My "auction" got pulled. Help?

I think @jrnyc is spot on here. Without the $4$, the perception of a potential auction exists regardless of intent.

 

Maybe take 5-6 of what you consider to be your best bottles in the cellar, put them in a list, and also say something like "If these don't work for you, we could also find something else in my cellar." And yeah, specify $4$.

 

The problem is now that some people trade beer like they were traders on the NYSE exchange, anything that is not very specific can be interpreted as an auction. The problem is that people who are not auctioning off their beer but don't know exactly what they are looking for or have many beers to trade can get swept up in trying to stop auction posts.

 

I know a lot of people don't want to take the time to peruse a list of 700 beers. They'd rather look at a smaller list of beers that you're willing to give up for Stickee Monkee or whatever else you're looking for. A lot of people will ignore a post if they have to do too much work to figure out what you have FT.

 

Looking at just a few of the beers you've got you can easily pull a Monkee with: Cantillon, 3F, CW15, CW16, bbpt5, BA Speedway Stout, etc. or a combo thereof.

 

You could even post $4$ and ask people to comment directly in the post for transparency's sake. The first person to make a $4$ offer would get the trade.

 

In the ideal world to avoid behind the scene auctions, all trade posts would have to specifically state the exact beers and ratios and then the first person to respond that fits the acceptable criteria ( for example, not a bad trader, etc.) would get the trade.

Right now there are enough ambiguous posts for highly desirable beers where people are certainly getting a box full of BMS and then picking best offer. This is really an auction, just happening where no one can see it.

 

No offense, but trade conversations/negotiations take place via BMs.

@MilwaukeeBeerMaker, I agree with listing a few of your "top bottles". Some of those listed above (Cantillon, 3F, 15, 16, etc) will pull at least one Monkee. List 5-10 bottles you'd be comfortable trading 1:1 and say something like "pick one bottle from the list and if those don't catch your eye, here's a link to my other beers..."

That way it gives people a very clear idea of what you expect to trade and get in return.

 

I realize that's how it's usually done but:

Let's say the Stickee is $20 and the OP says he wants $4$ for any of his Gots. I send OP an offer of Stickee for Assassin. An hour later you send OP an offer of Stickee for $20 of WB Gose. I'd fully expect the OP to take your offer, but isn't that in effect a silent auction?

 

700+ is pretty impressive.

 

I think your example is a little extreme, but I know what you're saying. I think the solution I posted above would essentially solve the problem. The OP would be posting exactly what he's looking for, and 5-10 examples of what he expects to give up in return, which should be a pretty good sample size for readers to understand how he values the different beers.

EDIT: Having everyone post offers on his trade thread is not only against the rules, but I believe it'd cause MUCH more of a shitshow than it would help. Imagine all the people posting "I paid $X for beer ABC so I'd do 1:1" And then someone else posts "You got ripped off on that and you can't expect the OP to trade for that dollar-value!" Etc. etc. etc.

EDIT TWO: I think the whole issue here is by listing "ISO: Beer ABC FT: cellar link" you're just not setting any parameters or expectations. Therefore, the first guy that messages you could come in with a lowball offer. The next guy way over the top. So everyone's gripe is that you're able to just field offers and accept the best one. Whereas if you list a handful of your beers and say something like "1:1 with any of the following", you're clearly defining the trade while still giving people a list of options.

 

You might be able to trade for Stickee Monkee w/ Central Waters and New Glarus shelf beers.

 

I believe most auctions are done when you have a beer FT and are trying to maximize your return. I dont think what you posted should be considered an auction, just a FT with lots of options. Hell, maybe you want to trade all 700 of your bottles for as much Stickee you can get. No one can fault you for it or should look down on it.