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I'm trying to rationalize the merits of entering cards for sale or trade. The method....that's the question. Now that I'm near the end of reorganization, I have SO MANY cards available to trade/sell.

Up until now, I add cards to the DB as I collect, gather, trade and buy. ALL MY CARDS ARE NOT ENTERED, that would take another lifetime. My personal collection is not the problem {I know what I have, specially cataloged}, cards that I can have available to you is my problem. Should I start a new user name for the extras for sale/trade [alot more work]? or ..Should I just double and triple up+ on the "DB collection"? In most cases, I have the cards to back up adding dupes and more. but there is a chance I don't have all [missing an error or variation or high priced card]....so  .if you proposed a trade to me  that I could come within @95% completion would that be OK with you? or would you be pissed that you couldn't get 5 cards proposed in the trade? My rationale, would be to add, keep clicking more sets in, as long as I can mostly back it up....true the DB wouldn't be totally true to what I have, but remember I know My personal collection. It also makes it better for you that are looking for cards. Especially set builders, team collectors and player favorites.

I would be interested to see how members respond to this post.

~BOB~

I don't have any problem with the process you propose. I think we all realize that in this hobby many collectors have a lot of cards to deal with and there is a lot of room for inventory errors. Plus sometimes finding the card can be difficult. I had a trade proposal that took me a week to find one of the cards requested. Ultimately I found it and accepted the trade. Fortunately my trade partner was awesome about it and very patient.

One thing I would suggest to avoid any issues is that when someone proposes a trade that you validate before accepting the proposal that you have the cards being requested. I could see it being frustrating for someone if they find out after a deal had been finalized.

Twice in orders I've made from Sportlots I've been shorted cards. The seller reduced the cost and shipping but didn't contact me before sending. Neither cards were dealbreakers that would have changed my mind on purchasing but it would have been nice to know in advance and have an option to reconsider.

My own two-cents (and that's a 100% boost in my opinion) ... I prefer one ID for simplicity's sake on my end as an alleged, or should I say hypothetical trading partner. I'm one who wants the correct version of a card, but am okay with a variant. However, when I deal I post what I have. So far I've not had an issue where I don't have a card in a trade (that I recall). I have inadvertently offered a single card in two deals, and have had to work on logistics there. My experience so far has been that people here have been flexible with inaccuracies with the database or with realizing a card could not be found.

So, Bob, I don't think you'd have any difficulties trading with one or two IDs. We'll sniff out your available collection wherever it may be.

BTW, save me a stash of those vintage Colt 45s and Astros. I'm slowly working on a list.

Like Mitch said, if you ensure you have the cards before you accept the trade, it shouldn't be a big issue if you need to counter and take out a few cards you couldn't find.

As someone who has had trouble finding cards for a couple trades, I would be understanding if you couldn't find all the cards.

Just my 2 cents. I think the two user name thing makes it harder to trade. It's almost like to seperate transactions. You have to go to one to find cards from your wants and go to the other to find your needs. I have all my cards on one user. My Phillies are all in my collection. The rest are on my for trade list be it one card or 20 of the same card

I've often wondered that myself. I am slightly less than thrilled about entering my duplicates for trade, as I am almost half way through entering my entire collection and I'm about 60k cards deep. Adding all my dupes would make me hate my life. I say, if it's in my collection, it can potentially be traded. My Brett's and Selanne's are not entered, so it doesn't worry me. If it's in my collection - just ask. The worst that can happen is I say no.

Bob

  I look at what you have, that I want before I propose a trade.  I understand if you don't have some. Mis-entered, all ready traded off, or even in your case sold off. Even decided to keep it because you started another set, like I did with 1980 Topps when I saw all I had in doubles.  But if the auto search comes back that you have nothing I move on.

    Now with you I let you know I would like a trade and what I looking for the most. Cards that would kill off a set, or a Phillies team set needs.  I let you look at my doubles and decide what you would like in return.  You being the exception as I know you have a vast inventory.  We have traded a couple times before. Think 2004 and 2005 Topps Heritage base cards.  

    All my tradables over the years are 13,000 cards plus some things that I have a set of and wished there was someway to let people know I am willing to trade them of but as a lot. (ei 2007 Topps Red Backs 1st Series) So I do not list them.

    So maybe list a lease one of each card and add the card again ( if you have two, ) so it still shows as trade progresses.

I would expect to confirm the details of the trade prior to sending out packages.  I'd be okay if notified on the unavailability of cards prior to confirming the trade.  I wouldn't be okay with being notified that cards are missing after shipping out my part of the deal.

I'm not sure the best way to list either trade or sell.  I put many of my commons for sale on Ebay as part of various "pick" lots.  Everything I show for sale is also available for trade, but a person would have to dig deeper into my profile to know that I guess.  I also have a bunch of other stuff that is not showing but that I would be willing to trade.  Very few of my extras are shown on this site.  It's certainly a predicament. 

I was very meticulous about making sure nothing was on my trade list that I didn't have available in hand. And then lately I've been finding that I can't find stuff. I don't know how this could have happened because all sets are stored in year order in numerical order. I must have traded them and either forgotten to remove them from the trade list OR I counted on the system removing them but the trade partner didn't complete every step and they were not removed from my tradelist. I actually want to get every card out and cross-check it to make sure I actually still have it but can't physically do it right now. (lousy health limitations) I have not added much new to my tradelist since 2014 but I will, at some point.

I am also typing up my tradelist for a page on my blog...(I want one page where I can see everything just by scrolling up and down) eventually I will do more. When I do that I will both cross-check what I have listed here and list what I've gotten since 2014.

So far none of my trading partners have been particularly upset with my not being able to find cards- and I've always tried to make up for it- or if they have been upset they didn't communicate that to me.

After a little trial and error , I've found a system that works well for me. I use excel checklists that I created in order to keep my trades in order by using color coding along with the for sale/ trade function on the site.