Why the Trade Post Isn't Dead (Nor Should It Be)

Rumor has it the trade post is dead.



I don't understand that.

Sure, most of us (myself included) write boring posts whenever we talk about trades.  Granted, most of the time a trade post is used to show a scan or two (or in my case, maybe ten scans).  And yes, unless its a blogger who collects a team you care about, most of the cards you see someone receiving in a trade are junk to you.

I get that.  No really, I do.

But...

Trade posts are not dead - nor should they ever go the way of the dodo - and here's why:

Let's take a recent trade that I completed with Chris over at Henchmeister's Junk Blog as an example, shall we?

Here's my Top 10 reasons "Why the Trade Post Isn't Dead (Nor Should it Be):
Note:  My Top 10 is NOT in any type of specific order of importance.  What's important to one might not be to another, but I firmly believe all ten points are valid.

10.  Community:  Unlike a lot of things in life, blogging is almost entirely dependent on community.  Would you send $20 worth of items to a complete stranger across the country on a whim?  Probably not, but within the blogging community people do that all the time.  And why do people do that?  A few reasons, sometimes it's a way to repay a previously received package, sometimes its a way to send a fun little surprise, but most of the time, it's because people know someone else in the baseball card blogging community that would like a certain card more than the current owner does.  For me, that particular aspect of trading often manifests itself in Barry Larkin cards (and Allen & Ginter cards - but that's in about one more week or so)...  For example, the latest package from Chris included a Barry Larkin card from the 2003 MLB Showdown set that I didn't previously own.

9.  Blogging Growth:  This one goes along with community, but it's slightly different.  One of the tremendous aspects of trade posts is that it gives other people a small window into a transaction between two strangers.  For example, some of my loyal readers may read this trade post and see that Chris from Henchmeister's blog is a good trader - and that may lead to some new trade offers for Chris and my readers (a win for both I'd say)!

8.  Reader Growth:  One of the benefits of having been a blog that's been in existence for quite awhile is that many card blogs already have my blog on their blog roll.  Some blogs don't have that luxury - and trade posts might be a way for someone to discover Henchmeister's Junk Blog and end up with another new blog to read in the future - again, a win for both!  

7.  Randomness:  Another benefit of trade posts - a dose of randomness in an otherwise fairly rigid niche of blogs.  You never quite know what will show up in any given blog post (even if much of it is the same 'ol, same 'ol).  For example, I'm guessing a lot of people out there never saw any of the 2003 MLB Showdown set that I featured above.  Chances are, even fewer people have seen the 2002 MLB Showdown set (or as I like to call it, the giant logo set).  Thanks to a free throw-in from Chris, everyone now has the chance to compare and contrast a Reds card from the '03 set (Larkin) and the '02 set (Walker - see below).

6.  History:  Once in awhile, trade posts can offer a window into history.  It might be the history of a player (common on player collector's blogs) or the history of a team.  It might be the history of a specific card company (Upper Deck only collectors for example) or even the history of a specific line of cards.  Other times, the history category might be a bit more esoteric.  For example, the trade with Chris shows the historical evolution (millennial edition at least) of collectible baseball card games.  You already saw two different years worth of MLB Showdown sets above.  Chris also sent me a 2011 Topps Attax card which while certainly not as in depth as MLB Showdown does have some clear connections to the sets of yesterday.

5.  Blog Filler:   Let's be honest, it isn't always easy to find something to talk about.  We all know a few bloggers who seem to be able to conjure up epic posts on a daily basis, but most of us poor schleps are happy with one solid post per week (or maybe in my case, per month).  Trade posts provide a nice bridge between actual unique ideas - all the while keeping your blog active.  I'd much rather see a blog with a post each day (even if only half the posts are super original) because I like to read posts.  You can always click away if you decide a particular post isn't worth your time (though if you got this far through my post, you might as well keep going since you are at #5 on the countdown)!

4.  Thanks:  It's good to give thanks for good things.  Getting cards in the mail is typically a good thing (some recipients of bippings may disagree with that notion).  Thus, giving thanks in a public way is good for you.

3.  Collecting:  Here's one of the biggies.  Without trade posts, (and by extension, trades), most of us wouldn't collect cards (or certainly not to the extent that we do).  I obviously wouldn't be chasing thirty some odds sets that I'm currently working on if my only option of completion was to buy more boxes/packs and use sites like eBay.  I might still work on the base Topps set - but otherwise, there wouldn't be many full binders in my household.  Trading allows me to do crazy things like collect every Allen & Ginter mini card out there...

2.  Finishing sets:  Trade posts allow a permanent way to track set progress.  For example, I already completed the Series 1 Topps "60 Years of Topps" insert set.  Now, I'm working on Series 2.  However, if you use the search bar at the top of my blog, you can type in "60 Years of Topps" and find all my posts where I talk about that set.  From there, you can see different trades and other acquisitions that have led me to where I am today...  And since we are talking about the set, here's one more that I get to take off my want list:  60YOT-88.  Ron Guidry.

1.  Pimping:  Although I am (obviously) a staunch supporter of the trade post, I happen to HATE a different kind of common post - the contest pimping post.  Although I'm sure I've pimped a few contests in the past, I've taken an attitude lately of "if it requires a pimping, then I'm out".  Sure, that might be drastic since my blog roll is frequently bombarded with the latest contest linkage anyhow, but one fewer blog doing that is a good thing for everyone.  At the same time, there are ways that I don't mind pimping - in context.  As an example, here's the final card that Chris sent me.  It's a diamond parallel of Matt Kemp.  Now, as you may or may not know, I have contest where the sender gets one entry for every diamond parallel card sent my way (which means Chris has indeed earned an entry).  See:  contest pimped, but in context.  To me, that's a better way rather than - go here and get a chance to win free stuff.

And that ends my Top 10.  I'll get off my soap box now (1,453 words later).  And seriously, that might be a personal best in terms of words per card in a trade!

Thanks for the great trade Chris - and thanks to Night Owl for the inspiration for my post.  Finally, as always, if anyone else would like to trade - check out my want list and make an offer!

Now, you read my reasoning above, so let's hear your take.  What do you think of trade posts?  Should they stay (as I believe) or should they go (isn't that a song)?  Are they better long or short?  Lots of photos, no photos?  Do you like reading about what other people thought about stuff you sent them?  Have you ever wanted to send stuff to someone so that your name will show up on their blog (and by extension, your blog being linked by them)?  I want to know - so sound off below!