Difference between revisions of "Trading"

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(See Community trading tips#Before the trade for the username trade lock. Trade errors from here: https://steamerrors.com/tradeoffers)
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{{Quotation|'''The Heavy''', commenting on a proposed trade.|Everything you have is bad, compared to this thing!|sound=heavy trade 14.wav}}
  
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'''Trading''' is a system that lets players exchange [[items]] with other players. Introduced with the [[Mann-Conomy Update]], this system allows players to swap or gift [[weapons]], [[cosmetics]], [[tool]]s, and more with other players. Valve later implemented the trading feature Steam-wide to encompass other games as well as within [[Steam]] itself.
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[[Image:steam_trading.png|right]]
 
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{{Quotation|'''The Engineer''' on his delivery services|Another satisfied customer!|sound=Engineer_specialcompleted02.wav}}
 
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'''Trading''' is an in-game system that lets players exchange [[items]] with other players. Introduced with the [[Mann-Conomy Update]], this system allows players to swap [[weapons]], [[hats]], [[miscellaneous items|misc items]], [[tool]]s and more with other players. Later on, Valve also added the ability to trade items from different games to each other.  
 
 
__TOC__
 
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== Steam Trading ==
 
== Steam Trading ==
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[[File:Steam Item Trading.png|Steam Trading Beta|thumb|300px|A screenshot of Steam Trading.]]
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[[File:Steam Item Trading.png|Steam Trading Beta|thumb|300px|A screenshot of Steam trading.]]
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'''Steam Trading''' is a feature that was introduced on August 9, 2011 as an open beta. [[Steam]] Users that opted into the Steam Trade Beta were also given the ability to "Tag" people on their Friends List and organize them into Common Groups.<ref>[http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=6202 Steam Trading: Out of Beta and available to everyone! - TF2 Team]</ref> The beta updates were added to the public Steam client on September 6, 2011. With Steam Trading, players are able to trade their in-game items for other in-game items and/or gift copies of Steam games. Trade requests can be sent through Steam chat windows or via the Steam Friends List window.
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'''Steam trading''' is a feature that was introduced on August 9, 2011 as an open beta.<ref>[http://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=6202 Steam Trading: Out of Beta and available to everyone! - TF2 Team]</ref> The beta updates were added to the public [[Steam]] client on September 6, 2011. With Steam trading, players are able to trade their in-game items for other in-game items and/or gift copies of Steam games. Trade requests can be sent through Steam chat windows or via the Steam Friends List window. Trading will also be disabled for Free to Play (nothing bought from Mann Co. Store) players and for 5 days after a user resets their password, which was added for user safety. If the user resets their password 2 months after their last account activity, trading will instead be disabled for 30 days. When changing your password, as opposed to resetting it, no restrictions will be applied. Upon changing your Steam username, trading will be locked for 2 hours.
  
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=== Demonstration ===
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=== Steam Trading errors ===
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{{youtube|ZT3j8pb_KyU|hd=1|width=640|ratio=16x9}}
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{{Trade Offer errors}}
  
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=== Features ===
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=== Trade holds ===
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* At first, the Steam Trading window shows only 8 slots to trade. When the 3rd slot on the last line is filled, more slots will appear. This allows for up to 256 items to be traded at once, eliminating the need for successive trading.  
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In November 2015, Valve introduced an escrow<ref>[https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8078-TPHC-6195 Steam Support article about trade holds]</ref> system which - when trading items with other parties and only Steam Guard is enabled, the trade may be placed on hold for up to 15 days.<ref>[https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8078-TPHC-6195&l=english Steam Trade Holds - Documentation - Knowledge Base - Steam Support]</ref> If the users have been friends for over 1 year, the hold will last 1 day instead.
  
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* Items can also be searched for by using the search tool, making trades quicker and easier to conduct. As with the in-game trading menu, a chat box is also available and items are color-coded according to their quality.  
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If Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator has been enabled for both parties for at least 7 days, trades will happen instantly once both sides have confirmed the trade, regardless of friends status.
  
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* Once a trade is made, any received items are placed into the user's in-game Backpack and Steam Inventory, ready to be used.  
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When a trade takes the form of gifts (someone giving items without receiving), only the gift giver needs to confirm the trade offer.
  
