So when did "extras" become mandatory?!

This thread makes me glad I don't trade.
I will stick to online purchasing.
Blackwells a d France44 don't expect extras

 

i never knew so many people were anti-extras. i have to assume none of you have ever received an awesome package with great extras

 

I always send extras, it is just trade etiquette in my opinion. I'm not offended when a trader does not send extras, especially if it was not discussed.

 

You did for me! Thanks for the Foothills glass Tim!

 

How can you win a trade if you send more good beers than you need to....?
Unless agreed upon i have sent extras in every trade and if i can hit a want i will or a bottle we discussed but didnt agree on or highly rated from their favorite styles. I have gotten a few boxes where people found 6-8 month old ipas and tossed them in so i can pour em out instead of them.
Ive also not gotten extras when people have said ill toss in some cool extras and didnt send one ohh well.
Just move to the next one and some of my regular traders have been very generous sending cool things and thats just as fun to open as the main bottles in the trade.

 

Extras by definition are something more than what was agreed upon to be traded. However, nearly every trade comes with extras and the one's I've done that did NOT come with them were when the person specifically stated they wouldn't be sending extras. They are pretty much mandatory. Think of it like cuddling after sex, you have gotten the job done, but there is a little more that everyone expects, most times.

 

Who in the hell gets a box and thinks to themselves "Great, my agreed upon beers have finally arrived"...almost no one. Like me, Id assume that most BAs tear open theirs boxes in anticipation of the extras you received. While I will agree that an EXTRA by definition is exactly that...EXTRA, it is kind of expected at all trades unless previously agreed upon. I do exactly what CaveDave said earlier...I ask to see if your Wants are current, people normally dont ask that question unless they want to bang one of them. If you are a cheap ass or cant fulfill a want, at least send a couple of 12oz bottles of local beers or decent beers that they dont have access to.

I recently had a trade where where we agreed upon the trade and before the shipping date arrived, I had come across a superior extra but it was 12 bucks and I mentioned it (and the price) if it is was something he was interested in, He enthusiastically wanted it...Great, done. I bought said extra and tossed in a couple of local beers too. In return, I got a bad homebrew and a bomber of a 4.95 bottle. I was pissed but steamed on my own because it was exactly that...an Extra. Although a lot of BA friends agreed that I got dorked on the extra, given the fact that he knew full well that he was getting at least a 13 dollar bottle at least. Point of the story, I will never trade with that person again and my BA friends know to avoid this person....lesson learned.

 

This thread stresses me out. Im just starting to trade, and am only in the middle of my 2nd trade. I haven't even thought about extras. I was unaware that this was a thing. My first box sent, I didn't even have room for extra bottles. Now I'm worried the other trader thinks I'm a shitbird for not including one. Buuuuuhhhh.....

 

This. End of story.

No idea who you traded with, but I don't trade with anyone who gives off a bad odor at any time during our communication.

To directly answer the OP, the guy is an ass. I've only rec'd a handful of boxes over the years without extras. Disappointing? Sure, 'cause I love surprises. A reason to harass your trading partner? Absolutely not. Chalk it up to dealing with a jerk & don't trade with them again, that's all you can/should do.

 

I agree with what people say about extras having the potential to make a trade amazing, but I do consider them to be optional. Personally I have never done extras (except bar mats) in either of my 2 trades so far because a) when i did my first one i had no idea it was a common thing to do, and b) on my second trade I had no more room in my bag (it was in person). I think I will begin to send them as I get to know the people I trade with more though, and as I get more experienced. Also when I get more money. Postage is expensive and so is decent beer.

In order of importance for me really:
1) sending the correct beers as agreed - tbh I'd rather offer them a better deal up front in the trade than risk sending stuff they don't want/have already had.
2) getting it packaged decently and posted promptly
3) extras

 

when i set up a trade, i'm trading specifically for what was agreed upon. there is no expectation whatsoever of "extras". if i wanted something "extra" from the trade partners area then i'd just go ahead and include it as part of the swap.

seems kinda ridiculous to complain about not getting more than what was agreed upon. if you wanted more then just expand the trade to include what you want.

seems awfully entitled to expect more than what you paid for.. and to bitch when you don't get it.

when ordering eggs, toast and oj for breakfast i don't expect eggs, toast, hashbrowns a side of bacon, glass of milk and oj.

 

I am relatively new to the trading culture. I was unaware of the etiquette initially. With that said I now include extras in most cases. I recently did a trade IP and drove two hour round trip for the deal. I thought of adding extras but did not due to some timing etc. He on the other hand really hooked me up with some amazing extras. I add them most the time unless the package is huge.

 

Agree with what most of you are saying. I've always included extras unless otherwise agreed on. I wouldn't say anything about not recieving extras, but those ones are certainly the less memorable trades. A few BAs have blown me away with generous extras and that always makes for fun competition trying to outdo them on the next round.

Extras are just the fun factor in a trade. Who doesn't like to have fun??

 

Do they send them? If not, you will never get a Black Tuesday, or any other crazy ass beer from generous folks, as an extra, like I have. You also will not be getting any surprise boxes from them either.

 

I think the tipping analogy is the best one.

Extras are certainly not required, but unless you have really good reason to do so, it's expected. The quality of the extras can depend a lot on the other person - how smooth the trade went, how generous they were with the deal, how likely you are to want to trade with them again, and all sorts of other factors. Bottom line - if you want to earn trading partners and get a good rep, some form of extras are required.

In your case, you clearly had a rocky and not-so-fun trade experience, so I don't think you were in the wrong. Just like an awful service experience at a restaurant/bar, you may not want to tip.

The exception to the tipping analogy is when you agree ahead of time on no extras. I've done a couple of trades like this - it seems to happen most often when the ideal shipping containers don't allow for it. i.e. a 2 bottle shipper, or maybe even a 6-bottle shipper.

At the end of the day, extras are the best part of trading, so it kind of boggles my mind to see people in here talk about not doing them unless it is agreed upon.

 

No, they just expect a 50% markup on shipping costs instead.

Not to mention half the beers you end up with as extras are harder to get than anything ever for sale on an online store...

 

Extras! We talkin bout extras?! Not a trade. Not a trade. We talkin bout Extras?

Sorry, had to go off on my favorite Iverson rant.

I always include extras. I consider those as part of my trade. I judge each trade on the amount/quality of extras that I might send, but there is always something in there.

 

I'm so glad I don't trade! Extras? One bottle (large format) costs quite enough to ship, usually more than the value of the bottle, or same as. I would rather take that money to a great bottle shop.

 

What's up with the feeling in this thread that if you don't send extras you're either cheap or an asshole? Seems overlly judgmental to me.

 

I'll typically include a 12oz extra unless it's inconvenient to ship.