Extras or no extras?

[BarPar596]

I am not sure where the "extras" thing came from but I think its a great bonus.

My first trade was the only person that I did not send any extras too and this was only because I didnt know to send them. So Ive done a bunch of trades recently and sometimes I get extras, sometimes I dont get any. Sometimes I got A LOT but most times I get about 5. I usually send 10 with varying amounts that I dont count. If the person did me a SUPER huge favor, I send them more to thank them in a way.

Im curious to know if there is a proper etiquette about extras or its a personal thing. Ive noticed that on some of my trades the sender send out extras to some of the trades before mine. Why didnt they send any to me? :shrug7:

Although I was happy about the trades that I didnt get extras in, I much rather do a trade with someone who does give extras.

[thecooperhouse]

Its just a personal choice. I usually will put extras in. Gotta make the postage worth it!!

[shelleyf]

I always put in extras. I do wonder why some people send more to some and none to others.

[gctattoo]

I send extras sometimes. As to why some get them while others don't from the same trader, I think there are two explanations:

1. The demand for trades may limit time to include extras. Sometimes there are so many trades going on (or a trader is just super busy IRL) that they simply can't find the time to include any extras. This is especially true if the trader likes to work off a wishlist-- it does take time to go through a wishlist and match it up with coupons you may have.

2. This one goes along with the wishlist idea: I think if a trader doesn't have any (or more than just a couple) coupons off a wishlist, they won't send extras. Some wishlists are very specific and rather than send extras that may not be wanted or needed, they don't send any at all. I've actually found myself in that position before. I've wanted to send some extras, but didn't know if the trader would want just random Q's since I didn't have anything off their wishlist. I think a few noninserts are good to send in that instance.

I don't think anyone should take it personally. I never expect extras and I don't mind if someone in a trade before me got them and I didn't. It's very nice of anyone to include them though.

[BarPar596]

I send extras sometimes. As to why some get them while others don't from the same trader, I think there are two explanations:

1. The demand for trades may limit time to include extras. Sometimes there are so many trades going on (or a trader is just super busy IRL) that they simply can't find the time to include any extras. This is especially true if the trader likes to work off a wishlist-- it does take time to go through a wishlist and match it up with coupons you may have.

2. This one goes along with the wishlist idea: I think if a trader doesn't have any (or more than just a couple) coupons off a wishlist, they won't send extras. Some wishlists are very specific and rather than send extras that may not be wanted or needed, they don't send any at all. I've actually found myself in that position before. I've wanted to send some extras, but didn't know if the trader would want just random Q's since I didn't have anything off their wishlist. I think a few noninserts are good to send in that instance.

I don't think anyone should take it personally. I never expect extras and I don't mind if someone in a trade before me got them and I didn't. It's very nice of anyone to include them though.

Teri, I definitely agree with ya. I do personally find that getting together a group of extras is time consuming and when you are dealing with multiple trades, it is not always easy. I generally include random q's that I know I will never use, but someone else may definitely be able to. I glance at the w/l for extras selection but I dont always follow it. I will include w/l when it comes to particular categories like baby things and pet things because you either have them or you dont

I always include extras and it is awesome to get a batch from a trader that I can use. Sometimes I "re-gift" and send them to another if I cant use them.

I know it is never to be expected because it "is really a gift". BUT, IMHO, although I wouldnt NOT trade with someone who didnt send me any bonuses, I might choose a "sends extras" trader over a "non-extras" trader. Its just like going to a store that you get special attention or discounts at. If two stores offered the same stuff but at one store they gave you coffee and a cookie/donut or handed out coupons or even were super super nice to you, wouldnt you go to the latter store?

If the one "great" store was closed, it wouldnt stop you from going to the other store if you needed the product, but given the choice you would choose the "store with extras" LOL

Then again, I am the type of person that gives people coupons as they walk down the aisle or leaves them on the racks for others, so it is just a personal thing.

[MelanieK]

1. The demand for trades may limit time to include extras. Sometimes there are so many trades going on (or a trader is just super busy IRL) that they simply can't find the time to include any extras. This is especially true if the trader likes to work off a wishlist-- it does take time to go through a wishlist and match it up with coupons you may have.

If anyone doesn't get extras from me, this is exactly the reason why. I always try to include extras, but sometimes things get a little crazy around here!

[Debbieomi]

I always incude extras but do not expect them. I have a little checkbox that I keep them even. I put in a few tear pad qs, extras that I received that I can't use, qs from magazines, etc. I also sticker up my envies but don't think I've received more than a handful of envies done that way. I just like the look and all the traders from old site I used to go to did that also, so I kinda got into the habit.
Extras definitely are a personal choice and I agree with a pp, I would never not trade based on whether they included extras.

[isis]

I try to include extras, but there are some WLs that want WTs and beer/wine MIRs or non-insert q's and I don't have a variety of those laying around.

I don't base my trades on those who include extras or not. If they are fast, friendly, reasonable and reliable, I don't hesitate to trade with them again.

[shelleyf]

I don't base my trades on whether I get extras or not. If someone doesn't leave me feedback even after I asked them to then I won't trade with them again. I always take the time out to leave feedback and I expect the same. It shows if you are a good trader or not. :smile77:

[anothershopper2]

I'd like to send extras in all my envies but there are times when I can't, for several reasons very similar to what other PPs have stated:

1) When all my q's got stolen while I was at the supermarket one night a few weeks ago, I had nothing basically so I was starting from scratch and I was trying to trade like a mad man to get all the q's I had lost back but barely had time to clip. So all I had in coupons were that weeks inserts (which I did get multiples) but it was around the same time that I was returning to work from maternity leave and just moved. It was so crazy - hence little or no extras. I tried to mention that to my traders but probably missed some people.

2) Now that I slowly rebuilt my stash a little - I have been including - I actually don't really have time to match wishlists (i'm sorry!!) I try my best, but usually I just try to include some noninserts and whatever I have lying around that's clip and I don't need. If they don't need it, they are extras and can toss them or share with someone else they trade with. But some days, I'm so sleep deprived from work & the baby that I rush to work and I need to mail and I don't have any extras on me. So due to timing, I just forgo the extras and mail it out from work. Or if I have a ton of trades to mail out - I also didn't bring enough extras with me (I carry 3+ bags on the subway so it gets heavy - one being a breast pump etc). Or if I complete a trade while at work and need to mail out that afternoon, I don't have time to go home and get my extras.

3) I live in a pad grabbing area (based on my experience - not necessarily representative of the entire area). One time a lady shoved me outta the way to grab a pad from me. So I don't get a lot of good tearpads or even bad tearpads for that matter or blinkies what have you. But once in awhile I do get lucky. So it depends on what I have available too.

4) Envie already 0.9 oz or 1 oz in weight from the trade. There are times when the envie is already at the $0.42 limit. Then I may or may not add extras. If I don't readily have access to extra postage on hand, I usually don't send extras. (sorry again!) By the time I can get to the post office, it's during peak times at the post office and the lines are long. As FT working mom, I just don't have the extra time. Once in awhile, if I do have time or need to go to the post office where I have to wait anyways, then I will add the postage.

So it really varies from trade to trade and the timing of it all. I don't expect extras but many traders here are really nice and do send some. Most of time I can use it somewhere (pass it along - esp since some of the products are not even sold in my area or cpns/rebates not valid in my state).