this post is not intended to start anything with anyone, i just think this needs to be addressed. obviously, some people don't read the newbie trade threads or ignore them. i heard that a friend of mine was recently got shafted on an ISO trade. to all guys interested in trading with established traders....or not so established traders.....

it shows really bad form to ask specifically for more expensive smokes when you do not....or will not return fire with the same or better sticks.
i realize that being new, some guys do not have alot of really good sticks to dispense. that is fine. everyone understands. most people here are VERY generous and will usually GIVE you some good sticks to try and help you out on your quest to greater cigar pleasure. on many occassions, brothers sent me sticks that i had no way of getting back to them.....with better sticks, that is. i was grateful and i try to do my best to remember those who have been so kind to me since my arrival here.

i also realize that, being new, you may not know hwat is and is not bad form. that is why i am posting this. there are so many scam artists out there now, that many botl's have stopped trading altogether with people they do not know.

my belief is that we should all help each other out when we can. an established trader trading with a newbie is good in that this affords the new guy a chance to try some sticks he may otherwise be unable to try. i enjoy sending sticks to those who are new. i love to bewitch as many people as i can the same way it was done to me by so many people here.

i think that this case was special, though. the new guy, who shall remain nameless, sent some sticks to the established guy, who shall also remain nameless, sticks that he did not request on the list of preferred list......also, they were much less quality than the one's he (the new guy) requested.

this, in itself, is not a big deal. it was the manner in which he did it. telling someone, basically, that the sticks he requested were not there, but just smoke these instead.......was really quite an insult. especially to the trader who it happened to. this guy is one of the most generous trader i've ever seen.

listen guys, i am not trying to be some kind of a lord of the trades board, but this was a really **** deal. i am not perfect(my wife will be glad to tell you that), but i just see blatant lack of respect in this guys doings/dealings. if you ever want to have a future trading here, don't do **** like this anymore.

i wish i could say more about this, but i will not at the behest of my friend and also because i do not want to give someone a bad name if this, in fact, was an honest mistake. i have made many and i do not think it is fair to slam someone if they are not aware of the rules.......spoken or unspoken.

if you do not understand, i apologize. i cannot be very specific, as i do not want to destroy someone's rep. this just wreaked of pepsiman........,i do not think this is him, it just sounded like some **** he would pull.

Well said. Let's all keep things honest and fair.

I am currently in the process of doing a trade with a newbie that I have been respectfully warned about... my message is IF there is a newbie that is trying to scam people... understand that 1 bad trade will get you a message like Delta has posted... a respectfull warning... but 2,3, and 4 crap trades later and your name will be mentioned. You can NOT tell someone that you are sending them HIGH end sticks and swap them with crap that they will find when they open their package. Your word is all you have when trading, please make it mean something.

Country

Very well said delta...
I concider myself somewhat new to the boards and as such, I am bound to make a mistake. If fact I already have. (see PIF 59 & 60)I also offered to make it right.(see ping mike cook by myash07)
****Threadjack on******
I have met via the boards and hope to meet via the '05 fest many more friends.
I just want everyone to know that if you encounter a sour trade with me, I will make it right!
**** Threadjack Off ****
Thanks for the post Delta

we all make mistakes...that's why ther's geico!!

seriously, we have enough scammers. i, for one, am tired of it. i don't think this guiy is one......but if he is, he's through.

i absolutely love giving free smokes to people.....especially those who may not be at the point in their cigar career to have tried expensive smokes yet. but there is nothing i despise more than a thief!!!

unwritten rule according to delta #1 reads "always try your best to give someone the benefit of the doubt before lynching them".

that is what we all should do. it get's hard when you sleep very little and smoke too much and are under/overmedicated/ and generally irritable.....

all joking aside, i am trying to believe that someone would be that much of an ****, but the woods are full of 'em.

keep your pecker hard and your powder dry men......we are at war.

Sad, now you know why I won't trade here and just bomb the few people that I do.

Thanks Delta, I am a newbie, and have joined one birtday club here put on by burky!! I have sent out to great bombs I think to some people here and have no complaints. I appreciate this post, and will do my best always to honor fine people like yourself, your wife and other veterans on the board!! I thank you for hooking up all the newbies here with the great bombs you both send out, and you have a great looking family. Thanks again, and I hope one day to be on the end of one of the bombs or a trade from you!!

