What effects your decision to help others?

Hello-
....so I have had a help sign out for one crate requiring two shepherd pies for the last hour and a half. I have placed ads every 5 mins and have filled at least twelve bins full of premium items like juices, cakes, ice creams, sushi, saws, axes and berries. Each ad has resulted in my entire stand being bought out by only one person who ultimately decided after buying all twelve of my stand items not to help with my boat crate. ( this is not a raiding post/ question- my items were up for sale and bought- and I have no problem with that) I Guess I am just curious why at least 15 people would come to my stand, buy every single thing and not help with two shepherd pies.
I get some people may not have them but find it hard to believe all 15 didn't-

... So what factors do you consider when visiting a farm and deciding to help fill someone's crates?

- I used to look at what was for sale compared to what was asked for- ie one egg at max price and asking for all sugars versus corn bread, pie etc for a cakes, juices- even if I didn't get the item(s) I will still help since the requester was trying to reciprocate. I would also help all low level players since the oat orders can be overwhelming just starting out.

It really depends. Most of the time, I only fill dairy or sugar products if its a fellow neighbour from my NH asking for help. Occasionally I'd fill for randoms but it depends on my level of stock at that moment. Other products in general, I guess I'd fill if I have it and I know I won't need it for the current trucks/boat orders. What is in that person's RSS doesn't really affect my decision to help him/her.

That drives me insane!!! If someone only offers up easy/boring goods (sorry I was thinking of another word but can't use it in a forum) I won't help them. My neighbours who consistently help me, get helped regardless of what they are asking for - providing I have it of course).

And I too find it hard to believe that not one of those 15 had any to spare....

Friend me on GC if u want, I have 7 shepherds pies just sitting there.....

Hello. I used to help a lot of folks, but after being burned several times (my stand being repeatedly raided by those I just helped) I quit.

I recently started helping again. Now I look for well kept farms, happy animals, and higher levels. I do especially love helping younger farms because I remember what a thrill it was to have a complete stranger help fill a crate, and actually feel better knowing they can't raid my stands (i tend to sell higher level goods).

i have found a particular group of people to be excessively greedy, so I don't help them near as often anymore.

If I have the items in my barn and can spare it, I share it. Doesn't matter what it is.

I fully believe in 'treat others the way you wish to be treated' and good will brings good karma. Happy farming!

Hm, I help if I have the items regardless of what they sell in their shop or sell anything at all. Only exception is sugar/dairy, I just don't have enough of that, ever.

It is all based on what I have. Never even pay attention to who is buying what in my RSS. If I have enough of the product to fill the crate I do. If not, I move on. The only exceptions are Sugar and Dairy products. I just can't keep up with my own need on those two.

How many I have in stock, and how long it takes to make the product. In other words, if someone is wanting two blackberry jams and I have only three or four in my barn, forget it. However, if it's bread or popcorn, I'm more likely to be generous, knowing I can make up the deficit in a hurry if I need those products myself.

And I tend not to do dairy or sugars either.

I like to help people with their boats. My decision is solely based on how many I have in stock. If they are items that are hard to make I will help if I have more than six in the barn.

If they are sugars, creams, butter, cheese whatever I will help as long as it leaves me with ten of the item.

It also depends on what's happening with me at the time. If I'm needing to build up a lot of coins, I'm less likely to help with boats, simply because you get a better return for products on RSS than in crates.

I tend to help late at night, when my production is done for the day, and I have a full barn and no pressing demands to worry about.

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Originally Posted by GirlMixALot

Hm, I help if I have the items regardless of what they sell in their shop or sell anything at all. Only exception is sugar/dairy, I just don't have enough of that, ever.

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I do the same as you GirlMix ALot , if I have it I will help but very rarely dairy or sugar as I am usually short of those.

I try to help my neighbors first, if they don't need help, I look at the DD.

sugar and dairy are always a problem for me... to the point where I would like a second of both...

everything else... if I have some to spare, yeah. I often make lot's of bread... mostly to sell, but, if someone needs and I have, I'm happy to fill the crate. At the beginning, yeah, I used to look at what was on sale... if I bought something, I'd feel like I would need to help...

now... not so much... since I have about 600k coins and the lobster pool is fully upgraded... I want the xp now...

I find it very hard to believe none of those 15 people had any pies to spare, but....... Everyone to their own I suppose.
me, I will help if I have enough of the Item, not sugar or dairy products, like everyone else, I never have enough of my own, or if I do my F&n come first. Have helped with syrup though.
For me there is no need to have premium items in the RSS to help, I'll help anyone, that practice has bitten me in the bum a couple or more times, but I got over it lol.
I sure hope you have better luck with the next boat :)

My 2c is that everyone is racing to fill trucks, not boats, during this double-coin event. People are less likely to share products in boats when there's a chance they could be using it, in trucks, for coins.

You might have a better experience later in the week, once the event is over.

I think the main problem is that you're attracting the wrong group of people to your store.

There is

1. The group of people who rush to buy the premium good
2. The group of people who visited your farm to see what you needed help with, because they were alerted by the "!" sign.

There is certainly more people belonging to 1 than to 2, I'd like to think.

Thus, the premium goods get wiped out fast, and people in group 2 never got to see the "!" sign at all, even if there was someone prepared with lots of shepherd pies to help.

What you might want to do is to put the ad on something slow selling, like chocolate popcorn, so the ad continues to run to attract people who want to help, at the same time selling the premium goods that you wanted to sell.

Putting the ad on a premium good never allows it to last for more than 2 minutes, lol.

I'll try to help anyone that's on my friendlist first.:p I check them a lot while I'm playing
Basically...
1.If it's a tree, then I'll surely help(but someone tend to beat me to it)
2.If it's a crate then...
-If I have some spare left then I'll help.
-If it's a dairy/sugar crate then I may not be able to help with that since I need them a lot too. However, I may be able to help that from time to time.
-If it's something that's easy to find in RSS then I'll spam the RSS for them.



If it's some random ppl with ! in the RSS, I don't even check their boat most of the time. I'll only help if he sell a LOT of good item especially BEMs.

I like to help when I can but don't do dairy or sugar. I never have enough!

what I watch out for to get my help:

1) cheaper items. Even if I don't need them, I don't take them but gives me an indication they want to give something back to the person that fills the crate.

2) a BEM, SEM or LEM.

3) lower level selling good stock even at high price.

At at the moment I've been concentrating on the trucker event as I still have 875 deliveries to complete the achievement so I've neglected those in the DD and only do neighbourhood and friend's crates.

I think its a bit suss too.

But...its event time...nobody wants to part with anything!

I personally fill all crates...even get sucked into dairy/sugar (inc. higher levels {frowning smiley} who should know better) but I'm always hopeful that good deeds get repaid...despite giving my 'last'. Sigh...lolol...silly me! Course not!

I had the sad notion this game was about sharing...Im slowly learning its not that way for all.

Then the amount if times I've "loaned" things that never get repaid...oh well...my bad too.

I do believe if ppl ask for help its 'polite' to have something...anything...in your RSS to offer as a way of saying thanks...

I also prefer helping 'well-kept ' farms...ie all animals fed, half the farm aren't dead trees etc etc. at least you know there is a 'care factor' attached and its not all about the almighty dollar and achievements.

EDIT: I NEVER help strangers from DD...not after being stalked...sad, but do have 5 adopted 'baby farms'

EDIT: additional comments

In all honestly, I don't always take the time to check out what people need help with through the DD when I'm there on a shopping spree.

If I'm on 'helping' spree the I will go to each '!' Ad in the DD regardless of what they are selling to see if I can help. Shepherds pie isn't a premium product so I would more than likely help fill unless I was completely out.

but I help my friends first, before anyone through the DD, and DD people rarely get premium items unless I'm really overstocked with them. I have too many friends to help.

As boat orders do not pay max price, I don't help those charging anything over double default (which is roughly what boat orders pay.

I don't personally wish to be used for profit.

As others have said, I don't fill sugar or dairy, as these items are needed by myself, any extra I have goes in the rss, at double default.

