Locals for locals. Advice?

Right, but most of the fun of trading locals for locals is that I don't know what locals are around whatever region, don't really care, and just want to try some new beer. What you're saying is that I have to name whatever locals are around (not hard really), plus whatever locals somewhere else that I'm interested in. If I'm just wanting to try some new stuff and don't care that its Voodoo from Pittsburgh or Ozark from Arkansas or Live Oak from Texas... then that's loses a lot of the fun.

That's not an auction at all. Its actually very well defined if you put in that you're interested in $4$. I mean, I guess I could see how someone could 'auction' it by picking the 'best' locals someone offers, but you could say the exact same thing about lists or ratios (which feel MUCH more auction-y to me than locals-for-locals).

I'll go back to my original sentiment, if we've lost the ability to do open locals-for-locals trades, that makes me sad as that's how I got in to trading.

 

The next thing we know we will have to list batch numbers of the beers we are looking for!! Seriously though, as stated by the two previous posts. The randomness of the beers you can get in a L4L is what is appealing. I have found some really amazong beers by telling the other trader lets just do $40 worth of your local quality beers, I like IPA's but not intersted in BW sours. If I have to strictly say I want beers x y and z then I may just have to move on....

 

At the risk of facing the wrath of the mod team, I am going to multi-quote your post. Hopefully my responses are respectable.

The rules aren't complicated, they are just very rigid. And I do take issue with your use of the word "lazy". It's impossible for me to know what is available in a far-off region of the country. Heck, I don't necessarily know exactly what's available in my own area. Here's an example. Westbrook Gose is available in Georgia. But that doesn't mean it's always available everywhere. Koko Buni came and went quickly in Georgia, and was only distributed to PART of the state. Even using BA and Seek-a-brew, you can't know what's available and in stock. And while we are at it, Seek-a-brew has tons of flaws, it's very out of date. You also don't know how much stuff costs, so if you are trying to go $4$ you really have no idea. And for some, they don't care if it's locals from WI, TX, GA, or FL. They just want something new and interesting.

Going to disagree here on one point. It's not an auction. I feel like the mods on BA are very quick to throw the "auction" flag for circumstances that do not apply. Here is an example of an auctions: "FT: VR ISO: make me an offer". Clearly an auction. Auctions generally involve a really desirable beer, and hoping people throw in ridiculous beers to get what they want. Auctions involve a transaction that is NOT $4$, the instigator is trying to get way more than they deserve for their beer. And yet, these gross imbalances still happen with the current system. I've seen people put up $20 beers and ask for $50-60 of rare beers in trade. Saying "locals for locals" does not in any way IMPLY an auction. I will agree it's somewhat vague and somewhat open-ended. But there's no way to "auction" for more beer if you aren't pimping some highly regarded stuff.
In theory, any trade could turn into an auction based on PMs that are exchanged between parties.

The problem is that in an effort to protect people from bad traders, scammers, and jerks, we have restricted a lot of the fun things that beer trading can be.

Yes that would be allowed according to the rules. But it's so specific you'd never get a hit, (your target audience would be miniscule) and it really eliminates some of the most fun aspects about trading, the mystery aspect; as mentioned before.

Here's a better example of what a lot of people would like to do:

FT: CO Locals ISO: Your locals

Looking to do a $4$ trade for your local beers. I will assemble a box of 12 beers. 2 bombers, 4 beers from 4-packs, and 6 beers from 6-packs, costing me ~$50. These beers will be carefully chosen to exclude beers in your own distribution area, and I'll also make an effort to acquire beers to your tastes. You can request specific beers from my area if you like, but mystery is part of the fun. I am looking for an equivalent package of beer from an area that is outside the commonly distributed beer areas of my locality.

Because of the state of ISO:FT and the rules that are required (It's pretty much "whalez for walez" right now), I have pretty much abandoned that area and will focus on setting up trades through BIF and PMs. These trades are still "legal" according to the rules, and have always resulted in 2 happy people (both parties). Heck, my latest trade, the target only knows 1 of the beers he is getting, and probably forgot what it was. And I haven't specifically asked for much in return, but I know he'll hook me up. That's the great thing about building up relationships with people.