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* Items from other games can also be traded by clicking the inventory drop down menu and choosing a supported game's inventory. The current inventories available are ''Portal 2'', ''Team Fortress 2'', ''Spiral Knights'', ''Crimecraft: Gang Wars'', ''Super MNC'', ''Dota 2'' and Steam gifts (games bought but not yet redeemed).
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=== Demonstration ===
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{{youtube|ZT3j8pb_KyU|hd=1|width=640|ratio=16x9}}
  
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=== Trading inside TF2 ===
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[[File: Steam Item Trading -Trade Offer.png|Steam Trading Beta|thumb|300px|A screenshot of Steam Trade Offers.]]
  
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To get started trading in Team Fortress 2, you go about it by going to the game's menu (by default, this key being "M"), and select trading. Once you've done that, another small window opens up, granting you access to certain checkboxes and such, allowing you to trade from people within your server, friends list, or Steam groups that you are a part of.
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=== Features ===
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* At first, the Steam Trading window only shows 8 slots to trade. When the 3rd slot on the last line is filled, more slots will appear. This allows for up to 256 items to be traded at once, eliminating the need for excessive trading.
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* Items can also be searched for by using the search bar, making trades quicker and easier to conduct. A chat box is also available for each of the traders to discuss, and items are color-coded according to their quality (Unusual, strange, etc.).
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* Once a trade has been made, any received items are placed into the user's in-game Backpack and Steam Inventory, ready to be used.
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* Items from other games can also be traded by clicking the inventory drop down menu and choosing a supported game's inventory.
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* On September 4, 2013, a new feature named "Trade Offers" was released. This feature allows users to send a pre-packaged trade to a friend, similar to regular trading, except the sender proposes the items for both sides. This feature includes the ability for regular traders to generate their own personal trade offer links, allowing other users to send them trade offers without needing to add them as a friend first.
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* Trade offers can be confirmed or declined through the Steam mobile application's "Confirmations" tab.
  
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You can also go about opening a trade with a friend entirely from the Steam overlay itself. Some people prefer to use third party websites for trading all of their items to gain profits, and they may not be in your server. You must add them (or vice versa), and then you may select whether you'd like to invite them to a trade, separate from doing it within Team Fortress as if they were in your server or Steam group.
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=== Trading inside ''Team Fortress 2'' ===
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In addition to sending trades through Steam, it is possible to send a trade to another player in ''Team Fortress 2'', though it still uses the Steam trading system to do so. The option for this is in the [[Customize items]] section of the [[main menu]], accessible through the "Items" button on the main menu, through the key set to open the menu {{DK|M}}, or through the console command {{code|open_charinfo_direct}}.  
  
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Trading in-game opens up a Steam Trade window in the overlay, which can be toggled to return to the game and vice versa. After a trade is complete, any items a player receives are posted to the server's messages if they are in a server.
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This will open a small window with options to select a trading partner from the friends list, the current server, or directly through their Steam profile. If the friends list option is selected, it will show a list of users on the friends list currently playing ''Team Fortress 2''. The current server option will show a list of users in the current server. Once a user is selected through any of the three options, a trade request will be sent to them, which they can choose to accept or deny.  
  
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[[Account types|Free-to-play]] players can not trade TF2 items with a few exceptions, such as [[tool]]s like the [[Name Tag]] and the [[Description Tag]], any items traded to them by premium users, and [[promos]] such as the [[Frying Pan]] and [[Ellis' Cap]].  
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Once a trading partner has been selected, the Steam Overlay will open with a Steam Trade window, which can be toggled to return to the game and vice versa. If the trade is accepted, any items received will be shown in the in-game chat box, if the player is currently in a server.
  
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An option to filter trade requests is in the game's Advanced Options menu. This option can be set to ''Anyone'', ''Friends Only'', ''Friends and In-Game Players'' and ''No-one''.
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It is possible to filter trade requests through the game's Advanced Options menu. This option can be set to ''Anyone'', ''Friends Only'', ''Friends and In-Game Players'' and ''No-one''
  
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== Item Value ==
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Additionally, Free to Play players are not able to trade any items to other players; however, they may trade items that they have received from another player.
  
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In general, the value of items is defined by their rarity, that is, the difficulty and/or expense in acquiring them by a player. By extension, item rarity is usually tied to an item's [[Item Quality|Quality]]. Hence, [[Unique]] weapons, the most usual drops in the game, have the lowest value of all items, due to them being the most usual drops, as well as being craftable. [[Mann Co. Supply Crates]] are also common drops and as such also considered of low value. [[Vintage]] items are considered more expensive, due to their originally higher crafting value, and their general unavailability at present. [[Strange]] items have a higher value than Uniques since they can only be obtained from Supply Crates, but their price varies wildly depending on each item's specific probability of being obtained from a Crate, as well as the availability of the crate they can be obtained from. [[Genuine]] item values are often higher than the aforementioned, due to the related expense of obtaining them as [[promotional items]], and the limited timeframe to obtain them this way.
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Lastly, trading is permanent. If you trade an item that wasn't meant to be traded, you're unable to get it back unless the other person is willing to trade it back, so be cautious while trading with other people and double-check all trade offers.
  