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Originally Posted by IvyintheGrove

My 2c is that everyone is racing to fill trucks, not boats, during this double-coin event. People are less likely to share products in boats when there's a chance they could be using it, in trucks, for coins.

You might have a better experience later in the week, once the event is over.

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That's exactly what I was going to say. I've not even been looking for boats to help with this weekend because sod's law dictates that the moment I filled someone's crate I'd get a truck order for that stuff. :)

I tend to look first on my last helper tab to see if any of them have a help flag up...as these are the friends/neighbors who help out a lot, then I look at the ! tab to see who needs help next and help the ones on this list first who tend to help me a lot and then all the others. If I have it I will help, if I don't I won't....I have helped with sugar/dairy products on occasion...if I have enough.

When I am shopping the DD, I am going through it as fast as I can trying to find bem and sem before anyone else does;) so I don't always notice pay attention to the !....I will help occasionally if I have it but it tends to be the farms that are way lower than mine (20-40's levels).

no matter if they are neighbors or random people if its a tree or a bush i help no matter what if its crate orders that i can do easily i do it if its stuff that takes hrs to make i skip it

First keep in mind that, the help sign being in the paper is a relatively new thing. Many players got into a rhythm of using the paper only for shopping and tend to do it quickly. Stopping to help might cause them to miss an expansion item or special. They got used to only being able to help farms on their friends list. Therefore they might not even "see" your flag.

I have noticed that people tend to work their boat first when they open up the farm as speed is of the essence when it comes to boat points. Then it's the pets, to get the clock running on them again, fishing maybe, then collecting from and loading up their machines. Only then, do they start selling to clear out the barn. This makes sense, because I often see them filling their own flagged crates with the proceeds from their own machines.

Therefore if I want to fill crates I need to get to them quickly and yes sometimes that means there is nothing in the shop. To call these folks inconsiderate or any other name is a mistake. I know that if there is nothing up when I help their boat, I only need to come back around to find loads of great stuff after they've collected from their machines and seen what the next boat wants. That is the smart way to play. A lot of folks complain that they can't retrieve what they put up for sale. They want it back for the boat! Well if they wait till the boat sails, to see what the next one wants, then they don't make that mistake. Those of you with your "what have you got for me " attitude who won't fill a boat because there is nothing for sale should just keep it up. That leaves more for me! Once again, assumptions are being made.

To the OP, I fill boats if I can and when I can't I go looking for the stuff to buy and hope your boat is still there. If I have it, and my boat doesn't need it, I will fill yours, even if it is my last item, and yes even jam, butter or cream. But I generally still use my list to see who needs help as opposed to the newspaper which I don't tend to use as often. So if you aren't getting crates like this filled, I suggest adding more friends. What I have found is that it is my friends who fill most of my boats. Maybe that's because I fill theirs, but I suspect it is because they leave that help needed tab open and they see my farm pop up. They get filled so fast I usually don't get a chance to open my other farm or my kids farm to fill it from there. Once in a while it is a stranger from the paper, but not often.

Edit. Also I don't care whether their animals are fed or any of that other nonsense when I come by to help. Just because they haven't gotten to them yet, just means they've used their milk and bacon on their boats or are still getting around to it. I also know for a fact, by having two farms that what we see and what is actually going on with someone's farm isn't always the same. To make assumptions that their farm isn't "well kept" is presumptuous as we all disagree about the aesthetics of what looks good on a farm. I refuse to hold back on helping because of some perceived lack on the part of the farmer. If I help him, then he can get to those other things quicker.

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Originally Posted by jess1al

I tend to look first on my last helper tab to see if any of them have a help flag up...as these are the friends/neighbors who help out a lot, then I look at the ! tab to see who needs help next and help the ones on this list first who tend to help me a lot and then all the others. If I have it I will help, if I don't I won't....I have helped with sugar/dairy products on occasion...if I have enough.

When I am shopping the DD, I am going through it as fast as I can trying to find bem and sem before anyone else does;) so I don't always notice pay attention to the !....I will help occasionally if I have it but it tends to be the farms that are way lower than mine (20-40's levels).

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Jess you posted this while I was composing mine and you made all my points for me. You have been here since I started and are an example of the kind of farmer I was talking about. Thanks for the confirmation.

My method is similar to those who have already posted:

1- check friends tab, then last helpers & followers to help
2- flip through dd for EMs first, then i shop & check each !

I have always gotten great help with boats, even before I had any friends. What a thrill I would (and still do) get when perfect strangers & awesome friends fill my crates!! I want to keep that mood going for as many as possible!

However, if no crates are filled yet or if all sugars/dairys are flagged & there's plenty of hours (or if I don't have enough to help atm but may later) I will follow the farm & check back. (This is why I would love to be able to follow a few more, wink, wink, c'mon supercell :) )

but i do agree that its prob because of event or because your ad wasn't up long enough. keep it up! What goes around comes around, even if it takes a bit ;)

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Originally Posted by Neen

My method is similar to those who have already posted:

1- check friends tab, then last helpers & followers to help
2- flip through dd for EMs first, then i shop & check each !

I have always gotten great help with boats, even before I had any friends. What a thrill I would (and still do) get when perfect strangers & awesome friends fill my crates!! I want to keep that mood going for as many as possible!

However, if no crates are filled yet or if all sugars/dairys are flagged & there's plenty of hours (or if I don't have enough to help atm but may later) I will follow the farm & check back. (This is why I would love to be able to follow a few more, wink, wink, c'mon supercell :) )

but i do agree that its prob because of event or because your ad wasn't up long enough. keep it up! What goes around comes around, even if it takes a bit ;)

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Hi Neen! You are so right about the events changing things up. I think that's why we like them so. Sometimes I think that the updates would be better accepted by those who need time to adjust to the changes, if the event right after would be postponed or something that wouldn't alter the market so much. Not sure what that would be,but the fishing one springs to mind. All that does is put more fish in the shops as opposed to one that focuses on one product, or takes items out for sale to something else.

I guess I'm just a simple farmer with few rules and regulations. I help my friends first and almost never in the DD, mainly because after helping friends I'm down to rock bottom or below. I never check their stores until AFTER I've helped. If they don't have anything in their bins, I don't take offense - it's not their job to stock their store for me. And very often, if I've asked for help first thing in the morning, I haven't stocked MY store yet either. I stock my store last after I've done everything else Tigg mentioned above, and pretty much in that order, too (sugar and dairy always coming very first).

For me, I don't care what event we're in, I help with boats regularly. I trash so many truck orders anyway that I always have plenty for others' boats, plus I have plenty of coins, so this truck event isn't that big of a deal for me.

I help with pretty much everything, too, but only now I rarely help with dairy and never with fish/lobster simply because I'm at a level that calls for so much sugar/dairy/fish/lobster that I'm always struggling to keep up. However, there are those certain friends and neighbors who go above and beyond, so for them I do make exceptions and will take my blackberry jam down to 3 or 4 (eeek!) or dip into the sugar/dairy pantry.

It's interesting to see the different perspectives here on how people farm and their criteria for helping others. I'm so glad I have the HD friends and neighbors that I do - they're ALWAYS ready and willing to help! Thank you, lovelies!!

That is a nice post, Shealie! :) My thoughts exactly and happy to be your neighbor :)

I don't have any set rules or way of helping...if I've got it, it's yours even if it leaves me with almost nothing, with the caveat that I rarely have excess sugar, dairy or fish, though it DOES happen occasionally. And, I'll probably not fill your crate if it takes the last of my jam, though I might if I can use Tom to replenish. I keep my machines running as much as possible, so I can restock fairly quickly on everything except sugar, jam and some dairy, if there is no even going on. The events change things a little though...this trucking event depleted my stock on a lot of things so I feel like I haven't been helping as much.

When I help, I check the help tab first, then my neighborhood (who don't seem to need help very often, lol), then my followers. I rarely help people in the DD unless they are advertising something I want. If I take something I DO try to help if I've got it.

