero star rating

How reluctant or willing are you to give a zero star rating for a swap?

I assume you're not talking about yourself.
I you have a good conversation and mutually agree with a swap both of you finds fair, I can't see any problem. If you still feel unsure you can just ask him you send first, since you have no guarantees from his swap history. If he rejects, there might, after all, be something fishy. But remembe, we all started with zero stars in rating.

Hi ngdawa. Thanks for your reply. Lol no I'm not talking about myself or any of my swap partners. I'm just interested in the thought process of other members when deciding a rating if things don't go to plan.

If you have, as collectors, agreed what each of you are going to send to each other then the exchange can continue.
If however, you do not receive exactly what was agreed, then, in my mind, you have two options.
1. Contact the sender and ask why items were missing.
This could be just accidental, so be a little patient. They may offer to send additional items.
2. When items are missing, and you have contacted sender, explaining shortfall, and you get no response, you could contact them one last time warning of your intention to give a zero rating or low rating
If you still get no response, you then carry out your threat.

No one really like low ratings, especially if it is the last rating, or a recent rating, as future exchanges could be affected.
In most cases I have found, there are genuine reasons for the error, so be careful before rating someone low or 0. Sort it out first, take action later.

Not for a careless mistake or a difference over grading standards. I've committed both and suffered both.

For the genuinely dishonest though, hell yeah. The issue has never really arisen though as I just don't deal with anyone I have doubts about. Lost mail sob stories, feedback from lots of single trade accounts, glowing feedback from known crooks living in the same village.... get outta here ya bum!

There have been only two occasions where I've considered it and very much regret letting the opportunity slip. That's the problem with giving someone the benefit of the doubt and the opportunity for redemption. At some point if feels kinda sketchy to be leaving bad feedback for a long dead swap. Plus I believe that after a certain time has elapsed the system actually prevents it.

I recently had a swap where my package did not reach the other person while i received his. However, as a habit I take pictures of the coins and even the prepared letter with his address and all the stamps as a reassurance that I have sent the package out (since it is without tracking). I've rated him as usual, however, we agreed that he would give me a zero rating and write a comment to the effect that everything was fine but for the fact that the letter went missing and that happens in life. It has not affected my 10/10 rating. To me it is an effective way to close a swap completely (though I've made known to him that still intend to send him a letter again with some if not all the coins)

One of the dangers of giving someone a low rating is them giving a retaliatory low rating even if they do get what was agreed upon. If low ratings are not given amateur scammers will thrive in the community yet you also risk tarnishing your own rating if you rate them first. I think its nice to give newcomers a fair shot at building a good reputation but sometimes you get burned by being too trustworthy.