Bad Trader: @bstyle

I didn't create the thread properly, nor did I follow through with it properly, and I did two things I should not have done. That's what everyone is upset about. So get upset for me making a mistake in the BT thread, get upset for me acknowledging I made a mistake, but then tell me I know exactly what I'm doing? Clearly I don't if I screwed this up so bad.

 

Okay, first things first.

I have just received the box, and the one beer that was promised was in fact included. The contents of the box are: 1 Westvleteren 12, 1 Russian River Beatification, 1 Side Project Amis Pour Toujours, and 1 Side Project Fuzzy. I am unsure if this meets the price point of the box I sent, but as far as what was sent, I am happy with each of the bottles.

Now, a few things need to be addressed. I handled this thread very poorly. I completely acknowledge that, and I apologise for how I went about some things. When I first started the thread, I was in a very difficult spot, and I wasn't sure if it was the right course of action. I should have taken the advice that was offered, and should have gone about this the way it was suggested that I do. I was initially skeptical and apprehensive about moving forward with a BT thread. I could have started a thread in Trade Talk first to ask if this was appropriate, or I should have moved forward as suggested. I was caught up in trying to give the trader the benefit of the doubt, and hoped I would hear something back. Definitely a misstep on my part, and I apologise for how that was handled. When the tag was made, I shouldn't have given in to the demand to close the thread and retract everything I said, but at the time, given the reaction to the tag, I was worried that this was necessary to ensure the box was sent. That was a big mistake on my part, and I should have just let everything run its course in the moment. I also should not have engaged any of the trolls in this thread. Some of the comments made were entirely uncalled for, irrelevant, and were nothing more than an attempt to get a rise out of me, and further derail the thread. I've come to realise that I really shouldn't be bothered by a bunch of immature, snarky, comments from grown men on the internet who just want to incite drama. Hardly anyone in this thread actually knows who I am, nor do they know the situation, and why should I care about what they have to say, if it's neither constructive nor pertinent to the topic? It's all just silly, and I shouldn't have let it bother me, and I definitely shouldn't have even taken the time to acknowledge and respond to it. Nothing good ever comes from feeding the trolls. Lesson learned.

The trader actually called me, and while I don't think my point of view was understood - as in, why I was worried about this trade, and why I felt the need to do this, the trader argued that I should have called him, rather than request the box be sent via text. I asked for the box to be shipped between 7 and 10 times, and I felt that this was sufficient enough. Would a phone call have made a difference? I don't know. From my point of view, the thread was necessary, as I was worried the box wasn't going to be sent. The trader is adamant that there was no ill intent, and thinks I overreacted, and that a BT thread was unnecessary. The trader maintains that there was no dishonesty, that there is an original tracking number with a delivery exception, and that they feel no obligation to explain anything or prove anything to anyone. I maintain that from my perspective, there was great concern - which I felt that I expressed, and that two months was due cause for worry after not receiving anything, having asked many times. In the future, if my concerns are not resolved via text/PM, I will consider reaching out more directly, if that is an option. I thought my texts were sufficient, and became concerned enough to take further action.

This was a mess of a trade, and I hope no one has to go through what I did over what should be a simple, friendly act of exchanging beers. I am glad that the box was finally sent, but it should never have come to this. This has been quite the learning experience, and I've taken some valuable points away from this. I apologise for not taking the helpful advice from the community, I apologise for engaging in the immature dialogue, and I apolgise to the mods and staff who likely had their hands full when this whole thing got out of control. I appreciate the advice that most people gave, and I'm sorry I didn't take it at first. I particularly appreciate the messages sent, and advice that was given behind the scenes. It really highlighted the community aspect of this site, and put into perspective just how great some of you are. If I could go back in time, I would have just done what I should have done from the start.