If I'm helping from the DD I will look at the boat order first...if I can't help I leave and take nothing. I sometimes do that with neighbors and followers as well. I've also been known to go ahead and take something (usually only if it's an expansion item I really need), even if I can't help, go buy it then come back and help if it's still open.

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Originally Posted by Tiggerr129

Hi Neen! You are so right about the events changing things up. I think that's why we like them so. Sometimes I think that the updates would be better accepted by those who need time to adjust to the changes, if the event right after would be postponed or something that wouldn't alter the market so much. Not sure what that would be,but the fishing one springs to mind. All that does is put more fish in the shops as opposed to one that focuses on one product, or takes items out for sale to something else.

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You're right Tiggs, but that's what keeps it interesting! SC's doing a great job keeping us on our toes ;)

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Originally Posted by GirlMixALot

That is a nice post, Shealie! :) My thoughts exactly and happy to be your neighbor :)

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Likewise!! :)

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Originally Posted by GirlMixALot

That is a nice post, Shealie! :) My thoughts exactly and happy to be your neighbor :)

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Yeah that Shealie is a pretty good neighbor isn't she?

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Originally Posted by Shealie54

I guess I'm just a simple farmer with few rules and regulations. I help my friends first and almost never in the DD, mainly because after helping friends I'm down to rock bottom or below. I never check their stores until AFTER I've helped. If they don't have anything in their bins, I don't take offense - it's not their job to stock their store for me. And very often, if I've asked for help first thing in the morning, I haven't stocked MY store yet either. I stock my store last after I've done everything else Tigg mentioned above, and pretty much in that order, too (sugar and dairy always coming very first).

For me, I don't care what event we're in, I help with boats regularly. I trash so many truck orders anyway that I always have plenty for others' boats, plus I have plenty of coins, so this truck event isn't that big of a deal for me.

I help with pretty much everything, too, but only now I rarely help with dairy and never with fish/lobster simply because I'm at a level that calls for so much sugar/dairy/fish/lobster that I'm always struggling to keep up. However, there are those certain friends and neighbors who go above and beyond, so for them I do make exceptions and will take my blackberry jam down to 3 or 4 (eeek!) or dip into the sugar/dairy pantry.

It's interesting to see the different perspectives here on how people farm and their criteria for helping others. I'm so glad I have the HD friends and neighbors that I do - they're ALWAYS ready and willing to help! Thank you, lovelies!!

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I agree with the current event Shealie. It doesn't change the boats I fill but I can imagine it might cause others to give the trucks priority, but I was mainly thinking about the ones that have us collect a certain item, like the pumpkin pie one. Those kinds of events really throw things off. Not only is there no pumpkin pie to be had, but the other pie machine goods get scarce quite quickly and if you aren't careful, you might forget to send off a boat that asks for casserole thinking you can get help with it. It actually makes me sad when I see one asking for something I normally have loads of and would jump to fill but can't because for the last three days I had been making something else for the event. I'm just glad they are time limited, something some folks don't remember based on the number of posts bemoaning the lack of things in the paper, like when we had that Bacon and egg event.

I help absolutely as much as I can but there are limits. I usually feel bad if I clear out someone's shop and then can't help the boat. But it's short lived and I move on.
Also there are limits. For example I am perpetually short on sugar and dairy, so I won't /can't help with those crates.
Also, this is the double $ trucking event, so virtually (pun intended) everyone is short of stuff and simply buying buying buying what they can. If I ran into a RRS like your's during this event, you bet I'm buying you out - because I need it for the trucks. :D

If I have the product, I'll help whether its a neighbor, follower or DD stranger.

I do it for the XP, I don't really pay attention to who's boat I am helping.

Help who I can, whenever I can, if I have that product I help unless it's dairy or sugar. I cast them boats off if I get them as I can't keep up the demand of lots of things needing sugar/dairy.

I help who I can...When I can...If I can. Dont matter if you are a neighbor, friend or random in the DD. Especially if I snatch all your goodies in your RSS. I then feel compelled to help your boat.

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Originally Posted by Tiggerr129

Yeah that Shealie is a pretty good neighbor isn't she?

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Awww...right back at ya Sweetie!!

Regarding the events, yes, I agree about those item-specific ones. That's why I didn't play in the last two for the cookies or pumpkin pies. The bacon/eggs one burned me on them. I can't stand the artificial shortages those kinds of events cause, then there's the boat help issue, the tie-up-one-machine issue, etc. The fact that we haven't seen one since Valentine's Day gives me hope that SC has given up on that kind of event. These other events are so much more fun and productive, IMO. And way less stressful, especially when you're basically competing with yourself. My fave is the fishing event, especially since I'm still halfway trying to fill up my fishing book. Guess I'll work on it harder when I've completed my last two achievements. Then there won't be anything left to do! (Well, achievement-wise.) :)

What effects my decision to help others… do I have the item they need in stock? Is it coming up on my next boat order? Do i need it for a truck order? That's what effects my decision. I fill crates for fun, not recognition or credit.

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Originally Posted by Tiggerr129

Jess you posted this while I was composing mine and you made all my points for me. You have been here since I started and are an example of the kind of farmer I was talking about. Thanks for the confirmation.

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No problem, glad I could help:).

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Originally Posted by Tiggerr129

Yeah that Shealie is a pretty good neighbor isn't she?

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I definitely agree, Shealie is a great neighbor! :cool:

I used to help farms in the DD a lot but after reading the horror stories of being raided by that one person all the time, I stopped helping a couple months ago. I don't mind if my friends and followers raid me at all but to potentially have that one person u helped in the DD come in again and again and clean out ur shop, that's where I draw the line. It's a shame because I see so many people I can help in the DD but I don't because of that reason :(

That being said, I help my friends and followers with at least one crate regardless of the products they ask, sugar and dairy included.

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Originally Posted by Tiggerr129

First keep in mind that, the help sign being in the paper is a relatively new thing. Many players got into a rhythm of using the paper only for shopping and tend to do it quickly. Stopping to help might cause them to miss an expansion item or special. They got used to only being able to help farms on their friends list. Therefore they might not even "see" your flag.

I have noticed that people tend to work their boat first when they open up the farm as speed is of the essence when it comes to boat points. Then it's the pets, to get the clock running on them again, fishing maybe, then collecting from and loading up their machines. Only then, do they start selling to clear out the barn. This makes sense, because I often see them filling their own flagged crates with the proceeds from their own machines.

Therefore if I want to fill crates I need to get to them quickly and yes sometimes that means there is nothing in the shop. To call these folks inconsiderate or any other name is a mistake. I know that if there is nothing up when I help their boat, I only need to come back around to find loads of great stuff after they've collected from their machines and seen what the next boat wants. That is the smart way to play. A lot of folks complain that they can't retrieve what they put up for sale. They want it back for the boat! Well if they wait till the boat sails, to see what the next one wants, then they don't make that mistake. Those of you with your "what have you got for me " attitude who won't fill a boat because there is nothing for sale should just keep it up. That leaves more for me! Once again, assumptions are being made.

To the OP, I fill boats if I can and when I can't I go looking for the stuff to buy and hope your boat is still there. If I have it, and my boat doesn't need it, I will fill yours, even if it is my last item, and yes even jam, butter or cream. But I generally still use my list to see who needs help as opposed to the newspaper which I don't tend to use as often. So if you aren't getting crates like this filled, I suggest adding more friends. What I have found is that it is my friends who fill most of my boats. Maybe that's because I fill theirs, but I suspect it is because they leave that help needed tab open and they see my farm pop up. They get filled so fast I usually don't get a chance to open my other farm or my kids farm to fill it from there. Once in a while it is a stranger from the paper, but not often.

Edit. Also I don't care whether their animals are fed or any of that other nonsense when I come by to help. Just because they haven't gotten to them yet, just means they've used their milk and bacon on their boats or are still getting around to it. I also know for a fact, by having two farms that what we see and what is actually going on with someone's farm isn't always the same. To make assumptions that their farm isn't "well kept" is presumptuous as we all disagree about the aesthetics of what looks good on a farm. I refuse to hold back on helping because of some perceived lack on the part of the farmer. If I help him, then he can get to those other things quicker.

