schof
Sneak
97 Posts
    
 | | 01/04/2006 3:34 PM |
| As a few of you know i started trading on maxminis about two weeks ago. In these past two weeks i have set up seven trades on maxminis and two on wizards. I am having alot of success and on the whole the community seems really great (lots of advice and mature trading partners).
Yesterday i walked out of my room to go send a few packages and my step dad asked what i was doing. I told him that i started trading minis online, and i told him how great it was and everything. But he sat me down and had a short talk with me about hit. His points were these:
-each box of minis has a rare
-usually you trade rare for rare on a 1:1 basis
-when trading you normally end up with the same number of minis and rarity distribution
-boxes of minis are $13
-shipping is around $2
-instead of trading with people i should save the money to increase my collection and only trade locally in person and save myself shipping costs
I explained to him the idea of trading for minis that i cant get anymore, or trading for minis that people around here dont have and he suggested buying them on ebay.
My request to you guys is this:
Rationalize to me why it is superior to trade on maxminis instead of saving the money to purchase the miniatures.
BTW i have decided to trade online anyways even against his reccomendations, but i am very curious to hear some of your opinions and explinations, plus i think it can stir some interesting conversation.
Thanks,
Bryan | |
Gnomes are small, cute, energetic, and IMMENSLY POWERFUL!
Champion of Svirfneblin and Gnome Bards!
Champion of little orange papers! (if you trade with me you will understand)
H/W List / Ref Thread
Sucessful Trades: 7
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PatEllis15
Commander
4462 Posts
| | 01/04/2006 4:21 PM |
| This is actually something that could have been put into the General Forum, perhaps a mod will move it...
The key is, why do you want to trade, and how big is the DDM/SWM/AAM community near you?
If there are just 2 other players nearby, you may be hard pressed to accumulate 6 Hunched Giants for your RPG game (assuming that everyone is buying 24 boosters or so a piece). There are other figures that are simply in high demand. Perhaps you read about those cool 3x Helmed Horror bands, and want to give one a try. You have 1, another player has 2, and the other guy has 1. Well, you may ALL want to try this 3x band, but there are only 4 total in your area! How can you convince the guy with just 1 to part ways with his?
As you said, if your just getting into the game now, you will be hard pressed to get the locals to trade you 1:1 rares from say Archfiends for rares from Underdark.
Using MaxMini's allows you to find a bigger population of players, many of whom are buying sick amounts of figures! That means more figures "in play" at any given time.
Also, there are plenty of people who trade commons/uncommons as part or parts of a trade for a rare. I just send 3 rares, and a dozen commons/uncommons for 5 of the big rares from Underdark.
Lastly, while it feels safer to trade 1 fig for 1 fig, once you have a good reputation, try trading with other people with a good reputation. You can build those trades up. Try trading 5 rares for 5 rares with a shipping cost of $2.50, and see how far that gets you!
Pat E | |
"Games evolve. Otherwise we'd still be pushing rocks around the dirt. What do you think the cavemen said when some dude showed up with sticks?" - Chairman7w | |
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schof
Sneak
97 Posts
| | 01/04/2006 6:19 PM |
| | Thank you for your wisdom | |
Gnomes are small, cute, energetic, and IMMENSLY POWERFUL!
Champion of Svirfneblin and Gnome Bards!
Champion of little orange papers! (if you trade with me you will understand)
H/W List / Ref Thread
Sucessful Trades: 7
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ShadowLord XT
Commander
2631 Posts
Plane of Shadow
| | 01/04/2006 6:22 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by schof
As a few of you know i started trading on maxminis about two weeks ago. In these past two weeks i have set up seven trades on maxminis and two on wizards. I am having alot of success and on the whole the community seems really great (lots of advice and mature trading partners).
Yesterday i walked out of my room to go send a few packages and my step dad asked what i was doing. I told him that i started trading minis online, and i told him how great it was and everything. But he sat me down and had a short talk with me about hit. His points were these:
-each box of minis has a rare
-usually you trade rare for rare on a 1:1 basis
-when trading you normally end up with the same number of minis and rarity distribution
-boxes of minis are $13
-shipping is around $2
-instead of trading with people i should save the money to increase my collection and only trade locally in person and save myself shipping costs
I explained to him the idea of trading for minis that i cant get anymore, or trading for minis that people around here dont have and he suggested buying them on ebay.
