Trading technique (1 Viewer)

[footballguide1]

When trading players I was looking for some consensus on what people have had more success with, contacting the other owner and saying, "I'll give you X for Y" or saying, "I want Y, what would you be willing to trade for him?"

Of course all of this is subject to haggling but what have people had success with in the past to start off with?

Just curious.

 

[Portis 26]

Like everything else in life, if you want something you have to go get it. You can't just wait for stuff to come to you.

 

[Musesboy]

Opening a dialogue greatly increases your chances.

 

[JohnnyU]

I have a simple rule for trading, if I want a player, I make the initial offer. If someone wants a player from my team, he makes the initial offer. I don't play that game where an owner sends me an email saying "I'm interested in player X, what would you want for him?". If it's a player that I'm not really interested in trading, I'll usually say so, but I will also tell that owner that I will listen to all offers. If it's a player that I wouldn't mind trading, but haven't really put much thought into it, I might say something like, "I wouldn't mind trading for a RB or WR, so make an offer if you're interested in one of my players". I then may or may not counter offer.

If it's a player that I want from his team, I will always try to make a good first offer. I don't believe in the low ball first offer, for the sake of him making a counter, then I counter that. Business doesn't have to be done that way. I've found that if I make a good first offer, I usually get more trades done without insulting the other owner. Some will say, but you might have gotten him cheaper. I say to that, yes, but I also may not be able to trade with that owner again. Memories of being cheated can last a long time in a dynasty league. If I make a good first offer, and he accepts my offer, he will have good memories of dealing with me. That also goes a long way in a dynasty league.

In closing, the problem with a lot of owners, is that they cannot, or will not, make an offer for a player they covet. So they try the "What would you want for so an so" tactic. They are either scared of making a bad trade, or just plain sucks at it, or they are fishing for the other owner to make a mistake, so they can get something for nothing.

 

[Musesboy]

If it's a player that I want from his team, I will always try to make a good first offer.  I don't believe in the low ball first offer, for the sake of him making a counter, then I counter that.  Business doesn't have to be done that way.  I've found that if I make a good first offer, I usually get more trades done without insulting the other owner.  Some will say, but you might have gotten him cheaper.  I say to that, yes, but I also may not be able to trade with that owner again.  Memories of being cheated can last a long time in a dynasty league.  If I make a good first offer, and he accepts my offer, he will have good memories of dealing with me.  That also goes a long way in a dynasty league.

very This is the basis of an entire article I sent in for consideration. If I had a player I wanted to move, I would look to owners like you before I looked at those that open with poor or insulting offers.

 

[barndog]

If it's a player that I want from his team, I will always try to make a good first offer. I don't believe in the low ball first offer, for the sake of him making a counter, then I counter that. Business doesn't have to be done that way. I've found that if I make a good first offer, I usually get more trades done without insulting the other owner. Some will say, but you might have gotten him cheaper. I say to that, yes, but I also may not be able to trade with that owner again. Memories of being cheated can last a long time in a dynasty league. If I make a good first offer, and he accepts my offer, he will have good memories of dealing with me. That also goes a long way in a dynasty league.

very This is the basis of an entire article I sent in for consideration. If I had a player I wanted to move, I would look to owners like you before I looked at those that open with poor or insulting offers.

I always try to identify trades that could potentially help both teams. What ticks me off is when I get low-balled on the return. It's like yard sales. No one wants to pay more than a quarter, regardless of what they're getting in value.

 

[fruity pebbles]

I usually use a combination. I'll tell them who I'm interested in and then ask them who on my team they like. Then I'll make an offer. No point in wasting thir time in offering guys they have no interest in.

 

[ShaqAttaq]

i normally initiate discussions about other player(s) on that person's team. if he's open to trading, i'll drift towards the player i really want.

 

[coolnerd]

Trades are more reliant on understanding the personality than any other portion of fantasy football, so at times it is important to use both methods. My attitude is close to Johnny U's, but there have been times when I made a trade with someone who likes to talk trade. I find that too many people assume willingness to talk about a trade means we are making a trade.

