Trading

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Trading is an in-game system first introduced in the Mann-Conomy Update that allows players to swap weapons, hats, misc items, and tools, with others in order to obtain items they desire.

Mechanics

The trading screen, with an example trade in progress.

A successful trade.

To reach the trading screen from the main menu, select the Manage Items button, and then the Trading icon.

A player may select a fellow user from their friends list, from the current game server or by entering their Steam Community URL. A trading request will be sent to that player, providing they are online and are currently playing Team Fortress 2. Should the reciever choose to accept the trade, the game screen will be replaced with the trading screen. Should the player deny the trade or not accept within the 30 second time limit, the trade will be cancelled.

Up to eight items of any kind can be traded from one player to another. Items may be selected and dragged from the user's backpack on the left side of the screen to the upper eight trading boxes on the right side of the screen. The lower eight trading boxes display the other user's trade offer. The trading window also shows the color of the item's Rarity as a background and outline. Both users can communicate and determine the trade using the provided private chat box visible under your backpack.

Gift Wrap allows you to "wrap" an item, creating a "Carefully Wrapped Gift". Some normally untradeable items can be wrapped and traded. A wrapped item can be delivered to offline players. Gift Wrap is available in the Mann Co. Store for $1.99 / £0.99 / €1.99.

After reviewing the items offered in the trade, both users must click the "Ready to Trade" checkbox. If the offer is changed, the players will be required to click "Ready to Trade" again. Once both users are ready to trade, they must then click "Trade Now" to complete the trade.

It is possible to continue playing, and leave the trading window in the background, by pressing the 'escape' key. A player wishing to block all trade requests can do so using the game options.

Trading Tips

Keep the following tips in mind for an enjoyable trading experience.

• Pay attention to the background color of the items being traded, signifying Rarity.

• Always re-check items being traded after seeing the "Offer is changing... Please wait" message.

• Take your time when conducting a trade. Don't give into the other player's pressure if they're pushing you into a trade you're not happy with.

Scams

Due to the wide range given to trading, players may be subject to scam attempts and/or offer disagreements. It is advised to avoid the following practices.

• Multiple trade transactions: Trading more than 8 items over two separate trade transactions is a risky, and best avoided, practice. There is no guarantee the other trader will not simply disappear after the first trade.

• External trades: Trading in-game items for money and/or Steam games is extremely risky and against Steam's Terms of Service.

• Crate opening services: Some users may offer to open your crates in exchange for an item or a promise on return of the contents. Be aware that since you agree to the trade, they are not obliged to return any items found in the crates given.

• Raffle contests: These usually consist of the players giving a low value item, such as scrap metal, to enter a raffle for a chance to win a high value item, such as a hat. There is no way to guarantee the contest is carried out fairly; In all likelihood the "random winner" is in on the scam.

• Gift Wrapped items: Be aware that it is impossible to know the contents of a Carefully Wrapped Gift without opening it.

Community trading glossary

With the implementation of the trading system the community has started and since then continuously used specific terms describing items' specific attributes concerning their usability in trading and crafting as well as their trading value.

• "Clean" hats, weapons and Miscellaneous items can be directly used in the trading process (without requiring the use of a gift wrap). They are also craftable.
• "Dirty" items, opposed to the "clean" ones, are not directly tradable (Mann Co. Cap e.g.) and eventually not usable in crafting. Items that have been gifted or bought from the Mann Co. Store are neither tradable, nor craftable.
• "Crate hats" are the ones obtainable by unlocking a Mann Co. Supply Crate with a Mann Co. Supply Crate Key except for unusual hats. Crafted or found via the Item drop system are also considered "crate hats" in case they could be obtained from a crate as well.
• "Sweeteners" or items used "to sweeten up the deal" are items which value is significantly less compared to the main objects of the trade. A common use for "sweeteners" is a trade focused on the swap of identical hats with different levels.

Untradable items

Due to the possibility of selling items outside of the Mann Co. Store for real money, some items are not tradable.

• Weapons and Hats bought from the Mann Co. Store
• Gifts bought from the Mann Co. Store
• Golden Wrench
• Dueling Mini-Game Badges
• Cheater's Lament
• 119th Update Medals
• Polycount Pin
• Community weapons
• Developer Weapons
• Horseless Headless Horsemann's Head
• Lugermorph‡
• Enthusiast's Timepiece
• Iron Curtain

‡The Lugermorph awarded from the Sam and Max promotion is still tradable.

Notes

• In the October 20, 2010 Patch, the maximum items one player can trade at a time was increased to eight (from four) to help prevent scamming. Chat warnings in red text and item-type-colored background were added to stop fast switching between unusual, vintage and normal items. In addition, Mann Co. Supply Crate Keys, Paint Cans, Name Tags, and Dueling Mini-Games bought from stores were made tradable.
• 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 of negotiations or screen shots/videos of the scammed transaction.

See Also

• TF2TP
• TF2 Backpack Examiner