Good advice!!! most of this is common sense and should be understood!!??? me being new and apprehensive about the boards and all!! ive read them for approx3 mths before posting and doing any trading!!! have too say has been a good xperience!!!! the true vets around here seem very guenuine and seem too keep policeing the boards!!? i have enjoyed the commaradie conversations etc!!! im glad im here and planning on staying awhile!!! also have learned a few valuable lessons about the boards!! dont reply too anything your not qualifed for!! sometimes its better too bite your tongue and keep quiet!!! if you disrespect someone here try too make amends too make it right!!?? politics and religion are very touchy and always debatable subjects!!! try and respect anothers opinion even if it doesnt agree with your own!!??? sorry about the rant and rambling on!!! just goes back towards common sense and learning from your mistakes here!!! thanks too all you fine folks out there!!!! FNG!!! JOE!!!!!!!!!

Felt the need to jump in with my two cents on this because I agree with Delta 100%. I hope no one is misunderstanding this and thinking that you can only trade if you have a bunch of super premos. The fact is, most of us when we first start off don't, and getting involved here gives us a great opportunity to try them through generous offers from good guys like Chris and others that have been around. I think most everyone here gets it, but when you start asking for Padron Milleniums and send Te-Amo's in return, you need to understand its going to piss a few people off and in the end, you only will end up hurting yourself by having everyone avoid trading with you. I think we've created a monster with all this bombing action because people are coming on board expecting it rather than understanding that being bombed needs to be earned. I for one feel priviledged to be a part of this great group of guys and anyone else that comes on and wants to be included should have that same attitude and not take it for granted. Some of these big time cigars aren't cheap so if and when you do recieve one as part of a trade, the right thing to do is show that individual you really appreciate thier generosity. In the last couple of months I've seen it happen a bunch of times. A new guy comes on board, jumps into every PIF, PIB &TTT, gets a whole bunch of great sticks sent to them returning a bunch of junk from thier end and POOF, thier gone. Its that kind of crap that needs to come to an end. That being said, who's my next bombing victim? LOL

Well said man.
Being a newbie is a little intimidating at first but if you're patient and not try to "make a score" things fall into place and you will "legitimately" come into some fine smokes that you can pass on. Win some contests...get a newbie package...whatever. Just be patient and you can bless some people instead of piss them off.

Just some newbie duck babble...but wanted to contribute.

rick.irwin at ensembleware dot com

Being an FNG here myself, I have to say that the Vets here have been incredibly kind and generous to me. It's unfortunate when a bad trade goes down, but it will happen. The only thing I would add to what Chris and Frank have said is this: Communicate! Tell the other party how you feel about their actions. Its tough in a PIF or PIB to complain to the sender about poor stick selection, but if you assume the other party needs to learn proper trade etiquette, then a little diplomacy goes a long way. That's my interpretation of giving the other guy the 'benefit of the doubt'. If the other trader just flat out stiffed you in the trade, then let him know that he didn't live up to his end, and take notes. It won't take long to weed out the chaffe. There will always be someone looking to take advantage of the good thing, but in my limited experience on this forum it is a rare exception and far from the rule - and once the word gets out the bad trader won't be around long.

If it weren't for the generousity and good natured willingness to share by the fine B/SOTLs here, I could never have experienced the fine art of cigar smoking that I've been exposed to in such a short period of time. Fore that, I am grateful.

So thanks Chris, for looking out for fellow forum members. Thats the type of comraderie that keeps this such a great place to hang out, meet new people, and share a good stogy.

i agree.

blacky

I agree with myash. Being a newbie, it makes me nervous even reading about such a thing.

I would definately want to know if I fell short on my end and would do everything to make it right.

steeliefly

No need to feel nervous Steelie. Anybody whos been on this board for a while is still here for a reason, because they're good people! The best way to avoid a situation from ever coming to that is to do exactly what Gan suggested, Just ask. Whenever I am involved in a trade, I always ask the person I'm dealing with what particular cigars they like. From there you pretty much have an idea of what they enjoy and it also gives you an idea of whats expected from you. Another good way for a newbie to get there feet wet is to ask a veteren for a small trade and some advice before diving in head first. When I first started, there was this old timer Blacky that I asked for help so I knew what was expected of me before I jumped into my first PIF, Oh wait, Lance is still around. LOL.
Later I sent him a few sticks to show my appreciation. I'm not saying thats how it needs to be done, but you get the picture. Do unto others as you would want done to you. Most importantly have fun with it because thats what this is all about. Amen.

old timer1 LMAO!!!

frank's right. and he sent me some awsome sticks in appreciation.

that immediatly told me what i was dealin with. a maniac!, but an extremely generous maniac.

frank made a great impression on some people, in a short time.

i still don't think he knows how to count!LOL

blacky

I have been lurking on this board for approx. 3 months now. I have learned a great deal from the posts here and for that I say Thanks!! As a newb, I am pretty nervous about the whole "trade" scenario. I would like to start trading, but I really don't know if it would be worth it to some of you guys/gals. It sux that there seems to be a few individuals taking advantage of this forum.