I usually get most of my missing singles off of Ebay, but with my want list shrinking, things become pretty expensive when you can't buy multiple items from a single seller to get combined shipping. I have a bunch of extra SRs etc but trading locally doesn't work because the pieces I want are pretty rare here. So I decided to try out the Trading forums here because they seemed to be thriving. After four "completed" trade dealings, I have yet to have a satisfactory result and I am ready to give up.

Trade #1 - Tracked down my #1 want, a Xlposion LE and some other LEs. Nothing expensive, but stuff not easy to find on Ebay. My trading partner was friendly and I sent first because his rating was above 100. Trade went pretty quick but the main LE I wanted came missing half an arm. He said it was complete when he sent it (and I believe him) but offered to reverse the trade if I wanted, but given shipping costs, I just decided to keep it.

Trade #2 - Tracked down another older LE I was looking for. Negotiated the trade and again agreed to send first because our partner's high rating. Then I found out he lived overseas. Figuring I'd give it a chance, I didn't back out of the trade. 2.5 months later I finally got my figs in the mail. Apparently my trading partner got called away from his home for a month for some reason or another.

Trade #3 - Decided I didn't want my E2 anymore and thought I would give it up in exchange for a Kal-L. Found a guy and negotiated a trade: my E2 plus 17 Vets from CD and OR for his Kal-L. We both had ratings under 10 so he suggested a third party to facilitate the trade. Said he would contact a well known one. Never heard from the guy again. Couple days later heard through the TP that the guy bailed because he didn't want to send to Canada (which he had told me was fine). Today learned this guy is banned from the forums now.

Trade #4 - Again tried to trade my E2 for a Kal-L. This time my E2 plus BatB Black Adam and Shazam! for his Kal-L. I sent my package with a tracking number at a cost of $14. Yesterday it arrived at his place and he rejected it, effectively making it return to sender. Checking his feedback I noticed that someone else thanked him for sending him a Kal-L. I can't say for sure he didn't have two for trade because he refuses to reply to any of my PMs. According to the Forum rules, my pnly recourse is to leave Neutral feedback despite being out $14+ in shipping and having my figs travel the continent for over a month.

So after these four experiences, I am ready to give up on the Realms for trading. Do I have too high of expectations to expect better than this? Is this type of stuff par for the course or am I just really unlucky?

That is some serious bad luck, sir.

Here's my advice. Start small. Build rep. When you have a good solid trade foundation underneath you, you will be trading with more solid guys. To be honest, if I were seeing you offer E2 Supes and 17 figs for a Kal-L, I would think you were popinjay or lojo baiting me into a too good to be true trade.

With regards to trade #2, your simplest solution would be to grab the REV version of your LE figure and carefully swap them. It's unfortunate that you need to repair a figure you got in a trade, but with very old figures it does hppen sometimes. It should be an easy fix.

With trade #4, I'd definitely leave negative feedback. He's effectively ripped you off CAD $14, refuses to answer your PMs, and you can demonstrate that you upheld your half of the trade... I wouldn't want to trade with this guy. He deserves a negative.

I don't have anything on your Haves list, so unfortunately I can't offer any help there!

I say we should change the rule that if you backed out from a trade without letting the other party know should be a Negative. Backed out trade but notifying the other party in advance should be a Neutral.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. I've had this happen WAY too many times.

But Whoa, it sounds like you've just had a streak of some minor bad luck trades. And the reason why I say minor is because you weren't fully ripped off, as opposed to the victims of lojo recently and a few other scammers. Those guys lost probably some chases in the deal. So it is a streak of minor bad luck but looking on the bright side...you're only out $14 and you still have your E-2 Supes to trade. Just make sure you trade to someone with really high rep. Just keep at it and be very careful. Things are sure to turn around.

Hey man.

Sorry to hear about all that, I'd be fed up too. I'll agree with Tanis that it could have been worse, at least you still have your E-2 to try to trade off.

I'd also leave Negative for the guy that shafted you for the $14.00 shipping. Being in Canada myself, we already get hosed enough for shipping costs, much less having to put up with that kind of garbage.

