Bartertown.com

I finally have some stuff I want to offer for trade, but I'm wondering what the general culture is here. Having a (0) rating currently, I'm very conscious that folks will be hesitant to trade with me anyway. As a brand-spankin' new trader, I have two questions.

1. Regarding the protocols for handling multiple PMs/offers on stuff, what is the generally accepted culture/procedure for negotiating with multiple people at once? (Ex: I offer a model and get three PMs about it.) Tell them about multiple offers? Barter privately with each, then leave two of them in the lurch? Should I represent this on my original forum ad by listing items as "pending" or something?

2. How many PMs/counteroffers are TYPICAL on these boards before a deal closes? I recognize people do things different ways, but is there a majority consensus as to what's clean and what's too fiddly?

Squid wrote: 1. Regarding the protocols for handling multiple PMs/offers on stuff, what is the generally accepted culture/procedure for negotiating with multiple people at once? (Ex: I offer a model and get three PMs about it.) Tell them about multiple offers? Barter privately with each, then leave two of them in the lurch? Should I represent this on my original forum ad by listing items as "pending" or something?

This is up to you.

You can keep silent, and let the offers roll in, choosing which ones to respond to (though it is courteous to let a trader know if he's already out of luck). You can negotiate with multiple people simultaneously, trying to figure out which of them will go highest. You can let them know that there are multiple offers so as to encourage them to offer more in a bidding war. You should never be dishonest (making up a second bidder, telling a trader that they are the only one interested when you have had other offers).

You could also go with whoever is first, whoever is last, or whoever's name is a particular number of letters long.

The important thing is to act in good faith. This means that, once an agreement is made, you abide by it. It also means not "sort-of" agreeing, and holding out for a higher offer.

You may want to consider stating your terms in your ad.

I will take the highest offer received in the next 24 hour period.

First come, first served.

You must be *this* tall to bid.

And so on.

Squid wrote: 2. How many PMs/counteroffers are TYPICAL on these boards before a deal closes? I recognize people do things different ways, but is there a majority consensus as to what's clean and what's too fiddly?

This will be both user and context specific. Some traders have a huge appetite for back-and-forth; some prefer one round and that's it. Again, stating your terms and being clear is the best way to go. If your proce is firm, feel free to say so. If it's "$100 obo", then be prepared to go a couple rounds.

Pretty much agree with sorrow on this. Personally, I am a first come first served kind of guy, I don't really like the bidding war method, but I understand the value in it. If something is requested, I tell the other person that it is pending and that I will let them know if it doesn't work out. As far as the actual goings on of the trade, I have had some go 1 or 2 PMs and some take a week. I prefer if we can iron it out over the course of a day or two with a few PMs, but I would rather everyone know what they are getting and be happy with the trade then try to wrap things up too quickly and have a misunderstanding. A lot of that also depends on what you are trading, NIB stuff requires less discussion than painted/converted/smashed with a hammer items.

Personally, my rules depend on the situation.
If I post an ad one night and find 3 PMs in my inbox, I will respond to all 3. I'll negotiate with each one separately and also let them know they're NOT the only person I'm speaking with and that the first person I come to an agreement with gets the item(s). In addition, if new PMs come in while I'm talking to those 3, I basically tell the new people what's going on and aske them to hold on, basically.
The same goes if I get ONE PM. That guy has "dibs" while we're haggling or whatever. I won't sell it out from under him. If new PM's come in, I let THEM know I'm in discussions with someone and let HIM know I'm getting more PM's, but that he has "dibs" and I won't sell to anyone else, unless we just can't come to an agreement.

Just deal honestly with everyone. Don't try to run up their offers by playing other members against them and don't do anything you wouldn't want done to you. The site's not about soaking every extra penny you can from your trade partners. It's about giving and receiving fair deals.

Eric

Thanks for the replies--this is helpful. I wasn't sure what honesty looked like on this corner of the internet. Turns out it looks like my kind of honesty. Go figure.