Please use your own judgement when swapping. Check references and make new swappers send their side out first. Be sure to ask about the condition of the product you're interested in. Keep the email so that if you receive the product and it's not in the aformentioned condition, you have that email to fall back on. Ask the other swapper what method they are using to send out your product and come to an agreement to use the same method. After you exchange addresses try to give the other swapper an idea of when you will be sending your side out. If you cannot keep to the time period given, email the other swapper to let them know their swap package will be late.
Now comes the IMPORTANT part.... CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN your product unless it's brand new. Use alcohol and make sure there are no hairs or other assorted nastiness in or on your product! Send the product out the same way you would want the product to come to you. You should also use bubble wrap or some other item to securely package the product. Use extreme caution when sending fragrances. Tape the top so that there will be no spills. If the item is expensive, insure it. Always use either bubble mailers or boxes... unpadded envelopes just don't hold up and most of the time will leave the swap recipient with a damaged product.
If you're not sure about the person you're swapping with, email some of her/his references. If at anytime you feel uncomfortable about the swap BEFORE anything has been sent out, then you can certainly back out.
The last AND MOST IMPORTANT thing I will say is that if you do not receive your end... LEAVE A NEGATIVE TOKEN. That is the only way others on MUA will know to stay away from that person. Yes, more than likely that person will retaliate and leave you a negative token. You can then explain what happened and let others know on your wishlist page that they can contact your past good tokens to see that you are a trustworthy swapper. It all comes down to trust, and there are a few people out there that feel they are entitled to take something without giving in return.
Just as I am telling you to leave a negative token if the swap package is not received, be sure to leave a good token if it is received and you are happy with the swap. Always email the other swapper to let them know you received their end. This may cause some debate, but in my opinion, if the other swapper does not leave you a token, email that person and ask if there was a problem. Sometimes it's very easy to forget to leave a token when we have so much going on in our lives. If the swapper is unhappy with the swap, see what can be done to rectify the situation. Most of the time swaps go smoothly and everyone is happy!
I have received a great suggestion to put here and that is to please REFRAIN from Instant Messenging someone UNLESS you have their permission. Everyone should respond to their emails so there should be no reason why anyone would harass someone else on IM. It's just common courtesy and etiquette gals!
While we're on the subject of common courtesy and etiquette... lets talk about another great suggestion I got from a friend. PLEASE do not use or put up for swap the items you receive in a swap until the other person emails you to tell you they received your end!!!!! If a package is lost it is swapping etiquette for the swapper who sent the lost package to either offer other goods or send the package they received back to the other swapper. If you've already swapped or used it, then there's a potential problem. Again... common courtesy and etiquette :)