Did you trade? How do you trade?

I posted an item for trade, but now that I've had some "feelers", I'm wondering how the trade actually took place...

Do you each send the items at the same time?...or
Do you send the item one at a time and then reply? and if so...
Who send the item first?
or
Do you each send payment thru Paypal to have SOME security?...and if so...
Do you send your cash and item one at a time or at the same time?

These are some of the options I thought of last night...there are probably others too...
I'd appreciate any ideas/experiences (good and bad) that you can share. Thanks.

I looked for information about how to trade in the stickies...couldn't find any...
Maybe this ought to be a sticky...

On other sites, it would all depend on feedback on that forum, their reputation, etc. I would search their username and/or email address for frauds in the classifieds. If they had alot of posts on said forum and I did not, I would not hesitate to ship first. Do your research and if they have less posts than you, I would have them ship first.

I traded a 7MDH for a 6MDH last year and it was very smooth. We both sent pictures, and then just sent the items at the same time. I don't think I would do a trade with someone that was new to the list and had a low thread count.

If you both have good feedback then go with the cross-ship (both ship at the same time). If one party has no feedback, it wouldn't be unusual for the no-feedback party to ship first. If there is a price discrepancy (e.g. trading a $300 item for a $200 item, so one party pays $100 via PayPal) then it is usual to pay the PP up front, although if they have no feedback at all, it might be agreeable to only send a partial payment up front. There is always a degree of trust given to the person who posts the thread vs. the person who replies, especially if they have photos of the things they are selling. Also PayPal offers some recourse, so it is easier to trust somebody when it is a straight purchase as opposed to a trade.

I have done a trade/purchase once before with somebody with no feedback. It was my thread: I had my 50mm f/1.8 for sale and indicated that I wanted to trade + cash for a 50mm f/1.4 if possible. At that point, I had 2 or 3 good feedback where I had sold things in the same price range (e.g. Sigma 30mm f/1.4). So I was buying/trading his 50mm f/1.4 for cash + my 50mm f/1.8. I sent half the PP, he sent the 50/1.4, and when I got it, I sent the 50/1.8 and the rest of the PP.

Basically it all comes down to trust. I have had no problems with the people on this forum, either buying or selling (and I have done about $1000 each way). Look to their feedback and if they have a couple of good ones as a seller then that's good enough for me. Also of course it is harder to trust somebody when they are selling a really big-ticket item like a $3000 lens or something. Fortunately there are a lot of pro/semi-pro photographers on this forum, often with their own established studios, websites, etc. and they have made a lot of posts so it is easy to see that they are who they say they are, and that they have what they say they have. Trusting others is a personal issue and it is up to you to decide where to draw the line. This forum has little in the way of recourse, so if that scares you then you might want to stick to eBay and local sales via Craigslist where you have some measure of control.

EDIT: My advice has a bit of experience behind it, having been active on several other forums. There is a website called HeatWare which is a community of forum trader feedback that can apply to any forum around. Unfortunately it does not seem to have taken hold here, but it is pretty common on tech sites where people sell computer parts, etc.

badgerW wrote in post #8027366
EDIT: My advice has a bit of experience behind it, having been active on several other forums. There is a website called HeatWare which is a community of forum trader feedback that can apply to any forum around. Unfortunately it does not seem to have taken hold here, but it is pretty common on tech sites where people sell computer parts, etc.

Oh yeah, I was going to mention that and forgot. From trading on Anandtech and Hardforums I used Heatware alot. Here's what a Heatware feedback looks like....

http://www.heatware.co​m/eval.php?id=34198

I've done a couple. As long as the person has good feed back on the forum then I wouldn't worry too much. Also within a day or two drive is reassuring. And on top of all that, I will only trade something that I currently have insured in case worst came to worse.

By using Paypal do you ship your item after you see the money transfered into PP account or you need to wait till you transfer the money into your bank account? I heard someone would contact PP to appeal and say they didnt receive the item, then PP will cancel their payment from your account?
Sorry I'm totally new to this as well.. only PPed once for a purchase from BH but was wondering how to do this for private trade..
Thanks!

atu wrote in post #8028896
By using Paypal do you ship your item after you see the money transfered into PP account or you need to wait till you transfer the money into your bank account? I heard someone would contact PP to appeal and say they didnt receive the item, then PP will cancel their payment from your account?
Sorry I'm totally new to this as well.. only PPed once for a purchase from BH but was wondering how to do this for private trade..
Thanks!

ALWAYS send insured with signature confirmation upon delivery.....
I send gear AFTER I receive payment from a verified account member and ONLY send to a confirmed address.

It would seem that the safest procedure would be for each party to send the same amount to each other...then Paypal gives both parties "seller's protection."

As for reputation, one method of verification would be checking into each other's ebay feedback/history...