Bad TRADING TACTICS *** How do you trade ???

[collectorGALLORE]

Hi CDU

Just wanted to have a little whinge about trading !!!

What has happened to the fun of trading ? Only too often these days, I have been coming across collectors that only chase better cards but rarely have anything decent to offer in return !

They only take a few cards to trade days or in trade buckets (a dozen cards or one folder with everything from base/subsets with only a few jsy/auto's amongst them) and only want other collectors good players/ rare or Rookie cards... what has happened to taking good cards to trade for other good cards.

No matter how convenient the net is .... I think the lack of personal interaction has taken the Niceness and decency out of the hobby and even changed the old meet up and trade session ! .... end rant

So to end on a positive note.... I think we are all intelligent enough to know what a fair trade is ! If you are thinking of offering a trade (or price) that you personally would not do ... I suggest you don't make that offer

Keep it fair for everyone

Take it easy everyone and I would love to hear your views

[fastbaja5b]

Good points Tezza, been happening for as long as I can remember, for some the hobby is about collecting your favourite player, for others it's about scoring better cards for your "lesser" cards and leaving the good stuff at home etc.

At the end of the day, noone is obliged to trade with anyone else, if you have a dozen or so cards on someone's wantlist and they can't offer something you're comfortable with in return, they'll have to find the cards elsewhere.

[crg0084]

Sometimes the thrill of a chase interests me more than the actual cards

[NBACardz]

I am almost coming up to the 20 year mark of collecting cards going from working at markets, working at card store to card store, dealing worldwide and just casually online. Throughout all the experiences i have had, if I was looking at having fun and i could choose between meeting up with somebody or trading online, I'd meet up with them 10 times out of 10.

As convenient trading online can be for opening up the choices of cards people can choose from, there is also the loss of personal interaction with people and where i believe all the fun really comes from when it comes to trading.

Personally I don't get any fun out of trading online. Rather I find there is the possibilities of miscommunication and people take offense and things possibly going wrong throughout the trade more than anything.

There is a couple of members on here where we could easily trade online, but the preference is to meet personally so we can have a bit of a chat about the old times and catch up in general and have a meal or drink at the same time or even a game of basketball after the trade is done.

As far as people coming up wanting the best of the best and offer lesser cards in return, you probably get this all the time as i do, but can you blame them? they are trying to improve their collection in other ways than buying packs all the time hoping for that next super great card. And it's worth a try asking. why go for a 3rd rate card, when there is a possibility you could get a 1st rate card by adding a bit more or not at all? If you don't ask, you don't get, but at least you know where to draw the line with that particular collector and if you are willing to come to terms with their value system then that will either be the deal maker or deal breaker of the trade.

On another note, every collector values cards differently than the next which sometimes makes trading hard. if you are using different value systems, its a long slog.
some use ebay, some use beckett, some don't use anything at all and just make up their own personal value for a card based on the sentimentality of the card and how difficult the card was to purchase through their efforts.
That's the hurdle right there but it does come down to negotiation skills and how open the other party is to a trade deal.

bob might have the same cards as another guy but wants the world for them in trade even though they are worth jack in reality and you are forced to offer your better cards just to get them, while joe down the road may have the exact same cards and even more and charge next to nothing in a trade because he doesn't value them the same way bob does.

At the end of the day, its more about personal satisfaction and happiness than fun. If both traders want each others cards and it gets them that next step closer to completing their collection or someone else's then that should be enough to keep each other happy or satisfied. I just don't see the fun in collecting anymore unless you are meeting up face to face for a trade.

Getting together for a trade personally is where all the fun is!

[crg0084]

there are some excellent points in that. I have sold cards before cheaper than i had hoped. Then a week later (murphys law) someone comes along that would have been happy to pay what i had first asked.
As you said it comes down to how each individual values the card. I Collect all afl draft signatures but i would be much more prepared to part with my money for a collingwood card than another draft pick. Also the harder it is to find the card the more likely i will throw money at it. It comes down to negotiation and if you think the person is serious about your cards. It also makes a big difference how desperate you are to sell. If your happy to sit and wait someone will eventually come along that is prepared to pay better.

[buyingstuffformikelee]

Great read guys and some very good points indeed.

In my time in the hobby, I have always been a buyer (till recently), I just never managed to get a trade off the ground at all. Simply for the fact, I never got 'extra" cards to trade with. I always sought to buy what i liked and wanted. Because, if I didn't have the $$$$ to get what i want, how am I going to get in a better situation buying cards are trade items?

I know I have been asked occasionally if I would trade for something I like and stuff like that, but its always hard as like mention, the other party does not have what you want or need. And no, I ain't talking about the dreaded "Oh, any Lebron MJ or Kobe" speal. Seriously, how many people have stuff like this sitting around ready to be traded on here? Not many at all.