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[[Haunted]] items are also considered to have a higher value, due to their dropping window being limited to Halloween events and maps. [[Festive weapons]] have a similar seasonal limitation, but are considered to be of a much higher value, due to the strict timeframe allowed for obtaining them from special Christmas Event crates (the crates themselves being destroyed after the end of the event), their relative probability of being obtained from crates, and their cosmetic decorations. Festive weapons of a Strange quality have an even higher value due to their even lower probability of being obtained.
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==== Untradable items ====
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All items in the game are tradable, with the exception of items with a "Not Usable in Trading" suffix or an [[Achievement weapons#Weapons|achievement milestone weapon]]. If metal is crafted using any achievement weapon, it becomes untradable. Anything crafted using untradable items also becomes untradable. Likewise, you can not trade items that you get from other games via achievements.
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Also, Free to Play players are unable to receive tradable items from a [[Item drop system|drop]]; they would have to get the item from someone else.
  
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Items of any quality are considered to be "dirty" when they contain additional descriptive text ("gifted by ___", craft #, etc.), or when they have certain trading limitations, such as needing gift-wrap, or being uncraftable. Dirty items are considered to be of lesser value than "clean" items devoid of any of these attributes.
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==== Purchased items ====
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* After the [[Manniversary Update & Sale|Manniversary Update]], all items purchased from the [[Mann Co. Store]] will become tradable after seven days, as long as the Steam account has made another purchase at least 30 days prior.
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Items with attributes added by [[Tools]], such as color from [[Paint Can]]s, or [[Strange Parts]], usually have the value of such items added to the total value of the item up for trade.
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* Additionally, items that are awarded in [[Genuine|Genuine quality]] upon pre-ordering a game on Steam are initially untradable, but generally become tradable once the associated game is released or the promotion period ends.
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* Items purchased from the Steam Community [[Marketplace]] can be put back on the market as soon as they are purchased, but cannot be traded within 7 days.
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==== Currency ====
 
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[[Crafting#Metal|Metal]] is often used as a trading currency by traders, and is traded for items according to their value in Metal. The value of specific items is usually given in terms of [[Refined Metal]], or "ref" (e.g. ''1.33 ref'', ''3 ref'', etc.). To know how much metal is being asked for an item, the specific values for each type of metal are as given as: 1 Scrap = 0.11 ref, 1 Reclaimed Metal (or rec) = 0.33 ref, 1 Refined Metal = 1 ref. Since a scrap is produced from 2 weapons, a single [[Unique]] weapon is sometimes considered as equivalent to 0.05 ref. However, it is usual to see individual Unique weapons sold for a scrap each, by players trying to make profit out of trades.
 
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For items with higher value, higher-level "currencies" are used. [[Mann Co. Supply Crate Key|Keys]] are used as the next tier of currency, although their equivalent in Metal is often accepted as substitute when trading. [[Bill's Hat]]s are sometimes used as the next level of currency due to their high value in Keys and/or metal. [[Earbuds]], or "Buds", considered to be extremely rare and valuable, are often considered as the top tier of TF2 currency, and are used as such to buy and sell the most expensive items available.
 
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==== Unusual Items ====
 
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[[Unusual]] items are considered to be the most valuable and expensive quality for trade in the game by a wide margin. As such, they are considered to be in their own separate tier of high prices (usually given in terms of Earbuds or in keys to a lesser extent). In addition to the visual appeal of the [[Particle effects#Unusual Effects|Unusual Effects]] these items sport, their 1% probability of being acquired from Crates makes them extremely hard to come by, and makes their base trading price extremely high. However, within its own realm of Unusual prices, the value of an Unusual item may vary wildly according to visual or thematic appeal, rarity, and general desirability.
 
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==== Non-Tradeable Items ====
 
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{{Item tradability list}}
 
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* All items in the game are tradable with the exception of the items above and [[Achievement weapons#Weapons|achievement milestone weapons]]. If metal is crafted using any achievement weapon, it becomes untradable. Anything crafted using untradable items also becomes untradable. However, most of the above items are [[Gift Wrap|gift-wrappable]], providing a way to trade normally un-tradable items.
 
