The PokéBeach Trading Forum Rules
The rules for trading, buying, and selling on PokéBeach Forums.
Updated on: 12/06/12
The rules for trading, buying, and selling on PokéBeach Forums.
Updated on: 12/06/12
Introduction to the Trading Forum
Welcome to the PB Trading Forum! This section of forums is where members may make a trade thread. Put simply, a trade thread is a list of your wanted cards as well as a list of your cards available for trade. Once you have made one, other traders can make offers in your thread. You may also browse other trade thread to make offers. This is a great place to find any cards or merchandise you want. All of the steps to start trading as quick as possible are listed here, but please be sure to read this thread in its entirety first to make sure you don't break any rules and that you fully understand trading etiquette. We have zero tolerance for traders who fail to read the rules. It only takes ten minutes of your time and should answer all of your questions!
There are several sub-forums in the Trading Forum: Selling, Want to Buy, and Questions & Disputes.
Selling Basics
This sub-forum is a place where Verified Sellers can set up shop. Only Verified Sellers are allowed to create threads here; however, anyone can reply to those threads. If you are interested in becoming a Verified Seller, check out the application here. Verified Sellers work hard to provide exceptional service to their customers and many sell more than just cards. Be sure to check out their shops!
Want to Buy
The Want to Buy sub-forum is where anyone may post a thread of cards or merchandise they are looking to purchase. Verified Sellers are the only people who can respond to your threads in this forum. Typically they'll post an offer and from there they can take it to PM and get you the cards you need.
Questions & Disputes
In this sub-forum, you may contact the Trade Council, request middleman services, and ask any questions you have about the Trading Forum rules. Middleman trades are when both members agree to send to a moderator for additional security. The moderator will only send once both ends of the trade have been received. More information on middleman service we offer can be found in the Middleman Service thread. This sub-forum is also the place where you can file a report on a problem you've encountered with another user. If you witness any suspicious activity, or think you have been "ripped" by another user, this is the place to go. Before posting in the Questions & Disputes forum, please read this thread here. This will answer a lot of your questions and make it easier for us to respond to your threads.
Terms of Use
While trading on PB, you agree to our terms of use. If you disagree with any of the below, do not make a thread or contact other users for trades.
1. PB is not responsible for any losses. All trades are made at your own risk. PB Forums, however, does have a committed team of Trade Moderators who will do their best to assist you and also help resolve any conflicts. They can be found in the Forum Heirarchy section of the PB Rules & Info. You have the right to turn down any traders. Never let another member force you into a trade you don't want to do.
2. YOU and you alone are responsible for making the other trader satisfied with their end of the trade. If cards get lost or heavily damaged (beyond use) in the mail, you are required to replace them. If you send your cards in between cardboard, and they get bent, you are to replace them. To ensure things like this do not happen, it is highly recommended that you put your cards in a card sleeve and then in a top loader (a hard plastic case) before sending. It's also recommended you tape the top loader shut so that the cards can't fall out. Bubble wrap and other protective shipping materials may be used, but it is your job to make sure they get the cards safely! To avoid lost mail, you may want to put Delivery Confirmation on the package so that you can give a Tracking Number. If you are sending something of high value, insurance is always worth considering in case the item becomes damaged during transit.
3. The chart below shows the maximum amount of time a trade should take. Any trades that go past these time frames may result in a warning or temporary ban for the person holding up the trade. To prevent any action being taken against you, send as soon as you can. It's the best way to prevent running in to trouble. If you know you are not going to be able to send out for a few days, it's nice to give the other trader a heads up and then let them know when you have sent.
Mandatory Timeframe to Complete a Trade:
| Countries | Allowed Timeframe |
| USA, Canada, and Mexico | 14 Days |
| International Trades Overseas | 18 Days |
4. When both people have exchanged addresses, and then one trader decides for some reason they don't want to trade anymore, that is considered backing out of a trade. This is NOT allowed and will result in several consequences for the person who decides to back out of the trade. If that person was meant to send first, they will receive a week long ban as well as a neutral reference from the trader they backed out on. Depending on the severity of the situation the trader who backed out may receive a 3 week ban and negative reference. Any trader who decides to back out after they have already received the other end, will receive a 3 week ban as well as a negative reference. The trader who backed out is also expected to return any cards or merchandise to the other member. Failure to do so is considered "ripping" and will result in a permanent IP ban. We also encourage mail fraud to be filed against anyone who rips you on these forums.