[crg0084]

To be completely honest i have found that this site is very very hard to get a deal done. If your looking to buy sure its easy. But of the 3 sale transactions i have on here 2 of them have been started elsewhere and the other one was over a year ago.
I still manage to sell my cards just not here for some reason. Maybe my prices are to high, maybe there is just not the right people on this forum that want them who value the cards as i do who knows.

[crg0084]

In fact sometimes it is hard to buy on here over my trading period i have had a number of wantlists and come to think of it i think i have rarely ever had a response to one.

[crg0084]

....................

[BrownKing]

Originally Posted by crg0084

In fact sometimes it is hard to buy on here over my trading period i have had a number of wantlists and come to think of it i think i have rarely ever had a response to one.

I second that

[hsv006]

Personally im always lovin a trade but it can be damn hard sometimes..
I'm not helping matters simply because of what im after...that being mainly psa graded cards.
Ive got a few sets going and even started a jeff green collection but to be honest im lacking the motivation to bother with him.

I cant go to much into detail as some may think im pointing the finger..not my intention... but at some level people are trying to make a profit on cards.
Im not saying there's anything wrong with that..even i troll through ebay looking to pick up a bargain..
You just get an impression at times that is there main goal.
To get ya cards at minimum cost /trade value and make a profit rather than adding to there collection.
Still... its all part of the hobby and most of the time you walk away pretty happy...other times you just walk away

Chin up lads...happy trading

[Wolvesjr34]

I think the global economy at the moment has had an impact on card dealings... it is a lot quieter these days for both trading and buying and selling. I have had to offer AU and GU cards at $1.50 to actually get some interest, on cards that would have easily gone for $3 each a year ago.

I would love to do trades in person but I am in tassie and there is no card shows I am aware of at all.

[crg0084]

Originally Posted by hsv006

Personally im always lovin a trade but it can be damn hard sometimes..
I'm not helping matters simply because of what im after...that being mainly psa graded cards.
Ive got a few sets going and even started a jeff green collection but to be honest im lacking the motivation to bother with him.

I cant go to much into detail as some may think im pointing the finger..not my intention... but at some level people are trying to make a profit on cards.
Im not saying there's anything wrong with that..even i troll through ebay looking to pick up a bargain..
You just get an impression at times that is there main goal.
To get ya cards at minimum cost /trade value and make a profit rather than adding to there collection.
Still... its all part of the hobby and most of the time you walk away pretty happy...other times you just walk away

Chin up lads...happy trading

I think most collectors look to pick up "bargins" maybe not with the immediate intention of selling but in the back of there mind know one day it will make them money I am guilty of this but i must also add any profits i have made have usually gone straight back into more cards to better my collection. Other than when i sold my 08 platinums and that was the deposit for our house so hey who wouldnt... If we did not think we where getting a good/fair deal none of us would part with our hard earned cash.

[collectorGALLORE]

Originally Posted by crg0084

I think most collectors look to pick up "bargins" maybe not with the immediate intention of selling but in the back of there mind know one day it will make them money I am guilty of this but i must also add any profits i have made have usually gone straight back into more cards to better my collection. Other than when i sold my 08 platinums and that was the deposit for our house so hey who wouldnt... If we did not think we where getting a good/fair deal none of us would part with our hard earned cash.

Well said

I agree with and use a similar method with my collecting ! Most collectors try this but I think with allot of people not having the patience to hold onto things for more than 1 day to a couple of months, they rarely get to enjoy growth in their collections without spending a ton of cash !

My best decisions in collecting so far IMO

In the 90's I picked up everything I could find of Dennis Rodman the second I heard he was traded to the bulls * I took a chance that this would make the bulls great again! I picked up first day issues, platinums, refractors etc for around $5/10 each (value at the time) These cards then peaked at $50-$75usd + each about a year later.

I also did well with the 93/94 refractors that boomed in sale value in the 90's around the same time from memory

Picked up these players RC's etc and made a little each time after 1/3 years and sometimes more !
Josh Howard, Derron Williams, Dwight howard and Anthony randolph.

Even with these occasional times that I did well, I have equally failed with players
Michael Redd, Josh Childress, carmelo anthony (maybe a little prematurely lol) and many more....
Not to mention time and money spent on my personal collection over the years but I am in the hobby because it is what I enjoy

Bring on the NBA all-star game and AFL season

[crg0084]

I have found most times that i have failed is when A i have been impatient to sell or B if i am desperate for money. there have been a couple of others i have probably over spent on in the heat of the moment but they are mostly in my collection for good.