I think I'm done trading

More time to drink boots while Digital Underground plays softly in the distance.

 

Anymore, I almost exclusively trade with regular trading partners. Or send LIF boxes. Those are fun.

EDIT: I don't know if that answers your questions, but it's kinda related to the "hassles" of trading not really being worth it.

 

I've backed away from trading lately, for a handful of reasons (e.g., cost, time involved, current state of ISO/FT posts, etc.). I'm still in touch with a handful of great traders, and will probably just stick with surprise/random boxes overtime instead of actually making (or responding) to an ISO/FT post. I might looking into the BIF/LIF game.

 

have had one, recent, in three years and it really soured me on trading.
Just doing IP trades when in the US now, or with people in Europe now.
Have a great partner in the US that has made it work for me and can not thank him enough.

 

That $40 box would have been much cheaper had you just put 1lb in the weight section.

 

You'll be back... They always come back!

 

I did this last week for a BIF. 20 bucks to ship from NY to CA. Next day I got an email with a billing adjustment for an Additional 53$.

 

After my first year of trading like a madman, then seeing that I spent ~$1000 on shipping charges alone was enough to get me out of the trading game. Now I primarily trade with my regulars and occassionally to get certain beers I really want.

I cannot tell you how nice it is to sit back and see all the trades come out after a release (CBS, Hunahpus, Dark Lord...) and know I don't have to worry about any of them.

 

After I get all of mine sorted out, I'm likely going to be taking a break myself... There will be a few exceptions with a few of my regular trading partners, but that is about it.

Plus medical bills are expensive...

 

Shipping tasty brew sucks.
Receiving tasty brew=
Did I mention shipping beer sucks?

125 Trades=no bad experiences=

Cheers Shogo......

 

In the last 2-3 years now I have done over 250+ trades @ $15 a shipment (average) = $3,750 on just shipping.

I have a beer/trading problem! lol (the first step is admitting you have a problem)

 

Still cheaper than a Country Club membership....

 

This really got me thinking... I now have 100+ in 2 years. Maybe it's time to reevaluate this a bit.

 

I was really just joking, I don't have it in me to put a pound, but I've gotten in a bunch of heavy boxes listed as such. Worst I do is shave off a couple pounds here and there due to the inaccuracy of my scale, wink wink.

 

I will admit that I do lie about the weight of my boxes here, and there to help save on shipping cost, but I dont ever try to get away with shipping say a 20-40 lb box, and only putting 1 lb for the weight, for they will a lot of times catch you on that, and recalculate your billing at a higher cost with a correction fee.

But when im shipping say a 20-40 lb box, I will put something like 8-12 lb for the weight, to help save a lil on shipping cost. Youll save quite a few dollars shipping a "8-12 lb" box compared to a 20-40 lb box.

 

Don't pay them?

 

Well trade me an Old Nuptial before you do damnit!

(seriously!)

 

I've been scaling back and still plan on doing the occasional trade and BIF, but I'm getting a little burnt out on the scene. The "King Henry Era" has really killed the spirit of the community - ISO/FT is purely about maximizing returns now, people openly Ebay without repercussion, noobs are diving in headfirst without even trying to learn the ropes, and every day there's another "bad trader" or "pre-bad trader" post going up.

It's no longer fun to seek out beers - it is painful. I've found myself recently passing up FT/ISO's that I would have jumped at once upon a time, and that's probably as good of a sign as any.