Clarification on rules and neutral feedback?

I haven't had this happen since the feedback system was in place, but I can think of at least three guys who I would have rated "neutral" in the old days - all for repeatedly missing deadlines to ship, not bothering to answer queries while they're otherwise active, but eventually (2-6 weeks after agreed) sending their box. To me, if someone is two weeks plus outside the promised shipping window, that warrants neutral feedback. History has shown that these folks are also very likely to become bad traders.

I can't think of any other reason I'd put someone at "neutral" but I'm sure there are circumstances that would warrant it. Bad packing job wouldn't do it; but I do always mention this to the trader when it happens, i.e. "Gee, the beer made it here, but I'm a little surprised."

 

Two weeks plus outside the promised shipping date is getting kissing close to deserving negative fb unless the ongoing communication is exemplary & sound reasons for the delay(s) are provided. This is doubly true if the delays involve hop forward brews.

Many times the 'reasons' we see given here appear to be excuses for laziness rather than bona fide situations that needed or deserved more time.

 

Agreed. Beyond 2 or 3 days it better be family emergencies / births / deaths or that sort of thing. I have had traders who got called into work for overtime and that sort of jazz, but they always get the package out in the next day or two. If my box has arrived at your door and you haven't sent yet... well sure, life happens, but come on, it isn't that hard.

I have had one trade partner who was able to find a friend with a black tuesday, trade that off him, and still get my package to my door within 10 days... I am starting to get a lot more intolerant of bullshit laziness.

I have also started to communicate shipping dates very clearly in my mail trades - so far so good, but long delays (ie multiple weeks) = negative feedback as far as I am concerned unless someone gave birth or died (or something major like that).

 

I would say any situation where the beer eventually showed up but you spent a significant amount of time thinking it very possibly would not.

 

I've personally left 2 'neutral' feedbacks - 1 for someone who accepted the trade & exchanged addresses with me, then backed out of the trade (I made note that no beer was lost), and a 2nd one for literally the worst packing job I've ever seen (4 bombers thrown in the middle of a box, not bubble-wrapped, nothing).

 

I left one for sending the wrong bottle then asking me to ship back. He did provide a label, but then sent no extras when he said he would send than you beers, and this was after he sent no extras the first time when I did. I did denote that I did not think anyone would be in danger of not receiving beer, but I just couldn't leave "good" after that ordeal.

 

The first time round with no extras, fine, no big deal since it wasn't agreed as part of the deal; but then when he said he would send something nice as an extra for his mistake and didn't? To me that is now part of the deal, and I would actually be pretty annoyed. That sucks - I would certainly not trade with someone who did that.

 

It boggles the mind that good communication / packing / timeliness / extras are not standard practice. But you encounter the same s**t in most other aspects of life. It's just surprising that some people get by each day.

And to answer the question - I've only traded twice on here, and both experiences were great. But I wouldn't hesitate to leave neutral where the box wasn't sent on time containing the agreed upon items, without very good communication to explain what the issue was.

 

If it's part of the deal, it's no longer an extra. Extras are things you throw in the box in addition to the agreed-upon trade.

 

This is a good thread to read through for all new guys like myself. Glad I saw this. I have never had a problem trading on other forums (cigar, bourbon) but it was just good to read peoples expectations on here. FYI, non of which has been said above do I think is out of the ordinary. Promptness, packaging, "extras" and communication are just the fundamentals of being a good trader/person.

 

I had 12 BCBS sent to me once in a box, bottles sitting upright, unsecured with a strip of paper towel laid between the bottles. They all made it. I have no idea how.