5. If you feel that another user has "ripped" you or backed out of the trade, you may file a report in the Questions & Disputes sub-forum. Understand that negative references remain on your trade record forever and may prevent you from getting Verified Seller permission. It is unacceptable to back out of a trade after addresses have been exchanged. When you agree to a trade, another trader is setting their cards aside for you, and waiting to send them out. In some cases, they may have already sent them, and you may have to send them back. This is a very annoying ordeal to have to go through. Do not make trades if you do not intend to follow through! Following these simple rules will help you to become a trusted trader.
Again, you agree to the above by trading on PB.
Trading Rules
These are the general rules for the Trading Forum.
All Standard PokéBeach rules apply here as well as the below rules.
All Standard PokéBeach rules apply here as well as the below rules.
1. You are only permitted to have one open trade thread in the Trading Forum. Contact a moderator to have them lock the thread that you no longer need or use. If you want to create a whole new thread, you should contact a moderator and ask them to close your old thread first! Additionally, if you have no active trade thread and want to revive an older locked trade thread of yours, just let us know!
2. You MUST have a country/shipping prefix in the title of your thread. To add a country/shipping prefix to your thread, simply select the "Full Edit" option on the original post. To the left of where you'd change the title, you'll see a drop down box. Click that and then choose the appropriate prefix. Your country/shipping prefix will indicate where you are located and where you ship. For example, if you choose US, WW, this means you are located in the United States and will ship worldwide.
Here's a list of available prefix tags:
US only - Means you are located in the United States and only trade within the United States.
US & Canada - Means you are located in the United States or Canada and only trade within the United States and Canada.
Mexico - Means you are located in Mexico and only trade within Mexico.
UK - Means you are located in the United Kingdom and only trade within the United Kingdom.
Canada - Means you are located in Canada and only trade within Canada.
Europe - Means you are located in Europe and only trade within Europe.
Asia - Means you are located in Asia and only trade within Asia.
Japan - Means you are located in Japan and only trade within Japan.
S. America - Means you are located in South America and you only trade within South America.
Australia - Means you are located in Australia and only trade within Australia.
US, WW - You are located in the United States and ship worldwide.
Mexico, WW - You are located in Mexico and ship worldwide.
UK, WW - You are located in the United Kingdom and ship worldwide.
Canada, WW - You are located in Canada and ship worldwide.
Europe, WW - You are located in Europe and ship worldwide.
Asia, WW - You are located in Asia and ship worldwide.
Japan, WW - You are located in Japan and ship worldwide.
S. America, WW - You are located in South America and ship worldwide.
Australia, WW - You are located in the Australia and ship worldwide.
If you are not covered by one of these prefix tags, PM a Trading Forum staff member and let them know.
US & Canada - Means you are located in the United States or Canada and only trade within the United States and Canada.
Mexico - Means you are located in Mexico and only trade within Mexico.
UK - Means you are located in the United Kingdom and only trade within the United Kingdom.
Canada - Means you are located in Canada and only trade within Canada.
Europe - Means you are located in Europe and only trade within Europe.
Asia - Means you are located in Asia and only trade within Asia.
Japan - Means you are located in Japan and only trade within Japan.
S. America - Means you are located in South America and you only trade within South America.
Australia - Means you are located in Australia and only trade within Australia.
US, WW - You are located in the United States and ship worldwide.
Mexico, WW - You are located in Mexico and ship worldwide.
UK, WW - You are located in the United Kingdom and ship worldwide.
Canada, WW - You are located in Canada and ship worldwide.
Europe, WW - You are located in Europe and ship worldwide.
Asia, WW - You are located in Asia and ship worldwide.
Japan, WW - You are located in Japan and ship worldwide.
S. America, WW - You are located in South America and ship worldwide.
Australia, WW - You are located in the Australia and ship worldwide.
If you are not covered by one of these prefix tags, PM a Trading Forum staff member and let them know.
