Newcomers to the model horse hobby who post their first for sale ads on model horse collecting bulletin boards are often puzzled when they receive offers not to purchase the models, but to trade for them. "I'll swap you a Running Mare for your Proud Arabian Mare," someone emails you. Why are they offering to swap or trade you for a model horse? Is this a legitimate offer? And how do you know the other collector will honestly keep her side of the bargain and ship your model out? Here are some basic guidelines to trading model horses and tips to trade safely.
Guidelines for Model Horse Trading
Any model horse-related item may be traded, and even service traded, if the two parties involved agree on the trade. Generally, model horse collectors indicate in their ads on sites such as Model Horse Sales Pages (MHSP) if they are willing to accept trades. If they are, they may list Breyers or other horse models they're seeking or will consider for the trade.
Breyers or other model horses selected for trades vary, but most of the time, collectors look for models that are of similar or equal value to what they are offering to trade. While it's rare to see someone willing to part with an exclusive, limited edition painted Artist Resin, they might be willing to swap it for an equally rare (and equally expensive) original finish Breyer. It all depends upon the collector.
Steps to Trading Model Horses
There are specific steps in the trading process. Generally speaking, model horse trades follow these steps:
- Find someone willing to trade Breyers or other model horses. Look on collector-specific websites for ads that list "Trades Accepted."
- Select models from your collection you are willing to trade.
- Look up their value online or in a good reference book. Scan other sites and auction sites to get an idea of the current price range since prices fluctuate.
- Contact the seller after you spot an item you would like to trade for. Send the person an introductory email and describe the item you have for trade. Wait for a reply.
- Take clear digital photos of the item for trade. Resize them but do not retouch them; you want them to be small enough to email easily, but retouching them isn't a good idea since this may make the seller feel you're trying to hide flaws in the model. Take images from the full left side, right side and of any special molding marks to identify the model or flaws the other collector should consider.
- Send images if the other person is interested in considering the trade.
At this stage, you do NOT have an actual trade. You and the other person are both in the consideration stages. You can also ask for more images of the model you are interested in. If you don't like the vibes you're getting from the other collector or don't like what you see in the images, you can back out without any hard feelings. Just let the other person know as soon as possible if you are no longer interested in trading the model horse.
If the other person says yes, she's interested, take a few extra precautions.
- Look up the person on trading reference sites such as the Yahoo Groups dedicated to model horse hobby trades and references.
- Ask for references prior to the trade. Hobbyists can often provide several people to contact for a references.
- Check references. Ask questions about prior transactions, especially trades.
- If the references are acceptable and you would like to make the trade, email the other person and confirm you are making the trade. Specify when you will ship the model out and by what method - US Postal Priority Mail with insurance is best, but there is also UPS ground and first class mail.
- Ask the other person to send her model with tracking and insurance too.
- Share the tracking information via email after the model is shipped, and send an email after the model ships.
- Once your new model arrives, confirm its condition, and if it has not been damaged in shipping, send an email to the other party thanking her for the successful transaction.
What to Do if the Model Horse Trade Doesn't Work Out
Thankfully, most people in the model horse hobby are honest, and scammers are rare. If you do send off your model and never receive the promised Breyer in return, here are steps you can take to fix the situation.
- Email the other person if a reasonable time passes without your new model arriving. Sometimes things happen that prevent people from going to the post office. It's rare, but tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires and illness have been known to delay trades!
- If the person responds, keep the communications friendly and cordial, and again request that the model be shipped with tracking.
- Generally speaking, horse models that are traded should be shipped within two weeks. If over a month passes and you have not received a response or you get lots of excuses and no model horse, you may want to take action.
Action Steps for Bad Trading Partners in the Model Horse Hobby
- Post a yellow light on model horse bulletin boards and reference lists for the other person, citing the facts of the trade. Often that's enough to spur the other person to action and remedy the situation.
- Send a certified letter to the person who has your model, requesting they either 1) ship out the promised trade or 2) return your model. This may also get the other person to respond to your request.
- If 6 to 8 weeks pass and you have no model and no response, post a 'Red Light' warning message on the collector bulletin boards to warn others.
Remember to always keep your posts on hobby bulletin boards neutral and factual. This isn't the time for public venting, mud slinging or name calling. Such behavior only reflects badly on you...and never helps remedy the situation.
Most collectors are friendly and generous, and trades go on all the time. Be smart and stay safe. Young collectors should ask their parents for help screening potential trading partners. While this advice isn't foolproof nor any guarantee of safe trading, taking certain steps prior to making a trade may help. Always trust your judgement and decline any trades you feel are suspect.