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* [[Self-Made]] items, [[Community (quality)|Community]] items, and [[Valve (quality)|Valve]] items are permanently untradable and uncraftable.
 
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==== Purchased Items ====
 
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* With the [[Manniversary Update & Sale|Manniversary Update]], all items purchased from the [[Mann Co. Store]] will become tradable after two days, as long as the Steam account has made another purchase at least 30 days prior.
 
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* Additionally, items that are awarded in [[Genuine|Genuine quality]] upon pre-ordering a game on Steam are initially untradable, but generally become tradable once the game is released.
 
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* Items purchased from the Steam Community [[Marketplace]] are automatically placed in the user's inventory and are immediately available for trade or to place back on the market.
 
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=== Pricing Guides ===       
 
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In any case, the value of all items varies with time, according to current trading trends, novelty of items, desirability, availability, and update modifications to items, among other variables. Sources for checking current trading prices for items include:
 
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* [http://www.trade.tf/spreadsheet Trade.tf spreadsheet]
 
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* [http://backpack.tf/pricelist/spreadsheet/ Backpack.tf pricelist]
 
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* [http://tf2spreadsheet.traderempire.com/ TF2 Spreadsheet]
 
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However, keep in mind that any listed prices are not set prices, but merely guidelines for traders to use as baselines for setting their own trade prices.
 
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=== 3rd Party Backpack Viewers ===
 
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Websites used to examine a user's backpack items outside of Steam:
 
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* [http://backpack.tf/ Backpack.tf]
 
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* [[TF2 Backpack Examiner]]
 
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* [http://tf2b.com/ TF2B]
 
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Some TF2 servers that are primarily used for trading may have a plugin that lets you view the backpack of another user on the server. The plugin will usually link you to one of the above sites in-game.
 
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== Trading Websites ==
 
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Outside of in-game trading and Steam are websites users can use to trade and offer items. Such websites include:
 
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* [[TF2 Outpost]]
 
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* [[TF2 Trading Post]]
 
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* [http://bazaar.tf/ Bazaar.tf]
 
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* [http://forums.sourceop.com/forum/ SourceOP Forums]
 
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* [[TF2 Warehouse]]
 
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Most websites let users post what they want to trade and what they want in return. Other users can offer on their items or add them directly to trade.
 
  
 
== Trading tips ==
 
== Trading tips ==
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''(See also: [[Community trading tips]])
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{{main|Community trading tips{{if lang}}|l1=Community trading tips}}
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{{hatnote|Note: Keep the following tips in mind while trading.}}
 
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[[File:qualitycolors.jpg|thumb|300px|When trading for a [[Strange]] or [[Unusual]] item, look out for the quality colors to avoid being scammed. Note that the Free to Play account cannot give any items in the trade.]]
 
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*To know how much metal is being asked for an item, keep in mind the specific values for each type of metal: 1 Scrap Metal is 0.11 refined (or simply ref), 1 Reclaimed Metal (or rec) is 0.33 ref and 1 Refined Metal is 1 ref. Adding these values by increments will give you the exact value of metal that a trader is asking for, and lets you know which and how many items of metal are being asked of you.
 
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*Check the person's Steam profile to see if the person is on trade probation by Valve, or has a reputation for being a scammer. Also use steamrep.com.
 
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*Pay attention to the quality of the items being offered.
 
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*Always review the items being traded before finishing the trade.
 
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*Trades should be conducted without any pressure; don't give into another player's pressure if they're urging you into a trade you do not want to be in.
 
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*If you feel that you are offering too much, ask a friend or another player. There are many "price guides" available online that estimate the value of items being traded (though these are often subjective).
 
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*Inventory items appear in the order in which they are arranged in your backpack. Be sure to preview items by hovering over them in the inventory or trading boxes to make sure you are adding the correct one(s).
 
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*Always respect the player you are trading with. Being polite, courteous and honest are very important aspects of trading, and are reflected on in real life trading too. Common courtesy is an important aspect.
 
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*Be aware of renamed items, as a scammer can rename a common item to appear as a rare item.  For example, a [[Vintage]] Pyro's Beanie can be renamed to appear as an [[Unusual]] Pyro's Beanie. However, the hat will retain its blue lettering. The chat box will show notifications about renamed items to help avoid confusion.
 
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*Check if the items you receive in the trade are craftable. After the {{Patch name|10|13|2011}}, weapons bought from the store are uncraftable, but can be traded. The {{Patch name|11|29|2012}} changed this such that cosmetic items bought from the store are craftable.
 
