How do you organize trades?

[mrsbradley]

How do you keep your pending trades organized? I have done a couple, and have a couple outstanding, and have a couple in negotiation. I can't really figure out how to organize my PMs, so I ended up making a spreadsheet. But I'm curious how other people keep track of things??

My Trades Spreadsheet

Mod: I couldn't find a place where I thought this fit in the trading forum, and it's kind of a newbie thing, but if you need to move it, OK.

[arasic]

I'm VERY unorganized, I usually keep a little note book by the comp. and write down the screenname and a word or two to remind of what I'm trading for when I have sent out my end I make a not of it, when I recieve my end I jot that down I also jot down when I have sent Itrader notification and when they have, when that is all done I cross it out...just to help my own confusion...

[manders13]

I am prolly the worst person to answer this.

I don't exactly keep any organization. Buti only usually have 1-2 trades going at a time. Also the trades i do usually its 2 pm's and over then i write down the other persons info and what we are trading etc.

I also never ever clear out all the quotes in a pm. That way i can go back and reference w/o having to dig through pm's :)

[SleeplessNights]

Well, I'm not extremely organized here, but my system works well for me (lol).

First off, after I finish the PM process, I delete all of the older PMs (since a copy still remains in my sent folder) and just keep the final PM that contains whos sending what, and their address.

Second, I have a file on my computer for Trader Information, each trader has their own word document that is sort of like this-
Member Name:
Address:

Trade History-
(date)- Pending or Received
(date)- Pending or Received
And so on...

Second, I have a file that is labeled "Pending Trades". This helps me keep track and clearly see who I am expecting a trade from. I list the traders by state, and also put the date I mailed next to their SN. :Like so-
Pending Trades-

AZ
Soandso (8/8)

CA
AnotherTrader (9/9)

This just helps me to visually see who still owes me, and it's listed by state in case the trader forgot to put their Screen name on, or in the envelope. I obviously also take their SN off this list when I receive their end, and mark it in the trade history under their file.

Anyway, I need to improve that system, just haven't had the time *hehe* Hope that helps someone though!

[sbp]

my system is archaic. lol


Here's what I do.

Print out the final pm, that lists other traders address and who's sending what.

Handwrite the date that I mail my end out and put paper in a Trades Folder that I keep next to the computer

When an envelope comes in, I find the sheet in the folder and marked it as received and then keep it in the folder until I have the chance to leave feedback.

I also have a separate address book that I keep all my trade addresses in, just in case at some point in the future I need the address for a surprise RAOK, so that trading page actually stays in the folder until I also have the chance to add it to my address book.

works for me...

[Loritacush]

This was great information!! I hadn't even thought about organization on trades. I am use to ebay which has everything on it. I now have ideas and am putting something together.

Thanks All,
Lorita

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I use excel...I use it for everything. my columns are

username/mailing address/I sent/They sent/date mailed

on another tab I keep an address book

username/mailing address/email/paypal email/feedback link/notes

And because I am allowed a crazy amount of PM storage I keep all my PM's for a really long time. LOL

[heyaheather]

These are the columns I use. I keep two rows per trade and have made every other row (in sets of two) gray. So gray, gray, white, white, gray, gray, white, white...


Username... Name... Address... City... State... Zip Code... Date Traded...Description of Traded Items/Qs ...Date Received

The first row is pretty much what the heading states.

On the second row under username, I type in iTrader Given when I give it, or iTrader Rec'd when rec'd, or iTrader Given & Rec'd when both are done. Under description, the top row is what the other person is sending, and the bottom row is what I am sending. Then the last column, I type in the date sent on the top row, and "rec'd" once I get my end on the 2nd row--no matter what I get in return.

My new thing I started doing, which I like, is to change all of the text color to a medium gray color once everything is completed and I'm satisfied. This makes it not stand out, and all of my current trades awaiting action show up easily. If I'm waiting to send my end until I receive an envie, I highlight those rows until I get it. It gives me a good visual reminder when I see a bright yellow row. I also highlight in a different color if I have a problem with a trade. This hasn't happened often, but it does happen sometimes.

HTH

[jordychristine]

this was really helpful! thanks for posting the question!

[jordychristine]

I made this "trade sheet" for my trades. It is VERY helpful. feel free to use it!!

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/2...desheetih5.png

I print out 10 at a time, and when I'm running low, I just print some more! it really helps me to have all of that information at hand so that way I don't forget anything-- especially to leave Trader Feedback. and I even like to write down what I left as trader feedback so that way I will know for future trades.

I also keep all of these sheets in alphabetical order by their screen name!