Bartertown.com

Hey all,

I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced slow downs in their trades/sales? I know I live in Japan and that has always been something of a barrier in getting people to trade with me. (Even though I just bought 4 Sisters Repentia off of Porkuslime and he mailed them to me with tracing for $4.00 from the US to Japan. Take that over-priced shipping stereotypes! =P ) I think my feedback is beyond reproach, (imo,) so I’m wondering what’s up lately.

Anyways, here’s an example of a listing I’ve put up recently:

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=83510


(This one is a VERY recent post, I know, but I’ve been putting up similar stuff for two weeks without any real takers.)

As you can see the lots have, at least in my mind, pretty great discounts for brand new product. I used to put up deals like this, (maybe 6 months ago and earlier,) and they’d be gone within 48 hours tops. No haggling or anything because the price was already really low. I’ve been putting these up for two weeks and I get people either trying to low ball me to give them like 70% off or force me to break up the lots while still giving them the same discount.

Now, I’m wondering why this is. Is it simply a symptom of the poor economy? Are people no longer interested in armies and just looking for random bits and bobs? Is this fall out from that idiot “the trader” making people leery of doing international deals with anyone no matter their feedback? Anyone have any input?

-Mike

::Checks Ad::

Well, I don't think it's fallout from The_Trader. Regardless of him, people will still trade based on your references, and yours are exemplary.

I think you're seeing a combination of things...

First off, while they are spectacular deals, your lots are large... therefore, though low in comparison to retail, your prices are high. Nearly $200 is a lot to drop on one lot. Not a lot of people do that regularly.
Plus, the nature of Btown has always been that trade ads will get better results than sale ads. It's always been that way and, likely, always will.
Your GW stuff doesn't look to be complete armies. People looking may not be looking for those particular items.
Hell Dorado is a fairly popular game. Do you post anywhere else? Not to take away from US, but I've seen a couple people on Dakka looking high and low for Hell Dorado minis. At 30% off, they might go fairly swiftly there.

Lastly... you ARE looking at the whole "won't trade outside (enter home country here)" rule. When I traded with you, it was in direct violation of my own personal rule about trading outside the US. My troubles have been so constant when dealing outside the US that I stopped. Your great deal and reputation persuaded me to... and I'm glad of it... but you (and a few others) are still just the EXCEPTION to my rule.

I think your biggest hurdle is the total amount. It's a good deal but, if I can't afford to drop $200 at once, I'm not going to buy your stuff, no matter HOW good a deal it is. KWIM?

Eric

Another thing to consider, is that we are right at the beginning of convention season. Just in the next two months we have Adepticon, Games Day Baltimore and Reapercon, and that's just off the top of my head. I myself have been restraining trades and purchases in order to save some cash for Baltimore. Plus, like MM said there is the fallout from that dink "the trader", which has caused many people to stop trading outside the U.S.. Just another thought anyway.

MagickalMemories wrote:::Checks Ad::

First off, while they are spectacular deals, your lots are large... therefore, though low in comparison to retail, your prices are high. Nearly $200 is a lot to drop on one lot. Not a lot of people do that regularly.
Plus, the nature of Btown has always been that trade ads will get better results than sale ads. It's always been that way and, likely, always will.

Eric

Well, I used to post similar sized lots without a problem. People would snap them up. In my case I post large lots because it's one of those damned if you, damned if you don't situations. If I post a small lot then the person I ship to has to pay the shipping as the cash from the sale won't make up the cost for me to ship for free. This puts people off. I find free express shipping with tracking and insurance usually increases a potential trader's comfort level. But, it forces me to sell my stuff off in lots which, as you mentioned have higher price overall price tags even though they're heavily discounted.

Also, I think trade ads get more hits when they're inside the same country. I've VERY rarely had people opt to trade over purchase from me because the other person always tells me A. they don't want to pay international shipping and B. they don't want to take the time to fill out the customs form.

Thanks for the info about Dakka. I didn't know they had a swap/sale place over there. I posted up my ad over there. Maybe someone will bite.

-Mike

I have noticed a definitive slowdown in responses to adds as well. I still get some but not like before. I think it may be due to the general economic slow down. People are just a little more frugal with there money. I will say that the only action that I have been getting is for trades, selling minis has dried up almost completely.

Personally, with the new IG Codex coming out, I'll be looking to buy some stuff, but I'm only going to looking for NEW product, and that won't be finalized until the Codex details firm up a bit more.

As a general rule, I won't trade outside the US, because of the limited tracking / delivery information that I can get.

And more to the point, I've pretty much finished with my trades, so I've got other priorities now.