My request to you guys is this:
Rationalize to me why it is superior to trade on maxminis instead of saving the money to purchase the miniatures.
BTW i have decided to trade online anyways even against his reccomendations, but i am very curious to hear some of your opinions and explinations, plus i think it can stir some interesting conversation.
Thanks,
Bryan
My parents have the same outlook on trading over the internet. | |
Disipline is the only way to overcome chaos.
Champion of Half-Golems
Knight of Golems
"This world is made for love and peace" - Trigun
"anyway..shadow..you've figured women out. KUDOS." - raye_kino16 | |
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*censored*
glumag
Warlord
5968 Posts
| | 01/04/2006 11:28 PM |
| Your Step Dad has good points and I am sure he has your best interest in mind and he is giving you the best advice he can conjure up with whatever knowledge he has about the system, but ask yourself (assuming he is not an avid collector), when is the last time he traded miniatures localy or online...or at all for that matter? Advice is great but only if you know about the subject. That applies to any parent...I am one...I know.
As Pat has explained...there is a lot more benefits to trading. There are risks but the benefits outweight things and it is up to the individual to meassure up the pros and cons and make their own educated choice.
Saving your money to increase your collection is ok, but buying boosters renders you random minis...trading gets you exactly what you need. Only buying boosters at the end can leave you with a lot of stuff you don't want and if there is no one localy to trade, then what? bite the bullet? Good thing maxminis is around [:D]
The trading 1:1 idea is noble and makes sense to some people and looks good in theory, but as you know by now, not all rare minis are worth the same...so that goes right out the window. You won't be caught dead trading your Displacer Beast for a Dromite Wilder...or see your Mina traded for a Large Red Dragon.
Boxes of minis (boosters) are not $13, they are $8.76...on online stores [)]
It takes a filthy individual to scam kids or young adults [)], out of hundreds here I think two have done so and they have been clearly shun and pointed out. Worry not for we have many ways to weed out this scum; you have helpful people giving you advice, showing you resources (ref threads, feedback, etc) to make your trading experience a good one; and if you so happen to run into a problem then all you need to do is bring it up to light and the community will look into it as a whole.
I've been here for a while and even tho I don't trade much (29 trades) they all have been a pleasent and a great successful experience.
Good luck and have fun.
P.S. you might want to read our guidelines tho...your signature is a bit too big for the forum's rules [)]
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Trades >> Completed: 49 | Bad: Ø | Pending: 0 | Trade & talk Live on IRC! SERVER: irc.psionics.net CHANNEL: #maxminis | |
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schof
Sneak
97 Posts
| | 01/05/2006 2:03 AM |
| Thanks Glumag your points are well heard, while he was less concerned in the dangers of trading on here (i dont think it crossed his mind) he was conflicting the logistics of its usefulness. He countered most of your points and my points with the ebay arguement. Although i still find a few disagreements with him.
In case you are all wondering im 19 and a philosophy major in college, i like to talk about this kind of stuff. | |
Gnomes are small, cute, energetic, and IMMENSLY POWERFUL!
Champion of Svirfneblin and Gnome Bards!
Champion of little orange papers! (if you trade with me you will understand)
H/W List / Ref Thread
Sucessful Trades: 7
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griffrat
Commander
3506 Posts
| | 01/05/2006 8:03 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by glumag
It takes a filthy individual to scam kids or young adults
Yup....
I agree with PatE and Glumag. The online community offers such a wider selection of people who have different tastes in the game. Pat mentions the skirmish aspect of the site. I will offer the point of a pure RPGer.
Trading rares on a 1:1 basis is great as has been pointed out. But as many of the traders that I have traded with can all attest. Trading the commons and uncommons for a single rare can tend to tip the balance for what you want. Many of the RPGers out there are all about making the trade for the monsters and BBEGs they need.
