Trading Pet Peeves

this is one of mine. People always ask me for beers that I don't have, when I clearly have what I want posted to trade

 

This happens to me all the time, Ill put up some bottle logic FT and let’s say I offer up 3x a specific bottle plus some extra beers that I clearly list. I always get traders saying
-“I can do this, what would your extras be?” And I tell em “whatever you’d like from my list”
-“oh I saw your list, I was hoping you could throw in some FO or two more bottles of the one you’re already offering 3 of.”

Drives me crazy.

I even had a dude basically admit to me he was trying to squeeze as much out of me as possible that he knows he’s an asshole but it’s worth a try.

 

This

I mean do people realize it shows when you've read messages on ba?

Really annoying

 

Not being able to get without having any whalezzzz. And it's mainly because I'm not looking for whales. I don't have a cellar, as I drink most all beer fresh. Most of the time, I'm just looking for limited shelf/market releases, and that's what I offer back. I've had very few, really good traders that always are up for $4$/local/limited shelf beer trades. Everybody else has been all whalezzz or all nothingggg.

 

How about auctioning... trader has a hype beer for trade and asks for a type of beer in return. You offer 2 of said beers with higher ratings and higher quality and get the silent treatment. Guess someone offered more. Highway to the no trade and troll each trade request list.

 

It does happen, but it's hard. Venn diagram issues are a big problem with this. Indiana gets shit distro, and so unless you are offering something that is truly out of distro (and idealy has some type of name recognition, even if it is not a hype beer) you may get crickets.

There are good people out there. I have way too many trades under my belt now, and at this point I'd say all but a handfull were with extremely reasonable people that are just looking to trade good beer for good beer. I've traded up a couple times, and even in those cases people have been pretty reasonable - not making me go over by anything crazy.

Understand that I've sent probably 8 times as many PMs to start a trade as what I have completed trades...

 

When trying to negotiate a ratio for a trade and the person goes silent after your initial ratio offer. It's ok to counter if you think the ratio is unfair, we're all pretty flexible here. Don't just read the message, get offended and drop off the face of the earth.

 

I've gotten back into trading lately, and I've had more guys back out after an agreed upon trade in the last 3 months than I had in the previous 5 years. And when you call them out? "It's just beer!" they say.

I asked to back out of a trade once because I had a bunch of crazy family shit going on, the other guy said he'd like to complete it. You know what I did? I completed it with a good attitude because I had given him my word...I figured it out.

 

I only consider a trade agreed upon when there's a trade request accepted. This is the world we live in now.

 

I agree, but other mediums still require your word, as did BA before the feedback system.

 

Absolutely and I wish this process moved faster oh how I dread sending a message and being put in a line because the trader has so many other offers on the table.... I can think of like 1 time where i actually got a response after that. Kudos to those out there that shut things down quickly.

One of the most annoying things is when I put up a thread and someone replies "hey got any replies/this still open" I respond letting them know it is and they go ghost. Annoys the living daylights out of me.

 

- Ghosting
- Using tape on bubble wrap instead of rubber bands
- Poor packaging
- Shelf turds for extras
- Auctioning
- Overvaluing ANY hazy beer
- People who ship after Thursdays
- Not being honest about canning dates
- Sending old beer as extras
- Long lapses in time between messages

 

Unless you agreed upon the specific extras.... They are just that.... Extra

 

A few of my biggest in bold with taping bubble wrap climbing the charts. I'm a big proponent of using elastics to secure the bubble wrap with the idea that my trade partner can reuse all the materials I used in my box. I try to reuse anything that gets sent to me, but if the bubble wrap is taped like crazy and it's difficult get the bottle(s) out, it sort of ruins the ability to use it again. It ceases to become "wrap" and just filler since it's mangled from all the tape.

 

Completely agree which is why I always make sure to discuss extras and the expected quality of such. I personally will only send something that people would normally be willing to trade for. If I can go to the bottle shop and buy it myself I don't want it as an extra.

 

YES! The tape thing is very high on my list. I hate wasting anything, as the Veil says, "Recycle or Die"!

 

I think saying "something someone will trade for" is a bit hard to pin down.

For example, in terms of shelf beers near me that people would trade for...I have things like 3 Floyds hops, CW Barrel series, and maybe the very occasional BA stout (but even that requires me to drive 1hr +) for. Even in Indy, there aren't that many beers that people would really be interested in trading for that are just available on the shelf. Even special releases are very far and few between that people would want to trade for. We're not a blessed area.

So, unless you want either of these, if you traded with someone in my area, you're pretty much requiring that I send out something that I already traded for.

Hey, if you trade with someone in a place that has hazy beers, I get sending and getting haze. But not every area is so blessed. I really don't understand why people feel like extras need to be such high quality when the trader doesn't even have access to the type of beers you want as extras to begin with. (royal you. Others feel the same as you do.)

I'm also not keen on sending beers that I traded for (because I wanted them) out as extras if I am getting something back blind. And if it's not blind, then it's not really extras anymore. It's expanding the trade.

 

I can admit I don't use rubber bands but I also don't mummy wrap with tape.... So many do. I don't get that

I tape certain points... Just enough to keep the wrap in place. But can easily be removed by a finger tug

 

I can totally understand and respect that. Most of the occasions I've been disappointed with extras were from trades were quality beers can be found regularly. I understand that in more rural areas and smaller beer markets that I won't be getting something I consider "tradable" and in those cases I typically try to exclude extras and make sure that is discussed. I would rather not get extras than receive something that will end up going down the drain and wasting a brew or even the money the other guy spent to get it. I, like you, wouldn't send something as an extra I already had to trade for either because that would defeat the purpose of trading for it and I would miss out on getting to try it. It really comes down to communication about what is expected. I'm very fortunate to live in close proximity to Richmond, VA so I have access to a lot of "tradable" beers so I typically send a couple cans of Veil or Triple Crossing as extras.

 

I hear you. Not totally opposed to tape since it's what most traders are going to use, but do so within reason and make it easy to remove. Not mummy wrap like you mention.