Should I post a "Bad Trader" thread?

Thanks in advance for reading all of this and for your opinions!

On Tuesday March 11th, a fellow BA messaged me inquiring about a trade thread I had posted. He agreed to send me some bottles for some stuff I had up for trade. Since he had only one trade under his belt and hadn't been on the site for a year, I did ask if he was comfortable shipping first. He said "of course" and told me he'd plan to ship out the following week (sometime between 3/17 - 3/21) due to the old lady already being pissed about all the trades he had been doing as of late. We agreed that I would ship back in his styro 6-bottle shipper. Well, that next week was about over and I hadn't heard anything, so I sent a message just checking to see if I should keep an eye on the porch. Got no reply. Sent another message on Sunday, 3/23 asking for an update, but again, got no reply. Sent a message yesterday, 3/26, which said this:

"Hey man, not to be a dick or whatever, but I can see that you're accessing the site but not responding to my messages. I'm okay with a delay if that's what has happened, but I also feel that communication is important with trading. Is everything alright? Are you no longer wanting to do the trade or something? Just let me know. I would appreciate an update, as I have these bottles down for an upcoming tasting and hope I am still getting them."

He has been on the site and has read everyone of my messages, yet there is still no response. This is delicate, I feel, because we had already formally set up a trade using the BA trading feedback system. My questions to the community are 1) at what point do I out the trader publicly on this forum? and 2) should I leave negative feedback at this stage?

My obvious dilemma is that he could trash me using the feedback system, if I leave negative feedback for him. At that point it would come down to he said/he said bull shit. I wish these few shitty traders here and there would stop trying to ruin this for all the many great traders on BA. This is getting out of hand honestly. Not only do I have to worry about getting screwed on trades now, but I also have to worry about my trading reputation, since a guy like this could verbally trash me using the feedback system.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. And cheers to all the good traders out there!

Brother Kenneth

 

First of all, thanks for all the feedback. I think you all are right about this. I may try to send one more message and then go ahead and post something on here about it.

This was my dilemma in the first place. I understand your point, and you are right that I am out of nothing here. No big deal as far as that goes. But, since the trading system works the way it does, I have no choice but to leave feedback. Are you proposing that I leave positive feedback? We have exchanged addresses and also agreed on both sides to a formal trade (using the system), so something is going to have to happen, unless there is some way to cancel the trade - which I am not aware of.

I initially thought there must be something going on that I am not aware of, a legitimate excuse of some nature. Trust me, I am a very patient trader. However, there is simply no excuse for the dude to be reading my messages daily and browsing the forums, yet still not responding. How long does it take to simply say "Sorry, I changed my mind" or "Sorry, my relative is sick and things are crazy right now"? Given the nature of my messages to him, it would seem appropriate that at least some form of response be sent.

 

I appreciate your response. I will have to think on this.

 

Thanks for your input! I need to be sure that I am not labeled a bad trader on his end though. Part of me thinks I will just avoid using this system moving forward, unless I have traded with the person before. That way I don't have to take chances like this.

 

Thanks for your input dude. Also, Pantera fucking rules.

 

Steve, you have to be the same dude I follow on IG, right? Glad to see you on here! Also, I really like this idea. If he will agree to that, I think I would be cool with that option. Didn't think about that, but I guess I could initiate a message between me, the dude in question, and Todd to see about having the trade wiped out. I just don't want shitty feedback, in case this dude is actually a fucking liar/douche bag/etc. Not saying he would do that, but who knows at this point.