Beer Trading 101: Ideas Wanted

woo hoo! top 1%!!!

 

An addendum to my post earlier:

Use styrofoam bottle shippers. Maybe I'm just peeved because I cleaned out about 15 boxes of shipping junk, but, use styro shippers. Why?

"I sure wish I hadn't gotten this box which will protect everything rather than a bunch of packing peanuts and bubble wrap which I'm going to tear apart." - No one ever.

They work especially well for newbies. They're easy to pack - just make sure the bottles aren't rattling around in the slots by using newspaper, put shipper inside a garbage bag, put a second shipping slip inside, tape, put on visible shipping slip, done. They might be expensive, but if you can't afford 10 dollars to protect 100, you shouldn't be trading. (Though, if you're smart, you'll get them used for $2 or $3 or even free from a wine shop. Or you can make it an excuse to order an online box of beer from somewhere.)

So, pros: Easy to pack, safe for transport, any breaks or leaks should be swallowed by the Styrofoam, easy to reuse, easy to stack and store for the next trade. Never have to tell your partner exactly what you got in order to make sure you didn't miss anything in the mass of plastic.

Cons: Sometimes expensive and can't be found in your nearest landfill.

In conclusion, styro shippers.

 

responsible adults do not need a laundry list of rules to trade beer. let's call it what it is: aside from trade partners and a few good traders getting a start it's pretty much e-bay with beer as currency anymore.

 

where you been? ebay got rid of beer sales. VICTORY!

 

correct. victory for the beer ransomers in the trade forums.

 

i disagree...if you don't give into ransom, there is no alternative profiteering method. that beer will just go bad.

it is a lot like scalpers. if you don't buy the tickets, they are forced to lower prices or take a loss. i'm more than happy to let people who hoard beer to just let it go bad in their hands. word on the street is that 2007 cable car has peaked...kind of funny how you see so many for trade all of a sudden. the more time and feedback on things like this, the more informed the consumer becomes and the more devalued that the product gets. sure there are fools who don't do their research..but it is always buyer beware. now that ebay is gone, your only solace on "value" is the most recent review. all it takes is one (or a few) bitter ticker(s) to bash the beer you are trying to trade and all of sudden your profits are down the tubes. VICTORY!

 

this is worth repeating

 

Beer trading should be, first and foremost, fun. For both parties involved.

 

Hmmm, I always tape up the bubble wrap around my bottles. I hope I have not up set my trading partners .

In all seriousness though, I do it to make sure the bottle doesn't slip out of the bubble wrap, at the price of international shipping I do not want to have to send again!

My trading guidelines would be:

1) New trader ships first. I have done quite a few trades and am still shipping my boxes out first.
2) Yes, your box must be bomb proof!
3) Communicate!!! Discuss EVERYTHING. Make sure you know exactly what beers you are getting and what beers you must send. Make sure you discuss a shipping window. Discuss if you are sending extras. Discuss what will happen if one of the boxes is destroyed/stolen in transit.

Sepcifically for international trades:
1) Label the box as collectible glassware.
2) Value it at 20-30USD
3) Remember that some international post offices do not understand what fragile means and will likely play soccer with your box and then drive over it with a truck!

My last idea to improve the trading forum is to have a set trade form that is filled in to post an ISO:FT. Info such as:
ISO: -------
FT: -------
Shipping window:-------
IP: Y/N
Shipping destination: ------------ (city/state only)

Oh and we could also have trading references attached to our BA profiles. For example BA X lists BA Y as someone he has traded with. BA Y confirms that this is true and then the trade is listed on both of their profiles.

 

re: The Tape Issue

i sometimes use tape, sometimes rubber bands. if i were trading with a new partner, i would put tape on just to fuck with them (on the off chance they're really concerned about it for some reason).

 

If your trade partners are genuinely upset by tape on bubble wrap, find new trading partners. How about an instantaneous thread nuking if the words "tape on bubble wrap" are detected? Some sort of expensive software could be developed to auto-detect the phrase.

 

I've unpacked over 200 TV's in the last year (for my work), none of them cheap, all of them with bubble wrap taped so it doesn't shift.

That said, I do not use tape, or rubber bands, or anything to secure the bubble wrap for trades. I use enough and do it artfully enough that it isn't necessary.

Not sure if your comment was sarcasm or not, but I think the bottom line for packing is do it so things cannot break if dropped ten feet onto concrete.

 

It's still there just not much of it.

 

I have completed about 260+ trades now over the last 2-3 years, and I have always used tape when bubble wrapping my bottles. Though using rubber bands might be "quicker/easier", it just seems "half ass" to me for the bottles can/have slide out of the bubble wrap, and you cant completely wrap up the top, and bottom of the bottles using rubber bands. (better safe than sorry)

But no matter how a person like to package their boxes, as long as it get to its destination in one piece thats all that matters...

 

Uline has a bunch of different bottle packaging options but they can be costly. The heavy duty coolers meat (Omaha Steak) is packaged in work great as well, sometimes you can get them for free on CL - they are trully bomb proof.

 

Everyone has covered the ideas I would add, but I'd really REALLY love to see a permanent sticky that explains the BIF group!

 

Some info on IP trades would be good as well. Yes extras are good in an IP trade, or better yet meet somewhere you can share a bottle or two and bring along a nice one to share.

 

In looking over My blog I realize how needlessly verbose I made some sections, but it could easily be summarized in a few key points;

• Start small. Trading is a great way to beer you don't have access to-- but it can be expensive. Stay within your means. Get your feet wet with some easier/less expensive trades before diving into whale hunting.
• Treat your trade partners like they are friends. Be polite, friendly, and honest. Odds are they're a lot like you, so treat them how you'd like to be treated.
• include a list of acronyms and abbreviations.
• Explain how the BIF and group trades work.
• Discuss feedback options (keeping a list of trades and/or posting comments on user profiles).
• A step-by-step guide for how to package beer (with pictures!).
• Some useful tips. Like signing up for a shipping account, where to order/find good boxes, using rubber bands around bubble wrap instead of tape, printing an extra copy of the label and inserting it into box in case the original rips off, taping the bottles with rubberized splicing tape to help avoid leakers, how to package gowlers, and how to ship internationally.

Those main points seem to me to be the most important... And after reading many replies in this thread it appears I'm not alone.

Cheers to Todd for deciding this was finally necessary, and cheers to all the awesome people that trade for their great suggestions.

 

As someone who hasn't traded, but would like to find a partner and start small I think some tips on how best to title a thread, and what to include in the body, would be most helpful.

Or maybe a sticky list of experienced BA traders who enjoy, and are willing to trade with first timers.

 

I can't endorse this notion as one small piece of tape is both necessary and sufficient, but I will advise not to mummify the bubblewrap with tape.