IT Forward/ LIF/ BIF

This is a helpful read too.

http://alewatcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-trader-tips.html

 

That IS a great read! I'm wondering about the etiquette of one dude shipping a nice styobox and receiving something totally worthless for a future trade. I guess that might just be the luck of the draw, but I could see someone being bummed they gave something super usable and got back a couple boxes and some bubble wrap.

 

Sports related LIF, run one each month: http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-lif-aprils-edition.168400/#post-2328945

 

This is a very good point. I used to ALWAYS send out brand new shippers (at 10-15$ each, it adds up), and then get crumpled up paper and used bubblewrap with a bunch of tape on it in return. Needless to say, I don't always use styro shippers anymore. Anyway...

It's pretty simple. If you are concerned with the packing materials you get in return, just communicate with your trading partner. Most importantly, it's about getting bottles to and from your trading partner safely. If you can get your bottles to their destination intact without a styro shipper, than it really doesn't matter. With that said, if I am
NOT using a shipper, I use clean bubble wrap (do not use tape, use rubberbands), packing peanuts, box, etc.
Something that they can re-use in their next trade.

If you're new to trading and you're sending out first, anyway. Send a shipper and request that your returned package be in the same shipper. If it's a regular trading partner, do the same. It it's a random trader, just ask.

 

I certainly prefer receiving a styro shipper and "clean" packing materials, but most important thing is beer gets there safely. Any time I receive overly taped or beat up packing materials, I will repurpose as filler. I rarely if ever actually wrap a bottle in used bubble wrap.

Keeping a shipper between trading partners is a good idea.