Why don't we trade more?

[HercDriver]

I'm always looking to trade! It would be cool if we could all post our availables somehow in a big database. If I was looking for a T205 Brown with a Sovereign back (which I am), I could see if it's in the database and then email the member that has it. Of course it's always easier to make suggestions when you have nothing to do with implementing them...

Take Care,
Geno

[jthorst75]

I like to trade versus buying, unfortunatley I hate being the one on the short end....every time! Not sure why I have to get strong armed to do a simple trade, mainly from this forum since ther is rarely card shops or shows anymore. It really takes the fun out of it. It made me consider if this is the hobby I enjoyed. Don't even get me started on the money aspect as it is always thrown in the mix of a trade. Yes I could step away but if it something I want or need then it usually gets ugly. I am always up for a trade as long it is fair. Hopefully others will read and catch on you cheap bastards.

[jp1216]

PayPal is the 3rd party in all trades. Straight trades are more rare now - but when you factor in PayPal funds - its as busy as ever. I sell cards to increase my PP balance and use those funds to buy cards I want.

[Exhibitman]

Jason, one of things to remember about trading is that not everyone values a card the same way as everyone else, so to say what is "fair" is often more art than science. There's lots of stuff that goes into it besides just value, like aesthetics, favored players, home teams, etc. For example, I had a really nice HOFer in a tough issue that someone wanted and he offered me a very strong trade well in my favor financially. I rejected it because (1) I had been searching for the card I had for a long time and really wanted to have that card in my permanent collection, and (2) the card offered, while more valuable, was FUGLY, with major alterations. I just knew that I would not have been happy with the way it looked. I ended up trading the card for a lesser financial package of cards than the original offer because the package included the same player's same card in a presentable state plus others I wanted too. In effect I downgraded the card but still can say I have one, and knocked a few off my want list. I probably left some 1000s on the table but it wasn't about the money, it was about the collection. Another example: I had a card I really liked from a rare set. I just happen to like the way the card looks and like the player a lot. I had no desire to trade it. I was offered a trade of a better player from the set but I did not want to trade the card because I liked it more than the other card. Had nothing to do with money. Now, I was willing to trade for two cards from the set because that just made sense to me as a collector of the set. The other guy did not want to because he could not get past the money-value issue.

I also think the fact that so many of us are after the same kinds of cards hampers trading to some extent. If I am collecting a set and I happen to have one someone wants, I am not going to swap it out of my set for another card because it will just open a corresponding hole in my set and won't end up any better off. If I am going to help someone make their set and they are swapping me their dupes, I expect to do better than ending up right where I was in terms of % of completion, and I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I made a trade over the summer with a collector that went that way. We are working on the same rare-back T set and he needed one I had to finish while I needed a few to finish. I agreed to trade him the one I had [basically taking the risk that another might not show up--which it hasn't] for two I needed, so I could end up one card net closer than I was to finishing the set.

While we're on the subject of trading, a few trading pet peeves of mine:

1. I don't appreciate it when another collector tells me what I "should" do with my cards. OK, Mom.

2. I hate it when someone pulls a value out of their hat, @$$, or out of a book and tries to tell me what my card is worth. The Standard Catalog states that a vg set of Adam Hat Stores cards is worth $525. Anyone who has one for sale please send it over and I will happily remit $600. If my card is worth "only" a certain amount, then go buy one for that amount. If there isn't one for sale, though, it isn't worth that amount, now is it?

3. Don't tell me that because I paid a certain amount for a card I should give it to you for a trade of that value. Congrats, you can run a search on Google; here's your cookie. If I happen to find a card and acquire it below what I feel it is worth, that's my luck. The only person with the right to pick my pocket is my wife.

[HercDriver]

Adam --

I especially agree with your last statement, but on the other side of it. I hate when somebody says "well, I'm in that card for $200, so I need that much." Don't charge me for your poor decision. Just like that won't work at TD Ameritrade, it shouldn't work here either.

Geno

[jthorst75]

Understandable, but what I pay for a card and the get undercut because "I paid too much" gets old. I guess I always pay too much but looking at other sales results, so does everyone else. I like to deal with cars too which is along the same lines. If I trade my car to a dealer then it is worth less because I own it but if they have it, it is worth the world. Same thing, both have book values and both have previous sale numbers. But they also have the same cheapsters trying to undermind the other person. The only difference is that the folks on here don't own a dealership or make this there only income so there is zero overhead. I have owned 64 cars and always dealt with cheap people and I can say the same when it comes to trading cars. I have decided to learn quilting, much safer hobby.

[Cooper1927]

I would love to trade more! Unfortunately I apparently have what you don't need!