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Ok, so this is going to be my mini-blog/discussion with myself/RANT about TCG trade-related issues. I just need to get it off my chest, lol. Nothing's personal.
1. Members offering cards I don't want / not offering cards --> This is one of the rudest things I've ever seen. Asking me to give something and receive "nothing" in return is just awful. How can members justify this to themselves or think I'll be ok with it? I'm surprised others are okay with this too. I've seen lots of members with "If you don't have anything I want, feel free to offer something random" or something similar posted. But why? I'm not a mean person, and I don't mind helping others out occasionally, but, in this case, what's the point? I know for a fact that, if I do them a favor, they're probably never going to do me a favor in return or be nice to me later. It's the online world, people don't really "keep score". There are also lots of people who abuse this. I've gotten requests before I put my trade policy up that were literally a request for "all of your XXX cards" and an offer of "whatever you want". Blargh. X_X
The worst for me right now is on Mugiwara (I think my trade policy scares off most people who want to turn in the trade form, but Mugiwara is automatic). I get a lot of requests like that. I understand that there are only a few cards I'm collecting at the moment, but it's still not acceptable to me when members ask me to just be nice and give them a card. I think it's because the trading is done automatically. If I let people give me cards I'm not looking for, what're the chances I'll ever get something I'm actually looking for? I've asked for cards like that too before, but I always tried to offer a few special cards that the person was asking for too, as a "balance", and I always explain that to the member in the little message box. I feel bad when they're like "it's the last card I need, please?" and stuff, but I can't make exceptions for someone like that and not for others.
2. Changing the trade after the fact --> I change trades all the time, but only when I'm on the receiving end of the request. I never *offer* a trade and then try to change it after the fact unless the member left it for more than a week without responding. If I accidentally traded for doubles, I accept that. I take it as a "loss" on my part that is entirely my fault. It really bugs me when I get a trade request, I accept it, and then the member tries to change it afterwards. I know people make mistakes, but *you* have to take responsibility for your own mistake and, if it was the real world, I'd say "too bad" and refuse to change it. It's harder to refuse a change after the fact online, especially if the new card they want is in my trade pile too, but it's extra "paperwork" and bother for me, and it's really your own fault if you made a mistake like that. Think about it: Why should I bother saying yes to any change you want to make after the fact? You sent the offer, I accepted it. Simple. You can't change your bid on eBay after the fact. I know it's different and we're all friendly here, but it still bothers me. :(
3. Late replies --> I send out a lot of trade requests. I go through a member list and make a ton of trade requests all at once and, often, I won't get responses from a few people. I understand you're busy and whatever. Real life comes first for me too. But I never ever get a request and ignore it for more than a week. And if, for some reason, I got to your form after a week, I never ever assume that the offer is still valid and try to make the trade anyway. I always make sure to 1. apologize and 2. ask if you still want to trade. I've gotten a lot of this. It's better than completely ignoring the request, I guess, but I delete any record of my offer after a week, so it's not like I remember what I offered you or wanted in return. Most TCGs are also pretty fast-paced, so I often will get the card I asked for pretty quickly. Please, for the love of God, don't assume that a trade request is still valid after a week. I never do, and it's frustrating as hell when others do because *you* were rude first by ignoring my request and then expect me to accept it anyway.
Hrm, I think that's it, for now? That's all happened to me in the past few weeks and I've gotten super aggravated over it! It's nice to "say" it for once.
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