4. On PB we follow the reference rule. The member with the lowest number of references will send first. When the person with more references receives, they are expected to send their half of the deal promptly and professionally. The only time this will be different is if the person with more references says otherwise, or if money is involved. If money is involved, the buyer is expected to send payment first.
5. Only list cards that you have in hand and available for trade. You are not allowed to list cards that are decked, incoming, outgoing, hard to get, or not for trade. Doing so will result in a warning and we will ask you to remove them from your thread.
6. You may bump your trade thread once per day (24 hours), and 3 times total per week. A "bump" is a post that's only purpose is to move your thread up in the thread list. When you only say something like "I PMed you" or "update!" those types of posts also count as bumps. Deleting a post and replacing it with “bump” or anything that qualifies as a bump counts as two bumps (one for the deleted post, and one for the new post). If you are caught abusing the bump system, you will receive a warning; if caught abusing more than once, a temporary ban will be given. A week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday.
7. You may only close your thread if nobody has posted on it for two weeks. After two weeks without any new posts, it is considered a dead topic and nobody else is allowed to post on it. Reviving a dead thread (other than your own), will result in a warning. If you would like to close it after the two weeks, simply PM a Trading Forum moderator. You can only request a new trade thread if your original thread is closed. We will not close your trade thread if it has not been at least two weeks since your last post on it.
8. Do not post addresses in public threads. Make sure you exchange addresses by PM ONLY. However, if you or someone else has been ripped by a trader, make sure a Trading Forum moderator gets the address of that ripper immediately by PMing it to one of them (if you have it).
9. Members who receive a negative reference will also be banned for one week. If you receive 3 negative references total, you will be permanently banned from the Trading Forum. Members who had three negative feedback or more before this rule was made (September 3rd, 2009) will not be banned immediately, but have only one chance left.
10. "Ripping" is defined as stealing someone's cards, money, or other items. Basically, receiving their end of the trade and not sending yours out. Ripping someone off will not be tolerated and has severe punishments. Rippers will receive a permanent IP ban from the site and may have mail fraud filed against them. Mail fraud can be filed by anyone that trades with you. If you rip them off, they have the right to file with the postal service. Mail fraud is nothing to play with; you or your parents could face a fine. It should be a no-brainer: To avoid being suspected of ripping, send your end of the trade out as soon as possible!
If you suspect anyone of being a ripper on this site, (especially if they came here from another site), please contact a member of the Trading Forum staff.
You can file mail fraud on the USPS website here.
11. Tangible items such as TCG, merchandise, etc. may not be traded for video game Pokémon or other video game data. Video game data may not be sold either. Anyone caught doing this will receive a warning or be temporarily banned. Only ACTUAL in hand video games may be traded or sold here.
12. Please do not disappear from the forums if you are trading with someone! It is unacceptable to organize a trade with someone, and then not be online for a week. Do not make people worry about you! Of course, if there is a real life situation preventing you from getting online, please let the Trading Forum staff know and we will work with you. Make sure you are available to the people you are trading with. You may do this through PokéBeach, AIM, MSN, email, etc. But please make sure the person you're trading with knows how to reach you.
13. Please report EVERYTHING wrong. A few examples:
- Report a trader you think is suspicious.
- Report anyone offering to sell without being a Verified Seller. You CANNOT buy from someone on this forum that is not a Verified Seller.
- Report anyone breaking the rules, or anyone you think doing something wrong.
To report someone, click the
Buying/Selling Rules
1. You may NOT buy cards or other items from people who are not Verified Sellers. You may check who is a Verified Seller in the Request to be a PokéBeach Verified Seller & The PokéBeach Verified Sellers List.
2. In order to sell, you must be approved by the PB staff. You may view the requirements in the PB Verified Seller's Thread. You may NOT sell on PB without being approved as a Verified Seller first. You will be warned if you make offers to sell without being approved. If you continue to do this, you will receive a temporary ban.
3. You may only ask for card and cash in the Selling or Want to Buy forums. If you are caught doing this in the Trading Forum, you will receive a warning depending on the severity of the trade. If you own a thread in Selling or Want to Buy, you must specify if you accept cards and cash together. If you see they don't accept cards and cash, don't ask. We don't need any unnecessary spam. Any of these deals must be negotiated via PM.
