Unarmed Combat Story

[schwegs]

Schwegs' Short Stories Episode #27

So I had craft #73 of the Unarmed Combat weapon. A fellow randomly adds me and asks me to sell it for him to add to his collection of #73 craft items for 2 keys. I check out his bp and see that he's legit, message a couple friends to make sure I'm not doing something stupid like selling a Vintage Fan O' War, and then I do so without question or trying to get him to offer more. He was so excited that someone could actually be as nice as yours truly, that he actually posted a very nice note on his profile about me:

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198048198389
(or if he takes it down, http://i.imgur.com/ADPyX.png)

This turned out to be highly ironic as we shall see...

Well, now I happen to be out of an Unarmed Combat, so I have to head out into the dangerous world and find a replacement (since I maintain one of every weap).

As usual, before I post a trade or offer anyone, I do the following:
1) Check the spreadsheet to get a ballpark (says 1.66 ref)
2) Search for people selling the item, to see what they generally want -- usually higher than what buyers will pay
3) Search for people buying the item to see what they are offering (or if anyone is) -- usually lower than what sellers will sell for

On this one, there's a couple people offering multiple keys searching for a specific craft number, quite a few offering a few scraps for a uncraftable one, but not really anyone buying just a craftable Unarmed Combat, and yet pages of people trying to sell them for 1.66 refined.

So I decide that if no one's buying, that 1 ref would be a fair place to start looking for one and post offers on a bunch of trades. I later see a craft # of 7575 for one guy selling his for 1.55 ref, so I figure "why not, maybe I can even find someone who would offer a couple scraps later on to trade for a nifty number like that" and go with it. Next day, I get all the usual "Your post has been hidden" messages, along with at least one who added me, and another who counter-offered at 1.33.

Long story short (well, not really by this point), apparently one person did not take so well to my offer.I am quite impressed that I managed to tick him off so much without insulting or devaluing his item once, but I probably should have realized from him using "AWESOME COLLECTOR LEVEL" in the description that I should look elsewhere.

http://www.tf2outpost.com/trade/2150989

(Or, if he hides it: http://i.imgur.com/QUqkn.png, http://i.imgur.com/g0dV9.png)

Here's a running tally of what I apparently did wrong:
* I embarrassed myself
* I'm a waste of time
* I had a shitty offer
* I'm an ass
* I have a high-ass attitude
* No one gives a shit about me
* I'm a scammer
* I'm trying to rip people off
* I'm just here to gain profit
* I can't see that 77 is a "collector level"
* I'm not a collector
* I'm pathetic
* I didn't notice the 77 on the weap
* I'm not worth giving a shit
* It's worth pitying the dude I bought it from
* ...which I scammed
* I improperly compared his weap to others '
* I'm sarcastically immature

Wow! :P

[CrazyReed]

He is going to be really embarassed when he realises who he was talking to.

Good to see you Schwegs. If you don't remember me you sold me my first unusual, a logo mining light. I think it was the last one of your cash-out. Look at me now, shining reputation and one kick ass inventory.

TF2OP is great when you need to find an item, there's always lots of whatever you need. What sucks is how hostile the community has gotten. Not that any of them could make you lose your cool, but kids these days...

[beefntators]

He is going to be really embarassed when he realises who he was talking to.

Good to see you Schwegs. If you don't remember me you sold me my first unusual, a logo mining light. I think it was the last one of your cash-out. Look at me now, shining reputation and one kick ass inventory.

TF2OP is great when you need to find an item, there's always lots of whatever you need. What sucks is how hostile the community has gotten. Not that any of them could make you lose your cool, but kids these days...

Kids these days..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93wAqnPQwk

[vipersnake52]

He is going to be really embarassed when he realises who he was talking to.

Good to see you Schwegs. If you don't remember me you sold me my first unusual, a logo mining light. I think it was the last one of your cash-out. Look at me now, shining reputation and one kick ass inventory.

TF2OP is great when you need to find an item, there's always lots of whatever you need. What sucks is how hostile the community has gotten. Not that any of them could make you lose your cool, but kids these days...

Kids these days..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93wAqnPQwk

holy fuck 1 week 7.5m views

[schwegs]

Good to see you Schwegs. If you don't remember me you sold me my first unusual, a logo mining light. I think it was the last one of your cash-out. Look at me now, shining reputation and one kick ass inventory.

I think so...but that was indeed quite some time ago I actually miss that mining light a bit -- wish I still had it! I haven't been actively trading unusuals since then, up until the last week or so. Glad to see that you've done well with yourself though...wish I could say I simply have brilliant foresight in picking people to sell to, but that might be a stretch

I honestly normally post this stuff in the UTC admin-only Wall Of Shame, but I just put it here real quick to link to an acquaintance outside UTC.

But I'm glad y'all enjoyed it

[TheDopp]

I honestly don't understand item (weapon/regular hat/things under a key) trading. The margins are entirely too low, for entirely too much time put in, and it seems like too much effort, which just makes you turn into a giant ass, demanding .66 more over what a customer would actually pay for the silly item, which equates to barely 50 cents, while making you seem like a complete idiot in front of an admin of a major trading federation.
I understand not everyone can jump into unusual trades of several hundred dollars, and there is a demand for low value items, but still; doing it for fun or profit on a regular basis (versus idling, getting a billion semi-valuable things, selling out and re-investing in stranges then unusuals and trading up from there) seems like a losing proposition.

[hamie96]

He is going to be really embarassed when he realises who he was talking to.

Good to see you Schwegs. If you don't remember me you sold me my first unusual, a logo mining light. I think it was the last one of your cash-out. Look at me now, shining reputation and one kick ass inventory.

TF2OP is great when you need to find an item, there's always lots of whatever you need. What sucks is how hostile the community has gotten. Not that any of them could make you lose your cool, but kids these days...

Kids these days..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93wAqnPQwk

Those kids are demented.

[schwegs]

it seems like too much effort, which just makes you turn into a giant ass, demanding .66 more over what a customer would actually pay for the silly item, which equates to barely 50 cents, while making you seem like a complete idiot in front of an admin of a major trading federation.

Dopp, 0.66 ref is not 50cents. That's 33.3333333333333 and 1/3 cents. What are you trying to do? Rip me off? Scammer!

[TheDopp]

it seems like too much effort, which just makes you turn into a giant ass, demanding .66 more over what a customer would actually pay for the silly item, which equates to barely 50 cents, while making you seem like a complete idiot in front of an admin of a major trading federation.

Dopp, 0.66 ref is not 50cents. That's 33.3333333333333 and 1/3 cents. What are you trying to do? Rip me off? Scammer!

u r the scammer, spreadsheet says

[schwegs]

u r the scammer, spreadsheet says

SCAMMER ^^^ HIDDEN LINK IN MESSAGE TO WRONG SPREADSHEET