Making a Trade

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Trading is the heart and soul of patch collecting and the most fun part.
Remember that a collector is as trustworthy as their last trade, and trading will be a great experience.
Below are a few tips to help make your trades go smoothly.


1) A trade needs to be good for both parties.
Don't feel bad if someone declines your offer or if you want to decline theirs.
There will be probably be other chances to trade with them in the future.

2) Email a copy of the trade, listing both the patches you are trading and the patches you will receive in return, along with your name and address.

3) DO NOT trade anything you do not have in hand!
Trading a patch you plan to pick up in the near future might not happen and could become a real problem.
The trading community is small and word will probably get out that your word is not to be trusted.

4) Trade only mint patches unless it is clearly specified!
Not sewn, washed, soiled, taped, stapled, or otherwise altered patches unless it is
understood by the person you are trading with that they are not mint.
Here is a somewhat short synopsis of what mint means, as gathered from several traders:
Mint does not mean subjected to variouis cooking odors and odors of cigarette and cigar smoke. Above all, the patch should be clean and free from all odors.
Mint means it is just as the patch has come from the embroiderer. It is rigid, and NOT limp.
It is not dirty, has no "box-dirt", it has not been abused, written or printed upon, painted, stamped upon, soiled, used, stained, taped, glued, sewn, worn, washed, cut, folded,
spindled, stapled, defaced, has no threadbreaks, or otherwise altered from it's original state.
Mint does NOT mean "it looks good enough to me."
Mint does NOT mean "because I am mailing this, perhaps I will fool him."
Mint does NOT mean "because I am mailing this, perhaps he won't bother returning it."
If you are uncertain that your definition of mint is the same as mine, please ask whomever you are trading with first.

5) Send out your trade within 3 days maximum, from the date that the trade was agreed upon.
Unless a delay is agreed to by both collectors.
We know that due to the current world situation some folks have to go places on short notice.
Try to be as flexible as possible when dealing with other collectors, especially those in the military.
This should be considered the standard for all trades.

6) Don't forget to put a copy of the trade information, either a copy of your email or a short letter, in with your patch(s).
This is so that the recipient knows who and what is expected.
For multiple patches or large item (patches over 6"),use a larger padded envelope.
It will only cost a few cents more but is well worth the added protection and goodwill it promotes.

7) Be sure to put the patch in plastic before mailing. This will help protect them from the gorilla’s handling your mail and will keep them dry in case the envelope gets wet.

8) DO NOT tape your patches together or onto paper for mailing!
Most tape will ruin the patch when removed.

9) Once you receive your patch(s), email or contact the other trader right away to let them know that the items arrived.
Also let the other party know they are the correct items and in the correct condition.

10) Keep a record of the following:
Name, postal address & email of who you traded with;
the date of the trade;
the items you sent and the ones you received,
and any pertenent remarks about the trade.
This can be kept in a simple data base or even in a spreadsheet form.

11) Make a patch Needs & Dupes list that you can post on line or email to other collectors to show what you are looking for and what you have to trade in return.
Be sure to keep it up to date and always put the date on it showing your most recent update.

12) Trading can be done in person, at shows, at the station or company functions such as a company open house, training class, or county association meeting.
On-line clubs such as the several public safety patch clubs on Yahoo, are another good way to "meet" other collectors and swap duplicates.

13)Make sure that you are offering the correct patches to the correct audience.
Nothing like getting an un-solicited email offer for a trade,
discovering some really neat patches on it,
and then discovering that the person is offering police items when you collect fire items.

14)NEVER BE RUDE OR CONDESCENDING TO ANOTHER COLLECTOR!!!
I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me even as an experienced collector. This is the number 1 way to ruin your reputation in the collecting community.Remember, you were once a novice yourself.
Try to help out the new guys. Even if you don't need their patch, you can always use it for a trader and think of the goodwill you will generate.
A buddy of mine sent me these, these are his rules for trading. Some make pretty good sense

If someone asks me for a trade I put the agreed patch on the side,
It does NOT get sent out until I RECEIVE MINE.

If I initiate the trade I trade 1 for 1. BEING GREEDY GETS YOU BURNED!!!!

All future trades with people whom I consider to be a good trader I will send my patches out ASAP, again assuming they will too.

If I get burned I mail them a letter return receipt signature required. I give them seven to fourteen days to make good on it.
If they say they are a member of a fire company or ambulance / EMS service I follow up with a e-mail to their commander asking for the person to be honorable.
The Chief or shift commander will pressure the bad trader to do the right thing and not bring discredit to the rest of the crew or department.

If the person you are trading with wants a patch you consider a special trade, have another trade first or have them send you their trade first.

FINALLY.....If you feel the trade is going bad (wrong patches or short shipped. etc.) DO NOT send anything until it is corrected or send them back and forget them.