MakeUpAlley: Swapping Tips

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Music: Sovay by Andrew Bird http://cuthut.com/BW5
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*This video was requested by Martha aka mecmex
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This will be a two part series that will cover everything you need to know about MakeUpAlley (MUA). This part of the series will teach you proper swapping etiquette along with tips on how NOT to get swaplifted.

Introduction to MakeUpAlley & How To: Product Reviews & Mail:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-8s0KMECcM

How To: Swapping:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TX_CZ62vAE
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List of known swaplifters:
http://swaplifters.watson-wilson.ca/sl/view.mas?orderby=state&type=thief

If you ever get swaplifted, here are some things you can do:
1) report the swaplifter to the postal service mail fraud
Call: 1-800-488-8244.
It works and they will report it to the local police department

2) Complete a mail fraud complain at this website:
http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplain

Once you have completed this, US Mail services will mail you a post card telling you that they have taken action.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• makeupalley
• makeup
• alley
• swapping
• swap
• swaplifter
• mail fraud
• complain
• us postal service
• tips
• fionaman
• toronto
• canada

[susiehelton]

That PO Box thing you mentioned is kinda untrue. I lived on a rural road that had no mail delivery and we *HAD* to use PO Boxes. In addition PO Boxes are listed under a person's name, with their information including billing addresses (people have to pay to have a PO Box after all) so it isn't hard to track down. You can file a complaint with the post master general and give the person's name, PO Box and the Town, State and Zip Code they live in.

[fionaman]

@susiehelton I corrected what I said with an annotation in the videos.  Thanks :)

[guardianangel331]

5katrina55, i was looking for swap tawk and couldn't find it. i wonder if it has been removed?? i have a feeling makeupalley is going to get shut down soon. i read about it on another board. it has to do with unfair practices and such. it was like a few years ago, ebay was getting ready to be shut down and had to change their practices or be removed. if swap lifting is going on a lot there is a chance the same could happen to mua. those who are experiencing swap lifting should contact the usps.

[fionaman]

@guardianangel331 5katrina55 Oh wow! I didn't know the website got disabled. That's odd!! Interesting note guardianangel.

[christ2006]

dude rule number 1 is not to talk about MUA

[twentytwolove]

I also wanted to comment on the P.O. Box thing... I used to live in a really really small town and we had a P.O. Boxes. So I wouldn't say NEVER swap with someone who has a P.O. Box, just check out the user's history, etc. :]

Good series!

[Kaydee007]

Thanks for the great tips!

[FM897]

I recently signed up for MakeupAlley and just created a swap and wish list a few days ago.  I already have two pending swaps (I'm the first to send because I'm the newbie), so I'm really hoping I don't get swaplifted. :-|

[GlamNERDNails]

Thanks for the advise I'm adding your video to my favorites so others can see it because I'm just starting to SWAP.

[Msintroverted]

Awesome video. I've never swapped and I'm planning on swapping so I wanted to make sure I know the signs of a swap thief. Thanks so much for this :)

[zeebraore]

The site with swap lifters is down

[fionaman]

@susiehelton I inserted an annotation correcting what I said. Thanks.

[susiehelton]

@annabarbs That is one of the reasons what she is suggesting doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I only have like 7-8 positive tokens. I got them from people trusting me to send my items first (usually with a DC or delivery confirmation number) BEFORE they would send mine. That way they were "sure to get" their shipment before they took a gamble on someone with no tokens. The PO Box also makes no sense...you can track a person's PO box...I had a PO box at my old apartment and never had issues

[annabarbs]

Hi Fiona,

I just recently discovered makeup alley and signed up. You said in your video that you shouldn't swap with people who are new or don't have any tokens. So how do i get started if no one would give me a chance to prove I'm a honest and genuine person?

Thanks for your help