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*Make sure the items you are receiving are not duplicated.
 
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*If you are trading for a strange weapon, its current kill count will be reset to 0.
 
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*While trading, verify the trader's last alias (This user has also played as) at his profile. Scamming players often use many different aliases, so they can't be recognized after the trade.
 
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*Some trading communities have adopted a verify system that can be very useful to the traders. If your trading spot has it, be aware of it.
 
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==Types of trading==
 
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There are several different types of trading:
 
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* Scrap banking - an act where scrap banker changes metal for weapons. Scrap banker will (usually) change one scrap for 2 weapons.
 
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* Reverse scrap banking - where a player sells 2 weapons that he/she bought with one scrap to a scrap banker.
 
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* Weapon banking -  an act where a player gives another player a weapon for another weapon. Soon, weapon banker will find a weapon worth keeping, thus ending the cycle.
 
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* Hat banking - where a player purchases hats for 1.33 (The general price of hats) or lower, then sells them for 1.33 or more, gaining the player a profit.
 
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* 1:1 trading - where a player exchanges a single item with another player for another item.
 
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* Game trading - involves exchanging items for games and vice versa.
 
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* Cash trading - involves exchanging items for monetary compensation outside of the Steam trade. This form of trading should always be done with a trusted middleman, if done at all as this practice is very risky.
 
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* Pure trading -  when a person pays in full price of what types of items they want for their item(s), mostly Earbuds, refined or keys.
 
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Things that should be watched out:
 
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* Scamming - is the act of stealing from other person, whether through trading itself or through hijacking and/or phishing.
 
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Sharking is a form of deceptive trading.
 
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Sharking - Targeting a player (Most likely new or inexperience players) and offer items that is significantly low in price then the players item(s).
 
  
 
== Update history ==
 
== Update history ==
 
{{Update history |
 
{{Update history |
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'''{{Patch name|9|30|2010}}''' ([[Mann-Conomy Update]])
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'''{{Patch name|9|30|2010}}''' ({{update link|Mann-Conomy Update}})
 
* Added trading system.
 
* Added trading system.
  
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* Added a note in the trading dialog to let you know when your trading partner is typing.
 
* Added a note in the trading dialog to let you know when your trading partner is typing.
  
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'''{{Patch name|2|24|2011}}''' ([[Community Map Pack Update]])
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'''{{Patch name|2|24|2011}}''' ({{update link|Community Map Pack Update}})
 
* {{Undocumented}} Fixed trades only displaying one of the items traded to the server.
 
* {{Undocumented}} Fixed trades only displaying one of the items traded to the server.
  
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* {{Undocumented}} Fixed a Steam Trading bug that allowed items to be duplicated.  
 
* {{Undocumented}} Fixed a Steam Trading bug that allowed items to be duplicated.  
  
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'''{{Patch name|12|15|2011}}''' ([[Australian Christmas 2011]])  
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'''{{Patch name|12|15|2011}}''' ({{update link|Australian Christmas 2011}})  
 
* {{Undocumented}} Players with [[Account types|free]] accounts can now trade items that have been traded to them.
 
* {{Undocumented}} Players with [[Account types|free]] accounts can now trade items that have been traded to them.
  
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'''{{Patch name|2|22|2013}}'''
 
'''{{Patch name|2|22|2013}}'''
 
* Fixed a problem where traders that send in-game trade requests would receive the error message "The other player is currently busy trading with someone else" when the problem was actually related to Steam Guard settings.
 
* Fixed a problem where traders that send in-game trade requests would receive the error message "The other player is currently busy trading with someone else" when the problem was actually related to Steam Guard settings.
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 +
'''{{Patch name|2|23|2014}}'''
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* Fixed trade invites not working in-game.
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'''{{Patch name|12|17|2014}}'''
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* Added a one week delay before items purchased from the Mann Co. Store or the Steam Community Market can be traded.
 +
 +
'''{{Patch name|7|4|2015}} #1'''
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* Fixed items that are removed from the Steam Community Market having the trade restriction removed.
 
}}
 
}}
  
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==Bugs ==
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== Bugs ==
 
* If a player is kicked from a server while waiting for a trade request, the timer at the home screen will show over 10,000 seconds.
 
