So Cal Trading Extras

I think it should be a different mentality. If you are peeved someone else is trying to "win" the trade don't you think that's you doing the same by holding back the Pliny?

You'd be amazed how many people stopped trading on this site over the last few years because of the change in attitude. Send them awesome boxes and I'm positive it will come back to you some day. Start an LIF just because and the karma will be returned. It's just beer and it's just Pliny. Who knows maybe you will get some shelf turd from the East Coast that will blow you away and become your new favorite beer?

Also great boxes are a good way to make friends and regular trading partners.

 

I get both sides . . . for me, Pliny's often an extra to an established trading partner, or someone who's sending me some really hard to get stuff. But, yeah, not to some random, first-time trader. Like you say, it's already damn hard to come by, especially in SoCal. On other hand, draft options are plentiful, so I usually don't mind giving up the one bottle I can find here or there.

 

I like to give myself a Pliny as an extra...when I can find it for less than $8 in San Diego. Prices have become ridiculous at some places.

 

As soon as Fresh Squeezed starts showing up in sixers (saw some on the Post Your Haul thread the other day), that's going to be in my extra rotation, for sure.

 

My understanding is that Vinnie will pull accounts for price gouging.

 

In my last 3 trades I've included as extras:
-FW XVII
-Simtra
-Blind Pig

I was thinking about throwing Pizza Port goodies in my next trade. If it's easy to get, I don't mind including it. Living in So Cal, I consider Russian River stuff easy to get, worse comes to worse I'll make the drive and load up on RR IPA's and sours.

I really don't care about winning trades, one of my first trades some guy threw 5 awesome extras so I figure it will come back to me in "beer karma".

I read somewhere some guy threw in a Westy XII as an extra, may have to do that in the future If I come across a few more.

 

An email to info@ might be in order!

 

Pliny still trades well, but I usually go over $4$ depending on the other side. Sometimes, my extras are better than the actual trade beer. I dunno, I believe in BIF and generosity is usually reciprocated down the road. My last trader sent 4 extras in addition to the 2 beers I traded for and one of the extras was a can of Heady, that was very nice. I've sent Alpine, Beachwood, Noble, Pliny, Lost Abbey, Bruery, Almanac, Surly, etc as extras. Almost always the extra will be something local they can't buy where the trader is at, unless it's IP and then it'll be something not distro'ed here. I don't care about "winning" a trade, and I think my offers are usually pretty competitive, but I know the other guy will usually be happy with my extras. It's just beer and sharing is caring.

Quick cool story. I was seated at a table of four with three strangers during a PtY event this week. No biggie, huge crowd and I was by myself and bar was full. Those three were super cool and I had a great time talking with them. Two were casual beer fans and were there to enjoy with their buddy who was just getting into craft beer. My wife joined me a couple hrs later and between the two of us, we had 3 Youngers, 2 Elders and a couple of dishes. That guy, who I had just met, quietly and discreetly picked up the whole tab. The generosity of this community continually amazes me. Anyway, I sent him a beer care package and he sent me an email thanking me for the beer. New friend made, awesome.

 

That might have been me--not to humblebrag, but just wanted to point out that was to a well-established trading partner who sends mind-blowing boxes every time.

 

Modern Times
Pizza Port
El Segundo
Beachwood
Noble
Alpine
Almanac
Cismontane
RR
Golden Road Limited Release IPAs
Drake's
Mother Earth

 

Pliney over 3 weeks = extra in trades.

With so many great beers in Cal, it does happen.

 

Fair enough and while I disagree with this stance I don't look down upon it. Personally I don't think any beer should be horded. If you can go to the store and it's there, then cool send away. Now if you have to drive to 6 different stores just to find this one beer it's a different story.

To not fully get off topic you can always send vintage Stone stuff as extras. Not sure where you are in Ca. but in San Diego I tend to see older Double Bastard and IRS quite a bit.

 

I guess my mentality is that I'm happy to send along nice extras, as not only a thank you for a great/easy trade (presuming its an easy and great trade), but to establish a great relationship for future trades. Not to mention hooking up another BA with stuff they will enjoy, whether or not they have had it before or not. If Pliny is limited to you, and youre considering sending as an extra, then send it to one of your regular traders. I often times send far more in $ value in extras, than what the initial trade is worth. And often send quality bombers as extras as well. Also, consider the nature of the trade. If you are trading for something "rare", and you pried a bottle from someone's stone grip, then hook em up, you'll be glad you did.
I want to give the same feeling I get when I open a box, and see some awesome extras that I cant wait to try. Maybe you dont believe in "beer karma", but be good to your fellow traders, and they'll be good to you.

Also, extras are also just that, extra. Dont over think it.

 

I set up a Quicken category for Beer (including shipping for trades) last year, and when I ran numbers for my taxes this past weekend, I almost fell out of my chair. Gotta cut back.

 

i like sending velvet merlin as extras. underappreciated oatmeal stout with a loinger shelf life than an ipa

FW and deschutes are expanding to more states tho

 

Seek a brews distribution page is a great tool when looking for extras to throw in on trades. Things like Velvet Merlin, double jack and Black Butte Porter are good low cost extras depending on where you are shipping to.

http://www.seekabrew.com/distro/compare.html