Probably the most distasteful thing for me is having a trade sold to me as a "great deal for both sides" or some other similar type of language. I don't mind some explaining their reasoning (in fact, I think it helps) but stay away from the cheap salesman talk. I trust my ability to analyze the deal and determine its worth to me, so make the solid offer and limit the comments to why you are offering this package if you really need to make any at all.

 

[Miggity]

1. Look at my team's strengths and weaknesses.

2. Look at league rosters for weakness at my strength position and vice versa.

3. Offer trade that addresses both teams' needs, with additional commentary on which guys on their side I am most interested in case they want to counter.

Saves a bunch of time in skipping the lowball offer and getting to the meat of it.

 

[Lott's Fingertip]

I have a simple rule for trading, if I want a player, I make the initial offer. If someone wants a player from my team, he makes the initial offer. I don't play that game where an owner sends me an email saying "I'm interested in player X, what would you want for him?". If it's a player that I'm not really interested in trading, I'll usually say so, but I will also tell that owner that I will listen to all offers. If it's a player that I wouldn't mind trading, but haven't really put much thought into it, I might say something like, "I wouldn't mind trading for a RB or WR, so make an offer if you're interested in one of my players". I then may or may not counter offer.

If it's a player that I want from his team, I will always try to make a good first offer. I don't believe in the low ball first offer, for the sake of him making a counter, then I counter that. Business doesn't have to be done that way. I've found that if I make a good first offer, I usually get more trades done without insulting the other owner. Some will say, but you might have gotten him cheaper. I say to that, yes, but I also may not be able to trade with that owner again. Memories of being cheated can last a long time in a dynasty league. If I make a good first offer, and he accepts my offer, he will have good memories of dealing with me. That also goes a long way in a dynasty league.

In closing, the problem with a lot of owners, is that they cannot, or will not, make an offer for a player they covet. So they try the "What would you want for so an so" tactic. They are either scared of making a bad trade, or just plain sucks at it, or they are fishing for the other owner to make a mistake, so they can get something for nothing.

This is how it should be. Bad lowball offers are insulting. A foolish owner accepting a bad lowball offer screws up the league. So don't make bad lowball offers.

 

[nygiants56]

If it's a player that I want from his team, I will always try to make a good first offer.  I don't believe in the low ball first offer, for the sake of him making a counter, then I counter that.  Business doesn't have to be done that way.  I've found that if I make a good first offer, I usually get more trades done without insulting the other owner.  Some will say, but you might have gotten him cheaper.  I say to that, yes, but I also may not be able to trade with that owner again.  Memories of being cheated can last a long time in a dynasty league.  If I make a good first offer, and he accepts my offer, he will have good memories of dealing with me.  That also goes a long way in a dynasty league.

very This is the basis of an entire article I sent in for consideration. If I had a player I wanted to move, I would look to owners like you before I looked at those that open with poor or insulting offers.

you have to give a fair and decent offer, right off the bat..you can't low ball the GM , because its a quick way to get yourself on the shortlist of GM's that nobody will trade with because of insulting offer(s) you've previously made.its always best to 'wow' the other guy into a deal, by making him an offer he can't refuse. It also makes you stand out more, when he shops that player around the league: he's likely to find others will have lowballed him for the same player.

 

[Banger]

1. Look at my team's strengths and weaknesses.

2. Look at league rosters for weakness at my strength position and vice versa.

3. Offer trade that addresses both teams' needs, with additional commentary on which guys on their side I am most interested in case they want to counter.

Saves a bunch of time in skipping the lowball offer and getting to the meat of it.

I think it's also helpful the throw out feelers for players that have had tough starts at the beginning of the season. I will open up a dialogue for a particular player(s) and check back in over the course of a couple weeks and get the owners temperature on the player. If the player continues to disappoint and their record is suffering teams will often make a trade to shake things up, especially if you make a strong offer. It may sound very simplistic but I've gotten some really good players on my dynasty league using this technique.

I agree with the consensus though, make a good offer that makes sense for both sides because even if that deal doesn't work out it keeps the lines open for future deals. There's nothing worse than getting an offer from an owner where you feel they are trying to screw you. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth and in dynasty leagues that continue with the same owners for many years you can't afford to alienate half the league.

 

[CA_7]

Sales 101. Find what value you can add to the customer (the other owner).

You have to present value to the other owner and look at the deal from their perspective, especially in keeper leagues.

