Trade value??

Da Klugs · 12-07-2008, 08:13 AM

Over a long enough timeline evererything tends to balance itself out. Excessive givers get theirs in the long run either in cigars or from karmically fulfilling acts. Excessive takers the opposite is true.

floydpink · 12-07-2008, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Over a long enough timeline evererything tends to balance itself out. Excessive givers get theirs in the long run either in cigars or from karmically fulfilling acts. Excessive takers the opposite is true.

That pretty much sums up my feelings.
I remember my jaw droppping a few years ago when I did my first blind trades and pifs. I couldn't believe what had arrived at my house from someone I never met and interacted with solely on a cigar forum, and really make an effort to take care of recipients when I am involved in a pif or trade in hopes of keeping the brotherly spirit alive.

HK3- · 12-07-2008, 08:39 AM

My thought is - By the time you figure up all the pricing and then digging around to make sure you have an EQUAL trade value, the FUN part of the pass or trade has been taken. When it becomes WORK the fun is lost.

I agree that going above and really PIF is the way to go.

And, if you don't like it, don't play. Simple as that.

bobarian · 12-07-2008, 10:19 AM

I think how you interact with trading and PIF's is only something you can determine. I have boxes that I have paid 3x more than recent sales. I have also paid crazy California taxes for singles. I always try to balance things, but in the end its all about PIFing so by giving more I am ahead in the long run.

kaisersozei · 12-07-2008, 10:20 AM

Wayne, as a newb I still get relatively anxious about my put/take values in passes. As others have said, I always PIF by putting more than I take, but I still hold my breath in hope that someone doesn't question the value-for-value end of my takes.

Here's what I do:

I use something close to single-stick MSRP as a benchmark of value. I think that's a fair way to do it because the pass is about single stick trades. I take it from the perspective of "what would this cigar I am taking cost me if I was going down to the B&M and buying one today?" To me, passes are about trying new cigars, and when I try a new cigar I buy a few singles or a sampler first--not an entire box from an on-line retailer.

My B&M lists their prices on-line, and I also use the Top25 database which usually lists the MSRP & "average price paid." I'll also compare those prices to CI or other on-line sites, but it's still on a single stick (or small quantity) basis. I try to get the value close, and always err on the conservative side. I don't take vintage or hard-to-find cigars because I don't have anything to replace those with; the same for CC's.

I've participated in a number of passes this past year and run one, and they've all worked out okay using this method. At least, no one has complained.

Silound · 12-07-2008, 05:37 PM

I think that, since money is merely a concept for bartering, that cost doesn't matter in the long run. Typically, I simply measure the overall value and difficulty of finding sticks in a rough sense, then I overvalue it by a large amount. I figure the dollar values don't matter because there's nothing static about them. Besides which, a $50 cigar no one wants really has no value, while a $4 cigar everyone wants has a lot of value.

I try to follow the concept of always give more than you get, and you'll always be able to get when you want it next. That doesn't mean I can simply demand something and get it; it does mean if I'm looking for something, odds are someone I've bombed or traded with in the past is going to be willing to hook me up.

More importantly, I occasionally feel like making someone go "Woah!" hence I sometimes dish out way more than I get just for the fun of it.

12-07-2008, 08:13 AM	#1
Da Klugs Juan of 11 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Right here Posts: 4,222 Trading: (8)	Re: Trade value?? Over a long enough timeline evererything tends to balance itself out. Excessive givers get theirs in the long run either in cigars or from karmically fulfilling acts. Excessive takers the opposite is true. __________________ Communities Not Commodities. Punctuation challenged, but trying. Proud winner of phase 1 of the Weight loss contest

12-07-2008, 08:39 AM	#3
HK3- Cashmere Jungle Lord Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Boffa Location: The town so nice they named it twice Posts: 5,035 Trading: (48)	Re: Trade value?? My thought is - By the time you figure up all the pricing and then digging around to make sure you have an EQUAL trade value, the FUN part of the pass or trade has been taken. When it becomes WORK the fun is lost. I agree that going above and really PIF is the way to go. And, if you don't like it, don't play. Simple as that.

12-07-2008, 10:19 AM	#4
bobarian Cranky Habanophile Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wine Country Posts: 8,869 Trading: (51)	Re: Trade value?? I think how you interact with trading and PIF's is only something you can determine. I have boxes that I have paid 3x more than recent sales. I have also paid crazy California taxes for singles. I always try to balance things, but in the end its all about PIFing so by giving more I am ahead in the long run.

12-07-2008, 10:20 AM	#5
kaisersozei The Homebrew Hammer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Gerard Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 3,183 Trading: (40)	Re: Trade value?? Wayne, as a newb I still get relatively anxious about my put/take values in passes. As others have said, I always PIF by putting more than I take, but I still hold my breath in hope that someone doesn't question the value-for-value end of my takes. Here's what I do: I use something close to single-stick MSRP as a benchmark of value. I think that's a fair way to do it because the pass is about single stick trades. I take it from the perspective of "what would this cigar I am taking cost me if I was going down to the B&M and buying one today?" To me, passes are about trying new cigars, and when I try a new cigar I buy a few singles or a sampler first--not an entire box from an on-line retailer. My B&M lists their prices on-line, and I also use the Top25 database which usually lists the MSRP & "average price paid." I'll also compare those prices to CI or other on-line sites, but it's still on a single stick (or small quantity) basis. I try to get the value close, and always err on the conservative side. I don't take vintage or hard-to-find cigars because I don't have anything to replace those with; the same for CC's. I've participated in a number of passes this past year and run one, and they've all worked out okay using this method. At least, no one has complained. __________________

12-07-2008, 05:37 PM	#6
Silound ex-CS Swamp Gorilla Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Somewhere in a swamp, south of sanity Posts: 802 Trading: (15)	Re: Trade value?? I think that, since money is merely a concept for bartering, that cost doesn't matter in the long run. Typically, I simply measure the overall value and difficulty of finding sticks in a rough sense, then I overvalue it by a large amount. I figure the dollar values don't matter because there's nothing static about them. Besides which, a $50 cigar no one wants really has no value, while a $4 cigar everyone wants has a lot of value. I try to follow the concept of always give more than you get, and you'll always be able to get when you want it next. That doesn't mean I can simply demand something and get it; it does mean if I'm looking for something, odds are someone I've bombed or traded with in the past is going to be willing to hook me up. More importantly, I occasionally feel like making someone go "Woah!" hence I sometimes dish out way more than I get just for the fun of it. __________________ Back in black, and better than ever! You can't keep a good gorilla down! LSU Geaux Tigers!