Need help getting started please from anyone

[davidh_1973]

Hello to everyone. I had signed up awhile back but really havent had much chance to do anything except maybe send some messages to people. I know its tough from what I hear getting started and just wanted to see if anyone out here is able/willing to help or any advice, suggestions as well. Just tough now though since I really have nothing to trade and dont have a dvd recorder either to record shows onto a dvd. Would be willing and try to be open to what you have to say. I have a wide variety of interest in tv shows on dvd i would love to try to get even homemade sets is definitely fine as well. Look forward in hearing from anyone out here. Always cool looking around and seeing this cool site available. thanks for everyone's time & help.

[loren]

wow thats an easy question--not

i would suggest that you sit down and focus on what your goals are

you cant just want everything

read all you can, and dont just read here, get out and do some homework

knowledge is power, and this is one of those activities where that is waaay true

find some folks to deal with and stick to a small handful of people, dont try and be everyones best trade buddy, it doesnt work that way

budget your time, if you can spend a certain amount of spare time in this hobby, then thats it, dont over extend yourself, this forum is full of problems from folks who wanted everything,a nd promised what they couldnt deliver

be realistic, dont expect to land a swap with the heavy hitters when you have a small list of common items, or worse yet, retail copies, there are plenty of novice collectors and you can have lots of fun with folks you have that in common with

be orgainzed, get a freeweb site, or the like, and keep your list accurate and easy to follow,

list your wants as well

collect what you want, dont try to get things to impress others

and remember its all about your fun, its not a contest to see who can get the most stuff

ask questions, theres no charge for that

just dont ask any about sheep, or hookers, stick to tv shows and equipment

buy decent equipment, and use quality blanks

and my number one piece of advice, do what you say your going to do

theres nothing worse than the empty promises we see all the time, it usualy catches up with those people very soon

example, if you cant ship for 10 days, then say that, dont promise them right away, we all have our limits

[tick26]

some people are still trading in vhs. making a list of what you have is a big plus. you can keep it on your hard drive or put it up on the web if you have time to update it. don't expect to find everything in one trade or six months time. trading should be a hobby and not a chore.

[YoliUSA]

Im new at trading too . BTW, could somebody tell me if it is safe to keep a trading website, I mean since it is illegal to copy stuff. I made one and Im working on it, so I just wanted to know if I wont get into any trouble.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by loren

just dont ask any about sheep, or hookers, stick to tv shows and equipment

That should go without saying, who would be foolish to bring those things up?

[tick26]

as long as you don't break any of the web hosting rules, offering stuff for sale. make sure you put a disclamier on your webpage just cya

[lazygrae]

Check your local listings. If you get any interesting and uncommon shows in your area, get a dvd recorder and record it. It always pays to record shows that are hard to find when the opportunity arises.

If you go to flea markets and thrift stores, take the time to look around for interesting old blank (hopefully not) tapes people have discarded, real cheap.

People here often make "Extra" or "Spare" discs available in large lots for blanks plus postage. Take advantage of such offers if you're interested in the shows on offer. Don't expect people to make sets especially for you for blanks in return. Email me if you want crime/adventure shows from the 60s-70s. I've got quite a few spare discs lying around, including some complete series (sorry, no Matlock). If that's not your thing, fear not, by my calculations, Loren is due for another "trade for blanks lot" post any day now.

Realize that trading is NOT a way to get shows cheap. This hobby, like most all hobbies I suppose, can get expensive fast. Face the fact that if you're going to get into this, at the very least you are going to have to get a DVD burner (and computer powerful enough to do the work if you don't already have one) in order to copy discs when you trade. It makes little sense to even try to start trading without one. Like Loren said, buy decent equipment and use decent blanks. It is far more expensive in the long run, in terms of both money and your reputation, to do otherwise.

Yes, there are still VHS traders, but they are mostly the hardcore collectors that have been into this hobby for years who have vast collections. You have approximately a zero percent chance of trading with those people and most people will only accept VHS if what you have is not available on DVD, and that is unlikely (unless you really score at the flea market like the guy who found the Charlie's Angels original broadcast recordings).

Don't need to have a website, but you do need a have and want list you can email to people or post on the forums. Start it day 1 and keep it up to date. If you post your want list, check out the good/bad traders list and post a trader check before doing anything with those who respond unless their reputation, good or bad, precedes them.