Keep your chin up though, there are many great traders here, and I wouldn't let a few bad apples spoil the bunch. If I had an extra Kal, I'd trade for that E-2, as he is my top want at the moment.

I'm also sending you a PM to find out who the culprit is, so that I can avoid them myself, and add them to my 'Do Not Trade With' list.

I'm sorry to hear about your bad luck. I have never had a reason to not ship to Canada. It costs a little more, but that's why you make bigger trades to there. Glad to hear you didn't get scammed though, at least you still have your big trade guys. I wouldn't give up yet, try at least 20 trades on the site, then make a decision.

i would recommend trading with guys with an established itrader rating. you may have to send first but the risk of your trade going bad is not as likely since they have been trading on the realms a while.

make some friends here on the realms and not only do you get an assured trade and help from some of the nicest guys here but also pleasant experiences.

fyi, majority of those that have responded are the select few that i personally would trade with.

Thanks for the responses. From them it seems my expectations haven't been too high. And despite the stupidity of the fourth trade, I am indeed glad that I will get my E2 back. Eventually. I guess he just wanted a vacation from my condo? But yeah, there are people who've had way worse results from trades - I am out $14, not a chase fig.

I ended up leaving #4 neutral feedback after a mod told me that was the appropriate response.

EDIT: [DELETED]

And sorry to hear about your bad experiences. I really don't have any advice. You're really just having some bad luck. But try to learn from your mistakes. And if a guy doesn't let you know he's from overseas then don't be afraid to back out of a trade. I would. And he took a month break. That's a neutral in my book. Anyway, good luck!

I know it is hard to trust people with low and mid-range trade ratings, but my experiences have all been good. When I started, I went on faith for a few small trades and traded with some reputable people.

If you are unsure about someone ask for references. I would give someone my phone# or personal email address if the felt like they really needed it. I would also be willing to give someone the contact info for the shop where I play. I wouldn't be able to show my face at the store again if it was known that I scammed someone.

It's not a guarantee by any means, but these steps could help.

I agree with all the sentiments expressed, especially that of HeroFactor. I have provided traders with my personal e-mail address on several occasions to help expedite trades or address issues.

I wish you luck getting Kal, and hopefully E-2 enjoyed his trip!

Slightly OT, amusing/aggravating update to this:

It seems there is some sort of force in the universe opposed to me actually obtaining a Kal-L. On the 18th I broke down and decided to purchase Kal-L off of everyone's favourite internet auction site. Purchased from a store I had previously purchased from. Today in the mail I got a package from the store and inside: a character card for Kal-L and the Martian Mantunter chase fig ... sigh. If I wasn't crying so hard I would be laughing.

Also, my E2 continues his North American tour and he has yet to return home after being rejected on the 14th.

Absolutely brutal. Though I wouldn't give up on the Realms. There are some really good people here that wouldn't drag you through the mud.

The thing I am getting frustrated about is the trade offers. Recently I just put up a trade thread looking for the new Lantern objects and such. Some PMs I have gotten are fine. Others....

Best offer so far.

His Red Lantern, Alex Luthor, Batgirl SR and The Colonel.. for my U Nightcrawler, Clown Prince of Crime #225, Gladiator, BiBtB Venom, and Vampire Batman.

Really?

Yeah backing out of trades is one that irks me. Even if nothing's lost it shows bad form. A trader had a Chase Lamppost Batman for sale and had a trade thread up because he wanted a Sinestro Chase Batman. Fair enough. He decided he wanted to sell it and use the money to buy what he wanted. Fair enough. I pmed him before any other offers (I checked the times) and asked him if he could wait a few days until I got my disability check in and I would gladly buy his Lamppost Bats. Sure no problem he'd hold it he said. Then he later that day agreed to someone else to trade it for the fig he wanted and with no message to me anything just closed that and his other threads. Bad form. You made an agreement with me. Don't make an agreement if you're going to back out and have no intention of honoring it. Needless to say I doubt I'm ever going to deal with said trader again.