I had a pre trade set up. I contacted the other trader once I had the beer in hand. It's been a couple days, and I haven't heard back from him. How long is the appropriate amount of time to wait before I pursue other trades...or for that matter drink the beer I had earmarked for him.
I'd say 3 days total starting with the first message sent and with a last message indicating fair warning and date when you will move on. If he's a long-term trade partner, definitely longer...up to a week or how ever long you're comfortable with.
I'd personally give the guy the benefit of the doubt. I think a week is very reasonable. I personally check the site multiple times per day but have come to realize not everyone does.
If you set up a pre-trade with someone & they don't answer within a "couple of days" the trade is off in my book. Why? IMHO, a glacially slow response to messages even before a trade is set up is one of my biggest red flags. If a trader is taking days between responses, I feel (from painful experience) that the trader is also going to be slow in shipping & cause you unnecessary concern. Communication is the foundation of this ridiculous hobby of ours. Bad/slow/intermittent communication is a leading indicator of a trader you don't want to deal with.
A week is reasonable. Then you put them on block so you remember not to trade with them again. The disappearing trader pisses me off. Man up and just say you are no longer interested. I would respect you more.
Send out another message basically saying that if you don't respond within the next couple of days (pick a specific day) that the trade is off. This way you feel comfortable you gave a chance and set a deadline for yourself.
Thanks for all the help. This will be helpful in the future. Turns out they got in touch with me minutes after I posted. It seems there isn't a consensus, but roughly, give them time to read your message, let them know you need some info, set a deadline, then shut it down.
Interesting comments I must say,so I ask you: What about contacting a BA for a trade,negotiate,then that trader YOU contacted goes out and gets beer for you.In this case it was ($30 worth,Cisco Peschish,Hooker Liberator),then BA backs out of deal because he found a better/easier offer? Even AFTER the contacted BA offered to ship 1st while he waited for a particular beer to be in stock and the trader still left that guy hangin w/that $30 worth of beer ? I couldn't resist asking.
give another bm before giving up. i know i sometimes think i sent a message to realize my browser crashed and i am at fault. so far profuse apologies have mended the 2 bridges i had damaged.
Looks like someone shouldn't be on the pre trade etiquette forum HaHa, called out for backing out of a trade after he picked up your beer, that some BS. I know a name to put on my block
Didn't want to start a new thread but also was looking for thoughts on pre trade etiquette generally. If both parties (and particularly the one that is ISO the pre trade beer) are fine with setting something up and the risk involved, is there any issue? I feel like pre trades tend to really rankle people who aren't even involved in the trade, but I'm not sure why other than it not matching with some arbitrary time in their mind when trading should begin for a release. Basically just tell me its cool so I can get some pre trades set up for the rest of my inventory.
It's cool - as long as you are very clear with your trading partners that the trade is subject to availability. That said, it's not the best idea. I was burnt by a sudden lowering of limits on a beer almost two years ago & had to tell a couple of great trading partners that I couldn't get them something. That wasn't fun. So unless you're 110% sure that you're going to be there in time, & the brewery isn't going to make any last-minute changes, I'd pre-trade with considerable caution.