I know I traded all of my hunched giants away as soon as I got them. I look to many of the rares with a gleam of, "Man, I hope this guy is really good at the skirmish side." since I will probably never use it or have need for it in the RPGs I run. But this is just me.
Since you mention that you are a college student cash is something of a concern. Books, food, tuition, gas, signifigant others (and the food they eat) and games. There is only so much cash to go around. Unless you are independantly wealthy..[:D] Trading on line, as pointed out, opens you up to more of a selection. And as all college studnets can bear witness to there is only so many times you can eat Ramen Noodles before the thought turns your stomach. Point is that as the game keeps expanding folks like myself who over buy to get trades,the selection of traders and possible trade combos also goes up.
Buying what you want directly from ebay is an option but in my mind only if you can make the purchase large enough to cover the cost of shipping. The ebay stores that have a flat rate are well known and getting the exact figure that you want in the multiple copies might be a larger problem than first realized. At least it was for me with the Mounted Paladin! But through trading here I was able to get a second one.
Then the last thing, at least for me, about trading on line. Is the community. I love this place and the help and the advice is all the better because I trade. I am not saying that trading here is the, "END ALL BE ALL." I am talking about the sense of belonging, a "commradeship" if you will. As Glumag stated scammers are bad and danger. But it is a danger shared. This is something that you don't get trading local. Trading on line is risk, no doubt about it. But knowing that there are others that are willing to take the risk with you makes it pretty dang special. Trading on line IMHO speaks about you as a person. in so much as the way that you think this is or that is fair.
Just my two cents... | |
Ambassador of FUN!!! | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
| | 01/05/2006 8:21 AM |
| Well let me say this ... unless the figure has an arbitrarily high value (either in terms of cash-dollars or in your personal need) single figure trades are rarely worthwhile. If you need just that one to complete the set ... well then, a different story there.
Here's how I trade / acquire figures:
When the set comes out I get a "bunch". Case or more. That covers me for ones I really want and gives me the ability to trade for the ones I need.
Then I update my have/want list and start fishing for trades that fill holes in my needs/wants. Sometimes it is lots of one particular common, sometimes it is rearranging a number of rares. After Underdark I knew I'd want multiple Death Slaads, just like I wanted multiple Archmages from Angelfire, etc. I didn't / don't need more than one Medium Silver Dragon and since I really don't collect the rares for RPG I didn't need those three Ropers either. All of this goes on the list including my spare commons/uncommons and the commons/uncommons I want more of (Warforged Fighters please!).
As trades come in, even if it is rarity for rarity, it needs to be either a large enough trade (not one figure) or something I desperately want/need (to finish a set, etc.) for me to do a low-figure trade.
When I started I did a handful of small trades simply because trading is addictive and fun ... but I quickly came to the same realization that your step-dad has in that the small-volume, high-frequency trades and transactions are not really cost effective.
Incidentially I do occassionally buy/sell things on eBay and I use the same mantra ... when you sell something on eBay they take a cut of the final price as does PayPal. You really need to be doing either serious bulk (which I don't since I'm not a business) or only sell things in big enough chunks (high priced single items, lots of smaller items).
Trading is fun but I'd advise folks to consider the full cost of each trade in relation to the content/value of the trade to the individual. Is it something I really want? Is it a trade large enough so that the shipping costs aren't going to accumulate to be unreasonably high in relation?
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Triangle DDM Skirmish Group | My Email | 45-ish trades and counting | Stuff for Trade
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schof
Sneak
97 Posts
| | 01/05/2006 12:05 PM |
| | Very good points, thank you. Reading these responses make me even more comfortable in my trading here on maxminis. :) | |
Gnomes are small, cute, energetic, and IMMENSLY POWERFUL!
Champion of Svirfneblin and Gnome Bards!
