Hey all.......What the heck is happening with trades?? To my knowledge, the rules of the game haven't changed, so let's take a minute to refresh.
1. It is easy to check the postmark and see when cards were shipped, and a one day difference can certainly happen at the PO, but marking items in Beckett Trade as shipped on Monday and getting the package postmarked Friday of the same week leads to distrust and delays. All you need to do is mark as shipped when you ship.
2. If you are going to be delayed before you can ship, just pop a note out when making the trade that you anticipate shipping by FILL-IN-THE-BLANK date. This is easy and helps the other trader out. Most of us understand stuff happens.
3. When you receive your cards, look them over and,..... although others may not follow this philosophy,..... leave feedback promptly if you are happy, or contact the trader if you are not happy. Nothing like a six-week delay in updating your organizer or getting slammed on feedback without knowing what the problem is, eh?
4. Check your cards to make sure you have your part of the bargain BEFORE you agree to the trade. Sometimes stuff happens beyond your control, but for the most part this just requires a bit of time and effort. Communicate with your trading partner if something is off kilter.
5. I don't mark anything in my org as "MINT" unless I got it that way in trade and haven't changed it yet, or it has been slabbed and graded. I know this subject is controversial but over the last month I've traded for mint condition cards that weren't mint by any stretch of the imagination to the tune of $200 plus in BV. Come on, man. This is supposed to be a hobby and fun for collectors, not a profiteering center. I may ask for scans of individual cards marked as mint. You are welcome to do the same with me- bear in mind I don't have a scanner nor many cards in my org marked as "mint".
Also, "pack-fresh" does not mean mint to me. A trader sent me some inserts I needed to finish off a set that had roller marks on the backs of them. Maybe pack fresh, but I'm back to looking for decent cards to complete the set, minus a few of my inventory cards. I give away those types of cards as extras, use them for fire starters or spacers, or pitch them.
6. It's becoming popular to cherry-pick the colors of jersey swatches these days, so if you expect me to spend my time looking for a particular card to determine the jersey color or swatch, I expect you are willing to compensate me for this expenditure of time and energy by adding BV to my side of the trade. If I recall, there was a time when multi-color jerseys carried a premium over one color swatches, and I don't know anyone who wouldn't value multi-color over one color. So if you are going to be picky, please be prepared to adjust in my favor, whether you eventually decide you want the card or not.
Recently I had to contact a trader in the US who hadn't shipped my cards for a month (his were delivered three days after shipment).
Also had a guy accept a trade, then had an epiphany after I shipped his off. He didn't have one of my cards with him (wherever he is??). The result is that his cards will likely be in hand, and mine won't have been packaged yet or shipped until next week (I hope!).
Last, I sent a message to a guy this morning who received the cards I sent him August 23rd but has yet to ship mine.
Stuff happens but all it takes is a note or some form of communication to avoid problems and keep this forum fun for everyone.
Thanks to all the responsible folks out there for the great trades and for allowing me to bloviate- my best to all.
Eddie
1. It is easy to check the postmark and see when cards were shipped, and a one day difference can certainly happen at the PO, but marking items in Beckett Trade as shipped on Monday and getting the package postmarked Friday of the same week leads to distrust and delays. All you need to do is mark as shipped when you ship.
2. If you are going to be delayed before you can ship, just pop a note out when making the trade that you anticipate shipping by FILL-IN-THE-BLANK date. This is easy and helps the other trader out. Most of us understand stuff happens.
3. When you receive your cards, look them over and,..... although others may not follow this philosophy,..... leave feedback promptly if you are happy, or contact the trader if you are not happy. Nothing like a six-week delay in updating your organizer or getting slammed on feedback without knowing what the problem is, eh?
4. Check your cards to make sure you have your part of the bargain BEFORE you agree to the trade. Sometimes stuff happens beyond your control, but for the most part this just requires a bit of time and effort. Communicate with your trading partner if something is off kilter.
5. I don't mark anything in my org as "MINT" unless I got it that way in trade and haven't changed it yet, or it has been slabbed and graded. I know this subject is controversial but over the last month I've traded for mint condition cards that weren't mint by any stretch of the imagination to the tune of $200 plus in BV. Come on, man. This is supposed to be a hobby and fun for collectors, not a profiteering center. I may ask for scans of individual cards marked as mint. You are welcome to do the same with me- bear in mind I don't have a scanner nor many cards in my org marked as "mint".
Also, "pack-fresh" does not mean mint to me. A trader sent me some inserts I needed to finish off a set that had roller marks on the backs of them. Maybe pack fresh, but I'm back to looking for decent cards to complete the set, minus a few of my inventory cards. I give away those types of cards as extras, use them for fire starters or spacers, or pitch them.
6. It's becoming popular to cherry-pick the colors of jersey swatches these days, so if you expect me to spend my time looking for a particular card to determine the jersey color or swatch, I expect you are willing to compensate me for this expenditure of time and energy by adding BV to my side of the trade. If I recall, there was a time when multi-color jerseys carried a premium over one color swatches, and I don't know anyone who wouldn't value multi-color over one color. So if you are going to be picky, please be prepared to adjust in my favor, whether you eventually decide you want the card or not.
Recently I had to contact a trader in the US who hadn't shipped my cards for a month (his were delivered three days after shipment).
Also had a guy accept a trade, then had an epiphany after I shipped his off. He didn't have one of my cards with him (wherever he is??). The result is that his cards will likely be in hand, and mine won't have been packaged yet or shipped until next week (I hope!).
Last, I sent a message to a guy this morning who received the cards I sent him August 23rd but has yet to ship mine.
Stuff happens but all it takes is a note or some form of communication to avoid problems and keep this forum fun for everyone.
Thanks to all the responsible folks out there for the great trades and for allowing me to bloviate- my best to all.
Eddie