Pokemoners2's Guide: How to be a good trader [re-post]

Hey guys, I just wanted to re-post this here and I think you guys can really use it. I WILL update it pretty soon and elaborate on points so just be patient


Pokemoners2's Guide: How to be a Good Trader


As I've been using the forum marketplace on Sythe and other forums, I've picked up a few tips and trick I'd like to share. It's a pretty idea to read through these steps carefully and maybe apply them to better your trading styles and experiences.

In my opinion, to be a good trader you might want to:

Use correct grammar and proper English: It's a good idea to set a good first impression. You see someone nowadays with great writing skills and correct punctuations, you'd most likely get the idea that he/she is legit if they'd go to such lengths to make a grammatical correct thread.



Be Polite: If someone offers something your not looking for, nicely decline it. Don't criticize people if they don't offer in your price/trade range. You'd make a lot friends and set a good impression to future traders.



Always use an OMM or a very trusted MM: These guys might be the most handy tool in your arsenal. They are like security and/or insurance that trades go well. If someone declines to use an OMM, they're most likely a scammer. An OMM is a person that's passed the rigorous process of the application and has achieved a high level of trust in the staff as well as many members. You can also use a trust MM. Anyone can MM, that's why it's important to find a very trusted Middle Man. Some qualities to look out for is staff trust, a number of vouches, know famously throughout the forum (in a positive manner), and etc. It's all up to you to judge whether somebody is trust-able, be sharp and observant.



Make a proper and nicely decorated thread: It all goes back to the first impression. By having a nicely, decorated thread, you'll set a positive first impression for future customers and they'll get the feeling you are legit if you'd spend so much time making such a attractive thread.



Build Trust: If a trade goes well, feel free to ask your buyer/seller if they'd like to vouch for you. Vouches are an important aspect in trading and can determine many times if people would deem you trusted enough to go first or use a Middle Man. High Vouches= More Trust.



Act Professional: Act like you know what you're doing. It's important to know what you want and are going after. It sets a good impression on people knowing that they're dealing with a pro. If you say you'll do something, then do it. Don't back down.



Be Confident: It goes somewhat with the act professional part. Always know what you're going after and don't be afraid to ask questions. Always seem confident so you don't appear weak and a possible victim to scam. Be firm and reasonable with demands and requests. It's good to have a trader who will stay with his offer till the end. If you lower it, you'd lose profits and appear weak to the other customers. One weakness could cause many customers to try and take advantage of you. This is a very important aspect in trading. Confidence is key.



Take Pictures of Trades: If you're trading with someone, it's key to take pictures. If something goes wrong or the trader acts suspicious, it is vital to supply the images to the staff so they can deal with him/her. It's good for personal reference if you forget a password from a trade or information about the seller. Chat logs do NOT COUNT as images, they can be easily manipulated.



Report All Scammers: If you believe you have enough proof to get a user banned for scamming, post it in the "Report a Scammer" section. The staff will review all threads and take appropriate action. Check your thread often in case they ask for more information. Don't let yourself get scammed and do nothing about it. If you get more people banned for scamming, you'll give scammers the impression to not mess with you.



Follow ALL of the Rules and Stickies: Read through all of Sythe.org rules. It's important you read and understand the rules here because you could accidentally make a mistake and get into serious trouble. Rules for Sythe vary accordingly from different forums. We have different rules and expectations so make sure you read up on those. It's very bad for business when you see a "banned" sign over your name. Again, it goes back to the first impression.



Don't Spam: Spamming is very frowned upon. Don't over-bump a thread just to get your thread to the top of the page! Be patient and wait a while before bumping. Customers should come to you. Don't post random and irrelevant responses to yours and others' thread because it probably will result in your infraction. Rules are strictly enforced and you don't want to end up with "banned" all over your name. A build-up of many infractions can result in a forum ban. Spamming is very unprofessional and can set a bad impression for future customers. Also, do not call someone a scammer if you don't have sufficient proof. Chat logs cannot be used as proof and only original, non-edited conversations may be posted. If you accuse someone of scamming without sufficient proof, you will most likely be reported and infracted accordingly. This is a common misconception people would do out of anger. Don't give in.



Be Patient: It may take a minute or maybe weeks to find a buyer. Don't give up. It's important that you keep your attitude positive and stick with your prices. Don't give in to buyer/seller pressure. Occasionally bump the thread (or ask a friend) when it dies (meaning when its far beyond the first page).



ALWAYS check for impostors/Ask for a PM: There are many shady impostors looming around the forums looking for a victim to scam. Many of which take a similar instant messaging or e-mail address to a trusted or well-known member. It's easy to confuse impostors for the real deal so you always want to Request a PM! If they give an excuse (except when Sythe has downtime, wait until it comes back up before trading) or log out, they're most likely a fake and you should report the e-mail address to the person that is being impersonated. A PM would show that he/she is the true member him/herself. Most impostors have intentions to scam so be on the look-out.

Don't Scam: The most important thing is to not scam yourself. It's frowned upon on Sythe and in real life. It's an important ethical dilemma that's plaguing the forums. Scamming is a no-no in all ways and you should NEVER scam.



Have fun and feel free to ask questions

This guide is written 100% by Pokemoners2

Pictures are taken off Google

You are not allowed to leech it, claim it for your own (even if you rearrange/change up the words a little bit), or sell it. (Text Only, pictures are property of Google and the original owners)

 

Great guide, maybe you can add that scamming leads to a perm ban?

 

Really well done guide. I wish that was available when I first joined sythe..

 

Nicely put Pokemon

 

Great guide pretty detailed too.

 

Wow am I glad I decided to click on this thread.