I think I'm done trading

Dude, bike. So much better.

 

I often make helpful, what I consider to be friendly posts when I see a noob doing something that isn't congruent with the culture and I'm happy to do it. The vast majority thank me for helping them learn the ropes. Others go batshit crazy as if I were insulting their mothers. Sometimes I can't help myself and write something snarky, but that's usually when it's clear that the poster has made no effort to assimilate to the culture. Ultimately, it's not the veterans jobs to guide newer users if they have no intention to put any effort into integrating.

Both of these stories invole the newcomer putting in effort to assist with interaction with the natives. This is exactly what I want from the newcomers here.

I don't expect noobs to know the finer points of the trading culture. I do expect them to have some idea of how to behave though. I'm not talking about the right way to pronounce a word, I'm talking about driving on the correct side of the road.

People wouldn't be so frustrated with and leaving the trading arena if the positives were outweighing the negatives.

 

true, i guess i took that for granted. and i wouldn't lump all of cali together - a lot of it is still a beer wasteland, and aside from a few stunners, i'd argue the top half of the state is boring. snorecal imo.

 

Wait, I thought everyone in Cali lived within two hours of Russian River. Is this not true? No wonder people weren't willing to mule 6 cases of Beatification for me...

 

Hahaha, no, I am forever away from RR... but right next door to the Bruery ;p

 

According to your profile, you're roughly my age, so you should understand that our generation is the chauffeured generation which constantly texts when actually behind the wheel.

So I guess I'll blame society and my parents for this woeful existence and horrid state of trading affairs. Seems reasonable and agreeable.

 

Add me to the list of traders hanging it up indefinitely. It seems that trading has slowly become less fun and more hassle, I have traded with many great and generous BA's, and it took me about a year and a half to finally get to this point. Aside from cost, I just think trades have become more and more difficult to complete and it's not really worth the hassle anymore. I have plenty to age and drink, plus there is plenty on shelves that I need to try anyway.

 

Just move to Philly, there is no need to trade if you live here, everything comes here eventually. For example with beer week coming up I am going to be able to tick a bunch of Funky Buddah beers, a few limited sours from various breweries, A bunch of De Molen one offs, Dark Horse Smells Like Weed, etc. It's a tickers paradise year round for those who don't have the means to trade all the time.

 

Yeah, the beer is great. It's just the living in Philly part that's the problem.

 

Well DC has it's runs too with the so called "everything comes here" but it isn't cheap either. But the best part is you don't have to live in Philly

HA HA

Ok that aside...

the worst though was I was using my GOTS as more importantly a record of what was in my fridge/cellar. Mostly so I could keep track... and of course quickly look up at the time for what I had.

One time back in yore, I tried a request for a trade, I sent out a request, got a few responses... nothing really came of it... however... after one person emailed me ... (some new kid no doubt) and the trade didn't work out (I agreed to disagree.. no harm) ... he then had to convo (email) me back and say...

"I don't believe for a second you have all those beers on your gots list"..

un F***kin real.. are you kidding me???

I seriously hope people who are gettin into trading aren't acting like this all around...

 

I somewhat agree, I think the beer selection is the only thing keeping me here. The pros (beer selection) equal out the cons (Philly).

 

Ive only been a member since July 2011. I am in the process of completing my third trade. I read the trading forums for 5 months (along with other resources) before I even attempted to make a trade. I am just looking to try beers i am unable to get in Los Angeles, if something spectacular comes my way, even better.

And i would like to think i am a very generous person in general. I am actually worried that the person who i sent my last box to has already had the extras i sent him because i failed to check the distribution list before i sent them. Although all three bombers/375ml. are varieties of Cali beers (Ballast Point, Alpine, and Port) that i don't see on shelves on a regular basis here, i'd be surprised if they are readily available in the midwest.

But then again i respect the opinion of BA's that have been around forever, and i have no frame of reference when it comes to getting burned by a noob or the saturation of the trading forums with assholes.

I guess my point is that i am a noob, but i am not an asshole...

Cheers!

 

snorecal? hah! Central Valley (well, I can only speak of Bakersfield) is the epitome of beer wasteland. The few craft beer suppliers either have a great selection and gouge (imbibe), great prices, but smaller selection (GM Liquor). The other two have a decent selection, but their product is often shelf stored, and/or outdated.

 

I work in shipping and get a great deal (a 20 ish box costs me right at $10) and still look at my bill and have to wonder if its worth it.

 

I've been steadily cutting back to just in-person stuff and BIFs (which I still love, but have cut back on). I just don't think that I need all these beers. Yeah, it would be nice to try some of them, but, eh, no biggie if I don't.

The wake-up call as it were was stressing over a hobby - the work, the time, the need. The expense is beside the point for me. I shouldn't be stressing over a hobby. I do hobbies for fun. Beer is a hobby. Screw stressing over it.

My current plan/goal/approach is to attend cool beer events and releases and chill. Good beer and good people. I'll be a semi-regional homer (which I already am) and just enjoy what comes my way.

 

I have been cutting back considerably, but I have not quit. It is expensive, and I'm trying to save a helluvalotta money by the end of this year, when I'm out of the army and back in college (again). Plus I'm focusing more on homebrewing now (it's also much cheeper to homebrew, once you have the stuff you need).

That doesn't mean I'm OUT of the trading game, just slowing it down some... if one of my trading buddies wanted something that I could get, I don't think I could say no. Plus I'm in a homebrew BIF right now anyway, with another homebrew/commercial brew trade pending. So when I say cutting back, I mean that in a very loose sense of the term.

 

After reading this entire thing (it took about 45 minutes but I don't have anything to do until my dad's TV show is over at 9 cst so I can watch some Spurs/OKC ) I've decided that once i get some more beer/money I'm going to look for 1 or maybe 2 more regular partners (along with grumpyjunglist who is the fucking man) and call it from there. I've had all (or most) of the big boys and nothing seems as good as BCBS for stouts, Daisy Cutter/Zombie Dust for pales, and all my other needs (sours/IPAs) are taken care of by grumpyjunglist. Only thing I'll really be looking for in the future is a heady topper trading partner

However I do plan on continuing to give n00bs advice if they ask for it, and leave their threads alone if they say "BM only"

Cheers!

 

costs are definitely prohibitive. i'm at the point these days of focusing on enjoying the fruits of my labor with local BAs. i still have the occasional trade spurt (have 3 boxes en route to me right now), but i have been focusing more on proxy situations and glass acquisition. pretty cool to find someone who will pick stuff up for you at cost and you send them a shipping label...and then return the favor by doing the same or tossing them a want or two. everyone is happy, you get exactly what you want and you don't get ***** in the forums. not to mention with more and more online retailers popping up, i'm thinking of getting my out of distribution fixes from internet retailers.

to echo the sentiments of many others...craft beer and the gatherings surrounding it are exciting and fun for me and other than supporting my family, i don't really splurge on many other things, so i am willing to take the hit on an occasional box, but as i'm focusing more on drinking down what i have, drinking less in general, and enjoying more of what my local distribution gets (and the way it is growing), trading naturally has slowed down.

always happy to lend a hand to previous traders and n00bs...but not always up for a trade, but proxy situations are win/win...i get to shop in a store with someone else's money and ship to them on their dime and hopefully if i ever want the return favor, it is just a conversation away. it's also nice to get stuff at cost without the insanity of dealing with the hostage state that the forum is these days.

 

I love your attitude about this (and most your other posts), which makes me sad you aren't trading as much. If you ever wanna help a n00b out or get a new proxy situation in SoCal, let me know.

 

I'll proxy helping a n00b out for him. (also I need a Bruery hookup).