4. You may NOT pressure other users in the Trading Forum to accept or offer cash. Additionally, you are not allowed to advertise your sale thread in the Trading Forum whatsoever. It's fine if you decide to put a link in your signature, but please keep it out of the Trading Forum. The Trading Forum is strictly for trades.
Additional rules on selling can be found here.
Reference Rules
1. References from other sites do NOT count. This is not Pojo, Serebii, PokeGym, etc. This is PokéBeach, and only PokéBeach references count.
2. If you have traded with another user in person, the reference does NOT count. This includes trading with people at league as well as your brother or sister. Please do not leave in person references. These will be deleted!
3. Be prompt about leaving references. Make an effort to leave a reference within one week of receiving your cards.
4. In order to receive a reference, you MUST receive a tangible item in the mail. Again, you may not trade for video game data in the Trading Forum. Also, trading PTCGO codes by PM will not allow for references to be given. If you want the reference, you have to mail out your codes. Anyone caught doing either of these will receive a ban or warning that is deemed acceptable for your offense.
Please Note: Verified Sellers are allowed to send the PTCGO codes via PM after they receive payment from PayPal.
5. If you feel that you have been ripped off by a user (or a user did not send after you both confirmed the trade), please file a report in the Questions & Disputes sub-forum and we'll take care of it. You may not leave neutral or negative references without leaving a report. If you leave a neutral or negative reference, and did not report it first, it will be deleted and you will receive a warning. All neutral or negative feedback must be approved by the Trading Forum staff before being posted.
6. You may leave a neutral reference if it takes longer than the allowed time frame to receive your cards. We allow two weeks within the US, Canada, and Mexico, and 18 days for all trades overseas. If the cards arrive damaged, or you encounter any other bad experiences, you may request to leave a neutral reference by asking the Trading Forum staff. You may leave a negative reference if you receive heavily damaged cards, the other user backs out of the trade, or if you are ripped. You may not leave a negative reference just because someone left you one. If you are unsure what type of reference you should leave, ask a member of the Trading Forum staff.
How to Post Feedback on a Trade
With the implementation of EzTrader on 11/09/12, there has been a slight change to the way feedback is left after completing a trade on PB. First and foremost, you will no longer need a Reputation Thread. Anyone who has a Reputation Thread has had their feedback transferred to the Trade Reps section of your user profile. The reference system has never been more convenient. Here's how all member's are required to leave feedback from now on:
1. Go to the profile of the member you would like to leave feedback.
2. Click the tab on their profile titled "Trade Reps."
3. Next, click on the link in bold that says "Submit feedback..."
4. Fill out the form on the following page using the format below.
Code:
[b]Rating:[/b]
[b]Buyer/Seller/Trade:[/b]
[b]Communication:[/b]
[b]Description of Cards:[/b]
[b]Shipping:[/b]
[b]Overall/Additional Comments:[/b]Rating: Positive (+1), Neutral (0), Negative (-1)
Buyer/Seller/Trade: Choose 1. What you were or did in this transaction.
Communication: How were they at responding to your PM's? Did they tell you when they were shipping? Were they honest/dishonest about anything?
Description of Cards: Were cards described accurately?
Shipping: How fast did you receive your item? How was it packaged? (Poorly, Very Good, etc.)
Overall/Additional Comments: Any other thoughts about the trade not provided above?
If you do not file a report before leaving a neutral or negative reputation, you will receive a warning. You may file a report here.
EXAMPLE REPUTATION:
Rating: Positive (+1)
Buyer/Seller/Trade: Trade
Communication: Great communication! PM'd me when cards were shipping and kept in contact the whole trade!
Descriptions of Cards: Cards were said to be near-mint and arrived that way!
Shipping: Quick, and very well packaged!
Overall/Additional Comments: N/A.
Rating: Neutral (0)
Buyer/Seller/Trade: Buyer
Communication: OK communication. Did not keep me too updated about the status of my items after payment was sent
Descriptions of Cards: Cards were said to be in mint condition and were.
Shipping: Very slow shipping, but packaged very well.
Overall/Additional Comments: Took over 2 weeks to receive my package with little to minimal communication. I would like more communication especially when dealing with money.