thoughts on $4$ trades

This is just me, but I only trade $4$ excluding the shipping costs, which is just a cost of doing business. This isn't an activity to make money, so why try to inflate the value of the brew over what you actually paid for it?

 

The only fair trade is one to which both parties agree.

 

I don't trade a lot, but when I do, it's almost always $4$.

 

$4$ is the only way I go. I usually cut bait on a guy if he starts talking about a perceived value.

 

I hear you. Zombie sells for $10 at FFF but $16-$18 at the shops by me. I just bought a bomber of Permanent Funeral for $16 the same time they were selling for $10 at the brewery.

 

I dont trade, so I dont get it

 

I'm doing an IP trade tomorrow for some Weyerbacher SMS. I paid $14 for the 4pk but I know it's selling for $14-20 depending upon the market. Guess what I'm expecting in return? $14 worth of beer (or cash, tbd). I'm not trying to make a buck off of someone's desire to try a beer that they couldn't otherwise obtain.

 

Its not the stock market, when words like value start entering the picture, a lot of people are going to check out. For me it is trading beer I have for beer I want. It is not about maximizing every ounce of beer. This approach has made me some great friends and now great beer just finds me.

To each his own, but anyone who is trying to "win" every trade, they might win in the short term, but they will lose out in the long term.

 

^This. My limited and new trade experience involves $4$ being on the beer value only - excluding shipping. It's all about making sure things stay as "fair" as possible. I don't need the trade to equal exactly, but $4$ is a nice starting point.

 

I feel like $4$ is a good way to go until you begin to establish a good relationship with a regular trade partner, then probably feel it out after that. I don't trade on these forums yet but when I start I will assume people want $4$ as I'll be a newbie, and I'm OK with that. I would assume though that the $ excludes shipping.

 

I've traded w/3-4 folks regularly for over a year (and 12 or so total during that time). Only once -- very early -- did I do anything other than $4$. $4$ is simple and gets the deal done quick. If u have to get all complicated ("My 4 pack of Heady is really worth $32 when you factor in the gas I had to buy to drive from NJ to VT") -- it will dramatically lessen the ease/frequency and success of trades.

 

I've had an issue or two with this. I'm not that picky as long as we're both feeling like we're getting a good trade. I've had a few people want me to up the ratio on Pliny to even the $ out, and honestly I have a limited amount therefore I generally can't. Second, when I have fresh Pliny I usually will be entertaining multiple options so when someone gives me a take it or leave it deal I don't like, I don't hesitate for a second to leave it. I don't know about "perceived value", but there's certainly some beers that aren't expensive if you can get them, but they're very much in demand here and therefore can command better than exact $4$.

Bottom line, if everyone is happy, agree to the trade. If not, then move on and trade with someone else. With that said, I don't think its okay to take advantage of other people. There's a happy medium.

 

I feel like in only the few trades I have done I have gone either direction. I will happily send more beer $ wise than I am receiving so long as I feel that what I am receiving is worth the extra spending on my part. I don't think that developing some harsh guideline for myself based on $4$ will help in the long run. These things I feel are always circumstantial and so long as both parties feel as though they are benefiting from the trade, than it was a good trade.

I think that strictly going $4$ is a bit ridiculous anyway. How can you say that a value beyond the price paid is unfathomable to have developed? Its not like beers are priced based purely on what it costs to produce them.. Even breweries will increase prices based on a perceived value that might involve rarity or hype anyway. Many things are likely to change in value, which is something that is inherent in any economic system. So if a beer develops a trade value that might make it worth more than what was paid for it originally, I see that as being a very natural process and not one that is unique to beer at all.

 

If you're interested in a beer offer up a trade of what you can give and if someone is willing to do it great...I never trade $4$.... The worst thing is when someone not even involved in the trade that starts stating Op paid X$ amount and wants X, not worth the trade.

 

I don't know - I think that's the way it goes. $4$ is a nice starting point, but I still think shipping (for me) is not a part of it. If a bomber is commanding 12 beers to keep it $4$ on beer value, than shipping IS "cost of doing business" for that particular trade.

It happens organically (no one is trading their $20-$30 Dark Lord for that value in shelf locals). I'm sure some people are willing to "overpay" in some instances, and more power to them. But nothing wrong with trying to keep things fair in $ value of the beer, at least to start with.

I have and always plan on throwing in a ton of extras as that's what I plan on doing, and I am a big tipper anyway. I don't want people to feel like they've "lost" a trade, so $4$ and tons of extra surprises on my part is what I aim for.

 

How much was Assassin at the brewery? Are peeps trading $4$?

 

Why? It depends on your goal and the trader's goal. If you were dying for Heady Topper and someone wanted to send you 11 cans of it to keep it $4$, I don't see a problem with that on either end. If your goal is to "win" the trade based on your perceived value, that is fine and I have NO problem with that if the other trader is dying for your $40 bomber.

Just like selling a house - your value is only what you and another party agree to, but $4$ is not ridiculous in any instance to start with.