Should I Trade or Should I Sell? ~ BJJ New Gear

Should I Trade or Should I Should I Sell?

Think of the song by The Clash of a similar name, linked here.

Fairly frequently I get asked this same question in different ways. Hear are a few.

Would you trade an A1L Ring for an A3 7th Son V2?
Would you trade an A2 Yank for an A3 Yank?
Would you trade a Shoyoroll Rio Koi for an CTRL Gigante?
Would you trade a BNIB White Skies for a Used Blue Skies?
Would you trade an A1 Illest for an A1 Rebel?

And those are just a few different angles that trades can take. Do you see a pattern? I don't. But I do see many issues of trading that make it a much less desirable method to achieve your goals than would selling what you own and then applying those monies to what you want to buy. And here is why.

Number 1

In #1 above, the consideration here is to trade a classic, lower-production Shoyoroll of one size, for a newer, high-production batch Shoyoroll of another size. So two issues come into play. Not only does this dilemma contemplate trading "out of size," but the value differences between the two gis are far off. Probably by as much as 100%.

Number 2

This one is a little easier to deal with. The proposed trade is for the same batch of gi, but for a different size. So as in #1 above, this trade would be "out of size." However that is a lot easier to do when you are talking only one size up (or down) and both gis being the same batch. It's never "easy," but this one is easier than that in #1.

Number 3

While no size is offered in this trade, the challenge in this #3 is trading one brand (Shoyoroll) for another brand (CTRL). And while sometimes that can be done with ease, oftentimes it hits a brick wall with one party or the other. Sure their are crossover fans from CTRL to Shoyroll and back again. But there are also hardcore fans of each that would not be caught dead in a gi from the other brand.

Number 4

While the value of a BNIB White Skies may be equal to that of a Use Blue Skies, the challenge that this trade presents is mixing a BNIB gi with a Used one. Personally, I have had bad experiences accepting a used gi in trade for a BNIB one, regardless of the value. As a result, I won't do it again.

Number 5

This is an extreme example of the difference in value between one batch and another batch. The value of a BNIB Illest is 300% or 400% more than a Rebel. Yet it's still one gi for another gi. So some people have a hard time wrapping their brain around that value difference.

I even had one guy ask for my A1L inventory once because he had a gi to trade. So I gave him my entire inventory. He picked the Illest. And with over $1,000 in value difference I asked him to send me the $ and we'd make the trade. Well he got all up in a huff and offended because I didn't want to make a straight trade with him. Again, both parties were not of the same mind.

Trading Issues

I have been involved in many gi trades over the years, from the simple to the complex. From straight trades of one gi for another gi, to trades of multiple gis involving multiple people and money as well. So trading can definitely be done if everything is in place, all people are reasonable and honest, and everyone gets what they want out of the trade. But that requires more than just an understanding and agreement by two parties on the value of two (or more) gis. It requires desire as well.

For example. If John has a BNIB Mamba and is approached by Alex for a trade in which Alex wants to make the trade using his BNIB V1 Absolute, is that a reasonable trade? I don't think so. The Mamba is (as of the time of this post) a gi valued at up to $750, while the Absolute is at or under it's drop price because of many issues. So it's a $200 +/- gi.

That doesn't automatically mean that John won't make the trade. But Alex will have to come up with some cash to make it happen. The question becomes whether or not Alex will do so and if he values the gis at these same price points or not. And so it goes.

So one Trading Issue is a mutual understanding of the value of the gis being traded.

And then there is the mutual desire for what the other person has to trade. As in the above example, if John doesn't want an Absolute, then what? And that's a common issue, especially when gis of other brands are involved.

Next, the size factor comes into play. If Alex's Absolute is an A4 and he's lost weight so he wants John's A3 Mamba, while John may want an Absolute in his collection, he may not want an A4 because it doesn't fit him.

What Does It Take?

To effectuate a trade, all parties must have the following:

A mutual understanding of the value of the gis involved. And if they are not equal (which is often the case), than they must also have...
A willingness to pay/accept money as a part of the trade to offset the difference in the values of the gis.
A desire to accept the other party's gi in trade. This includes many sub-issues such as batch, condition and size.
A receptiveness to the concept of trading vs. just selling and getting the equity out of the gi.
An inclination to deal with and pay for the shipping of the gi. This is especially a factor when mailing internationally where the postal expense can be prohibitive.

Now, with all of these factors that must be in alignment for a trade to occur where all parties are mutually satisfied, do you now see why I tell people all the time to:

Sell your gi, and use that cash to buy what you want.

Isn't that much simpler?

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Saturday, December 5, 2015