Champion of little orange papers! (if you trade with me you will understand)
H/W List / Ref Thread
Sucessful Trades: 7
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PatEllis15
Commander
4462 Posts
| | 01/05/2006 12:26 PM |
| I'll toss out some more comments about Ebay:
What do you WANT from the Mini's? If you looking to minimize your cash outlay, and get 1 of every figure, you might be better off to JUST buy on Ebay. But if your looking for multiples of several of the rares, and all of the Uncommons/commons, then buying sealed cases at a discount are the way to go (a case is easily bought online for about $100). Now, you might end up with doubles of some figures you don't want. You could continue to BUY off of Ebay to finish out your set, but it doesn't change teh fact that you have figures you DON'T want! Better to trade away what you don't want to get value for that initial purchase, and THEN fill out on Ebay.
There is a place for Ebay, and for Trading... you just need to find the right balance.
Pat E | |
"Games evolve. Otherwise we'd still be pushing rocks around the dirt. What do you think the cavemen said when some dude showed up with sticks?" - Chairman7w | |
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*censored*
glumag
Warlord
5968 Posts
| | 01/05/2006 1:47 PM |
| Just to throw my system:
I pre-order a case, just 1 and that's about it for that. It will guarantee me 4 of each common and at least one of each uncommon along with half of them with 2. And I will get 12 rares.
Now my hunt for a complete set is only 12 rares away which I do thru "Buy It Now (BIN)" on eBay (I hate waiting for auctions to end and I found a couple of fair-priced sellers).
Then my hunt for multiples of some minis I want is done thru trading and eBay, getting rid of excess stuff from my case or trading away some BINs that were so cheaply priced I couldn't pass on them as I knew the item would be hot. Perhaps this is the reason why my trading numbers are low, because I mostly BUY the stuff I want due to the fact that my personality pushes me to acquire the stuff as quickly as possible. [)]
All in all I usually end-up spending between $200 and $260 USD to complete my set and have all the multiples I want from it. (comparing with the number of minis I average on each set this brings me to $1.24 USD per mini, including s/h)
This works for me and not necessarily for anyone else...but my needs are met by this method and I am happy with it. Once I decide to not have to collect full sets then it will change a lot and perhaps more trading will be involved and far less spending.
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Trades >> Completed: 49 | Bad: Ø | Pending: 0 | Trade & talk Live on IRC! SERVER: irc.psionics.net CHANNEL: #maxminis | |
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Toxic_Rat
Sergeant
745 Posts
Lehi, Utah, USA
| | 01/06/2006 2:20 PM |
| | One nice thing about trading is that you gid rid of stuff that you don't want for stuff you do want. | |
Any time you try to make something idiot-proof, someone always goes out and invents a better idiot.
Champion of Siege Equipment | |
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*censored*
glumag
Warlord
5968 Posts
| | 01/06/2006 9:36 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Toxic_Rat
One nice thing about trading is that you gid rid of stuff that you don't want for stuff you do want.
well...you'll never get a more convincing argument than this [)] | |
Trades >> Completed: 49 | Bad: Ø | Pending: 0 | Trade & talk Live on IRC! SERVER: irc.psionics.net CHANNEL: #maxminis | |
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schof
Sneak
97 Posts
| | 01/06/2006 10:16 PM |
| | :P | |
Gnomes are small, cute, energetic, and IMMENSLY POWERFUL!
Champion of Svirfneblin and Gnome Bards!
Champion of little orange papers! (if you trade with me you will understand)
H/W List / Ref Thread
Sucessful Trades: 7
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Knight of Argenis
Corim Danex
Warlord
6689 Posts
West Valley City, Utah
| | 01/07/2006 2:36 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by glumag
quote:
Originally posted by Toxic_Rat
One nice thing about trading is that you gid rid of stuff that you don't want for stuff you do want.
well...you'll never get a more convincing argument than this [)]
LOL...that does cover the basics of it. | |
"Look to God and live." Alma 37:47
Vindicated Champ of Hippogriff (Arcadian Hippogriff) and Uncommon Horse | |
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Toxic_Rat
Sergeant
745 Posts
Lehi, Utah, USA
| | 01/09/2006 9:59 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by glumag
quote:
Originally posted by Toxic_Rat
One nice thing about trading is that you gid rid of stuff that you don't want for stuff you do want.
well...you'll never get a more convincing argument than this [)]
Sometimes it just takes a simple mind to show the path to enlightenment. [:)] | |
Any time you try to make something idiot-proof, someone always goes out and invents a better idiot.
