Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ My advice for safe trading!

[Bondsaway]

How to trade as safe as possible on the internet

The first rule of thumb to trading safe is a simple one. Know the value of any cards. Their are online price guides (beckett and tuff stuff) also many magazines. Important rule to this is make sure you know what the other trader is using to price his cards as most have different pricing. Never take anyones word on the value of a card with this exception. No pricing due to scarcity! Then you must decide if what the other person value of the card is worth it. Remember you do not have to trade with that person, if you don't think his pricing is fair, don't argue we as collectors can put whatever value on our cards we want. But in doing so you may limit your chances at trading/selling.Plus the best traders/sellers don't set things in stone! Most are willing to negioate.

Next get to know who it is your trading with. You don't have to agree to a trade the second one is offered. There are numerous ways to do this.
1. site feedbacks- this is a list of traders telling all how their trade with that member went. Paying special attention to who they got the feedback from.
If all his feedbacks came from 1-2 people be cautious in the validity of them.
Friends can say yes we traded cards when actually they didn't but it pushes their feedback rating up!
1a. Also if you are dealing in a large or high $ amount see if that person has any successful high $ trades. Another way scammers take people is to join a site and make 20-50 small trades and on their first high $ or large amount of cards they pounce! I seen this happen on a site!!!
2. Talk to other traders. Look for the feedbacks that just say thanks and ask that trader why he didn't get a better feedback. Just because someone has a negative feedback does not make them a bad trader, so investigate before you jump to conclusions.
3. Most of the best traders on the net are on more than one site. So check out any other sites he/she might be on. Again refer to rule 1 But remember that bad traders are also on numerous sites as they get banned or no longer can pull off the cons they do.
4. keep youself informed. Best way to do this is to ask the site staff. Ask if they had any problems from that trader. Not always are the bad traders posted everywhere. But the mods do alot of things behind the scenes and members aren't privy to know. But if you ask they should have no problems letting you know if they had any trouble with them as long as it pertains to trading with you.
5. Get a phone number! Alot can be done with a phone number, not just to call and talk to them. But this will provide the police and or postal authority's with more information should you be ripped off, thieves usually won't give there home number out.
6. Make sure you know how both party expect to ship? Use of bubble packs ensure no damage in shipping most of the time and should be used in all trades. Just my opinion. Use of toploaders, sleeves and snaptites should always be used to ensure the safety of your cards.
7. Mailing your package using delivery confirmation (DC) it costs .55 cents in the U.S. to do this. Which means the post office tracks your package and hand delivers to home! There is no signing involved but postman has to show it was delivered at the address. This is one of the greatest tools againest someone saying they did not receive your cards. But most people won't use this because its an extra 2 quarters! Are your cards worth it?
8. Another thing is insurance on your package. Once again people don't like to add another $1-2 to shipping costs and do not use this. Most trades you don't need it. But anything over $50 in my book requires insurance. Of course you can set your own standard for using this added measurement.
9. One thing I overlooked is this. Check and see how long the other trader has been a member of the site. This rule falls in line with the feedbacks section. Also check out his posts on the site, to see what he has been after.
Some of the dumber thieves post looking for that quick score! I have these cards willing to trade for other high end cards. If you read their posts you'll see a pattern, ask for pics of the cards if they say they have alot of highend cards but no camera? something don't add up. They could not have pulled them all! Just a tip doesn't always work that way.
10. Finally if you take all those steps and you still don't like the situation.
DON'T TRADE WITH THEM YOU DON'T HAVE TOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!That is the best rule of thumb in trading.
There is no full proof safe way to trade. But by adhering to these rules the chances of you being ripped off will drop off!
Hoped this was helpful
Bondsaway

[proGr@m217]

how bout refraining from taping the toploaders? they get dirty and sticky after the tape is removed.

[Bondsaway]

Well some cards just simply won't stay in top loaders, hence people tape them shut. My advice on this is either tape completely closed so tape can not touch card or stuff it with something to keep the card from slipping out.

Remember you don't want the card coming out of the loader and sustaining damage!

[snowblink]

Well some cards just simply won't stay in top loaders, hence people tape them shut.

Grab some team bags and load a few toploaders into each, problem solved, no sticky toploaders, and cards won't come free during shipping. Tape the team bags if necessary, still no mess.

[Bondsaway]

Grab some team bags and load a few toploaders into each, problem solved, no sticky toploaders, and cards won't come free during shipping. Tape the team bags if necessary, still no mess.

That would be a great idea if everyone had access to all the nice items. But like myself. My local shops all 4 of them are now closed. So this is general advice to people who can't find things like that or just don't want to spend the extra money! If it were that simple we could make it a rule. But I believe those to be a luxury, just like delivery confirmation and insurance.
It would be great if everyone did them, but most don't want/have the money to do it!

But that is the best way around the tape issue by far!

[proGr@m217]

Well some cards just simply won't stay in top loaders, hence people tape them shut. My advice on this is either tape completely closed so tape can not touch card or stuff it with something to keep the card from slipping out.

Remember you don't want the card coming out of the loader and sustaining damage!

what i do is first wrap the loaders with paper and THEN tape them.

also, dc or insurance is always a good way to get some security.

[Bondsaway]

Thats probably the best and cheapest way to do it! Cool beans to Rommel

[proGr@m217]

thanks. i do my best to please.