Okay, I searched around for the past 15 minutes and I can't seem to find any guide for noobs like me to get started trading. I really can't imagine that no one has ever written up a guide...even a really rough and general one. Things I'd love some guidance on: What is the acceptable packaging needed? What is the least expensive shipping method? What the hell do all these crazy acronyms mean? What is that unbelievably confusing IT Forward forum all about? I seriously have no idea what I'm doing or what's going on, but I live in Florida so trading is going to make my life a hell of a lot better. Help a brotha out. -Dave
THIS. It'll cover everything you need to get started. Trade with an established trader first too so they can show you the ropes a bit.
Went to look for that link 45 minutes ago for this thread and was shocked to find it is not included in the bros' trade info sticky. Almost shameful for it not to be included. Then I got distracted by something shiny or busty on tv and forgot to follow up on actually finding the link.
Pro advice: Don't start the "what's it take", "is this a good deal?", or "what's it go for?" type threads. Also, don't Twenty Twleve it up in here.
Absolute best advice : Run. Forget about trading. Drink local. Run from this place and forget the silly notion of trading beer ever crossed your mind.
This. I never thought I would say it, but, I think I'm finally about burnt out. Now if I could just find a case of Rare sitting on a shelf somewhere I could really quit.
Ha ha, awesome...thanks so much for all the great advice everyone! I did one trade last year and it was definitely crazy expensive. I'm on a limited budget so I'll be sure to keep things very sporatic. The real reason I'm doing this to begin with is because I had Heady Topper in Vermont last year and I really REALLY want some of my friends to try it. I also would love to try and brew something similar so I need to "research" as much as possible. =D We have a surprisingly huge selection here in Florida though, so for the most part I don't really need to trade. There's plenty I still haven't tried and we are getting new stuff all the time.
If you are trading for HT, make sure you are trading with someone who has a lot of trading references and make sure to check references. There have been a couple instances in the last months of trades for HT not going smoothly either w/ poor communication, delays etc. If a trade is delayed by 2 weeks with a stout its not a big deal as long as there is good communication and you get your beer, 2 week delay w/ HT and what was a really awesome fresh DIPA is not the same. There are plenty of BAs out there that love HT and make sure to share the wealth and get it to you as fresh as possible, but I've traded for what I felt was very old HT one time with a new trader.
That is awesome advice. I really do need to have it fresh. I had a Pliny the Elder recently that had been in my buddy's fridge for about two months and it was okay. I really couldn't understand why it was so popular. I finally realized that it was like HT...it's essential that you drink it fresh. Thanks for the advice...I'll be careful for sure. How exactly do you check people's references anyway?
Look at the completed trades listed on the profile page of the person you are considering trading with, and send a beer mail to a couple of those people asking how their experience was and if they would trade with that BA again.
I wish I could like this twice. I have a russian river hookup who I don't have to trade with. I have a Hill Farmstead hookup who I don't have to trade with. I have a regular trading partner who I constantly trade blind boxes with. This is all I need... Except that damn Framboos. If I ever get a Framboos, I will seriously consider quitting.
Reading the trading forums and not diving right in is just as important and helpful in my opinion as any blog though it also has a lot of useful information. Search the BAs name and check the bad trader list. You can learn a lot about someone from what they post or what others are saying about them. Cases in point all in the past week or two, most have not been deleted. frddymck trades... ( thread deleted ) new traders jumping right in and trusting others without a trading background instead of working with established traders first. Once you have a reputation do not let a new trader ship last. In this thread it also showed what insufficient packaging really looks like, and packaging advice from other BAs was ignored. Heatwave33... Don't let life happen. Make good even if life throws you a curve. A commitment is a commitment whether on the interwebs or not. DEFINITELY don't go to a limited beer release when you have no $$ or time to complete your trades. CSJ... Understand what you are trading for and what can happen to even the most properly stored beers as they age. Understand common practices in shipping such as taping, waxing, etc. bottles to try to secure them iin transit. Know what the bottles actually look like when you trade for them. kaips1... Whether in a regular trade or in a BIF style trade make sure you have the beers in hand before final commitment to a trade. ( not sure if he ever intended to have it, but it is possible and still a learning experience regardless. ) Also seems he was fired from his job, so life happened. See Heatwave33. Irishace9 trade thread... ( Irishace9 is not the bad trader but trader was never outted ) A new BA posted "Keep in mind that people have a lot going on their lives and it likely doesn't revolve around trading beer on the internet. I recently took a lot longer than I expected to fulfill my part of a trade and there was never any danger of me not fulfilling my end of the bargain." Understand who these people that defend the life happens mentality are and decide if you want to take the chance on trading with them if life happens to them. I think they are more likely to screw you intentionally or not when shit hits the fan. Malty_Matty IP trade thread... ( Malty is not the trader in question but the trader was not outted ) Do not physically trade beer you do not have IP or not. It is okay to have a tentative agreement, but don't agree to meet or ship without the full agreed upon stash. If something goes wrong, communicate. Communicate if things do not go wrong. Do not wait to be called out to make things right if you are in the wrong. tsauce2 trade thread... ( looks like he made good on the trade ) Communicate communicate communicate. A little research is not hard and you can learn a good deal about trading.
this was probably mentioned but do not trade with another new trader who has no references. there's plenty of experienced BAs willing to do local swaps with new people (provided you ship first), and many of the bad trader trainwrecks around here are due to newbies ripping each other off, sending the wrong bottles, improperly packaging things, etc.
I only trade with members that joined in odd numbered years. (though 2008 or 2010 or 2006 are fine too) (keep an eye on those 2012ers!)
I detect the sarcasm, but in case any noobs think it's a good idea, I thought I'd mention that this would absolutely kill the trading community. Remember baseball cards? Those were fun at one time too.
