TRADING RULES ON BARTERTOWN
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 10:05 pm
Why , oh why do I do this to myself? I broke the rules.
First off lets talk about Bartertown - it is a great place for us all to trade and sell goods and services such as painting.
In order to keep trades going communication is essential - good clear communication and following an established set of guidelines to ensure safe trading.
So having allowed myself to get burnt again, indulge me by reading the rules of bartertown as I see them and give your ideas. I've always assumed something like this was posted up somewhere - maybe Adam will indulge me and put one up.
1) THE GOLDEN RULE
Low feedback trader ships first buyer or seller- why? because they have less to lose by screwing up a trade and probably have less experience in trading on the forum too. So you get bad feedback with 20 trades under your belt - start again! I broke this golden rule. This is not Ebay where Paypal may protect you - this is Bartertown.
2) EXCHANGE INFORMATION
Name address Telephone number emails - check the phone numbers to make sure it's the right person. I have nothing to hide I freely give out my information when someone doesn't - watch out!
3) AS SELLER DESCRIBE YOUR GOODS
That means accurately portray the condition, quantity and quality of your goods. If pieces are missing or broken tell people - don't assume they can see it in a picture. Don't assume that they won't care, don't take the attitude of BUYER BEWARE - or You didn't ask Tough luck! sure that may work once or twice but then word gets around. If you accurately and clearly describe the condition of your goods then there will be no problems. See Ebay guidelines for sellers.
4) AS A BUYER
Be Paranoid - ask every question you can think of, never assume that a person is honest or would tell you anything they don't have to. If a deal seems to good to be true - it IS! If a SELLER has lower feedback insist on RULE #1. when Buying painted stuff Ask for A sample mini - whatever it takes to ensure you get what you think you are getting.
I broke this one too. I assumed.
5) SHIPPING
Ship insured, ship with a Delivery confirmation, ship with a delivery receipt, whatever you need to do to ensure you can track the item. If you are worried about overseas trades - DONT DO IT there is very little you can do to track overseas trades.
6) PACKING
Be overzealous in the care you take packing your items - bubble wrap, foam chips and multiple boxes are your friends here.
7) BE CIVIL
If you disagree don't start a flame war or email cussing match - that's uncivilized. Offer to make things right or cancel the whole trade - better to walk away with both sides back where they started, than to fight at length with no possible resolution. Sometimes one party or the other will not compromise, well then you fix what you can leave feedback and walk away. There is no point in arguing to the death.
NOTIFY THE TRADEMASTER/MODERATOR
Adam has been here a long time - he knows what is what and who's who - he may be able to offer a solution, he may be able to resolve the conflict. Then again not. But it's worth a try.
9) DO NOT USE THE TRADE FORUMS TO BASH PEOPLE
No posting of complaints to the various sections or flame war campaigns. Besides getting you banned from BTown - your post will quickly be pulled off.
Finally some Wisdom from another Trader who posted some of this before.
Why did I not read this twice before I did my last trade! ????
You arrange your trade. You decide who is getting what in exchange for what.
When the subject of the actual exchange comes up, it can go smoothly or rough. It all depends on the traders.
As a general rule, the person with the lower rating is expected to ship first. When the other trader receives the package, they go through it & make sure they got what they expected. Then, they ship their stuff to the other party.
Unfortunately, your ebay rating doesn't mean that much here. This isn't ebay and nothing that ebay does can affect your rating here.... and, until ebay buys Bartertown, the opposite is true, as well.
You can expect to ship first if it is an established trader.
As far as what kind of shipping options you choose... to each his own.
Personally, I prefer to ship via first class/parcel post with delivery confirmation.
I always send with it and I insist that packages coming to me use it, unless the trade partner is willing to assume all liabilities if I claim to have never received the box.
Some people prefer priority, others insist on insurance.
Some will not ship first, regardless of ratings.
