Site Forum

Last night I tried to start composing a trade offer.  After entering the other person's ID, the system gave me an alert that the member is not trading at this time, and would not let me proceed.  This offer is going to take me some time to copmose, and I know the member has only temporarily suspended trading, so I'd like to start composing the offer now.

I am thinking that I should be able to compose a trade offer in this situation, and just not be able to propose it.  I am thinking of submitting a 'feature request' to have this functionaliy changed, but before I do I'm wondering if anyone sees a downside to doing so.  In eight years on the site, I've had a sum total of two transactions, so there are probably implications I'm not considering.

Thanks-

Tom

The odd time that I have disabled trading, I have temporarily re-activated it for someone who messaged me and asked if I would consider a trade.  I left it open for only so long as to have the trade composed and sent then shut it down again.  

I see no point in composing a trade unless you have prior agreement that the trade will be entertained by the other member so your suggestion would only have multiple trades composed but not being able to be sent.  The message that the other member has temporarily stopped trading could be for someone who is planning on re-activating it or someone who simply does not wish to trade at all. I think you get the smae message in either case.

So, if the other member turns on trading long enough for me to create the transaction (just start composing it, not propose it), and then turns trading back off again, will I be able to continue to work on the offer, or will the 'draft' transaction be cancelled?

I think you can work on it just not propose it. I have one like that in the works. The person turned trading on so I could work on it then off again when he started getting other trades. it is still in my proposals but not complete until he reengages trading.

Tom, Jim is absolutely correct. I am the member he is talking about here. When we are ready to move to the next step, I'll turn my trades back on and send the counteroffer. Then I'll turn them back off until he is ready to accept or counter. This method requires constant communication thru PM's but it keeps me from getting bombarded with offers when I'm only trying to work on 1 or 2 at a time. It is a little more of a hassle to trade that way, but still easier than telling a couple more members each day that they'll have to wait their turn and having my proposals fill up with stuff I won't get to for days or a week or so.

Funny thing in this thread is that Tom was talking about me too! I've allowed him to start a proposal that will take a while to complete just the proposal.

And Jim, I'm working on adding to our trade as well. I'll send it back to you when I get it filled out.

The only downside I can see is. If you do that and it sits there another trade you could receive may have the same cards on it and you will have to always check everyone against the trade proposal that is sitting there waiting. 

The chance is quite small that that could happen. Jim and Tom are working with completely different sports. Another trade won't come in until I allow another one in. All cards will be pulled before either trade is accepted to assure that I have the cards and they're in acceptable condition to the trader. The other trade in-b/t them was pulled until the other person gets more traders added to the site. If I'm dealing with 2 people for the same sport(s), I also make sure I'm not asking for the same card twice unless I actually want 2 copies. TCDB makes it pretty easy to track and compare trade offers before they get accepted. AND with my trades turned off, they can't accept the trade until I turn trades back on.