A rant/opinion/suggestion post....

[ballsandstrikes]

First let me say I love trading and have found some very good trading partners on this site who have helped both my business and my PC grow.
That being said.....
It is my opinion/suggestion that traders under the age of 16 on this forum should have an icon next to their ID telling us they are not of age to drive.
Why? Because it gets old making a trade with someone, shipping promptly and then having to wait a week or more because mom and dad don't take their items to the post office. I would actually like to see a logo for everyone under 18 but I think under 16 is important.

My rant is on those who don't use the trade manager the way it is supposed to be used. I am tired of having to ask 4 days later if a trade has been shipped and then getting snotty responses because I have the nerve to bother them by asking.. I actually had someone here tell me "Nobody uses trade manager anymore". When you ship a trade, take 20 seconds out of your day and inform your trading partner when you have shipped their cards. Then you don't have to put up with getting emails asking if the trades have been shipped.
Some of these same people don't mark a trade received even though tracking showed items delivered 2-3 days earlier. Again, take 20 seconds out of your day and let your partner know the USPS delivered their items safely. Then I don't have to email and ask if the item got there safely or if a problem has happened.
Bottom line, those who trade with me can expect:
prompt, secure and safe shipping
prompt updates on when their items are shipped using trade manager and prompt notification when I receive cards shipped to me.
I believe these are RESPONSIBILITIES you accept when you trade with someone. I believe if you can't handle those responsibilities whether you are 15 or 51 you have no business trading.
End of rant.

[spuds1961]

I think patience is a virtue,I also think there should be no icons as long as an item gets to me within a 2 week time frame what's the big deal.I can hit the trade manager and say I shipped your item anyday I want to put and blame the post office for the amount of time it took to get to you.Being a moderator alot of useless disputes are opened because people are not patient enough,sorry if I disagree somewhat with your rant but that's my opinion on it.Take care Steve

[ballsandstrikes]

Steve, let me point out a few things to respond to you
#1 as an adult I should know if I am dealing with a child both from a legal responsibility standpoint (a 14 year old may not be legally responsible for his actions) and from a trade timeframe standpoint. I am not suggesting that someone under 16 should have a MSF tag, but I think there should be a way to tell the adults on here from the kids.
#2 I have been doing mail order for over 20 years and worked at a post office for almost 2 years in the early 90's. Postage stamps are cancelled on the day or on the first business day after a package is sent depending on when they are sorted. So if someone tells me they ship on Tuesday but the stamps are not cancelled until Saturday then something is fishy. This doesn't happen 100% of the time as I have received packages with no cancel or pen cancel (happens normally at the receiving post office when stamps do not get cancelled by accident) but it is the case 99% of the time.
I have gotten to the point where I tell my trading partners to let me know when they ship and that will be the day I ship. I am about to void a trade because the kid has made excuses for nearly 10 days as to why he hasn't shipped yet.
Having the ability to ship in a timely manner is a part of the responsibility of trading or doing business online. There is no excuse (short of an emergency situation) where a trade is made and the person on the other end doesn't ship within 3 business days or be up front about the fact that they will be unable to do so.

It comes back to good communication skills. Both in emails/im's and in trade manager. And I don't ask of anyone what I do not offer and act on myself.

[spuds1961]

I hear you on this post balls and strikes and I completely agree,I always let my trading partners know the day I'm going to send and if something comes up I will pm them to let them know of a delay.I most of the time don't use the item shipped in the trade manager unless it's requested.Communication is the key and when I do make a trade I usually send it out the first day the post office is open,as long as I know my cards are eventually coming and there is a communication line I have no problems waiting,it's when I have to harrass the other trader to get my cards is when it becomes a problem.By the way who do you collect,I collect giants in football and yankees in baseball.Take care Steve

[ballsandstrikes]

Hey Steve. My PC is specialized mostly in pre 1960 stuff in EX condition. Right now I am working on the Red Heart baseball set. Modern I collect numbered inserts (100 or less) of hall of famers. Most of what I get on here is for my mail order business

[spuds1961]

Wow old school,I like vintage but after my mom threw away my collection from the 60's I haven't collected vintage since,most of my collection is newer stuff gu and auto's but I do have some hof #'d inserts 100 or less,nice collection take care Steve

[Rybowski]

I personally always give my best effort to get a trade done. When I reach a trade agreement and it gets confirmed, I take the time to write them telling them that if I can't get the card out the next day, that I can get it out 2 days from then. It is to me common courtesy to make sure that both sides are on the same page. I just got ripped off on here by someone who said they shipped, but never got the package. That will not happen again.

[gladdyontherise]

I would like to point out when i joined this site i was 15, i am now 16, (17 on tuesday) age clearly has nothing to do about prompt shipping or how good of a trader you are thats a stereotype unfairly put to those under 18.

[cdson123]

i agree with you ,tell the person when your going to ship out. if let them know....

[ballsandstrikes]

Hey neighbor. No offense to you as a 16 year old but age can and does have something to do with it. I won't get into a debate that the average 15 year old is as mature and responsible as the average adult . I know I sure wasn't as responsible at 15 as I am now at 36 but I won't speak for others. What I can say is that a 15 year old without a car does not have control over getting stuff to the post office as an adult will. I can say this based on experience here with more than one trader telling me "my parents forget to take the item to the post office for me".
Plus again, at 15 or 16 in most states you may not be legally responsible for your actions.
I don't mean to offend you and I would probably be more than willing to trade with you but as an adult I would like to know if my trading partner is a minor or not.