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Tiggr please please please don't change your posts or your opinions:):):)

I am so very tired of these judgmental condemnations of other people's play styles.

I find it so difficult to wrap my mind around the idea that someone stops to look at whether my trees are all in neat rows. (They aren't). I don't like trees in a row. :). I prefer natural growth to planted rows.

to reply to the OP

Unless I'm actively trying to hit a coin amount for a machine purchase I will go through the DD looking for ! And my order is as follows:
1. Check to see if I can fill any crates. Note I fill as many as I can because I'm also usually full up in my barn and wanting to make space too.
2. Search around for a toolbox and open it
3. See what's up for grabs in the RSS

i realize that my order means I likely miss out on the goodies but so be it.

when I'm in need of boat order help I fill my RSS with goodies but always at full price. What I tend to discount is the saws and axes. And when I have extras the shovels and such.

i make sure that I don't advertise the quickly gone items but the slower sellers for the longer exposure.

Aish

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Originally Posted by jess1al

No problem, glad I could help:).




I definitely agree, Shealie is a great neighbor! :cool:

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Thank you and right back at ya! I always enjoy visiting your farm!! :)

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Originally Posted by Aishling

Tiggr please please please don't change your posts or your opinions:):):)

I am so very tired of these judgmental condemnations of other people's play styles.

I find it so difficult to wrap my mind around the idea that someone stops to look at whether my trees are all in neat rows. (They aren't). I don't like trees in a row. :). I prefer natural growth to planted rows.

to reply to the OP

Unless I'm actively trying to hit a coin amount for a machine purchase I will go through the DD looking for ! And my order is as follows:
1. Check to see if I can fill any crates. Note I fill as many as I can because I'm also usually full up in my barn and wanting to make space too.
2. Search around for a toolbox and open it
3. See what's up for grabs in the RSS

i realize that my order means I likely miss out on the goodies but so be it.

when I'm in need of boat order help I fill my RSS with goodies but always at full price. What I tend to discount is the saws and axes. And when I have extras the shovels and such.

i make sure that I don't advertise the quickly gone items but the slower sellers for the longer exposure.

Aish

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I don't plant in rows for the most part either!!! I'm in the process of filling out my newly expanded land and am going to do something about the rows of cacao trees that used to be at the border for convenience sake but can now be planted in a more natural way. I like the English cottage garden look with different plants mingling and rubbing elbows with each other. Or in my case, pushing and shoving.

Never occurred to me to change my RRS when i open a crate. I fill others when it doesn't negatively effect my game, which is pretty often. About ten times a day. I put ten eggs at full price at the back of my shop and attach the ad, then just proceed with my day. Some saint, named Uncle Berry, filled two chocolate cake crates this afternoon. Thanks to all the strangers who help me!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shealie54

I don't plant in rows for the most part either!!! I'm in the process of filling out my newly expanded land and am going to do something about the rows of cacao trees that used to be at the border for convenience sake but can now be planted in a more natural way. I like the English cottage garden look with different plants mingling and rubbing elbows with each other. Or in my case, pushing and shoving.

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I love the pushing and shoving part :).

it is tough to get the haphazard look with the grid placement. I look forward to see your efforts at it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aishling

I love the pushing and shoving part :).

it is tough to get the haphazard look with the grid placement. I look forward to see your efforts at it.

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Well, it doesn't show all the newly cleared land, but the rest so far is a work-in-progress, as is my little rose covered privy. I'm turning my new land into a little hidden retreat with my new lemon trees and flowers sprinkled throughout. Alas, the arbor won't allow my cobblestone path to go underneath. The privy could be a "potting" shed, don't you think? (Pardon the terrible pun.) And I've left a bike there to get me to the other side of the farm quickly as it's quite a hike. The coffee bushes, once they fruit again, will provide a nice gold contrast to all the white, red and blue flowers. Still need to work on mixing the trees up a bit more.

Attachment 32194

Edit: goodness, looks like I have a lot of straight rows of trees and shrubs there, doesn't it? Well, the olives need to stay that way to block all the uncleared land from view. :)

Sometimes when someone has a tough crate (like dairy stuff or jams, etc) and I am sort of apprehensive about filling the crates, I often scan around their farm and look at how nicely it's decorated. If I like what I see, I'll fill the crate. It's just a little minigame I have to help me decide if I wanna do it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aishling

Tiggr please please please don't change your posts or your opinions:):):)

I am so very tired of these judgmental condemnations of other people's play styles.

I find it so difficult to wrap my mind around the idea that someone stops to look at whether my trees are all in neat rows. (They aren't). I don't like trees in a row. :). I prefer natural growth to planted rows.


Aish

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You are such a sweat heart, thanks. I agree with you and I like seeing the different look of people's trees. There's one farm where the goats are surrounded by bushes and trees on the back side and the olive trees seem to come together to frame a lady gnome. It is beautiful. The only times I have seen trees in a row was at a Christmas tree farm and even those got kinda scraggly up close. I hate when someone decides what another's farm should look like and then choose to punish the farmer by not helping because they don't share their ideas of a well kept farm or well fed virtual animals. Yes I think they look sad who they need feeding but others think they look sad in goggles and Hawaiian shirts. So what!

I got asked in a very accusatory way if anything about Hay Day ever bothered me. Sure it has, but it bothered so many people that they changed it. But I also never whine! I accept the fact that this is just a game and those who get so distressed because every thing isn't given to them that they think they deserve really need to look at why they play a game that makes them so mad, upset, frustrated, disappointed etc. I understand a rant now and then,but when people try to explain why things can't go the way they'd like or try to help them gain perspective, the rational person generally agrees and claims to feel better just getting it off their chest. It's the ones that continue whining and complaining after several people try to get them to see reason,that really gets me down. To hold onto a poor me, it's un fair whine for so long,tells me this game isn't a good fit for them.

Anyway, it helps when you and others tell me that my posts help them. It helps me ignore the name calling and nasty ramblings of people who don't really want help,they just want to whine and be miserable. Thanks again.

I am saving coins to do the spend 50,000 coins decorating so my farm is just basic. If I come across someone needing help with crates I fill them if I can unless it's something I'm saving for my next boat order

I didn't realise there were so many rules for people to help others :confused:

i only help strangers if they are a low level (and likely don't have a big barn or many friends), or if I bought something good from them. I don't EXPECT them to be selling good stuff, but what I mean is that if I buy 5 bolts from someone, I feel rude not helping them if I can.

as for neighbours, I just help whoever needs help if I have the excess to spare. I have a handful of neighbours (maybe 5?) that I will help no matter how low I am - i.e I gave someone 8 brown sugars the other day when I only had 12 left and had a boat wanting brown sugar on the way myself. That handful of people (I think all from the forums) I always help because they regularly help me with dairy/sugar/jam, etc.

nit complicated here!

If I have enough of the item, I will usually help, doesn't matter to me who it is. I usually don't help if jams or dairy products are required unless I have enough to spare. I also look at how much xp it gives and if it is worth it.

I dont help if you are a high level player selling only wheat, eggs, bacon & eggs, etc...asking for sugar/dairy products when you have mastered the machine, for example.

i DO NOT help people outside my neighborhood very often with their boats because my farm would be temporarily linked to them. i help my own instead. and its strictly the raiding issue.. if they resolve that ill be more helpful outside my neighborhood. like PRIVATE sales! or Neighborhood only sales!

Sugars/dairies are always on short supply so I dont help those except for a few close neighbours. As for anything else if I have it I will grant it, especially if I found anything in the shop that I liked in particular. This kinda depends on my stock of the item though and if I for instance see a shop loaded with maxed eggs/shirts etc and the boat is asking for something I dont have more than 10 of and I consider the item precious its not going anywhere near the crate.

