I've been a long-time lurker on BA but just recently decided to dip my toes into trading (I know, slippery slope). I've read through most of the compiled material (a formal FAQ, walkthrough or guide stickied to this forum like AleWatcher's http://alewatcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-trader-tips.html would be extremely helpful for beginner's). Anyways, I was just curious if the pros out there had any advice about setting up a first-time trade. More importantly, where do I find someone willing to trade with a rookie? I expect to ship my trade first, just curious if you guys had suggestions of what to trade for and where to start? Thanks in advance.
I was also a long-time lurker since 2007, but I completed my first trade this summer. Since you're in Colorado, there's quite a bit of local brews that you could offer that others can't or can no longer obtain. Look for ads in ISO:FT from traders that are looking for beers that are readily available or obtainable by you in your area (or place your own ISO post with what you have to offer). Also, search for the bad trader list in order to weed out the unsavory characters that prey on new and seasoned traders alike. Have fun and don't take it too seriously...the shipping adds up in the end, but it's a great way to try beers that you would not be able to otherwise.
We were all rookies at one time , as mentioned above use some great Colorado locals and do a local for local trade - nothing huge just something to get your feet wet .. good luck ...
Start with locals. A lot of new traders these days want all whales, but you're much more likely to find a continuing trading partner who will hook you up by starting with locals. Edit: Dammit, MordorMongo... Beat me by moments.
I am new, I started with a new person in Texas, we are on our second trade, nothing insane. We both get things we want to try, and a reference for the future. I just shipped a box today to someone that has been around for a while, a one for one of not super rare stuff. I think the trick is to do what they say, but it is hard when you double the cost of non rare beer with the shipment, but the end goal is to be able to have friends all across the US that you can trade cool rare stuff with. One thing that makes it hard for me is that it seems every trade thread is someone looking for a whale, so I have no chance to jump in. The coolest stuff I have is just kind of rare, although this November I am going to Hardywood on Gingerbread Stout release day. :-) If nothing else, this place gave me more ideas of what to try, or try to get to.
Shoot for hooking people up instead of "winning" the trade value balance. Generosity begets generosity. Edit: Go Heels (through marriage for me...somehow, she'd know if I didn't type Go Heels).
But Chad, trading sparingly goes counter to what the initial poster wants. He wants to get out of the "new trader" label, for that, you need to trade a few times, with different people.
Pay pal me 40 bucks, i will send you a box of beer. Will hopefully give you a good es of how to pa a box
This cannot be stressed enough. The people who have gone the extra mile to get me good beer have done so because I might have gone out of my way in the past. And when someone is generous, I try to pay them back if I can. On that same idea, start slowly. Quality over quantity.
Thanks for all the great advice everyone. The advice about securing trade partners more than securing rare beers is something I hadn't given much thought, but totally makes sense. I know we have great access to beer here in Colorado, so I will definitely use that access to my advantage. Odell, Crooked Stave, Dry Dock should all be good choices in some local for local trades. I think I will start slow with some selective trades and try to find long-term trade partners more than pursuing one-time trades. As others have mentioned, the hard part for me is that there aren't very many local for local postings. Most of them seem to be for whales and rares that I'm not going to have access to. Maybe I'll just start my own and see if anyone's interested. Thanks again for the help and if anyone is interested in some Colorado offerings (Odell, Great Divide, Dry Dock, Crooked Stave, etc.) or ones I have access to (Firestone, Russian River, etc.), let me know. I'm always up for trying something new.
Don't start trading, there are already too many attendees at my Beer Traders Anonymous group(we usually exchange beers at meetings, so no one knows except us). I have regular trade partner in Colorado that sends stuff from Dry Dock(way underrated in my book), Trinity, SKA, Avery, Odell, New Belguim, Crooked Stave. You have plenty of great ammo to trade with.
The only advice I would give is don't get in over your head. Take one trade at a time and make sure you communicate well with your partner. I think the majority of issues that traders experience are based on the fact they bite off more than they can chew. Trading can be a very time consuming and expensive hobby if you let it, and it can get out of hand quickly.
Thanks for posting this. I've been around a little while but have not done any posting with anyone on here so it's a little intimidating when I see so many people with 30-60 different trades under their belts. I've sent a few boxes to my cousin in Jersey local for local and it's been fun so now I'd like to expand out. I think I will take everyone's advice and start with locals (NC) and go from there. With that said anyone want to trade some locals for locals? Cheers Chris