Champion of Siege Equipment | |
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Knight of the
Round Table
Thenameless
Warlord
9935 Posts
The Fortress of Solitude
| | 02/08/2006 12:37 AM |
| | Usually, I buy two cases. That gives me enough rares to finish a set, and lots of commons & uncommons. Further buying of boosters, or buying of singles from ebay would only increase my cash outlay. For the cost of postage I can basically fill out my set by trading away my doubles, and this can usually be done with about 2 or 3 trades. If you can find someone locally before coming to this great site, then all the better. | |
Over 270 successful online DDM trades. | |
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Daunte
Sergeant
518 Posts
| | 03/02/2006 2:43 AM |
| My wife actually brought up some of the same points recently when i was getting mini's ready to ship out.
My thoughts on the subject are this...
I am missing rare X from set A. I can do the following..
-buy boosters til i get it (way to expensive)
-buy it on ebay (STILL PAYING SHIPPING)
-trade for it locally (like 6 people here who play and trade with them when i can)
-Trade on Maxmini's
I choose maxmini's cause i look at it like this. SHipping is cheaper then a booster, going to pay shipping on ebay, and why keep a rare or uc/c i dont need and buy the one i do. Someone else is going to need what i dont and have what i do.
My response to him would be that ebay cahrges shipping and why should i keep rares i dont need and spend more to get ones i do when i can even it out. | |
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Zenako
Commander
3468 Posts
| | 03/03/2006 9:08 PM |
| Bottom line is total cash outlay to get what you want. Trading excess you have for one you do not, is a cost effective way to tailor your collection to reflect what you want to collect or use.
Others have pointed out the shipping costs are comparable (and in fact may be relatively reversed. You only spend a few bucks to ship however many minis you are trading, while many sellers on EBAY will charge you X+Y per auction on top of that.
The other aspect is that here you have potential access to thousands and thousands of minis in the trade market at any moment in time, while on EBAY there are only a subset of minis available at any given time. | |
Built the addition for this addiction, now on to the "gaming table" project....
http://www.maxminis.com/hw_list.asp?user=Zenako last updated 29 May 2006
Set Status: in a nutshell = all of all
In Process trades 0), (Sig last updated 05/29/06) 300 plus Completed Trades -
If I seem scarce at times...blame DDO - Sarlona | |
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Krush
Commander
3192 Posts
| | 03/07/2006 2:27 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by schof
As a few of you know i started trading on maxminis about two weeks ago. In these past two weeks i have set up seven trades on maxminis and two on wizards. I am having alot of success and on the whole the community seems really great (lots of advice and mature trading partners).
Yesterday i walked out of my room to go send a few packages and my step dad asked what i was doing. I told him that i started trading minis online, and i told him how great it was and everything. But he sat me down and had a short talk with me about hit. His points were these:
-each box of minis has a rare
-usually you trade rare for rare on a 1:1 basis
-when trading you normally end up with the same number of minis and rarity distribution
-boxes of minis are $13
-shipping is around $2
-instead of trading with people i should save the money to increase my collection and only trade locally in person and save myself shipping costs
I explained to him the idea of trading for minis that i cant get anymore, or trading for minis that people around here dont have and he suggested buying them on ebay.
My request to you guys is this:
Rationalize to me why it is superior to trade on maxminis instead of saving the money to purchase the miniatures.
BTW i have decided to trade online anyways even against his reccomendations, but i am very curious to hear some of your opinions and explinations, plus i think it can stir some interesting conversation.
Thanks,
Bryan
This seems vaguely familiar...I seem to remember reading this before (last year) on MM's, I am quite sure of it. | |
Gehenna | |
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*censored*
glumag
Warlord
5968 Posts
| | 03/07/2006 12:59 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Krush
This seems vaguely familiar...I seem to remember reading this before (last year) on MM's, I am quite sure of it.
posted by whom? | |
Trades >> Completed: 49 | Bad: Ø | Pending: 0 | Trade & talk Live on IRC! SERVER: irc.psionics.net CHANNEL: #maxminis | |
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