* If a player is kicked from a server while waiting for a trade request, the timer at the home screen will show over 10,000 seconds.
 +
* Sometimes users in a trade will be unable to add items to a trade or click the 'confirm trade' button. This can typically be fixed by pressing the 'F5' on your keyboard to refresh the trade.
 +
* Often items in a trade will not display correctly for a short period of time after they are added. The picture is typically absent in this scenario along with the item's description and name.
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* Sometimes when a user adds an item into the trade, it will not be visible from the other user's perspective, even though the name of the item will be shown in the trade chat. This can be fixed if the other user puts an item into the trade and then takes it out again.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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* If you have been scammed, you can file a [http://support.steampowered.com/ Steam support ticket] and explain the situation. It helps to provide evidence of the scam, such as conversation logs or screenshots/videos of the scammed transaction.  
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* If you have been [[Glossary of player terms#Scam|scammed]], you can file a [http://support.steampowered.com/ Steam support ticket] and explain the situation. It helps to provide evidence of the scam, such as conversation logs or screenshots/videos of the scammed transaction. ''See: [[Community trading tips#Trade Scamming|Trade Scamming]].''
 
* There is a 30 second waiting period between unsuccessful trade requests.
 
* There is a 30 second waiting period between unsuccessful trade requests.
 
* If a player sends multiple trade requests to another player who declines them, there is a 2 minute waiting period between each trading request to prevent spamming.
 
* If a player sends multiple trade requests to another player who declines them, there is a 2 minute waiting period between each trading request to prevent spamming.
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* As of December 12th, 2012, Steam Guard will be required for trading TF2, and other items that are tradable. Steam also requires for Steam Guard to be on for at least 15 days before trading.
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* You can not trade if your Steam account has been restricted and/or you have been trade banned on Steam.
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* Changing the password will result in blocking from trade for 5 days. This system is for preventing the hijackers from scamming another players by using hijacked accounts.
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* Some ways that users scam others are by using external links outside the control of Valve (sometimes posing as fake steam sites) and/or by impersonating other users with high value inventories. Never enter your Steam login unless you trust the site! Only visit trusted links like the Steam Store/Community Hubs.
  
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== Old Trading System ==
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== Old trading system ==
 
{{youtube|JRIt84itoJs|width=640|hd=on|ratio=16x9}}
 
{{youtube|JRIt84itoJs|width=640|hd=on|ratio=16x9}}
  
 
== Gallery ==
 
== Gallery ==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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File:News item 2011-09-06 Inter-Universe Trading!.png|In-game announcement of Steam Inventory
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File:News item 2011-09-06 Inter-Universe Trading!.png|In-game announcement of Steam Inventory.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Gift Wrap]]
 
* [[Gift Wrap]]
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* [[SteamRep]]
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* [[Account types]]
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* [[Community sites]]
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* [[Trade Scamming]]
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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* [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9958-MJDG-3003 Official Team Fortress 2 Item Trading Guidelines]
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* [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9958-MJDG-3003 Official Team Fortress 2 Item Trading Guidelines page]
 
* [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6748-ETSG-5417 Steam Trading FAQ page]
 
* [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6748-ETSG-5417 Steam Trading FAQ page]
 +
* [https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8625-WRAH-9030 Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator page]
  
 
[[Category:Items]]
 
[[Category:Items]]
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[[Category:Trading| ]]
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[[Category:Trading]]

Revision as of 15:22, 4 August 2024

Steam trading.png
“
Everything you have is bad, compared to this thing!
Click to listen
— The Heavy, commenting on a proposed trade.
 ”

Trading is a system that lets players exchange items with other players. Introduced with the Mann-Conomy Update, this system allows players to swap or gift weapons, cosmetics, tools, and more with other players. Valve later implemented the trading feature Steam-wide to encompass other games as well as within Steam itself.

Steam Trading

A screenshot of Steam trading.

Steam trading is a feature that was introduced on August 9, 2011 as an open beta.[1] The beta updates were added to the public Steam client on September 6, 2011. With Steam trading, players are able to trade their in-game items for other in-game items and/or gift copies of Steam games. Trade requests can be sent through Steam chat windows or via the Steam Friends List window. Trading will also be disabled for Free to Play (nothing bought from Mann Co. Store) players and for 5 days after a user resets their password, which was added for user safety. If the user resets their password 2 months after their last account activity, trading will instead be disabled for 30 days. When changing your password, as opposed to resetting it, no restrictions will be applied. Upon changing your Steam username, trading will be locked for 2 hours.

