Bartertown.com

Which do you guys prefer, PMs or Emails?? I tend to prefer emails for 2 reasons. One...sadly there are times when the site goes down and I can still finish trades via email. Secondly they "stack" by listing all previous emails in each reply so I have a complete record whereas you have to jump back and forth in the PM lists to see what you've written in the past (unless people cut and paste, which some do). I just wondered what other people think, maybe there's something cool about PMs that I'm missing.
Jay

Does it matter either way? Half the people I write on BT never answer back, in most cases, when they are selling something and I voice interest. Which somewhat defeats the purpose

I like pm's for the fact I can check them while i'm here on the site looking at trades anyway. Otherwise, email is always nice except for when you have to sort through all the junk mail...

Emails. In fact, I require it for any trades I do.

First, I've been through a couple of times where Bartertown has lost all PMs for one reason or another.

Second, since I use Gmail, all of the messages stack in one thread instead of using up 15+ spots in my inbox.

Third, it's a whole lot easier to flag the emails (Bartertown Pending, Bartertown Complete, Bartertown Cancelled, Bartertown Offer and so on.) to figure out what I've got going at any one time.

Fourth, I've got a WHOLE lot more storage space in Gmail so I can keep any and every trade offer/email if I wish to without running out of inbox space.

And finally, it's a whole lot quicker and easier for me to check Email at work than it is Bartertown.

-Dwarf

I prefer emails for the above mentioned reasons. So much easier to keep track of what is going on and with whom.


Kevin

~~~I prefer emails as well...like what's listed above, they are just easier to handle/sift through to make a trade speed along well.

I generally initiate contact via PM or direct post, then switch to email to negotiate a deal.

I really like PMs for trading personally. Part of it is that I am very private with my email accounts. Being able to store contacts just through this domain is something I like. I have not done much trading in the last couple of months, but I plan on switching to email once things pick up. I can't keep PMs in my in-box/sent-box long enough because of the size constraint and moderator traffic.

I haven't totally made up my mind yet. I like PM's because they are easy to access when the site is rolling along smoothly, but they are harded to keep track of when you've got multiple trades going. E-mails are tougher for me when I am at work (well just replying to them) but they do sort themselves in my in-box. I like that. Perhaps we can get Adam to work on that where PM's from the same person bunch together once they are opened and read. Any possibilities?

I generally PM people when I initiate and then try to switch to e-mail. I also usually stick with whatever method works for my prospective trader.

Ekister wrote:

I also usually stick with whatever method works for my prospective trader.

I've had several people mention this to me in the past, saying something like "I don't want to trade through emails, so lets just use PMs." or something to that effect. And they get annoyed or stop responding when I insist on using Emails. Their loss.

[Rant]

Almost all of us have rules that we go by for our trades. Rules like Losest # of References Ships First, Always Use Delivery Confirmation, Trade Retail for Retail, Must See Pictures, Must Receive Payment Before Shipping, Only Ship On Wednesdays, No International Trades and so forth. In order for you to trade with someone, you expect them to follow those rules. ("You have 0 feedback, so you need to ship first. No? Sorry then, no trade.")

Well, this is one of my rules. It's openly posted (usually twice) in all of my trade posts, and I mention it in all of my trade offers as well, whether it be in PMs, Emails, or Chats. If someone PMs me an offer I MIGHT respond with a reminder that I only trade through Emails - but most likely I'll ignore it. Yes this is probably a bit harsh, but if someone can't be bothered to read the rules of my trades (or doesn't care), then I have to ask myself "how else could this trade go wrong"?

Yes, that was me venting a bit. I get annoyed when someone PMs me calling me rude because I won't trade through PMs. It's all part of the trade - if you want the trade, then it shouldn't be a problem.

[/Rant]
-Dwarf

I'm with ya, Dwarf.

I prefer emails for all the reasons that everyone has already listed... So, i won't rehash them.

I ALWAYS put in my ads that I would like an EMAIL.... At least HALF of the responses I get to my ads are via PM.

It really annoys me. I feel like, if you aren't paying enough attention/respect to me to get THAT right, what ELSE aren't you paying attention to?

If I got a PM from someone who said "I prefer to deal via PM. Is that okay?" I would be totally fine with it.

But I've never gotten that PM before.

Eric

I like PMs to start but once things are rolling I prefer Email.

If the PMs kept a running log of answer/response I'd be more willing to use them. As it stands I have to use the Quote button to keep things in order and hope that the person I'm responding to does the same.

PMs to start, Email for the long haul.

David