How can someone say they are a 'newbie' just starting out...and when you go to their 'page'...they registered in 2002....that's 7 years!?!
I see many members who post here for the first time, yet their join date might be a year or more ago. Often times they are new to the forum...thus a newbie.

I have however seen Newbie Seed Offers with the stipulation being that the new member had been a member for less than 6 months (or something like that) I then see folks who have been members for a lot longer than that period of time reply to the offer. Again...it is a matter of them not reading and comprehending all of the offer.

It would help if they would explain that though they are not new to GW, they are however new to The Seed Exchange.

As we have been discussing a good bit here recently...just ignore it, if the member does not read and follow simple instructions, providing the instructions have been clearly explained.

I have been noticing another problem recently.

a member will start a Seeds for postage offer stating that they will take (for example)the first 4 members that reply. Then newbies keep posting and posting and posting to the thread, keeping it bumped back up on page one, and often the offering member is not even getting the follow-up replies emailed to them. They are clueless that members are still replying to their old thread...sigh.e

At what point should a busy body go in and CLOSE or suggest that the offer is closed so newbies won't keep posting to it?

Sue

For my project, a newbie is what you feel you are. New to growing from seeds, new to winter sowing etc. You actually don't have to be new to seeds at all, but be warned that the seeds I send are mostly basic, easy to grow seeds and the more sophisticated gardener might be disappointed.

It's up to the gardener as far as I am concerned.

when i first joined GW i lurked on the home fourms,"quilting" before the gardening. theres so many fourms in GW.
someone could join for other things then want to get into gardening. you could do a search n see were all they post if ya really want to know:)
could be someone new to GW or new to gardening, like bakemom says its up to the gardener:)