Newbie questions

[Better Days]

I'm going to start getting into trading. I've looked through the 'sticky' threads concerning rules, etiquette and tips.

Here are my newbie questions:

Most of the stuff I’m looking for is from the mid-80’s. What kind of quality can I expect?

Are there any problems with using USPS instead of 1st class?

How do you know if potential traders are giving their own email addresses as references?

[DAJIZZARIZZA]

I'm going to start getting into trading. I've looked through the 'sticky' threads concerning rules, etiquette and tips.

just be honest,.. in whatever you do or type to someone you are trading.also use quality blank dvds,... check the dvds you ship beforehand...and as you copy or dub a disk ,.. never ,.. but ,.. never have other windows open at the same time ... that will almost always cause skipping on your burned dvds.

Here are my newbie questions:

Most of the stuff I’m looking for is from the mid-80’s. What kind of quality can I expect?

the 80's was a bad decade,...lol.... seriously though in any sets you ask about ,.. always ask of the quality ,.. sometimes their gems out there.

Are there any problems with using USPS instead of 1st class?

i hope you mean can you use ups instead ... yes . ... or i hope you mean can you use 1st class instead of priority at times ,... yes ...
however , i hope you do not mean can you ship something cheaper than 1st class or priority ... meaning media mail ... cause that is just plain cheap,.. slower,.. and are treated with the same respect by the mail handler . just not good business. unless you are sending ... empty cases, heavy vhs tapes ,.. or if the trader has no prob. with it .

How do you know if potential traders are giving their own email addresses as references?

just keep it simple ,... most folks here have been trading for a bit ... look to see how long they have been around ,... but for the most part .. as a new trader you... will have to prove yourself ... so be prepared to ship 1st,.. and even be scrutinized ... i had to prove myself "not a crook" ... you will have to as well.

always remember ... if you can not afford ... good blank dvds or good shipping ,.. your reputation will be tarnished very fast around here.

take care

[Agent 13]

Originally Posted by Better Days

How do you know if potential traders are giving their own email addresses as references?

The only way to know if a potential trader is giving their own email address is to do a trader check on the email address. For example: "Trader check on Agent 13. Her references are _____; _____; ____; etc. Are these legitimate addresses?"

It has been my experience that email addresses as references are NOT true. If they gave you NAMES, that'd be different.

In fact, when a newbie approaches me, it's been far more likely that they'll state NAMES of people or IDS of traders that I may recognize in the trading world.

As an example, I received this from a newbie recently: "My name's ___. A long time TV trader. Lamont, Stoogedog, Michaela, cartoondvds are just a few of the people I've successfully traded with." Even IDs can be fudged, but in this case, I'd traded with most of these, so I felt more comfortable working with this new-to-me trader.

IMHO

[RedWhine56]

The quality of the shows depends upon how they were originally created & how they've been treated over the years & how they were traded. IE, I have a film short from 1952 that was recorded from a kinescope & rarely traded. The quality on it surpasses the quality of a Glen Campbell Show I have from the 70's. (shrug)

If a show was traded many times over in the era of VHS, the quality will suffer regardless of how good the original was, since recording from VHS to VHS creates a copy that is lower in quality than the original. So you send that copy to someone & they make a VHS copy & so on & so on. But overall, I'd have to say you should be able to find 80's shows that are what I would consider good to very good quality - meaning it's not crisp & clear, but certainly viewable & you won't get bug eyed watching it.

As far as shipping methods go, I prefer USPS Priority mail with delivery confirmation. If you print your label out from USPS.com, DC is free. When dealing with a new trader, DC proves to me the item was delivered. Doesn't mean their neighbor didn't snatch it but at least it was delivered. For people I've traded with often or when sending to friends & family, I still use DC. I tend to think USPS takes a bit more care with packages that have DC. And since it's free...

As far as traders go, I'm not a huge trader like many here. But I've been very luck (so far). Hang around here & you'll get a feel for the regulars. Then do a trader check on the person you're thinking of trading here. If someone who's a respected trader here says they are ok or not...use that info. Also, do a search on the good trader thread to see if someone has already posted about the person.

Good luck!

[jasimon1]

Also one thing to add about trader checks. A good trader is almost never going to mind you asking for a trader check. If someone gets upset that you should dare ask them for references, a red flag should go up. In my experience, any time someone has flown off the handle at something I considered a minor problem/request, that person has turned out to be a bad trader/scammer.

[ku7uk]

Trader Checks:

1. Type their username and / or e-mail in a search engine (google) and see what comes up. Bad / good reports are usually easily found this way.

2. Check the good / bad trader lists. This forum has the best one on the net. CP3 has a very good one, but you need to be an established trader to check it out. There are others. But Sitcoms bad trader list is the ultimate.

3. Check them on ebay. Almost everyone online has / or has had an ebay account at some time. Type their username / e-mail into the ebay search box, and check there feedback.

