Trade value

Since my last post was deleted, along with others, I'll try retyping this for the third time.

I get demand and $4$ but whatever happened to just trading good beer for good beer? Its gotten to the point where there is no chance of landing alot of limited release and not so limited release beers due to hype, bottle numbers, etc. I'll say that there have been more than one or two BA's that have stepped up to the plate to help me out with limited release beers and have asked for very little in return (good off the shelf beers not available in their area). I am very thankful to these BA's and hopefully can/will/have repaid them in some way.

I hate to say this but its almost become easier and more practical to go to some other "auction" site to acquire the more limited beers. For the record, I am against other people buyng beer just to make a profit off of it $ wise but what alot of these "BA's" are doing isn't much different.

For example, if I wanted to land a Huna I have no beer (other than a Rare and Vanilla DL which were both possible due to a generous BA) that would be able to land it. There are no "hyped" up breweries in my area that meet the "demand" of other limited release beers. This cuts many other good beers I want out of the equation since there is nothing I have to trade for them. Sure, I can offer to go well over $4$ with other great local beers that aren't available in someone else's area but at that point (assuming someone would even take that offer which most people don't) it would be cheaper to go to the "other" site.

Again, I think the people demanding somewhat limited/limited beers exclusively for other limitd beers are just as bad as the guy who could care less about craft beer and waits in line just to flip the beer for a profit. It's got to the point where I am startting to save my money for the "other" site instead of trading simply because if I want to try "X" beer that is my only option. And to all the people that may "hate" on me for saying that please stop asking for so much in return and it won't be my only option.

 

What do you mean by "valuable"?

 

Lol, understood. Enjoy the rest of your beers

 

At one point BM traded very well and BR trades ok now. Don't get me wrong, I still love trading and trading for seasonals, somewhat limited stuff, etc is still "doable". But regardless, there are many other people in my position or worse. I'm not saying every beer out there should be traded $4$ although that would be nice but at some point, as stated in my example above, the benefit and purpose of trading becomes defeated. People ask too much and the definition of beer advocacy (my definition at least) becomes null.

 

I agree completely and in matter of fact, I don't mind going over $4$ but it seems as if that isn't even good enough now. At some point going over $4$ with shipping included just isn't worth it, its easier and cheaper to get the beer elsewhere.

There will always be new traders looking for beers they've never had, new breweries popping up (you better find them before evryone else does; ie I traded for HF beers with JK before they became ever so popular; imagine that Art for Black Metal) and new beers by breweries that will demand high trade value before anyone even tastes them just because the bottle limit is low. But after awhile there are just certain beers that will remain unobtainable for many of us, even with a 10,000 bottle limit, simply by trading.

Think about how stupid that is. I have 1 of 15 THOUSAND bottles and you have one of 2,000 bottles but even though your one of 2,000 bottles may have just as good reviews as my 1 of 15,000 your bottle isn't good enough to trade for because not everyone on BA is searching for it. I want more.

Obviously that's one example of how trading has become and it could go the other way as well. I have one of 2,000 bottles and you have 1 of 15,000 so my bottle is "worth" more than yours. The whole thing has just become silly. Yeah, I just said silly

What's even more funny is how many, not all but many, of these beers that are so difficult to obtain are just as good as many of your locals. I know we've all had many hyped up beers that aren't all that.

 

I'm not saying I'm a saint, I don't think any of us are, but I'm confident in saying that the majority of my trades have been more based on $4$ rather than rarity, hype, etc. BTW, kinda off subject but if anyone who inquired about my one remaining Rare and I mentioned I may do an LIF with it, I have taken others advice and have decided to share it with others who haven't had it instead of giving it away. Now I just need to figure out who those others are, lol.

 

Definitely. There are still plenty of great BA's out there, many who have helped me out. I'm not trying to bash everyone, I know first hand there are many generous and awesome BA's out there (noobs as well) and thats why I try to "give back" to the community, trading partners, etc.

I've bitched plenty about this topic but I was also planning on starting a thread on how many awesome trades I've had recently with both old and new trading partners.

 

First of all, I have traded "down" plenty of times so I'm no always trying to trade up. Second, I said "some but not all" in reference to locals. Whether some locals match up with the hyped up beers vary widely from style to style and region to region.

Ie. I think Port Older Viscosity, BA Boris, PT5th, etc which are all "locals" to some are just as good as some of the hyped up stouts I've had. They're just not local to me. Also, I know older may not/is not neing bottled this year.

Also, trading "down" for me isn't an issue as long as its a decently rated beer and I haven't had it before or its a beer I've had before but really enjoy. In matter of fact, I enjoy trading down for the same reason I and many others enjoy doing LIF's, throwing in an better then expected extra, etc. we enjoy sharing good beer with people that may not have access to it otherwise.

 

In reference to your Huna comment. How would I know if it was as good as some locals of I never have the chance to try i? I wouldn't. My point is, without getting into specific beers, there are several hyped up beers that we have all had and once we have had them we realize the hype wasn't as much about the taste as it was about the limited availalibilty which is stupid. On a side note, I don't believe Huna falls into this category, I've heard nothing but awesome things about it.

 

I hear ya Slentz. I guess I should clarify. I realize
I'm never going to be able to try every beer and it's really not that big of a deal to me. Ie Chocolate Rain is my current top want. I gave away 4 beats in an LIF. If I wanted the Chocolate Rain that bad I could have traded the beats instead of giving them away. Yeah, thats on me and I'm fine with that otherwise I wouldn't have done what I did. I don't regret it at all and I know not everyone enjoyed the beat. I'm fine with that as well. I was happy to let some people try a limited delicious beer that they msy have not been able to try otherwise. Whether they liked it or not, now they know. And for the ones that have had it and enjoyed it, I'm glad they got to enjoy it again. Hell, I've given and traded away beers I've never even tried just to help others out. I know it all comes full circle.

My main point or should I say what pisses me off the most is not about the beers that I'm not able to try, it's more about what people are asking for some of these beers. It's also about these same people who bash me for occasionally going to the auction site (never ever ever to sell) because the people there are "ruining the craft beer community" or are "taking adman rage
of us" are the same ones who are doing the same things in the trading forums. Are they not taking advantage of fellow BA's by demanding way over $4$? Seriously, how are they any better? Is it better that I pay $75 for a $20 beer in cash or by sending $75 worth of beer plus shipping?

That's all I'm saying, just ranting. Again, I know firsthand there are generous and truly awesome BA's (you being in the top 5% I've ever dealt with) and I have been the beneficiary of so many BA's generosity. I know this rant isn't going to create a utopian beer trading world, it's just me voicing my opinion on many of the current ISO:FT's. This topic has been brought up 1,000 times and will be again, it was just my turn, lol.

As stated above, I need to start a thread sending out props to all my recent trading partners who have blown me away. Slentz, buddy, I hope/will return the favor someday for the wayyyy over the top box full of extras you sent. Thanks again!