When is trading still worth it to you?

I use to trade frequently, but I've definitely also slowed down. Part of is the fact that I feel most are out there to 'win' a trade as opposed to trading what one has for something that is not available in their region. That's definitely annoying. I hate secondary quoting.

Another reason is that the cost of shipping is not worth it. Another is that I've traded away beers I know I like for beers that I like far less (was just caught up in the hype). But perhaps the biggest reason is that the local scene has really stepped it up a notch and I enjoy just being able to grab what I know is quality right off the shelf or have it at a tap room.

I understand the need to tick and all that... I was there... but at some point I just don't care about some random hype boiz pastry stout/orange juice that the latest never-heard-of-before brewery comes out with.

 

It's worth it every few months when I'm just tired of our fairly limited selection out here. It's fun to taste different offerings from around the country and a nice change of pace from my everyday drinkers

 

My trading has changed over the years... I have a handful of solid regular trading partners now that I swap beers with far more often than I do closing deals from the forums. Not saying I don’t still keep a close eye on them incase something grabs my attention but my preference in trading with people I know at this point.

 

I've cut back on trades and lean more towards BIFs. They have the basic idea of trading but add a lot more to it.

There's so much good beer seemingly everywhere now, but I still love the Christmas morning feeling of opening a box of random beers.

 

I have cut back on posting and responding to trade posts in the forums, but I have not cut back at all on trading, BIFs, swaps with BA friends and similar situations.

The cost of trading never bothered me, cheaper than some of my hobbies. I have a group of BA's that I know that I swap back and forth with at this point and that is enough. Usually 4 or so boxes in and out a month with a few more during the time the BIF's I participate in take place.

I am at the point where I share he beer I buy locally with BA friends and people I like instead of posting a trade offer.

 

Mostly these. The local beer scene in MN has improved vastly since I started trading in 2009. I can't keep up with all the locals being released, much less everything great across the country/world. Also, all of my old regular trading partners have retired from trading, so it's less fun that it once was.

I trade less than I used to, far less than when I first changed in full bore. Now I'll only trade for beers that I feel are going to be unique or somehow in my wheelhouse. Given the trading scene (secondary values, whales only, etc.) that doesn't happen often anymore.

 

I was never a very frequent trader but did regular exchanges with @DoctorZombies every month or so as schedules allowed plus a few randoms on the side. Now I have a kid on the way so the costs associated with beer trading are obviously the easiest thing to cut in preparation for this new life. There are still a couple wants I may try to hammer down before this fall (cough, cough, Fremont B3K, cough) but for the most part the cellar I already have is in desperate need of my attention so this is kind of the day I've been preparing for.

Even though I was late to this game and didn't start trading until 2016 I still share the opinion others have expressed here about 'winning trades' and using the secondary market to break everything down to dollar values. My regular trading with @DoctorZombies was great becasue we never got caught up in dollar values and would just try to double up whatever good stuff we got ahold of so we always had each other hooked up. Best part is when you get a feel for what your partner likes to drink because then you can make confident choices to surprise them with. Was a fun time and I'll miss the boxes showing up, but life is always full of bigger and better things to come!

 

BIFs?

 

Beer it forward

 

I like many others have slowed down trading big time, there’s just not that many non-whale traders out there any more. I’ve noticed in Facebook groups, guys will obtain large quantities of limited release beer to sell at a mark up, and use that cash to buy 1 or 2 big time whales like Derivation or Art. Huge waste of time, IMO.

I will likely still trade every 3 months or so if I still can, just not multiple boxes going in and out every week. What I should do is plan maybe 2 trips a year to a destination brewery, and enjoy the scenery, bottle list, draft options, etc. I’d love to go to Sante Adairius, or the Goose Island brew pub.

 

The Facebook groups are fascinating. I had a grown ass man block me in one of them because I had to audacity to criticize a brewery for a poor release, and I disagreed with his smartest beer nerd in the room opinion. That kind of opened my eyes about the types of people in them. They're either annoying beer hipsters like that guy, or they are simply stockpiling "trade bait" to land bigger and bigger beers. It's tiring.

To stay on topic, however, I've basically stopped trading unless it's with my friends. Occasionally I will zero in on a bottle I may have missed or want to revisit, and try to land something locally, but it's definitely not as fun as it used to be.

 

I've definitely limited my trading for several reasons. But basically stopped trading for BA stouts. There's an incredible and endless supply in LA/OC/SD area.

Once in awhile I trade for Juice machine/very green/very haze, HVB sours, 450 N slushies or Jreams. It's fun to try something new and exciting. Most are hits, and some misses.

I still have a bunch of BA stouts & sours from my cellar(that I'll never have time to drink) that I use for those trades . So it's worth it for me. YMMV.