Trend toward no extras?

Just completed my first trade (with someone who posted in this thread, no less). I would not have known about the extras thing if a couple local traders I talked to didn't tell me about it. I really like the idea of extras and the idea of it being 'secret'. It was like Christmas Day opening up that box and finding stuff I didn't expect. I was absolutely blown away by what was given as extra.

If you start discussing extras, then they are no longer extras and are an expected part of the trade. How boring is that? Not to mention, it starts to seem like you are being worried about 'winning' the trade than you are about introducing someone to a new beer/brewery.

 

I just started trading a year ago and my first trade I had no idea about extras (didn't do enough research). I felt bad when I received a couple extra bottles, but paid that forward and now just throw them in without expecting anything in return.

 

I have always enjoyed throwing in a bunch of extras. I look to include local stuff that isn't even on their radar. (Forgotten Boardwalk Funnel cake is a favorite) Almost always got some great extras in return.


I had 3 trades in a row where combined I got 1 bottle back as an extra. The next trade I made I limited the extras I sent. Of course that is the trade where the other guy bombs me with extras including a couple of cans from Treehouse. I felt like a cheapskate.
Now I am just going back to a lesson I learned in Kindergarten: "Treat people how you would want to be treated." That means I am going to be including plenty of extras.

 

I've always included extras in my trades and have always received them except for one IP trade. Honestly, extras are the best and worst part about trading. Best, because as many have stated, it's a tremendous amount of fun opening up that box and seeing what your fellow trader threw in there for you. It truly does feel like Christmas.

But it's also the worst because I fear that my extras aren't going to stack up against what I receive back. I usually focus on sending locals as extras if I'm trading with someone who's not in my immediate area because I figure they'd like to try out stuff they can't get. That truly is the fun and, to some degree, the point of this hobby. But I've had a few trades where I've sent locals and gotten back stuff like multiple KBS's, Pliny and Hill Farmstead/Grassroots. When that happens, I can't help but feel a bit guilty. I always make it a point to thank the trader for their generosity and usually if we end up trading again, I always up the ante on extras just as a thank you.

 

Generally speaking, if there is a trade between a new trader and a more experienced trader I feel the onus is on the experienced trader to let the newer trader know about the concept of extras (not too mention answering any other questions the new trader may have). I've read a few posts in the thread where newer traders did not know about the concept in the beginning. Yeah they can do research but I think a little help by the experienced trader is warranted. We've all been in that new trader position and I'm sure there new trader will appreciate the assistance.

 

Received my first trade with no extras today...granted it was IP, but I gave up two pretty stellar bottles to their one bottle of something that has eluded me for a long time. I, as always, dug into the cellar for some phenomenal (imo) extras, and got zilch in return.

I'm not bitter, and I hope it makes them throw in extras in their next trade. Hell, with the amount of killer extras I've received, that was definitely beer karma!

 

I completely agree with this. My first trade (not on this site), the guy said something like "Don't forget to toss in a couple extras!" and I was utterly confused. I had him explain the concept to me and now, I love stuffing my boxes with extras.

 

I feel like extras are a shipping thing and not for IP, IMO. Curious if others do extras in IP trades.

 

I've received and given extras in every IP I've done thus far. It's fun!

 

I bring extras for IP trades. If anything, I figure the fact I'm not having to do the whole rigamarole of shipping puts me in a generous mood to bring a couple of bottles. The only time I don't is when I know a person's traveling and has limited luggage bandwidth, if you will.

 

One thing I have taken to doing is letting the other person know what I am including as extras so they know what kind of trader I am and I ask if they want to me swap anything out because they just are not interested in it.

 

Recently, I started communicating something like "let's do certain $ amount of extras". After sending out boxes full of nice extras and receiving none, I got tired of feeling short ended.

 

I always include extras typically a fresh pliny/pig. Unless the trade is for pliny/pig, then I find something else. I'm starting to go with Modern Times Blazing World at the moment because can extras are easier!

There are always exceptions.
1) Shipping 6 750s, and there's no room for them in a 6 pack. (I hate wrapping 750s and using a standard box)
2) Shipped a growler in a specially made box.
3) I had already filled a 12 spot styro shipper with the agreed upon trade.
4) An expedited shipment.