Since these people usuallt end up being like Death Weasel, Justin Barnard or Jason Ticknor, I suggest staying away from them.
First off lets talk about Bartertown - it is a great place for us all to trade and sell goods and services such as painting.
In order to keep trades going communication is essential - good clear communication and following an established set of guidelines to ensure safe trading.
So having allowed myself to get burnt again, indulge me by reading the rules of bartertown as I see them and give your ideas. I've always assumed something like this was posted up somewhere - maybe Adam will indulge me and put one up.
1) THE GOLDEN RULE
Low feedback trader ships first buyer or seller- why? because they have less to lose by screwing up a trade and probably have less experience in trading on the forum too. So you get bad feedback with 20 trades under your belt - start again! I broke this golden rule. This is not Ebay where Paypal may protect you - this is Bartertown.
2) EXCHANGE INFORMATION
Name address Telephone number emails - check the phone numbers to make sure it's the right person. I have nothing to hide I freely give out my information when someone doesn't - watch out!
3) AS SELLER DESCRIBE YOUR GOODS
That means accurately portray the condition, quantity and quality of your goods. If pieces are missing or broken tell people - don't assume they can see it in a picture. Don't assume that they won't care, don't take the attitude of BUYER BEWARE - or You didn't ask Tough luck! sure that may work once or twice but then word gets around. If you accurately and clearly describe the condition of your goods then there will be no problems. See Ebay guidelines for sellers.
4) AS A BUYER
Be Paranoid - ask every question you can think of, never assume that a person is honest or would tell you anything they don't have to. If a deal seems to good to be true - it IS! If a SELLER has lower feedback insist on RULE #1. when Buying painted stuff Ask for A sample mini - whatever it takes to ensure you get what you think you are getting.
I broke this one too. I assumed.
5) SHIPPING
Ship insured, ship with a Delivery confirmation, ship with a delivery receipt, whatever you need to do to ensure you can track the item. If you are worried about overseas trades - DONT DO IT there is very little you can do to track overseas trades.
6) PACKING
Be overzealous in the care you take packing your items - bubble wrap, foam chips and multiple boxes are your friends here.
7) BE CIVIL
If you disagree don't start a flame war or email cussing match - that's uncivilized. Offer to make things right or cancel the whole trade - better to walk away with both sides back where they started, than to fight at length with no possible resolution. Sometimes one party or the other will not compromise, well then you fix what you can leave feedback and walk away. There is no point in arguing to the death.
NOTIFY THE TRADEMASTER/MODERATORAdam has been here a long time - he knows what is what and who's who - he may be able to offer a solution, he may be able to resolve the conflict. Then again not. But it's worth a try.
9) DO NOT USE THE TRADE FORUMS TO BASH PEOPLE
No posting of complaints to the various sections or flame war campaigns. Besides getting you banned from BTown - your post will quickly be pulled off.
Finally some Wisdom from another Trader who posted some of this before.
Why did I not read this twice before I did my last trade! ????
You arrange your trade. You decide who is getting what in exchange for what.
When the subject of the actual exchange comes up, it can go smoothly or rough. It all depends on the traders.
As a general rule, the person with the lower rating is expected to ship first. When the other trader receives the package, they go through it & make sure they got what they expected. Then, they ship their stuff to the other party.
Unfortunately, your ebay rating doesn't mean that much here. This isn't ebay and nothing that ebay does can affect your rating here.... and, until ebay buys Bartertown, the opposite is true, as well.
You can expect to ship first if it is an established trader.
As far as what kind of shipping options you choose... to each his own.
Personally, I prefer to ship via first class/parcel post with delivery confirmation.
I always send with it and I insist that packages coming to me use it, unless the trade partner is willing to assume all liabilities if I claim to have never received the box.
Some people prefer priority, others insist on insurance.
Some will not ship first, regardless of ratings.
Since these people usuallt end up being like Death Weasel, Justin Barnard or Jason Ticknor, I suggest staying away from them.