Trading Etiquette - Extras

Extras have always been my favorite part of the trade, its what I look forward to the most. There has been a few times were me and my trade partner have agreed to no extras though.

 

I always try to send out locals, some shelf and some harder to get. I figure if you're in the trading game you're probably ticking as well. Plus, the Texas beer scene is improving all the time and I like to share it with my out of state trade partners.

 

yup

sometimes lately I've asked traders to not send me extras because I just don't need more beer (that interferes with the drinking of my asked for beer), but send extras myself

 

I feel like extras are the most fun aspect of trading beer. It's a pretty great feeling getting a totally awesome beer as an extra and just as good knowing that you put a smile on someone's face because you did the same thing. The only downside is that I've basically come to expect extras in my trades, which has led to major disappointment. I realize that extras are exactly that - extras, but it's a pretty big bummer when you clearly put more thought into the trade than your partner. Just my two cents.

 

^^This

I have always tried to make sure at least one of my extras in the box (or IP trades - I always do extras) is something the other person would have needed to trade to get anyway. Be it out of distro for them, a back vintage of some big stout I have been aging, whatever. I always fill the box regardless, so often that is 4 or more extra bottles. Being Chicago, beers like Zombie Dust, BCBS, Central Waters Barrel stuff, New Glarus - often end up as extras.

I have had trades where the extras weren't 'even' on that exact trade, and sometimes by me; I have had some awesome trade partners that have blown my extras away. I have never been disappointed, and always appreciate anything that is sent; that is why they are extra! It all comes around eventually, I have received BCBCS, Funky Buddha, 5 year aged stouts, SMS, the latest hot DIPA from New England; all sorts of amazing things as extras.

Beer Karma is real

 

What are people's thoughts on sending cellared beer as an extra? I thought about this recently as I have included some 2011 Three Philosophers as extras in several previous trades but now am not sure if they would be considered good extras given the variability in quality vs age.

 

I do it all the time, but make sure it is something interesting that gets better with age. I would never throw in something I thought was past its prime.

Put it this way, if I wouldn't be excited to drink it myself, then it isn't going in as an extra

 

For me, I always do extra's. It's usually more based on what I have or can get that I think is good. To me, an extra is "here, I think this is good, please let me know what you think" than anything else. I will go shopping for extra's, I went out this weekend and picked up a 6 pack of Hoponius Union and sent them out in the 3 packages I shipped today.

 

Are homebrews welcome additions to trades?

 

I just think the extra you send should be something you would be willing to drink and not a 6 month old red IPA. I would never send something I wouldn't drink let alone a bunk saison or a vintage IPA... IMHO...

 

Yea I agree. I always try to check out seekabrew and throw things in similar to the trade but from my area. So far I guess it's working

 

I've gotten homebrew extras in trades and actually like that a lot. Although I could easily see where someone wouldn't, compared to a factory sealed bottle.

 

I recently received a single homebrew as the only extra in a trade, and for me I didn't care for it. Especially since I felt like I made some effort with his extras.

 

That's my problem with homebrews. Not against them and I understand you're just sharing the love but it's not for everyone. Maybe a conversation about it should be had first before tossing them in?

 

Homebrews are fine as long as they are good ones. I had a guy one time throw in a bomber of a homebrewed barrel-aged barleywine. It was better than the most of the beers I actually traded for.

But I've also had one or two homebrews included that were, let's just say, the opposite of that experience.

 

Hahaha your honesty cracks me up dude! But its free beer after all and you should have made the effort with your extras because you wanted to share them! Two of my favorite extras have been homebrews,I love it.

 

Having done a lot of trades...I can tell you that I've gotten some amazing extras, some good extras and some lackluster extras. It's kind of luck of the draw and if you go into it with low expectations you'll find that you're either satisfied or blown away. However, the one thing that has annoyed me to no end is when I say I'm sending extras and the person sends no extras in return. In fact, recently, I did a trade with an established trader (so not a newbie) and told them I was sending extras and I sent some really good stuff and about $30 worth of extras. I got nothing in return. And they got my package a good week before they sent mine out. I didn't say anything, but I kind of wanted to. I just won't trade with them again.

 

extras are an opportunity...they are a cobblestone in the path of building a relationship. golden rule should always apply, but much like saying the first round is on you when at the bar with a friend...extras give you a way to do something nice for someone and hopefully build a trading relationship and friendship from.

like much of the world, beer trading IS networking. when you send a box out, the contents of said box might never be shared with anyone and the trader may never talk to you again...or it may get posted on the forums for all to see or discussed in small trading circles or come back to you as an answered ISO for the new buzzed beer.

if you've traded a bunch, then you've received plenty of boxes where you sent better extras and you've also been humbled by someone's generosity at one time or another and if you are doing it right, then you probably have at least a few trading partners where you don't even talk about what's in the boxes, you just ask if they will be around to get them. sending sh.tty extras doesn't lead to those kinds of relationships. sh.tty extras is a one night stand...and you want it to be a one night stand.

if you are dumping your garbage, then dump your garbage...don't pay fedex to bring it to me so i can dump it. i will have more respect for you if you send me no extras then stale ipas, c rated beers, or stuff in my distro. if you send me nothing, there is a chance that i will trade with you again, if you send me your garbage, i won't trade with you again even if you have my most wanted beer (well maybe if you have my most wanted beer, but don't expect extras from me )

if you don't want to do extras, specify that. these days, i have plenty of beer and often ask if someone wants to do no extras since that gives an out for both of us, but if they say yes they want them, then i do my best to send nice stuff that they want or would want.


it is a lot like being a new trader and shipping first. shipping first to an established trader is the way to build a relationship. someone is ready to take you under their wings and get your feet wet...impress them and they will impress you in spades.

 

Yeah, I hear all that, but my concern is when people think that they should "downgrade" the extras they send just because someone else sends lousy extras. I don't trade, so this doesn't matter to me in the long run. It's just sad to see people treating extras like a business arrangement. They're extras for crying out loud. Send good ones if you can and don't be pissed if you get ones you don't like or none at all. Seems pretty easy.

 

i had a similar conversation with my wife the other day about a friend who got engaged or had a baby or one of those other meaningless life events that people trade gifts for. i wanted to give a gift for the event and my wife said, but they didn't give us a gift...i turned to her and said that it didn't matter. it could've been that they were in a point of life where they weren't in a position to or maybe they were a single guy at the time and didn't know that it is proper etiquette, whatever...didn't matter. what mattered is that i wanted to celebrate their life thingy.

if you are the kind of person who looks at what you got before sending back...well then that's the kind of person you are and that's the kind of people you will draw to you.