In all of these instances I always state ahead of time for packing concerns, no extras are included or expected

I've received glass ware as an extra and that was really nice. I'm always scared to send that for fear of breakage.

 

I'm rather cheap, but I do try to throw in extras. My cellar isn't that extensive, but I've included an extra in each trade except one - which we agreed would only be one large format bottle. I've tried Bourbon County, KBS, and Backwoods Bastard all thanks to extras, so I really enjoy them. It's also great to read an excited message when the other person opens up your trade with extras.

When I first started trading, I'd try to hint at "will there be extras?" because I didn't want to send them if I wasn't going to get them. Any future trades from this point on will be discussed openly. I'll just mention I'm sending "x" number of 12-16oz bottles/cans extra. Only reason for that is my last trade was with a new trader, and I didn't get any extras. I also didn't get extras in another trade. I should have a trade showing up today/tomorrow from a new trader, and I'm wondering if I got an extra in there. I think it's a nice gesture, and helps people try more, but I won't go through the trouble if the other trader isn't going to send them.

 

While people are free to trade as they wish, of course, I would never happily discuss extras during the negotiation process. The surprise is half the fun. And for every trade that I haven't received an extra, I've been assaulted by someone else by extras that left me delighted & embarrassed. Obsessing about the number & equality of extras ruins part of the enjoyment for me - it's beer, it's a trade, it's supposed to be awesome, not a monetary transaction.

 

99 out of 100x, I'll send extras..I won't if my trade partner specifically asks me not to. I usually will send local beers that I enjoy, or in the similar vain of what's being traded, if i'm low on $$ that week and can't get locals, i'll certainly add a bottle or two from my cellar. as far as getting them back in a trade, I never expect them, and whatever i get is a bonus..i've been pleseantly surprised in my short time trading when it come to getting extras, i've gotten vintage BCBS, CW Anniversary beers, Bruery Stouts, TG IPA's, and other amazing beers.
as long as i'm trading, i'll send extras!

 

Personally, I don't do them for IP trades. Especially ones that are just 1 bottle for 1 bottle. Maybe I do if it's a trade where I feel like I'm kind of getting the better end of the deal from a $ perspective. It's just hard a lot of times when dealing with someone from the same area to come up with something that's out of distro that I think they would want. If I happen to have a can or two of some great IPA or other thing in the fridge at the time of the trade, then you better believe I'm bringing it to throw in. But if not, what am I supposed to do?

Most of the time when I've gotten an extra in an IP trade, I could tell it was something they were just trying to offload. There have definitely been a few great exceptions, but I'm all about trying to make IP trades as easy and low-cost as possible for both parties and I feel like the expectation of extras works against that.

Completely different for shipping though. You are actually opening a box, there should be at least a couple surprises. Although I agree with the poster(s) above who mentioned times when you may not have an extra slot in a shipper. Getting the agreed upon beers there safely trumps extras in my book.

 

I always include extras unless it's specified not too. To me it's a thanks or added bonus for the trade. What annoys me is when I send extras and the other guy doesn't and doesn't even say thanks or acknowledge it. That's remembered in future trades though. When I have something rare, I'll reach out to those who were more considerate.

 

I recently received my first "no extra" trade box, and it really left a sour taste in my mouth when I thought about what I sent in return. Compound this with several dented cans arriving from my trade partner. I realize that this is not a built in mechanism, but it's made me cringe when I put a really nice extra in a shipment now.

 

I was fortunate in that my first trade the guy I was trading with kinda took the reigns. He knew I was new to the process but he wanted some of the Nelson Schmelson I'd gotten. He sent his box first and it arrived with extras before I'd packed and sent (I was nervous about LD trading, so that was the agreement). I thought it was cool and figured it must be the thing to do, so I've always included extras ever since. I think it's fun and I don't worry much about "winning" nor would I worry if I didn't get them in return. In general I'm a generous person and like giving, so it's fun to find local stuff that fits the other person's likes and include them. We have some really good local breweries in Iowa, so it's not hard to find good stuff to send along.

Sending light duty whales (BCBS, etc.) is a bit over the top. I'd worry that the other guy would feel guilty if he/she hadn't sent something of similar caliber for an extra. For that reason, I try to keep it local fun stuff that isn't availabl eelsewhere.

I've even sent a separate box when the extras wouldn't fit in the first box.