Trend toward no extras?

You're gonna get a lot of "They're extras! You shouldn't expect them!" comments, so lets get that out of the way now.

I agree. I think blowing people up with extras used to be a given, but now its not. I remember trades that were for 5 bottles, and both sides sent full 12 bottle shippers.

I actually intentionally ask about extras now. When wrapping up a deal, I'll just outright say "do you want to include extras, or not?" That way, no one is disgruntled, and there can still be surprises, since I don't ask WHAT to send or is being sent.

 

I've never asked about extras: it's part of the fun.

That said, I've been trading for more than eight years, here & elsewhere, & the no-extras trend seems to have just started in the last year or so. I have no idea why. Many times, it was the coolest part of the trade, & the fact that they seem to be vanishing &/or being downgraded is a bit sad. But it is what it is.

 

Agree with the above, I'm a new trader and with my most recent trade, I went ahead and just said "1 extra" in my half of the deal and laid it out in my trade partner's deal. I'm kind of a detail-obsessed person so i like having absolutely everything documented and accounted for. I ended up getting one more extra in my box, what a nice gesture. Hoping to pay it forward with the next one!

But I will now always indicate that extras are involved because I like the ideaof them. Fun surprises!

 

Ive never not received extras unless stated otherwise. Heres an example of how I assume extras when Im trading to make it doesn't happen:

"Ok, let me know if this works

A + B + C + extras (local hops, nice extra)
for
D + E + G + extras (local hops, nice extras)


Cheers!"

Whatever you're looking for, just be more specific. Knowledge is power to the new guys and ignorance is bliss!

 

With new traders, it is hit and miss.

One trader, traded a few times and I always included an extra or two, he has mentioned the extras but did not send an extra back. Maybe because he said I might need to add to balance out shipping.

Another new trader sent first with no extras and i sent him a couple extras and he was grateful and felt bad. Next trade his extras included a heady topper which I thought was really cool.

If a trader has a few trades, it is not always expected especially if they are trying "to win the trade".

 

As I get close to finalizing a trade, I usually ask my trade partner if he or she has any style preferences or wants from my distro so that I can throw in a few extras that I know will be appreciated. I never ask for extras in return, but I do try to make it known that I will be sending them. At that point, I figure that it is on my partner to decide if he/she wants to throw any extras in. I've never not received extras, but I wouldn't lose too much sleep if someone chose not to include extras. I've always figured that if I blow up enough porches, then when I really want to land something in the future, I'll have a pretty decent group of people that I can reach out to who will also hopefully want to trade again in the future. I prefer to keep my beer karma in the black...

 

I have noticed it as part of the 'winning' trades trend. Extras are more an afterthought - one or 2 cans of whatever happens to be in the fridge. Like other posters, I tend to ask / hint about extras now and usually just agree to a random selection of locals for a nominal amount (say $15) as the 'extras' bit - it keeps the trade fun but avoids anyone being butt hurt because they sent way more than their partner.

 

I've noticed that recently there appears to be an influx of new traders that haven't necessarily been shown the ropes so to speak, or taken the time to research proper trade etiquette. Sadly it appears that with an influx of high demand beers being more readily available (TH, Trillium, Bissell, etc based on increased output), new people are signing up on the site and looking to win every aspect of a trade, essentially viewing it as a monetary transaction rather than a community of people with like interests. They have outrageous demands, waste peoples time by not replying to conversations, and don't include extras among other things. Ive traded far less than ever becuase of these reasons and rarely trade with people with low feedback anymore.

 

It's weird the no extra's thing, but I think the trend towards that is for a couple of reasons- the primary to me is because of cost. Buying beer, Trading for beer, has gotten expensive. And because most people agree to a trade for beers they want, the need to buy extra beers and add extras' weight, well seems expensive. Recently I was told in conversation, "lets do no extras, because if I wanted to just drink local extras I can just drink what's local to me." I was a bit stunned by the bluntness, but the guy had been on BA since 2010 and had 50+ trades under his belt, and really kinda made a good point, albeit one I didn't like. So now, I don't really care- if someone wants to send a few extras, cool, if not, well i'm gonna anyway.

 

This is exactly my process.

 

That's probably true, and you're right, that loss in cost is probably inconsequential... but, what are ya gonna do?

 

I've had to casually mention at some point, "will definitely load the box up with extras to make it heavier and not so easily jostled" in my communications, just to let them know I intend to include extras and just go from there. Definitely seems to have become somewhat the norm to not include extras though. But as long as you just communicate that you're intending to do extras then I don't see how it's ever an issue. If they don't want to, then they'll say so (I would hope). No big deal.

 

Question in regards to "winning" the trade. Is this referring to winning by getting the better deal? Or winning in the secret santa sense, where surprise and gratitude are worth more than saving a few bucks? I view the latter as winning, and even though I just started trading have tried to always include a decent extra (lately it's been 50% of the $ amount of the main trade when I can afford it.) For me the generosity is almost more satisfying than getting the beers I'm looking for.

 

Sadly, it's more the former these days where it seems like folks come on here trying to get the better end of a deal (which is a nice way of saying "take advantage of someone else"). People no longer trade as an end ("I'm willing to send you X for your Y because I want to drink Y and you want to drink X") but, rather, trade as a means to another end ("I'm trying to score Y simply so I can then send Y plus SomethingElse for a Z"). FOMO and dick-swinging are cancers.

For sure. And it's this spirit that a lot of folks say they miss. That getting a text that just says, "Wowww!!!" is the coolest part of the experience.

 

I feel like every box I send should be like "Christmas", so I always include extras; reciprocated or not. It's the best part of trading.

 

I am a first time trader, sent my fist box on Friday, I included extras, purely based off of reading other BAs posts on trading. Honestly I thought it was cool throwing in some pretty good extras, becuase I want the dude on the other end to be surprised when he opens the box. Reciprocated or not, I don't care, will continue to send extras! Cherrs BAs (and Thanks!)

 

Havent noticed this in any of my recent trades. I make it a staple to send some local love to people Im sending boxes to. Love to get the names of these small breweries out there for others to enjoy.

 

I haven't traded here yet, but I have been in Reddit. I like the idea of extras, and I always include them...but unless we're frequent trading partners or I'm trying to make a good impression on someone for future trades, they tend to be just things that I can get locally that I think are delicious or interesting. I don't have the money to throw Fonta flora fruits or barrel aged stouts as extras usually. Props to the people who can though.