Trading etiquette

I usually don't factor in shipping costs, but when someone is shipping many more bottles than me, it is likely going to cost more not to mention as someone else said the pain in the ass of shipping a lot of bottles. Also, they are using more packing material. So i throw in more stuff on my end.

Trading is about getting great beer and making relationships, if it all doesnt add up $4$ , who cares, it all evens out in the end. I have made some great trading partners, now we just ship each other stuff, I try to keep it balanced, but dont really even know the $ involved in detail.

 

I think if you were worried about shipping costs being different it should have been worked out before the trade was finalized. Now would it have been nice to receive a bit more? Sure. But I wouldn't feel it was required at that point.

 

Who cares about shipping costs? It's part of the hobby. Always send extras regardless of what the trade is.

 

finally something evilc and I can agree on.

I have a second case coming this week since all the face scratching and constant shaking is getting old

 

12 0z. 12 bottle shippers are great. Every time I send one out, I never see it again.

 

I estimate my billable rate of packing and shipping beer to about $20/hr....

 

If someone send me a box, I usually return the beer in that box with their shipping materials.

 

For sure. I had a recent trade where I was sending 4 12oz bottles and getting back 12 12oz bottles and one bomber. Since I don't have an awesome cellar I just picked up a make your own six pack of good local beer and sent that as well. I think part of the fun of this (aside from trying new beer) is being able to share some of the stuff you like with others who can't get it. That doesn't mean you always have to go crazy with some ultra rare item, sometimes just a few well made local brews works as well.

 

I just sent a single bomber to someone in Cali. from here (Canada). Shipping was $29.02! The reason I found it surpising is because 3 bombers usually costs me around $38. Guess I've learned my lesson- no trades for less than 3 bombers at my end!

(Moral of the above story - for those within the U.S., count your blessings when it comes to shipping!)

 

If you know that his box will be a pain to pack/ship, sending some nicer extras than usual might be in order. But you should be sending nice extras anyway.

 

While I don't normally factor shipping costs into my trades, it never hurts (unless you are broke) to send out more extras than usual.

 

Obviously, when the trade was set up the other party agreed to it. If both parties were happy in setting up a trade there is no reason to do anything special beyond normal extras. If you think you're taking advantage of someone who doesn't know any better, that is another story.

 

Yeah that is a good point. Sometimes, no matter how the ounces or dollars balance out, there are traders who prefer to stick with just the agreed beers. I usually ask if we are doing extras before shipping.

There are lots of things I don't factor into my trades anyway. I generally don't factor these...

Shipping costs (whether obtaining the beer or shipping the actual trade).

Driving time and cost.

Discounts.

Ticket purchase.

Price gouging.

I try to keep the trades list price for list price whenever possible. I am willing to throw in some local extras if you got price gouged but I avoid factoring that into the actual trade.

 

For unexplainable differences in shipping cost final destination may be a factor. Is it going to an urban center, or fifty miles down the road from the middle of nowhere? These factors are all figured by the carriers when pricing. Luckily I am out of town, but not far enough for my partners to get hosed.

 

Is it common for one person to ship first then the other to ship back using the same shipper box?

 

Not too common. Most trades between established traders try to ship at the same time.

 

I've done it plenty of times with traders I've traded with before.

 

Yes it is, depending on frequency of trades and/or a new trader shipping first.

 

Personally, I always send extras even if I am not sure the other person will or if the box I am packing is expensive to ship or a pain in the ass (living near FFF, I have shipped cases of ZD and it isn't fun). Extras seem more like a fun way to spread the love of beer.

The whole point of extras in my mind is to turn people on to beers they might not normally try or local things I like. I don't really try to think about the $4$ thing with extras or shipping. Of course, with established trade buddies I like to include unexpected things to make their day.