As of now, this issue is resolved, though I wish I would have done a few things differently, that hopefully would have resolved this in a much less explosive and volatile fashion. I have learned how to properly conduct a bad trade situation, and I hope that there are others who can take something of value away from my mistakes here. I was entirely out of my element with this, and should have listened to the people who initially tried to help. I want to thank those who were only looking out for my best interest, and i especially want to thank those who privately reached out to offer help and support. I want to apologise to the people who offered advice - for not immediately trusting your judgement, and apolgise to the entire community for the missteps I made that caused this whole thing to drag out and get out of hand. I never wanted a 6 page thread full of arguing, criticism, trolling, and drama. I hope that this can show others the repercussions of being stubborn, and not taking helpful advice from others who ultimately just want to help. The toxicity that formed as a result is truly horrible, but at the end of the day, you have to remember that this is the internet, and you cannot take anything personally. If you don't engage in inflammatory dialogue, then the fault will only lay with those who do.

Once more, I'm sorry this whole thing got so out of hand, and I apolgise to anyone I may have offended, by not taking your advice, or by passing any judgement. Let's hopefully move past all this, and continue to thrive as a community of Beer Advocates.

In the end, the issue was resolved, but it never should have come to this, and I sincerely apologise for the role I played in allowing this to play out the way it did. Just being upfront, open, and honest will go a long way when dealing with public issues. I hope many of you can forgive me for the mistakes I made in trying to work out this issue. This has been a true learning experience.

I wish everyone the best, and hope none of you have to start a thread here.

Cheers, everyone.

 

I cannot disagree. If I was accused of anything I wasn't guilty of, I would do everything in my power to explain my side of the story. I cannot speak for him, but I would have really liked for him to give some kind of explanation, and share his side of the story. With only one point of view, it's very difficult to know the truth. I don't expect anyone to side with me, because only my side and opinion has been shared. If I'm seen as the bad trader, then so be it. I'm only guilty of poorly handling the situation, and I know that. At least no one was robbed of a box.

Cheers

 

Make no mistake, I'm not happy about any of this. Yes, I'm glad the main issue was resolved (getting the return box), but that's the only bright side to this multifaceted issue. I definitely wouldn't say I'm fine with how this turned out. Quite the opposite, in fact. It's just sad.

 

I begged for this piece of information. It would have really helped, and I said if nothing else, at least give it to me, and I'll post it. Unfortunately, I can almost promise it isn't going to happen. I made it very clear that's the best thing that you could do, and it will go a long way for some credibility. I haven't even seen the "original tracking number", I highly doubt any one else is going to either.

 

I received very clearly retaliatory negative feedback because of this, which has impacted my trader score when it should not have in any way.

I would just like to note once again that we agreed to a trade, I sent a request which was accepted, I promptly put together a very large box with some specific wants of the trader that can be seen on his profile, plus a ton of extra beer - much of it being brewery-only, I shipped in a very timely manner and provided tracking, and the trader expressed great satisfaction with my box, telling me I sent much more than enough.

Trader didn't ship for over two months with countless promised dates, and one claiming he shipped, which never resulted in a box. Ended up starting a BT thread, which eventually led to receiving a box. I left appropriate feedback for the trader, and then right before the trade expired, I have been left this retaliatory, inappropriate negative feedback, which has docked my reputation as a result - despite the trader being satisfied with the box, and me going above and beyond the promised trade.

 

I should also note, there were no real terms to begin with, execpt a few specific beers (which I sent) and a few specific beers (which he sent some of), and the agreement that he'd match my box $4$. He requested a few things, and I included them, the rest he left up to me. Any hoppy beer that was sent was all very fresh and within his preferred window.

 

I would also love to hear his reasoning for leaving negative feedback. My only rule is that he can't say, "Because @SierraNevallagash tagged me in a bad trader thread" - it has to pertain to our trade, and my quality as a trader.

I already know this can't possibly be done, but I'd still like to hear some justification.

 

Context for the start of the trade after the request was sent and accepted






I can provide more, but this just highlights the timeframe, the terms of the trade, when he got the box, etc..