I've always been one to bring a single unique can or bottle as an extra at IP trades. But my last two the other trader went way over board on me. I can see giving multiples and/ or something really special in the mail, but I don't expect it IP. Am I off here?
I usually will let my IP trade partner know if I don't have any out of distro extras (hey, let's skip extras as I don't have anything you couldn't just grab off the shelf), but aside from that...just like when you ship a box, some people are just incredibly generous with extras. Re-pay the next person with some monster extras maybe? Or do another IP trade and "get even" withe the last two guys
I ask everyone who I do an IP trade with if they're planning on extras. That helps me clarify whether to bring one, and often what level of an extra to bring. More often than not they appreciate the question, and it helps avoid awkwardness. That said, as a general rule, I now always bring one just in case.
I always bring an extra to an IP trade but I let the other person pull first. If they've got one, i reciprocate. If not, it stays with me. It's a weird kind of gambling to be sure, but that's my kind of party. I have gotten away from Extras for shipping by saying, hey let's skip the extras.
I always just hand people a bottle of something cool that I happen to have that they have on their wants list or something out of distro, just because I want to share something cool and basically say, thanks for meeting me out here to do this. I expect nothing in return. Once someone responded by giving me a ceramic mug that they made themselves, that was kinda neat.
This seems against the spirit of an extra, but maybe that's just me. To stay OT, though extras are always appreciated, I tend to not want extras for IP trades because I'm usually traveling, bag space is limited, and I may not get to drink said extra in time if I don't have space. I always try to bring extras of something tasty (if not local) and of a style the trade partner seems to like when I'm traveling for a trade.
I always try to bring something out of distro to share, but I've definitely been caught in the situation where I bring a bottle of Westbrook Gose and the other guy hands me a 4 pack filled with a Black Note, Apple Brandy Noir, Hair of the Dog 12 oz., and Kuhnnen BB4D. I've also been in the situation where the other guy doesn't bring anything and it's enough for me if they express their thanks and I go on my way knowing that they get to drink a decent beer they otherwise may not have.