As for the farm lay-out etc I really couldnt care less if all your animals need to be fed and there are trees dead all over the place. Some people build up plants *to be marked for help* for a friend going for greenfinger and the animals could have been harvested since the farmer needs the product. I like to keep my animals fed all the time but you simply cant expect everyone to have their feedmill running 24/7 and even they have that its still rather hard to produce enough feed.

As for the OP, shep pies dont really need anything special so that crate would be filled without a second thought if I have them :P

EDIT:
Also, some people mark all the *premium* stuff to be helped, this lessens my will to help them. One should be able to fill at least one crate of whatever is asked for. The exception would be if one doesnt have the machine or fishing ship (fillets), then at least there is a good reason :P.

My biggest factor in deciding to help is if they have the machine! If they ask for juice or jam or whatever the product may be, I check to make sure they have the ability to do it themselves; if they have it and I can help, I will. But I only give dairy and sugars to friends. I'm also one of those people that feels bad if I can't help but bought something from you I needed... I would love a typing bubble just to say thanks and sorry!!

I always help if I come across a crate I can fill, no rules, although I do help my neighbors first. It's pretty rare, though, that I'm able to help as I don't stock that much in my barn. I'm always amazed and grateful when I flag crates I consider quite difficult to fill, and they're filled quickly. Wish I could help more.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tawnia

My biggest factor in deciding to help is if they have the machine! If they ask for juice or jam or whatever the product may be, I check to make sure they have the ability to do it themselves; if they have it and I can help, I will. But I only give dairy and sugars to friends. I'm also one of those people that feels bad if I can't help but bought something from you I needed... I would love a typing bubble just to say thanks and sorry!!

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Wouldn't typing bubbles be GREAT?? I've so often wanted to say the same thing - "thanks and sorry!" I yell it at my phone but suspect the recipient farm doesn't quite hear it.

:)

I would love to help out my neighbors but I honestly don't know how,
I have checked fb thread and don't even see hay day posts. Does the help requests pop elsewhere? There are times when it seems seconds and someone has helped how is that possible when u cannot play thru fb ???? Thanks in advance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cherbear

I would love to help out my neighbors but I honestly don't know how,
I have checked fb thread and don't even see hay day posts. Does the help requests pop elsewhere? There are times when it seems seconds and someone has helped how is that possible when u cannot play thru fb ???? Thanks in advance.

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In order for you to help your neighbors they have to flag something for help. You will see an "!" on their avatar in your neighbor bar and on the tab with the "!". When you get to their farm, the item needing help will have a "!". The only things you can help with are their boat orders and trees and bushes. When you see a tree with the "!" just click on it...the bush or tree will also be bouncing, lol. The boat will have the "!" if that is what needs help.

Edited to add: you can also help them by buying something from their RSS and by offering items in your RSS (Road Side Stand).

Will always help with trees and if I have a lot of produce. But people that never help me, don,t get my help unless I have a lot! Some people never help but are always asking!

I fill like 150 crates daily (I got a little over 700 boat points yesterday). I often buy and fill. But of course, there are some items that I will hesitate in filling such as sugars, dairies and jams. I do still fill them in NH very often. But when I came across a shop with a lot of BEMs and SEMs (not just a few), I may often fill those items too. So, what I bought did affect my choice.

Speaking of that, shepherd pies are what I often fill when I have them. I often keep a stock too. Its just that I didnt see that ad :p

My main decision metric is: do I have it in stock? If so, I will put it in your boat, because I want the points. (And yes, because I like to help people too).

Some modifiers I apply to the metric relate to my own needs--if I need the items for my incoming boat, I hold back the number that I think I will need. I also keep a reserve of jams, and there are a few items (like fish, cream, and sugar) where I feel that the points offered by the boat order are insufficient. To get these reserve items from me, you either have to catch me on a day when I really have a lot in reserve, or you have to have been a helpful neighbor in the past, or you have to have just sold me something that I really needed.

I regards to the OP's issues with shepherd's pies, I have noticed that the scarcity of those is increasing, and I don't really know why. I have supposed that it might have to due with the increasing number of other products that can be produced through the pie maker, and due to the increasing number of products that use bacon and carrots. (I used to call it "garbage pie" because it was such a great way to use up those ever-accumulating items, but now I can make BLT sandwiches and BLT salad, and feed carrots to my horses and donkeys. Now when I go to make "garbage pie" I often find that I am low on ingredients!)

~powdermonkey

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Originally Posted by IvyintheGrove

How many I have in stock, and how long it takes to make the product. In other words, if someone is wanting two blackberry jams and I have only three or four in my barn, forget it. However, if it's bread or popcorn, I'm more likely to be generous, knowing I can make up the deficit in a hurry if I need those products myself.

And I tend not to do dairy or sugars either.

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Yup this is usually how I operate.

I browse the adds for purchasing and helping. I'll tap on any bush/tree but when it comes to helping boat orders, if I have it and I don't need it for my own orders then i will help another. If it's easy and cheap to replace, i will give my last bread or corn. If it's end of night and someone needs help with a premium good that i have in production over night, then i will help. I have helped a handful of sugar/dairy orders, just to find out hours or moments later that i need the same goods for the next boat order, so i don't help with those anymore. I can barley keep up with my own dairy/sugar needs that I can't help out too much. It's especially difficult to help those on higher levels as they often need help with goods I can't make yet. The other day someone needed help with an item they had in their RSS, I bought it and used it to help with their order. If i see the item listed for sale somewhere else and i'm not loosing too many coins on it, i will buy it and go back to the add needing help. The only exception to my process is that I won't give my last anything to farmers with 10 ads of eggs for 180 coins. The 180 coin egg adds are a constant annoyance to me. For the most part, I ignore them but if i am in 'helping mode" I will look and see what they need. If I have lots to spare, I will help, otherwise I don't.

Sometimes, It's a very busy day and I only have 15 minutes to check in, buy and get everything going for the rest of the day. Sometimes, I am focused solely on earning enough coins to buy a machine. If i'm on a buying spree I don't even look at the "help", I just buy what I need to plant or fill an order and get back to work, more so during events where i can make more coins.

I think a players barn capacity plays a role too. Expansion items are hard to come by, I don't have the barn space to hold onto 10 of everything. I tend to help more at night when my barn is full, production ques are filled for the night but I have to empty my barn every night to make room for the nights production.

As for buy/help etiquette: When I post items for sale, I do so to make coins. Buy it all up folks. If you can help, help, if not move along and happy farming. Although I understand the frustration of not getting help when you see so many people come and buy your goods, there are a lot of variables at play that determine a players ability to help or not. When your selling goods, your doing so to get coins, any help beyond that is a gift from another player. I also go to the farms that have helped me to see what they are selling. I have bought a few things from the very people that helped me with a boat order. I think there are many ways to give back to those that help you, whether that is filling their boat orders or buying their goods. It's just not reciprocated back the way you want it to.

As i say all this, my neighborhood consists of 2 people, my boyfriend and I. We play alongside each other and help each other out every day. If I had a healthy helpful neighborhood then I would give priority to my neighborhood.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by inspirit999

i DO NOT help people outside my neighborhood very often with their boats because my farm would be temporarily linked to them. i help my own instead. and its strictly the raiding issue.. if they resolve that ill be more helpful outside my neighborhood. like PRIVATE sales! or Neighborhood only sales!

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Helping your heighbourhood only isn't cold it's being a good neighbour.

To me , what sounds cold is calling people down for playing the game by the rules. And not by the ones that others are arbitrarily deciding are they way they should be.

if it's in your RSS it's for sale. If you don't ever want anyone outside a select group to buy it then you're doing it right, helping ie exposing your farm and its delectable goodies to only those you wish to sell to.

To call anyone down for playing another way is discriminatory and tantamount to bullying.

My decision to help isn't based on any planned approach. It is influenced by stock on hand, difficulty of replacing the items, and reciprocation.

i keep extra items for helping others. I check help needed from friends, neighbors, and helpers frequently and help players in the DD. I use the extra items till they are gone. After that my decision to help becomes more contingent and includes consideration of difficulty to replace and helping others who have helped me.

