Barter trading on the forums

golok

golok

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
4,453
Some of you must have engaged in this activity at some time or other.
I mean trading knives for objects of interest or blade-for-blade trade.

I am curious as the risks involved in such trade-offs. What happens when the guy on the other side rides off into the sunset with your little possessions.

There have been times when I was really tempted to say "okay, here I am. What's the deal?" Then, I held myself back and say "hey, can I trust this guy?" I suppose it is normal to have such feelings.

The bottom line is Trust. We really can't have too much of this but then when you are hundreds of miles from each other and perhaps separated by an ocean or two, things can become a little murky.

What advice can the trade-off experts offer?
 
golok, trading knives or gear is the same as buying them from other forumites or selling to them. Of course it's a matter of trust, but that trust is so overwhelmingly justified, I don't worry a bit about it.

Most of the people involved do have a track record, if not in the trading or sales forums, then in the discussion forums, where we get a pretty good idea of each other's character.

I've done so many deals, I've lost track, but it has to have been over a hundred this past year. I even deal with new guys, I take checks now instead of asking for money orders all the time, and I ship as soon as the deal is closed without waiting for the other end to arrive. I have never been hurt doing this.

There are a few rules. If you don't trust a given individual or the deal seems too good to be true or there is just too much value involved for you to be comfortable, then don't do it. Stick to people you correspond with most often, try not to jump on an impulse buy but watch for a knife you've been wanting for a while. If in any doubt, check the person's profile and search on The Good, The Bad, The Ugly for feedback on their previous deals.

One disappointment we are all at risk of is finding the item we've traded for is not quite what we hoped it would be. This is rarely the fault of the dealer. Be sure you get a good description or picture of what's involved, and be very clear what your expectations are, and how you want the deal to go: price, who ships first, how the item is shipped.

Trust me! :D
 
Hey, if you can't trust a forumite, then who can you trust? :p

Nah...I'm one of those cautious (read paranoid) people, but I've done many trades (buying, selling and trading). Esav's right about the track record. I spend time in the Good, Bad & Ugly and I'll always check there before trading with someone (which is why I always ask for a forum name). I look at post count and how long a person has been around. I'll also look up recent posts to try and get a feel for who I'm dealing with. A lot of times I can just get a feel for a person from the emails that they send me. All in all, it's one of those things that you get a feel for after awhile. Hopefully I'll never get burnt, but I think that dealing with someone over the forums is less risky than dealing with someone on something like eBay.
 
My first trade on the forums had me up all night with a bad case of the nervous shakes. I had just joined and only had a few posts. The guy I was trading with had less than 10 posts and no feedback either. Now a days I have no worries dealing with anyone on these forums. If the deal sounds to good to be true, I will stop by GB&U and ease my suspicions.

I recommend that you don't pass up the great opportunity to take advantage of the Exchange forum here. I have gotten some of the best deals EVER here and never gotten burned. It happens, but with a quick trip to GB&U or a post there inquiring about an individual can tell you how the transaction will turn out before you even go to the post office.
 
I've browsed on ebay, just for price range. I know too many people who got burned buying from there.

If I can deal with a forumite, from one of the many I'm in, I usually have a better chance of getting a good deal in a trade, and if something doesn't come to my expectations, I can always work it out with the other party(rather than go hunting on ebay). So far I haven't been burned, and if I keep dealing with forumites instead of the public in ebay, it'll be a rare day that I get burned. If anything else, you know the other party will appreciate the deal too.
 
Thanks for all the good advice, guys, especially you Esav! :)

I have looked around at Ebay. Some of the things are too incredible to be true.
 
I think Barter trading is great!!!

I have been trying to land a Toshiba 5205-S703 laptop and figured I could trade my Skirmish to cover most of the cost. I could have just put it up for sale but if I got the cash, my wife would probably scoop it before I bought the Laptop.

So it made more sense to just offer the knife and see who is willing to score this laptop and trade/barter it for the skirmish.

So far I have had one bite and it's going alot slower than if I just sold it but in the end I will get the Toshiba.

Bartering is awesome!!!!!!!!!!
 
The odds are in your favor of not getting burned if you use common sense. I've been burned a few times and I've done a lot of trading. Sometimes you take a chance, most times you come out ok. My wife is not nearly as trusting as I am, but I am the trusting kind and I certainly don't regret it. If you feel good about a trade, I say go for it, or never trust anyone and never do a trade for any reason, the way my wife would be. A couple of times I got short end(not paid) was after she and I were married, and of course I havn't heard the last of it.
 
I've only had one bad experience and the only reason I lost my end of the trade (I sent his back unopened) is that I lost my temper and told him to just keep what I had sent him (haven't seen him back here since). But like the others I have done hundreds of trades/sales and have been burned just that one time (like I said I probably would've gotten my stuff back if I hadn't told him where to put it...and I hope it hurt!).
 
Never have been screwed in a deal that I have done here. I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to deal with anyone on the knife forums that I frequent, but if the person has no track record or is unknown to me I will be cautious.
 
lotsa good folks on bladeforums, i have never had one problem. that said other forums are not as good, or maybe 100% LNIB or "lite use" are 2 terms i dont understand lol, my only prob (on other forums) is the merchandise sometimes is not in the condition described, i try extra hard to accuratly describe my stuff, usually making it sound worse than it is, if it isnt LNIB.

i would never have a prob w/an established member on BF myself, i have done dozens of swaps/sells/buys, never a problem, what can i say??

greg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top