underwhelming box etiquette

I've never received a box that was more underwhelming than the one I sent in return, so I don't have to worry about this hypothetical scenario.

 

haha I got nothing cool to trade and no cantillon to extra

 

This is my favorite thing about trading

 

It's not generosity on your part if you're expecting reciprocation. You send out good bonuses to send out good bonuses - not shame the other person into sending you good stuff.

 

re-trading extras is a whole different topic.

 

"Good stuff" is relative. I get offered a lot of regional stuff (hard to get?) from other traders that I am not really interested. Others are thrilled with shelf beers that aren't available in their region.

 

If the extras you sent were better than the ones you received then obviously you lost the trade. I would then file a grievance with the elders of the internet.

 

The elders are unkind, no grievances allowed. That is why you post a Pre-ISO:FT asking how best to **** anyone who dare enter a trade with you for your bottlles.

 

Says the man responsible for a Tycho-sized crater on my own porch.

But that's one of the key points of a great trade: one where both parties are convinced they got the better half of the deal.

 

I set up a trade with someone from Florida with a set amount of $ in good locals to be sent in return. I also stated that I would send extras along with my box to him. He had $40 to make up in locals, sent $22 in locals + a 12oz Burton Baton and a 4+ month old 12oz Weyerbacher Double Simcoe. On top of that he didn't send any extras, unless that's what the DFH and Weyerbacher bottles were . My extras to him were a homebrew Berliner bomber, '12 BCBS, '12 CW BBBW, and a fresh Zombie Dust.

He received my box and placed me on his "Good Trader List". I contacted him and told him how he shorted me on the agreed upon trade. He then removed himself from the conversation and took me off his good trader list.

No response whatsoever.

 

^^^ bad trader list.

 

Seriously, that guy needs to be outed on the bad trader list.

 

As someone who has only been trading just over 6 months, the first time someone said something about Extras I was a little confused. It may have been that most of my early trades were to the West coast and seemed like everyone wanted exact $4$. Then, a guy from PA mentioned extra locals and I thought, thats a cool idea. So I have been throwing in at least a couple Three Floyds and or other Midwest locals with every package now whether we mentioned it or not. Haven't tried to outdo anybody but just spread the Beer love as much as possible.

So back to OP, it helps to know who your trading with obviously and nobody wants to seems like a Noob, so it doesn't hurt to mention extras when BM's go back and forth, but as someone said above, don't just sent local crap, either send decent stuff or find out their particular style prefs...

just my 2 cents..

 

As long as I get what we agreed upon, I'd never in a million years say anything. An extra is an extra. Now, if I drop a really nice extra or two on them and they send me a 6 month old IPA back, I'm probably going to tame it down significantly if I ever trade with them again. But, I'd still never say anything.

In all honesty, almost everybody sends a nice box. As long as you put some thought into it, it will be fine.

 

i'm usually pretty understanding, because i know a) all extras are not expected/"extra and b) i know i send out some awesome extras and some that are less awesome. Depending on beers i've got kicking around the cellar, what's available at the store, how many trades i've got going out, how many times i've traded with someone, and how big the actuall agreed upon trade is, i know the quality of my box changes and i figure everyone else's does, too. i'm one of those "it all evens out in the end" kind of guys.

If i've got several smaller trades going out, i usually try and get some decent local 4/6-packs (FFF, Upland, Founders etc) to split up and give people a couple bottles of variety to try. If i've got one big box going out (or with a repeat trading partner or someone who was especially generous in the agreed upon trade), i'll try and see if i can knock out something really cool for them. hitting wants is always awesome, and i usually try to ask if someone is partial to particular locals they can't get.

Basically, if i get what we agreed upon, i'm ok either way, extras are just bonuses. if they were always awesome, it wouldn't be that fun! (ok, maybe it would be....)

 

Yeah, didn't know if this qualified for the list or not. It seems that it's filled with people who completely flake on sending a box back.

 

Call him out, it's slow today.

 

As long as the agreed upon bottles were there, you should have no beef. Although, I personally keep track of my trades on a google doc, and will list whether I would trade with this person again or not in notes. I also follow the forums and will add some to the "do not trade with" just from their posts