In the DD, if I purchase hardware or a rare item, i compromise my minimum stock level to fill their crates no matter the item because I feel I owe them. Sometimes, though I buy a premium item from someone's shop, i discover i do not have enough stock to fill their crates. I feel bad about that, and shop for the item till the paper expires with the hope I can find it and fill the crate. Sometimes I am successful, sometimes not. Way it goes.

when I need help, i list a mundane item and keep peppering my store with nice items with the hope it will inspire help, but I don't expect it. Too many variables to know reliably why someone may buy my premium item without filling the crate i have flagged.

I have no control over whether I help your boat or buy stuff from your shop. My fingers just dart about by themselves and whoosh! It's done. ( but if they buy something I do TRY to help your boat)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aishling

Helping your heighbourhood only isn't cold it's being a good neighbour.

To me , what sounds cold is calling people down for playing the game by the rules. And not by the ones that others are arbitrarily deciding are they way they should be.

if it's in your RSS it's for sale. If you don't ever want anyone outside a select group to buy it then you're doing it right, helping ie exposing your farm and its delectable goodies to only those you wish to sell to.

To call anyone down for playing another way is discriminatory and tantamount to bullying.

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I shall respond to this cleverly worded comment here. First of all there is not one name i used, so if fact no one personally was singled out. So your tantamount bullying charge does not hold water. Just because you choose not to help others again does not make one a bully, it makes them a separatist. And treating your own as a special group, a close nit group excluding outsiders makes one elitist, so again not a bully. You need to brush up on your terms and not dispense with the latest media influenced age of toleration buzzword.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aishling

Helping your heighbourhood only isn't cold it's being a good neighbour.

To me , what sounds cold is calling people down for playing the game by the rules. And not by the ones that others are arbitrarily deciding are they way they should be.

if it's in your RSS it's for sale. If you don't ever want anyone outside a select group to buy it then you're doing it right, helping ie exposing your farm and its delectable goodies to only those you wish to sell to.

To call anyone down for playing another way is discriminatory and tantamount to bullying.

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Also i would like to add people have their own rules and they have every right to shut others out of their world.

Looks like a comment was misunderstood and things are now getting aggressive and personal. Ease up and keep it light or this thread will be closed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jaleli

I didn't realise there were so many rules for people to help others http://forum.supercell.net/images/smilies/confused.png

i only help strangers if they are a low level (and likely don't have a big barn or many friends), or if I bought something good from them. I don't EXPECT them to be selling good stuff, but what I mean is that if I buy 5 bolts from someone, I feel rude not helping them if I can.

as for neighbours, I just help whoever needs help if I have the excess to spare. I have a handful of neighbours (maybe 5?) that I will help no matter how low I am - i.e I gave someone 8 brown sugars the other day when I only had 12 left and had a boat wanting brown sugar on the way myself. That handful of people (I think all from the forums) I always help because they regularly help me with dairy/sugar/jam, etc.

nit complicated here!

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You didn't realize there were so many rules because they don't exist. All of those rules that are confusing you are not rules made by SC but rules made by individuals on how they wish to play their game and some people try to enforce those made up rules on others.

You need to just ignore those made up rules that hinder YOUR way of playing as no one can force you to play the game their way. If someone mentions that they prefer things a certain way and you don't agree, well you don't have to do as they ask. However, if you prefer to respect their wishes, you can do that, too, if that makes enriches your own game play.

The way you describe your play sounds like the kind of neighbor most of us would love to have. :)

If I have it I will usually help. But if animals are all lying around hungry than nope.....and yesI know they aren't real lol. If dairy or sugar usually only friends,there is simply never enough. And newbies just to make them happy.

If I have it or can get it quick I give it no mater what it is ;)

I help anything that I have in stock or if I can produce it quickly such as fish filet, coffee, etc. I will go through the trays and the DD and see if any one needs help there after I finish my daily routine. What they sell in the RSS does not matter to me . I usually sell the premium goods in my RSS. But if I need help, I will flag a bacon and eggs instead and i can always get help this way within a reasonable time. It is my experience that flagging a premium item for help is less effective because the premium item will attract the players who are focusing on buying than on helping. And your good will sell quickly before it has a chance to be spotted by a helper.

My "rules" will change drastically when bsh is completed. Right now I fill every crate possible. In 3k points I bet this will change. Hopefully there will be some new achievements by then!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lichi

I help anything that I have in stock or if I can produce it quickly such as fish filet, coffee, etc. I will go through the trays and the DD and see if any one needs help there after I finish my daily routine. What they sell in the RSS does not matter to me . I usually sell the premium goods in my RSS. But if I need help, I will flag a bacon and eggs instead and i can always get help this way within a reasonable time. It is my experience that flagging a premium item for help is less effective because the premium item will attract the players who are focusing on buying than on helping. And your good will sell quickly before it has a chance to be spotted by a helper.

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Thanks for the suggestion I will do that in future. I love to help but being lower level (33) often find I don't have what's needed. In my downtime I flick through newspaper to see who needs help as well as friends list. Go... The helpers

My reasoning for filling crates is pretty normal (at least I think it is...lol)

First thing I do is fill my boat if it's in (unless it is asking for sugar or dairy, then it's quickly sent away unloved, unattended and empty), I open one of each crate for neighbors to fill for boat xp (even if I can fill the entire boat myself). Then I check my ! tab, first boats I fill are those that help me, and if they help me a lot, I'll use all my whatever I have in stock to fill their boat (but I rarely fill sugar, dairy or jams,... I never have enough of those anyway, sorry). Then I'll check those that never ever help, I'll still fill the crates if I have the stock, I will use up my stock if it's something I can make quickly. Often if I don't have an item and it's something that can be (normally) found quickly in the DD, I'll go buy it so I can help with their boats, but I have spent endless time looking for something that is normally easily found, constantly checking to see if the item is still needed, but I am so happy when I see the boat has been filled so I can stop looking...lol
Sorry, but I rarely check my follower list, I don't know why, I know a lot of people take good care of their followers and don't want to lose them, I just figure they follow me so they can buy from my shop...lol
As for the DD, I don't look in the paper for boats too often, I want to power shop as quickly as I can (ok, so I'm not so fast, but I feel like I am, but in reality I just cruse...lol), but often I visit a shop that has those prized BEM or SEM gone, or a shop that is bought out and noticed the sad ! left un attended to, I will check to see whats needed, water the trees or bushed and fill the crates if I have it, I also try to remember to click their smilie. I play the same why even during events, as long as I reach my personal goal, I still get the 5 diamonds anyway...lol

So all in all, I play to have fun, I don't sweat the small stuff, I know it's a game and I have no problem sharing my virtual fruits of my labor (well, with the exception of my sugar and dairy... does that make me selfish? :confused:) lol

Be good to each other & Happy Farming :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by inspirit999

Also i would like to add people have their own rules and they have every right to shut others out of their world.

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I am going to violate my personal rule and make some assumptions here. Your desire to shut out so many people (based on this and the other posts in this thread) makes me sad. I'm left wondering what hurt you so bad that you feel the need to shy away and fear others. It feels like it is so much more than just being "raided" here on this game. I am imagining that the way you felt after having this assumed experience must have struck a hidden hurt from way before. I can understand this having lead a long and strange life myself. I hope your outlook to life improves and that you sometime feel brave enough to let others in. The good people I have met in this game and on this forum far outnumber the not so nice ones.

Of course if I am way off, just ignore me, but feel free to absorb the virtual hug I am sending your way anyway.

Tigg

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Originally Posted by willow

My decision to help isn't based on any planned approach. It is influenced by stock on hand, difficulty of replacing the items, and reciprocation.

i keep extra items for helping others. I check help needed from friends, neighbors, and helpers frequently and help players in the DD. I use the extra items till they are gone. After that my decision to help becomes more contingent and includes consideration of difficulty to replace and helping others who have helped me.

