Getting started trading is tough.

I would agree with all of the advice in this thread, but I feel I should add that a lot of traders are a bit weary to start trading with someone without any sort of trade reputation. Offering to ship first is a great way to get over this fear for others. From my own experience, if the new trader is willing to ship first, I am more than happy to trade with a first time trader.

 

I am happy to trade locals for locals if you would like, esp if you are in Cali and can get some decent sours etc that we can get here in Dallas

 

I found that looking for existing trade posts that you have the beers to do is easier than posting your own for your first few trades. Also I agree that being upfront that its your first one and you will gladly ship first goes a long way with more expirienced traders.

 

You literally have someone on this thread that said they would be interested, probably at least worth sending them a message. Good luck, cheers!

 

If you're ok with a local shelf for local shelf trade I would be more than happy to trade with you.

 

People tend to not offer these types of trades anymore but they get done. When the whalez only movement started in ISO/FT this same topic was brought up & I posted a Locals for Locals ISO and did 4 trades that way & turned down 2 other people based on time & travel.

One issue is that there are so many ISO's out there that after you post one it hits page 2 in like 2 hrs so less eyes see them but you can definitely get started this way and I recommend that anyone does. #tickersgottatick

 

It didn't use to be... Trading here and many other places has become a what can get for this game and it fucking blows! The amazing culture of beer is dwindling and I feel sorry for some of the new guys out there. I have had a hard time locking down some of the easier favorites of mine as of late simpliy because people are just asking too much.

 

I started by soliciting people if they had a beer FT that I wanted (not super rare) because the FT/ISO is a place where I can't play or look because I have never even seen 99 % of those beers. Even if I had one of said beers some of the ISO list contain other elusive bottles that you need to get to the FT pat of the deal It is what it is I will stay small for some of the harder to find beers for me and enjoy those and not stress

 

One of my absolute favorite things about trading is who I meet trading and the relationships that develop. I never expected this to be a part of the culture. But you know what? It's really a part of what this community is all about. For me it's not about ticking off whales or hundreds of beers, it's about the social aspect of it all.

So my advice is to start slow; just try some things that you can get for some things that others cannot. I don't know where you are in California but there are so many things you can get on the shelf that I cannot get in Georgia. Just to get started, and as an example, you might trade something like Pliny (which you can pick up in SFO easily) for something like Tropicalia from me in Georgia. Lots of people here would do this trade all day long.

Do a few trades like this, get yourself some relationships going with regular traders. Don't be afraid to just ship a bottle or two to people you feel you can trust (think of it as beer it forward). Yes it's a risk but often worth the reward and the relationship building.

Step up to a higher tier like Chocolate Rain once you have some of these relationships and trades under your belt.

Yes, it's hard to get started but experience will get you to the point where you feel like you need to slow down

Also make sure you are maintaining a regular "cellar list" on here or elsewhere that's easy to link to. Make sure you are keeping what you are willing to trade marked as trade. People WILL reach out to you in time for things you have available to trade.