So when did "extras" become mandatory?!

Sounds like you should update the Beer Trading Rules & Info bit.

 

Tipping at a restaurant or tipping at a Starbucks or tipping at a book store? The reality is that the etiquette behind giving that something extra depends almost entirely on the situation and as with any unwritten rules there's going to be a world of disagreement.

My minimum tip at a restaurant for even the most miserable service is 20%. Tip goes up from there as service improves. I'd call someone who'd tip 0% under any circumstances a complete asshole, but I'm 100% sure that some posting in this thread would disagree. Matters of etiquette are always more complicated than people want to make them seem and obscure matters of etiquette are even worse.

My recommendation: There's only one way you can be in a position where you can be sure that nobody's feelings will get hurt, which is that you plan to be generous with extras out of the goodness of your heart and legitimately will not be upset if you don't receive anything in return. If that's you then don't worry about it. But that seems to cover very few people on this thread. Most either don't send any normally, or do send some normally, but with the expectation that they will get some in return. In either case the best thing is probably for both parties to make their expectations clear during the process.

 

I'm not sure that extras are mandatory, but after 2+ years of trading on this site, I would say that extras are certainly expected. If you're not planning to include extras, I would highly recommend laying this out at the beginning of the trade so that your trade partner doesn't feel obligated to include them either, otherwise he might feel a little put-out. It's totally cool if you don't want to include extras, but most people do, and not doing so without making it clear beforehand is a bit of a dick move in my opinion.

 

How is this an extra? What was the point of mentioning it and the price tag if it's an 'extra'?

 

Wouldn't asking for extras make it part of the trade, albeit a potentially random part of the trade?

 

I don't think you're supposed to ask for them. Just say "I'm sending x beers for y beers, plus ill shoot you a few extras" if they want to send them then they will

 

I've always traded with a $ limit (Ex: $50). When we talk about the trade (specifically our wants) I would give them an idea on what would bring them up to that limit. With that being said, I always go about $10-$15 over that limit but that is because I WANT to do that and I like when the person I'm trading with gets excited when they open their package. If they do the same I am always happy, but if they don't I don't take it personally…..I don't get offended. Tack this up to the "Pussification of America" and people thinking they are entitled to things or are too worried about offending someone. I treat everyone with the respect that I expect to be treated with….that is until they don't deserve my respect anymore. I won't however trade with someone who rubs me the wrong way in our conversations like "mtbdonn" is talking about.

If "extras" are talked about, they are NOT extras…..they are beers talked about and agreed on in the trade. Extras are beers people aren't expecting. In my eyes, extras should be a surprise that the person doesn't know about.

 

Personally this is my favorite part of trading. I still remember a text from RochesterAaron early the morning my box landed on his door step "Dude... WTF?!" That is a way way better feeling than "winning" a trade.

If the "winners" need a reason to throw in extras keep this in mind: If you regularly crush porches everyone is going to want to trade with you and will likely be more willing to let their favorite (read: rare) beers go if you've shown a tendency to go overboard with the extras. The opposite is also true

 

You're putting the ***** up on a pedestal...

 

I absolutely love this answer! Can't agree more! Entitlement issues at work bigtime here. Reflection of society as a whole today.Pretty sickening IMHO,of course!

 

Based solely on this thread it seems like it may not be as customary overall as it has been in your experience.

Either way, I don't disagree with you, except to add that if you're going to be upset if you don't receive them why not just take it on yourself to bring up the issue when you're discussing the trade? In the situation you're describing both the person who isn't planning on sending any extras and the person who will be upset if they don't get any extras know that there is the potential for one person to have hurt feelings/be upset about the trade. I think both parties should take it upon themselves to make clear their expectations. Nothing is lost by doing so.

 

I've done about 50+ trades, and I have never, not once, received or sent a box without extras unless it was clearly laid out ahead of time. i.e. "I'm shipping these two bottles in a 2-bottle shipper, so let's not do extras". Or, "let's set a price limit on the box and just send whatever" (basically a 2-person BIF).

For the most part, if you look at the "anti-extras" camp, it's a lot of newer users and/or users who don't trade a lot. i.e. people who don't really understand the customs of the trading community.

 

Nice to see they have a spokesperson.

 

The best part about extras, are that they aren't required but are still expected. I can send out a box without them, get a box in return that has awesome ones, and not only do I win the trade in landslide fashion, but you can't label me as a bad trader because the agreed upon beers arrived on time and in tact!

Seriously though; my actual take on this scenario is that the person who posed this question didn't feel like he had a smooth enjoyable experience, and elected to not send extras. Guy he traded with became a whiney **** and rudely let him know he was bothered by it. I would have still sent extras, but if the trade didn't go smoothly, they wouldn't have been as nice as they otherwise would have been, and I typically send brewery only extras etc, often at greater desirability than many/all of the agreed upon beers.

To use the analogy that everyone sees most fitting.

I had an unenjoyable experience/bad service at a restaurant. (Bad trading communication)

I neglected to tip/tipped very little. (no extras)

Server/bartender made a stink about it. (Trader cried about receiving no extras)

I would have tipped/over-tipped despite bad service. (I still would have sent some extras, probably not as many)

I usually tip about 25%, sometimes as much as 50% if it's a single beer etc. (I send great extras usually)


Crying about not getting extras (in this case) seems like a much douchier move than not sending them, given the details provided.

 

This. Unless explicitly agreed upon by both sides prior to shipping, I always toss in at least a couple "extra" beers. Makes trading more enjoyable, both in surprising the other person as well as opening up a box and being surprised myself.

 

This word really needs to be removed from the dictionary. It has been overused to the point that it has completely lost all meaning.

Either side of this debate could justifiably sling the "entitlement" word at the other side, which is almost always the case, which is why nobody should ever use the word again.

 

I can't believe all the negative sentiment in this thread. There are clearly too many people who don't understand the spirit of trading.

Extras are mandatory unless you specify in the trade that you're not going to be sending any for whatever reason.

Those reasons can be whatever you want them to be, but don't let someone go out of their way to nail a couple of your Wants and spend some extra $$$ on you when you have absolutely no intention of reciprocating.

That is what makes you an asshole.

 

I have always given/received extras.Then again I always makes sure to ask and see if trade partner wants to participate.If not,cool,atleast I know and we are on the same page.As its been said already,extras can be the best part of a trade!I just make sure and say,"I don't care if its a pale ale,as long as I don't get it in my area and it's FRESH,I'm game!"

Happy Trading,

Cheers All........

 

If you're worried about money or the efficient use thereof, then trading is not for you. If you want to receive hard-to-get beers that you would not be able to obtain via any other method (except maybe ebay), then trading is a good option.

As for the original question, I would say that extras are customary, not mandatory. I've never done a trade where I did not send or receive extras (unless explicitly defined ahead of time).

Dope