Bartertown.com

Well, I've seen this talked about, and people asked if they could write articles on trading guidelines, shipping guidelines, etc. So I've come up with an idea. I would like to create a "living document" that will be updated on a weekly basis. By updated, I mean the first post will be updated to reflect input made by the denizens of B-Town who come up with good guideline(s) that are also seconded by other users.

Guidelines

Trading
- Always give your general location up front before finalizing a trade.
- Don't leave your potential trade partner in limbo. At least do the courtesy of telling him you are not interested, or you found a better deal, or something.
- Make sure you get each others address
- Provide and alternate means of contact
- Place a fair value on the items you trade. Do some research on what other people may value the items at.

Shipping
- Never send a trade shipment as a gift.
If you are caught falsifying a customs declaration (i.e marking something as a gift when it is not a gift), you can be fined up to $10,000 dollars in the USA. Other countries differ. It will also limit any legal action you wish to pursue. Imagine the guy's local police seeing the Customs form with "Gift" marked on it. Won't go far after that. Not to mention you will basically be admitting you falsified a customs document.
- Package your shipments appropriately to the trade. (Could use a little help on beefing this one up.)
- Delivery Confirmation and Customs Forms Numbers are your friend. Use them and they will save you some heartache.
- Make sure the address is legible
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Feedback Leaving feedback is optional. However....
- Please leave feedback.
- If you do not wish to leave feedback, then at least tell your trade partner why.
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So, what do ya'll think of my initial suggestions?

NOTE: You don't have to do it in this format, but please at least tell what type of guideline you are referring to. If there is another guideline subject that needs inclusion, please tell.

Updated: April 2nd, 2009 11:07AM

Great idea!

I think for the shipping, maybe a comment to pack your items as you would prefer your trade partner to pack theirs. ie: Don't pack a box with 50 multipart figures in loose bits.

That could be misconstrued. Besides, don't you mean: Don't pack 50 multipart plastic figures of loose bits in a mail bag?

I would take it mean: "Have multipart figures individually contained. (i.e. each mini in a zippy bag, etc)."

Also, I would add the following
Listing:
On non-mainstream (unique, odd, or foreign) things give an idea of what you value the item at.

(Instance I unintentionally lowballed a guy who had Gamezone Knights for a buck a knight... he was polite about the rebuff, but I felt like a jerk.)

@ Crestion: How about, "Place a fair value on the items you trade. Do some research on what other people may value the items at."

Heres a rather simple one,but i've run into it a few times lately.

Make sure your return address on the package you send is legible,so your trade partner can read it.
(you should of course have already traded addresses online,but thats not always the case)

Cheers

@ peacemystic: Added

Ironhide wrote:@ Crestion: How about, "Place a fair value on the items you trade. Do some research on what other people may value the items at."

I like that wording

Dave

And so it shall be added!

Haven't got much response on this. However, I am thinking of writing up an article on how to conduct a safe trade using info I have gotten here. Has anyone ever started to write up such an article, but never finished it due to loss of interest or what-have-you? If so, PM some of the stuff you captured in your unfinished work and I'll make a go of finishing it. I will, of course, put down people who helped in the article once finished.

I would make a SMALL alteration...

- Never send a trade shipment as a gift.

I'd reword it to something like this:

- If you are in the US, be aware that marking an item as a "gift," when trading is a Federal crime.

or

- If shipping from the US, you should not mark trades as "gifts," as it is a Federal crime.

This way, we're clearly dissuading people from doing it, providing them with the reason why, but still not being all "down their throats" about it. ; )

Eric

Good idea. That will explain it better to those who are outside the US.

You may also, on the subject of cross border trades, indicate that items marked as "models", "toys", and "books" are duty free (not tax free) when entering Canada.

In fact...maybe it would be a good idea for volunteers from relevant non-US countries to put up the "when you ship to country X" guidelines. They could include specific details about duty exemptions.

I would love for people to give that kind of info. People in foreign lands! Post your LEGAL ways around your country's customs duties/tax!

Yeah, peoples! LOL

I know we have Canadians, Spaniards, Japanese, Chinese, British, Greeks, Brazillians and, I think, Aussies here... or, at least, traders in those countries. Maybe even a Mexican roaming around.

Help us out, peepel.


Eric