In the DD, if I purchase hardware or a rare item, i compromise my minimum stock level to fill their crates no matter the item because I feel I owe them. Sometimes, though I buy a premium item from someone's shop, i discover i do not have enough stock to fill their crates. I feel bad about that, and shop for the item till the paper expires with the hope I can find it and fill the crate. Sometimes I am successful, sometimes not. Way it goes.

when I need help, i list a mundane item and keep peppering my store with nice items with the hope it will inspire help, but I don't expect it. Too many variables to know reliably why someone may buy my premium item without filling the crate i have flagged.

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this is how i play too - only i often compromise on my own minimum Stock level to help lover level players. I dont always help players over level 70 - as i have had trouble with players in level 70 + following me and cleaning out my store at many occations without offering ANYTHING at here stores or helping out with anything

Bumping to get rid of spam.

I help when ever I can but it seems like the majority are in too high of a level for me to help. I would also like to add that I always make a point to like a Farm After I Purchase From Their stand.

I enjoy reading the musings re psychology behind why players do what they do when playing Hay Day. I'm such a people observer, I think that's one of the main reasons I enjoy this game.

If I get a boat that needs crates of wheat filled, I like to ask for help on those so people can get easy gift certificates. A couple of my best helpers will go to my shop, but not fill the wheat crates. I wonder if they think I can do it myself -which I can of course....or are they're being polite and want to leave those for other people, perhaps lower level players to fill?

Items that take more than an hour to make: I help if I have 8 or more. Items that are quick to make: I usually help if I have enough. Crops: I always help if I can.

If I'm wavering, it really helps if there's a premium item or BEM that I've been able to purchase - then I kind of feel obligated, lol :D

The only exceptions (as I imagine they are for a lot of people) are sugar, dairy and fish/lobsters. If I'm left with at least 25 after helping (15 or so with cheese/syrup), I'll help, especially if it's a lower level player or the clock is running out.

I don't pay much attention to what they're selling in their RSS, but like I said it helps me decide in their favor if there's something nice there. (For the same reason, I like to sell any excess cakes/juices and EM when I'm asking for boat help - not tree help though.)

I generally do not help with sugar or dairy crates. I never have enough; those crates ask for so many. For everything else, I help if I can. Even jams. At this point, boat score points is what I want. I don't need more coins. But I do want Boat Score Hunter III. And enough XP to get lemon trees. :-)

As for why so many people didn't help the OP...maybe she was too generous. People got so excited over the items in the shop they forgot about the ! flag. Or maybe they simply didn't have the ability to help. (Me, I would love finding someone who needed shepherd's pies. I always have tons of them. They sell well and they don't need sugar, fish, or dairy, so they're one of my go-to items to keep production lines going and get stuff out of my barn.)

One thing you might consider: people won't see your ad if they haven't reached the level where the product is available to them. You can use this to your advantage. If you are trying to fill crates that are likely to be easier for a lower level player to fill, like cream or brown sugar, put your ad on something lower level players can see, like eggs. If it's something a higher level player is more likely to have extras of, put it on something they'll see but lower level players won't, like a coffee drink or a smoothie.

You need to be level 39 or higher to have shepherd's pies. Someone who just reached level 39 is unlikely to have many shepherd's pies yet, so put your ad on something that becomes available a few levels higher, like chocolate popcorn.

Don't put your ad on something that will be bought quickly. People who want to help don't care what you're offering, they're just looking for flags. If you do want to "repay" them, put other goodies in your stand for them, but put your ad on something relatively boring so it stays up longer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Janilee

One thing you might consider: people won't see your ad if they haven't reached the level where the product is available to them. You can use this to your advantage. If you are trying to fill crates that are likely to be easier for a lower level player to fill, like cream or brown sugar, put your ad on something lower level players can see, like eggs. If it's something a higher level player is more likely to have extras of, put it on something they'll see but lower level players won't, like a coffee drink or a smoothie.

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Genious! Great advice :)

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Originally Posted by Tiggerr129

I am going to violate my personal rule and make some assumptions here. Your desire to shut out so many people (based on this and the other posts in this thread) makes me sad. I'm left wondering what hurt you so bad that you feel the need to shy away and fear others. It feels like it is so much more than just being "raided" here on this game. I am imagining that the way you felt after having this assumed experience must have struck a hidden hurt from way before. I can understand this having lead a long and strange life myself. I hope your outlook to life improves and that you sometime feel brave enough to let others in. The good people I have met in this game and on this forum far outnumber the not so nice ones.

Of course if I am way off, just ignore me, but feel free to absorb the virtual hug I am sending your way anyway.

Tigg

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i think the strongest influence on the way i think is due to my recently passed step mother. her attitude was simple: if she knew you and you were in her circle she would go to bat for you anytime. however if you were an outsider/stranger she wouldnt have anything to do with you. what i learned through this that loyalty does make for a stronger group. i feel to put yourself out in the open befriending everyone would lead to disaster sooner or later.

perhaps one day i may be more trusting of people but at the moment people are not giving me much to go on. that is why being in a neighborhood is perfect for me. i can weed out the troublemakers and those who take but not give back. i can shut my ads off and only sell to my own. or if i feel like it i can sell to others, the main thing i can control if i sell to my people or others. hope that explains some things.

I help regardless- as long as i have the item- and of course i don't need it for my own boats. I'm guilty of putting up 10 eggs for max price and nothing else. Why? So i can keep an ad in the news paper constantly and i don't need to sit on the game and keep re-making ads. It's simple, fast and easy.

I do like to look at the helpers to see if they need help in return. I tend to be pretty nice about helping others when they help me. ;)

I really enjoy helping others. Now that I've gotten settled in an awesome neighborhood, I help my neighbors first. But I keep an eagle eye out for folks who need assistance with trees and/or crates. No rules about who/how I help, or what assistance I provide. If someone needs help that I can give, I give it.

Hello - I help with boats so if you want to add me please feel free.

Yes it does sound harsh that no one helped with shepherd pies. If I go through an ad in the DD and there are good items I will buy them, but if I then look at the boat and I just don't have the stuff what can you do? Or if it's sugar or cream just say no - but shepherd pies!! That's unlucky to get no help out of 15 people.

Perhaps try advertising less interesting items or more common items. That way you might attract people more interested in the help sign rather than the premium goods.

xx

I enjoy helping not only with boat orders but also with watering trees. When someone does that for me I always send the thank you note. What irritates me is that it seems like not everyone does that.

What makes it worse is that I have now traded in my vouchers several times in the hope of getting some farm decorations. Not once though have I received anything worthwhile. Only TNT, vinegar, white sugar, carrot juice or something to that effect. These things I can produce on my farm myself. What kind of incentive is it to help someone else if you are not going to get a worthwhile reward for your efforts.

Maybe this is something that should be changed in the game. How do the other players fee about this?

Omg I do that too. If someone is advertising eggs for full price and wants like 10 creams or something I tend not to help and I'm not even sure why lol. But I'll usually help anyone that I can. I too find it irritating when I fill my stand about 10 times with nice goods and no one helps but if you wait eventually someone will.

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Originally Posted by crancyph

I think the main problem is that you're attracting the wrong group of people to your store.

There is

1. The group of people who rush to buy the premium good
2. The group of people who visited your farm to see what you needed help with, because they were alerted by the "!" sign.

There is certainly more people belonging to 1 than to 2, I'd like to think.

Thus, the premium goods get wiped out fast, and people in group 2 never got to see the "!" sign at all, even if there was someone prepared with lots of shepherd pies to help.

What you might want to do is to put the ad on something slow selling, like chocolate popcorn, so the ad continues to run to attract people who want to help, at the same time selling the premium goods that you wanted to sell.

Putting the ad on a premium good never allows it to last for more than 2 minutes, lol.