Got an offer the other day for Keyshawn and Alge for my 1st. We only get 5 keepers; I currently have three top 20 RBs and legitment top 10 WR and QB. Plus we starts up to 3 RB, and not required to start a TE.

I asked the owner to explain the deal to me and never heard back.

 

[ltaylor]

There's always those guys in your leagues that complain about how they never get any trades and always complain when anyone besides them actually makes a trade. I am always the #1 or #2 in my league in trades completed by a years end and I feel like every trade I have ever made has helped my team.

MY TOP 5 TRADING TIPS

1. Know your leaguemates........the most important rule in longstanding leagues. For instance, for many people I always Include dialogue in my trade offer as to how this trade improves their team because I know that they appreciate it. These are generally people who arent quite as knowledgeable so it helps them to hear how this potentially helps thier team. Others people's egos would be greatly shattered by such an act. You must know the competition.

2.Call people on the phone if possible. THis really should be my #1 rule. Deals are simply not made nearly as well via email or through countless counters on the league page. DEals are expidited tremendously by one phone conversation. Being a closer is about hearing the inflections in their voice, sensing their intentions, and searching for a window of oppurtunity for a deal to be made.

3. Always be near fair with your initial offers. The people who get the most deals done are the ones that offer atleast on the surface fair deals to begin with. Granted the a name of the game is "buy low, sell high" so in the end you are pretty sure you are getting the side od the deal that will outperform for the rest of the season. Even offering terrible deals will get you in the doghouse for future deals

4. Never overvalue or get attached to your own players. Many people have great offers land in their laps, but they have their "my team is the best" blinders on so they miss the oppurtunity. The people in my league that have this condition, I don't even offer anymore hardly. They are by far the most difficult people to trade with.

5. People that initiate talk with you about your player, but then ask you to offer them something are generally a waste of your time. If they are too scared to offer you somehting, then that means they are probably too scared to accept an offer covered in shark blood. These same people say, "Why would I accept a trade from you, I know it's in your favor or you wouldn't have offered it......"

 

[mistersmith]

This is for trading minor players only, but one of the things that I do to initiate a trade is that I post on our message boards that I'm about to drop a certain player because I need help in another area, but I'd rather trade him to another team instead. (I find that honesty helps in initiating talks for a trade). I then post the player's upcoming strengths and minuses (in a way, doing my research for anyone interested). That way you can target players on teams with lower waiver wire priority. Also, our league charges 5 dollars per pickup and it doesn't charge anything for trades, so its another way for ppl to get a player without being charged money. And you're targeting players on other teams - although they might not be major these players are typically higher on the totem pole than players in the waiver wire.

 

[WhoDat]

Trades are more reliant on understanding the personality than any other portion of fantasy football, so at times it is important to use both methods

Knowing who you are dealing with and, more importantly, how you should communicate with their personality type is about 99.9% of the battle. Dead on, as are the points made by JohnnyU, #56, CA_7 and Miggity.

I wrote a long article...probably too long... on this and have submitted it for publication. It speaks directly to the highlighted portion of the post, which is understanding your negotiating partner's IQ/EQ orientation, and how they will perceive/realize value BEFORE you engage them in any type of trade dialogue.

The absolute worst thing someone can do, opinion, is send low ball; assume your peer is dumber than a box of rocks; stuff slung against the wall offers in a dynasty league. As JohnnyU pointed out, you want to create a climate comfortable for current and repeat business. Guys operating off of the premise just mentioned find themselves without business partners in short time.

 

[Banger]

These same people say, "Why would I accept a trade from you, I know it's in your favor or you wouldn't have offered it......"

[

This offseason I had one guy tell me "yeah, this deal makes sense for me but I can't do it because then you would have the #1 QB, #1 Rb and #1 wr". Do you guys find that sometimes people won't do a deal because they will make you too good, even if it's a good deal that makes sense for them to do?

 

[CA_7]

Do you guys find that sometimes people won't do a deal because they will make you too good, even if it's a good deal that makes sense for them to do?

Happened to me.10 team, 3 keepers, pt/rec league.

I have LJ, Caddy, Chad Johnson and Holt as my top players. Was going to deal Caddy and Chad for LT and the owner backed out for that reason.