Tape Trading Standards

    "The biggest challenge in swapping tapes, besides finding someone to record the stations or programs you want, is to negotiate a compromise between two differing styles of trading and collecting.  Each person has their own way of recording, packaging and mailing tapes, yet too many people assume that what they like and prefer is automatically standard amongst everyone, or at least is acceptable to everyone.  Much of the following is based on postings on the Yahoo 'Airchecks R Us' message board, in turn from over 25 years of personal experiences (not all of them pleasant).

    "I would have to agree [to comments by AirchecksRUs message-poster 'bobonradio'] that if someone has particular wants, they should let them be known in advance. Perhaps we (this group as a whole?) should come up with a set of standards, and then only have to mention any deviations from or additions to those norms?  For example (just something to chew on...it's lunch-time here, ha):"

• Tapes - normal-bias, new major-brand C-90 (90-minute) cassette tapes only unless otherwise noted and agreed-upon.  Re-using the tape I sent you previously will mean, of course, that you are sending me a used tape!  Never mind that this always means I wind up having to supply all the tapes for what is supposed to be a trade!
• When 2 stations are requested to go on one cassette, this usually means the person wants one of the stations to go on one side, and another to go on the other.
• Contents - please send only what has been requested.  Suggestions for FUTURE tapes are very welcome, but please do not make substitutions for a current swap.  [Arrangements CAN be made for "surprise me" tape packages, but this only works when mutually agreeable and with some knowledge of each others' preferences, both likes and dislikes]
• Where no specific program, personality or music had been requested, safe bet is to roll tape at some average time...avoid morning drive, specialty or syndicated shows, sporting events, talk shows or live remotes, unless that's what the other trader wanted.
• Play it safe...have an alternate request or two handy, especially when the primary want is too specific to be recorded quickly.
• No Editing, please!  Always "unscoped", one full side or full tape per station, except for archival tapes already listed as being edited.  Leave in all commercials, news-casts and legal IDs, if any.
• Do not pop the "erase-proof" tabs (even on videotapes)...the receiver can do it for themselves if they want to keep the tape contents
• Please label each tape!  One label for a full tape, except for when there is something different on side B.  All I need is the correct call-sign and date.  I personally prefer minimum label clutter, especially as it saves room on the label for any info I want to add while or after listening, if I'm keeping the tape that is!
• Tape in stereo where available;  Agree in advance if you have to record in mono to record at all.
• No cassette cases will be accepted or returned.  [I would be another one of those in the 'No Cases' column. The waste of postage would be one reason, plus they mean having to use larger envelopes, they break in the mail very easily (more fragile than the cassettes themselves!), and anyway I have plenty of empty cases already (thanks to old tapes breaking, and tapes stolen by too many past crooked tape 'traders').]
• In a related note, I rarely want or can make more than one or two tapes at a time.  It is difficult to keep up with my local radio if I'm spending all my listening time on airchecks, never mind that (more so that ever) there is more to life than just radio.

• Stations I can record are on their own list.  Please notice the "signal strength" code, especially those of "B-" grade or less, as not all stations can be recorded in stereo, or even at certain times or seasons.  I have noticed some folks are under the mistaken assumption (a double negative?) that I live in Los Angeles, and then make requests without regards to reality.  It is extremely helpful to have a complete station-taping list handy for trading purposes, though not if it descriminates against any stations?  You know the ones, lists lacking any stations below 92.1 MHz, and even then only including stations the list creator listens to, or assumes "everyone else wants".
• To avoid confusion, my full-market list is in a separate place.  Actually, it's really a full southern California list, including markets such as Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Palm Springs and Santa Barbara.  This one does not get updated very often, due to time and travel constraints.  The same could be said for making any requests based on the list...you'll have to wait until I get to those places, and then there will be limits on how much I can record and on what day and time.
• In another room you'll find a list of individual programs.  This is a general southern California list, too, so many of these will not be recordable every day/week, either.
• Good ideas on the kinds of recordings I'm looking for can be found on a "Most Wanted" list.  I never, ever seek out any "Formats".  I do however go for certain specific and general kinds of MUSIC, shows, DJs, etc.  And I can not overemphasize that the market list is only for seeking TAPE TRADERS in those markets.  Because of the types of stations I prefer, it will rarely help me to send a short list of tapes you recorded on a trip there, or that you live only just close enough to get maybe 5 or 6 of the strongest FM signals.  Now, if you happen to have a tape that matches something on my wanted music, program or DJ list, yes please do let me know.
• A portion of my tape collection list is online.  Please note that the list is incomplete, though is a good guide to the types of stations, DJs, and music I prefer to collect.  Thanks to space, time and equipment-wear limitations, I use my collection only to supplement my more preferred trading (current airchecks), and as such the list is only updated when I have a lot of free time (once a year, MAYBE).  The list is organized by city-of-license, and station, so when using Edit/Find In Page, make sure you get the city or call-sign correct [For example, there is NO "WBZS-AM", "KFOG(FM)", or "CKAC-730", as there are no such call signs of either type, and careful with commonly misspelled cities like Berkeley, Cincinnati, San Bernardino, etc.].
• A good place to swap information and ideas, and also to find potential tape traders, is an online message board like Airchecks R Us.  There may also be a more traditional radio or DX club, though I have been "out of the tape loop" so long I wouldn't know what is still around.  Please send me any current information!