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Agreed. Whenever I advertise let's say chilli popcorn I would have a number of premium goods for sale not advertised. I find that the people who buy the premium goods buy them all leave the chilli popcorn and never help. It's not until alittle while later that my boxes would be filled by someone who probably never bought anything

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Originally Posted by inspirit999

I shall respond to this cleverly worded comment here. First of all there is not one name i used, so if fact no one personally was singled out. So your tantamount bullying charge does not hold water. Just because you choose not to help others again does not make one a bully, it makes them a separatist. And treating your own as a special group, a close nit group excluding outsiders makes one elitist, so again not a bully. You need to brush up on your terms and not dispense with the latest media influenced age of toleration buzzword.

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I quite agreed with the part about helping a select group ie nh. I said it wasn't being cold.

Bullying a group of people is as easily done as bullying one person. I also detest buzzwords but just like cliches they are often used because that is what the situation is.

By providing labels for others who do not play the same way as your group does is bullying if the label is negative or derogatory. To suggest by such a label to some one uses the RSS and DD as is IMO obviously intended and in such a manner as to suggest that such playing habits are not socially acceptable puts such people in the position of play as WE do or be thought badly of. Ie do it our way or consider yourself wrong.

Someone's' choosing to help only their friends and neighbours is up to them and none of my business. However to do so and SAY that someone doing else wise is doing it wrong points back to negative labels for me.

Anyone finding a RSS that is stocked with what they are in need of and buying is not breaking a rule. If they are aware enough to find a way that is provided to everyone else as well to get back to a shop they got what they needed from is playing smart IMO.

what they aren't doing is reading someone else's mind as to who they are intending to sell to.

Just as an fyi as as to my strongly held opinion of this I have personal experience with the extreme effects of bullying. I'm talking about giving up a fantastic and interesting job because I was constantly reminded by word and action that despite doing the job well enough to be recognized corporately I wasn't the same body type and age group of those who achieved less but were in the majority in number in our branch.

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Originally Posted by inspirit999

Also i would like to add people have their own rules and they have every right to shut others out of their world.

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Y
I agree. Play your own way.

Just don't call others down for doing the same.

I usually go by what is in my inventory. If its something i have plenty of, i definitely help out. In regards to the paper, if its a lower level player, i tend to fill their crate. Especially if the crate calls for fish and i see they haven't built their boat yet. Also, if someone is selling some premium items and their crate also calls for premium, i feel obliged to reciprocate. As for my neighbors, i have been helping less and less. I used to alway fill crates, but when I rarely put a flag up my boat usually does not get helped. Maybe i need new neighbors? Because i get a lot more help from strangers by putting an ad up, and that is why I also tend to help those i find through the paper.

I help those in my neighborhood as much as possible and will fill crates for anyone on my friends list.

The only exception is that I won't fill crates in which someone hasn't filled at least one crate themselves. If they don't prepare at all for their boat order, I don't help them.

For me it's only based on what I have in stock. I'm always checking my on my friends first, then my followers, then I search the paper for those who need help. I use Tom to stock up on items that take forever to make so most of the time giving up a few isn't a problem for me. I'm usually unable to help with sugar or dairy because I never have enough for myself! When I flag a crate I fill my RSS but I don't advertise in the paper right away, giving my friends & followers a chance to buy & help first. When I do advertise I list the most common item so the ad stays around longer. I usually break up the rare items- if I have 4 duct tapes I might only sell one, wait until it gets snatched up, then put another up for sale etc. Right now I'm concentrating on getting the boat score hunter III achievement so I will search the paper just for !s. I go to the boat first, then check what's for sale. It's a bummer when people buy everything & don't help your boat but the worst is when they buy you out & can't even revive a tree or bush!!
It's been really interesting to hear everyone's thoughts on this!

I didn't know people expected this. lol if I see something I like in a shop I'll buy it. then I will check boat and if I have yes I will fill. regardless of if items I brought were same value. ie if I brought burgers and boat wants ice cream. I would fill it.

I help whoever I can. However if I only have say 4 of an item and two different people are asking for help with the same 4 items, I will help the lower level person. And I only help people under level 40 with dairy and sugars. Anyone higher than that and asking for help is just being lazy/not producing effectively.

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Originally Posted by Hangleav

I help whoever I can. However if I only have say 4 of an item and two different people are asking for help with the same 4 items, I will help the lower level person. And I only help people under level 40 with dairy and sugars. Anyone higher than that and asking for help is just being lazy/not producing effectively.

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I respectfully disagree with the characterization in your last comment -- I am NOT lazy, and I produce dairy items VERY EFFECTIVELY all day -- they just go POOF!!! ha ha ha

If I ask for help on a dairy crate (I usually cast those off) it's because I need to do that boat to keep the barn from exploding, and I am out of dairy ATM. Otherwise I'll leave it sit -- but then I get lots of kik messages saying "Hey Perky your boat is sitting there for hours -- do you need help?" I HAVE GREAT NEIGHBORS IN AND OUT OF MY NH!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

On other's boats: I help anyone I can with whatever I have whenever I am out and around. I don't need thr BSH points anymore, but I WANT THAT D*MNED SNAIL WITH THE HAT!!!! ha ha

For my boats: I try and ask for help on 1 of each crate, but sometimes I ask for help on 2 of same crates because (1) I don't have the item and need the help OR (2) I don't want to beg neighbors for help on a crate of something hard to fill (like 3 goat cheese,4 cow cheese or 3 jams). In that case I'll mark 2 single casserole crates and do the jams myself --

I LOVE crop boats -- I ALWAYS mark those crates for neighbors to fill. 65 wheats sounds like a lot, but everyone can grow those in a hurry, so I flag them ALL. Ditto carrots sugarcane and indigo -- those are easily found in the DD so I flag them. Tomatoes/potatoes/lettuce -- maybe 2 crates. Then I fill the rest of the boat crates with stuff out of the barn.

Hi. I've been watching this thread for a while, as i like the positive and curious question of what influences people to help with crates, to give people ideas of how to attract people to fill crates if they are struggling (rather than the several accusationary and outraged threads of late saying what people should and shouldn't be doing). I find some of the answers really interesting, but I am still nervous at how strongly some answers suggest there is one 'right' way - so please be kind, I hope what I have to say is just a different perspective...

I've never had any expectations of people who buy form my shop, do/don't fill my crates, or people who offer me crates to fill. If my boat goes without being filled then for me it was a mini game i didn't win and nothing lost just a new challenge on the next (although i honestly can't remember the last time that happened for me). Whether i fill a crate changes as my levels do. I'm currently level 67 and desperate for experience points to level up. I'm really grateful when people put up crates for help as the xp points help me a lot - and I love crates asking for crops as even if i don't have those in stock i can usually buy some in my version of the paper and go back and fill the crate of someone i saw earlier in the paper. I always saw this as win win - some people get coins in the shop (and thats what shops in real life generate i think, and I've been desperate for coins at times) some people get boats filled so boat and xp points (great for those aiming for their 50 diamonds) and I get some XP points and feel good for helping. When I know my friends and neighbours are trying really hard to level up i purposely put crates up for help i think they can fill to help them out - and no bad feelings what so ever if someone else gets there first as it's all good for everyone.

i help people if i feel I have enough stock to re-stock an item if it comes up on my next boat. In all honesty i can't help everyone every time as when you see 8 boats within minutes asking for feta pies (this is an example from the weekend), my machines aren't that fast and I can only help the first couple. And please don't think me mean but i try to keep a stock of approx 10, I don't see it as 'hoarding', although i sometimes go down to zero. But when boats a boat asks for between 12-60 of one item, with multiple items needing the same ingredients and machines i still find boats a challenge and laugh with my neighbours about the mad dash. Boats get increasingly challenging with higher levels in my personal experience, and that too is part of the game for me.😊

Ever since I saw this thread a few weeks ago, I have been paying attention when I play.

The most clear pattern that jumps at me is regarding boats. When there are only a few hours left (like two or less) and not all boxes filled, I do not help. I do not need the XPs for now since I am focusing on mastering the coffee kiosk. I feel that the farmer only opened boxes for those players who need money and coins. Besides, the farmer may not come back in time to send me the thank you letter before the boat leaves (this are usually not found through the DD so I am not sure if they are actively playing at the moment).

Other than that I always help, as above said, if I can restock.