How to Offer Pieces for Trade 2 2

[rlextherobot]

I've been idly considering tightening the focus of my art collection - I have many pieces I rather like a lot, but wouldn't be heartbroken to let go if it meant getting art I liked more. With that in mind, I had considered putting a few things up for trade and see if anyone had any interest in them. As I'm not very involved in the OA world, I don't really have any idea what the best way to go about that would be. Would love to know from folks here who have done successful trades, and how they approached a) getting fair trade value for their art and b) ensuring the deal was done safely for all parties involved. 

[J.Sid]

Trades are hard. Not impossible, but hard.

Everyone (yourself and myself included) likes and values their own stuff higher than the rest of the world.

I have had luck trading with Dealers for items they'd had in their inventory for a while. (think: 2+ years)

Edited May 23, 2023 by J.Sid

[rlextherobot]

On 5/23/2023 at 11:05 AM, J.Sid said:

Trades are hard. Not impossible, but hard.

I have had luck trading with Dealers for items they'd had in their inventory for a while. (think: 2+ years)

Thanks for your response! I'm assuming that you had to give up a bit more in terms of trade value working with a dealer over another collector? Or was it a case of you having something they felt they could move faster than the piece they had sitting in inventory? 

[p41981]

Pm’ed you 🙂

[J.Sid]

On 5/23/2023 at 11:08 AM, rlextherobot said:

Thanks for your response! I'm assuming that you had to give up a bit more in terms of trade value working with a dealer over another collector? Or was it a case of you having something they felt they could move faster than the piece they had sitting in inventory? 

It's hard enough finding someone who will give you what your item is worth.

You're taking it to the next level by hoping:
1.They also have something you want
2. They are willing to part with that something and
3. They are not bat-s**t crazy about the value of their piece.

Best to simply sell and then use that money to purchase (in my experience)

 

[Carlo M]

On 5/23/2023 at 9:31 PM, J.Sid said:

It's hard enough finding someone who will give you what your item is worth.

You're taking it to the next level by hoping:
1.They also have something you want
2. They are willing to part with that something and
3. They are not bat-s**t crazy about the value of their piece.

Best to simply sell and then use that money to purchase (in my experience)

 

Plus one.  Hardly worth the effort, IMHO.  But hey, you might get lucky, no harm in trying.

[Unstoppablejayd]

I make trades all the time… you just have to be open to give and take and no when to just fold if someone it unreasonable 

[Michael Browning]

Trading is a heckuva lot of fun. I’ve gotten some of my best pieces through trades. You have to trade with a reputable person and be ready to give a little up. If you are trying to get someone to trade with you, you should be prepared to make it worth their while — meaning to be prepared to give up more than what their piece is worth. When trading with dealers, you’ll have to give up quite a bit more, because they aren’t in the business of trading dollars for dollars.

[Wolvie_Fan]

On 5/23/2023 at 6:47 PM, Unstoppablejayd said:

I make trades all the time… you just have to be open to give and take and no when to just fold if someone it unreasonable 

Same here.  Trading can be tons of fun.  I find that these days the better pieces you can only trade for.  

[Jordysnordy]

I find most collectors are more enticed to make a trade than a straight sale.

[Shemp]

I've traded 3 times (that I can remember) in my 25 years of collecting. 

2 of the 3 started off as purchase inquiries.

1st trade.  I was contacted by a collector wanting to buy a piece from my collection. It was not for sale.  However, I knew of him and his collection. He had a couple of pieces I wanted. The piece I had was an outlier in my collection but the focus of his and vice versa. I offered to trade. We did. 

2nd trade. I was offered a piece I've wanted for a long time, by a fellow collector. We collected the same artist, with only  a difference in character preference.  He knew I wanted it, hell he knew it was my grail (maybe he didn't know 🤔I don't remember). Traded two of mine to get the one. Worth it. 

3rd trade.  I was contacted by yet another  collector wanting to buy a piece or two from my collection. They were not for sale. Again, I knew of him and his collection. I asked if he still had two pieces (they were no longer posted in his gallery) in his collection. He did. We traded. 

In the end, in each trade I got something from my main wants and I hope they did the same. So know what the other collector collects or has in his collection and don't offer random pieces he has no interest in. 

I've turned down trades that didn't offer any of my main wants because I like my pieces better and if I wanted a one off of an artist or title I could buy one. 

 

[Carlo M]

That is one trade every 8.33333 years . That was sort of my point 

[Latverian Tourism Board]

Trading with dealers is not worth the time, imo. They will lowball your art’s value and make you stack more than you should in many cases, imo. I will no longer deal with one dealer because of how rude, aggressive and obtuse he was acting while attempting a trade. I never mind people getting a bit worked up or excited, or being pushy on values. But when they start getting mean and pretending not to understand you, just move on. YMMV.

I did have a very nice successful trade with a collector, though. It took 5 months of slow talking, but I passed him two Secret Wars pages for one Secret Wars page with a key Sad Galactus moment and cash. Just be patient and don’t push, and negotiate in good faith. And let it take as long as it takes. Persistent but friendly and trying to fully understand their positions has helped me. Again, YMMV with different collectors.

[The Voord]

On 5/23/2023 at 6:58 PM, rlextherobot said:

I've been idly considering tightening the focus of my art collection - I have many pieces I rather like a lot, but wouldn't be heartbroken to let go if it meant getting art I liked more. With that in mind, I had considered putting a few things up for trade and see if anyone had any interest in them. As I'm not very involved in the OA world, I don't really have any idea what the best way to go about that would be. Would love to know from folks here who have done successful trades, and how they approached a) getting fair trade value for their art and b) ensuring the deal was done safely for all parties involved. 

Depends what you're looking for and what you're offering up in exchange.  I mean, it's no use saying, "I've got a bunch of cool George Baker Sad Sack story pages I'm looking to trade on a one-for-one basis for Steve Ditko ASM art!" . . . that idea would go nowhere fast (extreme example, I know, but it makes a point as some collectors do have unreasonable expectations).

How to go about trading?  You could put up a general post, or create a 'For Trade' CAF gallery stating/displaying what you're offering and what you're looking for in return (keeping the balance reasonable) . . . or reach out to collectors (or dealers) who have what you're looking for with a gentle enquiry/proposition.  Key to that is, with other collectors, finding out what they're actively collecting . . . and if you can service their needs.

Alternatively, as has been suggested, sell your trade art and use sales money to purchase what you're looking for (if available).

I've been collecting art for 41 years and have quite a lot of successful trades behind me.  As such, it's certainly do-able . . . you just need to talk with other collectors/dealers.  Most things are possible, if you put in the effort and are realistic in your approach . . . 

 

Edited May 25, 2023 by The Voord

[Unstoppablejayd]

While this topic is up.. anyone looking to trade X-men pieces.. always feel free to reach out! Lol 

[Dr. Balls]

I’m exploring doing a trade for the first time, and I’m looking at people who have the same character as who is in my trade (Red Sonja) - I figure that’s an easy way to break the ice by us having that common ground. 

[Unstoppablejayd]

Made a whopper of a trade this week with a fellow boardie (and friend) smooth as silk … win win for both of us and went down with ease and a ton of respect on both sides. I can’t reiterate it enough explore trades where you can… that’s how you get what you really want! 

[Xatari]

Congrats @Unstoppablejayd

I have done several trades as well and always appreciate when both parties feel like they won.