Trading tips and suggestions

[Sports Gatherings]

Along with the tips for packaging your items safely, here are some trading tips and suggestions to use and re-use. Although Sports Gatherings is meant to be a resource for autograph signings, we are quickly finding out that trading is also part of that solution. With that, here are a few trading tips to remember.

Trading Tips

1. Be honest, have integrity when trading/selling. Online trading typically brings in a level of paranoia and we don't find that odd at all. That is why SGF is striving to become an honest and reliable forum and why members are required to be premium members in order to participate. We feel this will weed out the dishonest traders. In addition, the Sports Gatherings Transaction Services provides a service that will ease that anxiety in online trading by acting as the middle man.
2. Do not make any assumptions.
3. Have fun and like your mother always says, be treated like you want to be treated. If you act like a douchebag, you'll be treated that way. This is a hobby, not a job so let's relax and have some fun.
4. If it makes you feel better, ask for a reference check. There is a reference check forum here at SGF.
5. Ask questions, ask questions. During negotiation, people value their cards and your cards differently. Some go by book value, others go by sell value. Either way, it's always up to the owner. If the owner has a /50 card who is asking for $50.00, but is going for $10 online, it is ultimately up to the owner to determine the value; you may not disagree, but it will happen on occasion. Usually, however, it is common courtesy to develop an understanding before going through the negotiation process.
6. Be courteous and respectful. There will always be times when you want and must have a certain card, but the owner just won't agree with you. It can be frustrating, but please remember to be courteous and respectful.
7. Have an open mind and be patient. Things happen and if you act and respond like an adult, you will be viewed and dealt with similarly. However, if you start acting like a child, you will quickly find that your negotiating power is non existent.
8. Don't take offense in lowball offers. Yes, it will happen...often. Don't get offended. Just simply say, "no thanks" and move on. There's no need to waste your time in getting into an online war of words, which is just plain childish.
9. Save your Private Messages and/or email correspondence. Also, keep track of the posts you made in reference to a particular trade. In many cases, a negotiation will begin on a thread, then move into the PMs. It's always good to be able to backtrack.
10. Be absolutely clear on the type of card involved and the condition. It is always recommended to ask for scans or pictures, but these methods do have loopholes. Get the condition in writing, scans/pics do not always do the cards/items justice.
11. Be clear on the method of shipping. For example, some traders are okay with plain white envelopes, while others make it clear that all trades must be done in bubble mailers. Be sure you both agree and understand how the items will be shipped.

Do not harass anyone. If you feel the SGF staff needs to get involved, simply let us know. By using the Sports Gatherings Transaction Services, this concern will be eliminated.