Steam Trading errors

Steam trade offer errors
Error code
Internal name 		Encountered when Explanation
2
Fail 		Sending, accepting, declining, or cancelling trade offers. Generic failure, shown if a more specific error could not be determined.
11
InvalidState 		Sending, accepting, declining, or cancelling trade offers. The trade offer is in an "invalid state" and cannot be acted upon. Often requires a new trade offer to be sent.
15
AccesDenied 		Sending, accepting, declining, or cancelling trade offers. The trade offer cannot be send or accepted due to you being unable to trade with the other user.
Possibly also caused by an invalid trade token (when using a trade offer URL).
The other user is unable to send or receive one of the items in the trade (due to a VAC ban or having a full inventory).
16
Timeout 		Sending, accepting, declining, or cancelling trade offers. Steam's trade offer server took too long to reply. It is possible the trade offer succeeded anyway.
20
ServiceUnavailable 		Sending, accepting, declining, or cancelling trade offers. The trade offer service is currently unavailable.
25
LimitExceeded 		Sending, accepting, declining, or cancelling trade offers. You are over your limit of active trade offers (including those that require confirmation, but does not include those in escrow).
Users are limited to 5 offers to a single recipient, or 30 active offers total.
If this error occurs when accepting a trade offer, one of the items in the trade may exceed your inventory for that game.
26
Revoked 		Sending, accepting, declining, or cancelling trade offers. One or more of the items in the trade offer doesn't exist in the inventory anymore. Also used for revoked guest passes.
28
AlreadyRedeemed 		Accepting trade offers. Trade offer has already been accepted, also used for guest passes that have already been redeemed.
34
LogonSessionReplaced 		Sending trade offers. Trade offer cannot be send because you have recently changed your Steam username.

Trade holds

In November 2015, Valve introduced an escrow[2] system which - when trading items with other parties and only Steam Guard is enabled, the trade may be placed on hold for up to 15 days.[3] If the users have been friends for over 1 year, the hold will last 1 day instead.

If Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator has been enabled for both parties for at least 7 days, trades will happen instantly once both sides have confirmed the trade, regardless of friends status.

When a trade takes the form of gifts (someone giving items without receiving), only the gift giver needs to confirm the trade offer.

Demonstration

A screenshot of Steam Trade Offers.

Features

  • At first, the Steam Trading window only shows 8 slots to trade. When the 3rd slot on the last line is filled, more slots will appear. This allows for up to 256 items to be traded at once, eliminating the need for excessive trading.
  • Items can also be searched for by using the search bar, making trades quicker and easier to conduct. A chat box is also available for each of the traders to discuss, and items are color-coded according to their quality (Unusual, strange, etc.).
  • Once a trade has been made, any received items are placed into the user's in-game Backpack and Steam Inventory, ready to be used.
  • Items from other games can also be traded by clicking the inventory drop down menu and choosing a supported game's inventory.
  • On September 4, 2013, a new feature named "Trade Offers" was released. This feature allows users to send a pre-packaged trade to a friend, similar to regular trading, except the sender proposes the items for both sides. This feature includes the ability for regular traders to generate their own personal trade offer links, allowing other users to send them trade offers without needing to add them as a friend first.
  • Trade offers can be confirmed or declined through the Steam mobile application's "Confirmations" tab.

Trading inside Team Fortress 2

In addition to sending trades through Steam, it is possible to send a trade to another player in Team Fortress 2, though it still uses the Steam trading system to do so. The option for this is in the Customize items section of the main menu, accessible through the "Items" button on the main menu, through the key set to open the menu (default key: M), or through the console command open_charinfo_direct.

This will open a small window with options to select a trading partner from the friends list, the current server, or directly through their Steam profile. If the friends list option is selected, it will show a list of users on the friends list currently playing Team Fortress 2. The current server option will show a list of users in the current server. Once a user is selected through any of the three options, a trade request will be sent to them, which they can choose to accept or deny.

Once a trading partner has been selected, the Steam Overlay will open with a Steam Trade window, which can be toggled to return to the game and vice versa. If the trade is accepted, any items received will be shown in the in-game chat box, if the player is currently in a server.

It is possible to filter trade requests through the game's Advanced Options menu. This option can be set to Anyone, Friends Only, Friends and In-Game Players and No-one

Additionally, Free to Play players are not able to trade any items to other players; however, they may trade items that they have received from another player.

Lastly, trading is permanent. If you trade an item that wasn't meant to be traded, you're unable to get it back unless the other person is willing to trade it back, so be cautious while trading with other people and double-check all trade offers.