As a new trader, you will be expected to post first, and the truth is, that 1 in every 10 traders is probally bad. But those odds are extremly good, and if you start of with a small trade, and do a bigger trade after that one has been completed succesfully, you quickly learn who to trust.
The odds are in your favour for getting the shows you want, and since a blank disc is only 20 cents, its well worth the price, for the chance of getting the show your after.

ku7uk

p.s: It also helps if you respond to all e-mails asap. (Within 6 hours of recieving it). It speeds things along more smoothly, and longer gaps between e-mails tend to lead to nowhere in regards to setting up a trade.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Better Days

I'm going to start getting into trading. I've looked through the 'sticky' threads concerning rules, etiquette and tips.

Here are my newbie questions:

Most of the stuff I’m looking for is from the mid-80’s. What kind of quality can I expect?

Are there any problems with using USPS instead of 1st class?

How do you know if potential traders are giving their own email addresses as references?

As far as the quality for a mid 80's show, it depends on how long it lasted. For example if it's a show that lasted 3 months then u can;t expect GREAT quality because the show was never in syndication.

[y2k3Joker]

Originally Posted by DAJIZZARIZZA

I'm going to start getting into trading. I've looked through the 'sticky' threads concerning rules, etiquette and tips.

just be honest,.. in whatever you do or type to someone you are trading.also use quality blank dvds,... check the dvds you ship beforehand...and as you copy or dub a disk ,.. never ,.. but ,.. never have other windows open at the same time ... that will almost always cause skipping on your burned dvds.

Here are my newbie questions:

Most of the stuff I’m looking for is from the mid-80’s. What kind of quality can I expect?

the 80's was a bad decade,...lol.... seriously though in any sets you ask about ,.. always ask of the quality ,.. sometimes their gems out there.

Are there any problems with using USPS instead of 1st class?

i hope you mean can you use ups instead ... yes . ... or i hope you mean can you use 1st class instead of priority at times ,... yes ...
however , i hope you do not mean can you ship something cheaper than 1st class or priority ... meaning media mail ... cause that is just plain cheap,.. slower,.. and are treated with the same respect by the mail handler . just not good business. unless you are sending ... empty cases, heavy vhs tapes ,.. or if the trader has no prob. with it .

How do you know if potential traders are giving their own email addresses as references?

just keep it simple ,... most folks here have been trading for a bit ... look to see how long they have been around ,... but for the most part .. as a new trader you... will have to prove yourself ... so be prepared to ship 1st,.. and even be scrutinized ... i had to prove myself "not a crook" ... you will have to as well.

always remember ... if you can not afford ... good blank dvds or good shipping ,.. your reputation will be tarnished very fast around here.

take care

Daj, did you hire a ghost writer?
WOW!!

Just look at you, dishing out the advice.

[loren]

Originally Posted by jasimon1

Also one thing to add about trader checks. A good trader is almost never going to mind you asking for a trader check. If someone gets upset that you should dare ask them for references, a red flag should go up. In my experience, any time someone has flown off the handle at something I considered a minor problem/request, that person has turned out to be a bad trader/scammer.

an actual good trader would welcome a trader check on this board

it puts their good name in the top of the posts and more newer people become aware of their honest stays

its much the same as advertisimg, only its not me telling how great i am , its actual other people saying that dude is good

no good trader should be offended

as a new person, you will need to send first, this is the only way to protrct yourself


and quality on shows, it will range greatly

and so will peoples rankings of that quality

some folks greatly overstate their quality

[Better Days]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

if you can not afford good blank dvds or good shipping

I can afford it....no problem. I quess I wanted to know if cheap shipping should be avoided, and what type of shipping is used most often.

[loren]

Originally Posted by Better Days

Thanks for the advice everyone.


I can afford it....no problem. I quess I wanted to know if cheap shipping should be avoided, and what type of shipping is used most often.

i use priority almost every time

it allows me to send up to 73 discs for $4.30 in the states with del con

it gets things to the other person, in a swift and very safe manner

they supply all packaging items, even tape and labels

[JMas493]

Expect to pay more starting January 8, when a first class stamp goes up to 39 cents and Priority Mail under 1 lb. goes up to $4.05.

John

[Agent 13]

I usually ship 'first class' (cheaper than flat rate). If I'm shipping more discs than would fit inside of a Flat Rate envelope, I go with media mail. No matter WHAT, I use delivery confirmation.

[savageamusement]

I just gotta add---

The newst thing is FLAT RATE PRIORITY>

I have been using it like CRAZY

Today I shipped 74, SEVENTY FOUR discs, flat rate, 2-3 days priority to Los Angeles, 3.85.

I shipped 54 discs to lilhave, for 3.85 to New York.

They have 2 sizes, 7.85 fits abotu 215 discs
and 3.85 fits about 75.

Great deal, super fast.

To compare, I sent a package of 50 to another user today Media mail and it was 2.85.