Untradable items

All items in the game are tradable, with the exception of items with a "Not Usable in Trading" suffix or an achievement milestone weapon. If metal is crafted using any achievement weapon, it becomes untradable. Anything crafted using untradable items also becomes untradable. Likewise, you can not trade items that you get from other games via achievements. Also, Free to Play players are unable to receive tradable items from a drop; they would have to get the item from someone else.

Purchased items

  • After the Manniversary Update, all items purchased from the Mann Co. Store will become tradable after seven days, as long as the Steam account has made another purchase at least 30 days prior.
  • Additionally, items that are awarded in Genuine quality upon pre-ordering a game on Steam are initially untradable, but generally become tradable once the associated game is released or the promotion period ends.
  • Items purchased from the Steam Community Marketplace can be put back on the market as soon as they are purchased, but cannot be traded within 7 days.

Trading tips

Main article: Community trading tips

Update history

September 30, 2010 Patch (Mann-Conomy Update)
  • Added trading system.

October 6, 2010 Patch

  • The Trading dialog now starts with the chat window having focus.
  • Gifted items are now craftable and tradable.
  • Community, Self-Made, and Valve items are not tradable or usable in crafting.

October 20, 2010 Patch

  • Added some anti-scam advice to the chat window.
  • Increased trading slots to 8 slots per person.
  • Added item rarity colors.
  • Added the item’s original name to the item description.

January 19, 2011 Patch

  • Added a note in the trading dialog to let you know when your trading partner is typing.

February 24, 2011 Patch (Community Map Pack Update)

  • [Undocumented] Fixed trades only displaying one of the items traded to the server.

June 14, 2011 Patch

  • Fixed Steam inventory/trading not showing the correct item level for some items.
  • Fixed Steam inventory/trading sort order not matching the in-game backpack.

October 20, 2011 Patch

  • Fixed "Not Usable in Crafting" text not appearing under certain conditions on item tooltips in the trading UI.

November 16, 2011 Patch

  • Fixed an exploit that allowed untradable items to be traded with Steam trading.

November 23, 2011 Patch

  • [Undocumented] Fixed a Steam Trading bug that allowed items to be duplicated.

December 15, 2011 Patch (Australian Christmas 2011)

  • [Undocumented] Players with free accounts can now trade items that have been traded to them.

February 14, 2012 Patch

  • Updated the in-game trading system to use the Steam trading menus.

September 4, 2012 Patch

  • Added a notification to Steam Trading when a user's backpack is full.

February 22, 2013 Patch

  • Fixed a problem where traders that send in-game trade requests would receive the error message "The other player is currently busy trading with someone else" when the problem was actually related to Steam Guard settings.

February 23, 2014 Patch

  • Fixed trade invites not working in-game.

December 17, 2014 Patch

  • Added a one week delay before items purchased from the Mann Co. Store or the Steam Community Market can be traded.

July 4, 2015 Patch #1

  • Fixed items that are removed from the Steam Community Market having the trade restriction removed.

Bugs

  • If a player is kicked from a server while waiting for a trade request, the timer at the home screen will show over 10,000 seconds.
  • Sometimes users in a trade will be unable to add items to a trade or click the 'confirm trade' button. This can typically be fixed by pressing the 'F5' on your keyboard to refresh the trade.
  • Often items in a trade will not display correctly for a short period of time after they are added. The picture is typically absent in this scenario along with the item's description and name.
  • Sometimes when a user adds an item into the trade, it will not be visible from the other user's perspective, even though the name of the item will be shown in the trade chat. This can be fixed if the other user puts an item into the trade and then takes it out again.

Notes

  • If you have been scammed, you can file a Steam support ticket and explain the situation. It helps to provide evidence of the scam, such as conversation logs or screenshots/videos of the scammed transaction. See: Trade Scamming.
  • There is a 30 second waiting period between unsuccessful trade requests.
  • If a player sends multiple trade requests to another player who declines them, there is a 2 minute waiting period between each trading request to prevent spamming.
  • You can not trade if your Steam account has been restricted and/or you have been trade banned on Steam.
  • Some ways that users scam others are by using external links outside the control of Valve (sometimes posing as fake steam sites) and/or by impersonating other users with high value inventories. Never enter your Steam login unless you trust the site! Only visit trusted links like the Steam Store/Community Hubs.

Old trading system

Gallery

  • In-game announcement of Steam Inventory.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Steam Trading: Out of Beta and available to everyone! - TF2 Team
  2. ↑ Steam Support article about trade holds
  3. ↑ Steam Trade Holds - Documentation - Knowledge Base - Steam Support

External links

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