Community trading tips

“

I tell you, this is going much better than I ever expected it would. Click to listen — Wheatley on a successful trade.

”

Item Value

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 Quality. Hence, Unique weapons, the most usual drops in the game, generally 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 Unique items 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, their popularity and 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 time-frame to obtain them this way.

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 time-frame allowed for obtaining them from special Christmas Event crates, their relative probability of being obtained from crates, and their cosmetic decorations and popularity. Festive weapons of a Strange quality have an even higher value due to their even lower probability of being obtained.

Some items like the Mann Co. Supply Crate Key take a concept called Supply and Demand into account when determining its value.

Items of any quality are generally considered to be "dirty" when they contain additional descriptive text ("Gifted by ___", etc.), have had a Name Tag or Description Tag used on them 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.

Items with attributes added by Tools, such as color from Paint Cans or Strange Parts, usually have a fraction of the value of such items added to the total value of the item up for trade.

Currency

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.

For items with higher value, higher-level "currencies" are used. Keys are used as the next tier of currency, although their equivalent in Metal is often accepted as substitute when trading. Earbuds, or "Buds" used to be a popular form of currency considered in very high value, however popular trading site Backpack.tf had made an announcement on March 31st, 2015 stating that buds would no long be considered currency in tf2.

Occasionally, Traders will compensate a lack of refined metal or key with cosmetic items. This is known as overpay. It is a less efficient way of trading that very few people do. Trading cosmetic for cosmetic is usually a bit easier if you have a close friend on steam who would like the hat you are trading.

Unusual Items

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 Unusual Effects these items sport, their 0.1% 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.

Trading Tips

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 unless they are items that have been given to them through trading in the past.

Keep the following tips in mind while trading:

• 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 scrap), 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.
• 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.
• Use a trusted SteamRep middleman when doing cash trades.
• Always review the items being traded before finishing the trade.
• 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.
• Always have an ideal price for every item you trade to prevent unfair exchanges. You can find out using price guided websites.
• 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).
• 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).
• 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.
• Be aware of renamed items, as a scammer can rename a common item to appear as to be an item of a higher quality. For example, a Vintage Pyro's Beanie can be renamed to appear as an Unusual Pyro's Beanie. However, the cosmetic will retain its blue lettering. The chat box will show notifications about renamed items to help avoid confusion. Hovering over the item will also show it's original name before it was renamed.
• Check if the items you receive in the trade are gifted or uncraftable, as they are generally valued lower than the non-gifted or craftable equivalent.
• Make sure the items you are receiving are not duplicated; you can check this by viewing a player's backpack on backpack.tf, and by checking the item history of the item. Most items (especially those of an Unusual quality) hold a lower value if it is a duplicate of the original item so be wary.
• If you are trading for a strange weapon, its current kill count will be reset to 0 once you receive the item.
• 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.
• 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.

Types of trading

There are several different types of trading:

• Scrap banking - an act where a player charges metal for weapons. Scrap bankers will usually exchange one scrap for two weapons initially, and then charge one scrap for one weapon after banking them, gaining them a small profit. This can also be performed the other way around, by trading two weapons to a scrap banker. This is referred to as reverse scrap banking.
• Weapon banking - an act where a player gives another player a weapon for another weapon.
• Cosmetic banking - an act where a player purchases Cosmetic for 1.33 refined (the general price for the majority of craftable cosmetics) or lower, then sells them for 1.33 refined or more, gaining the player a profit.
• Key Banking - an act where a player exchanges their Mann Co. Supply Crate Keys for metal, mainly refined metal.
• 1:1 trading - an act where a player exchanges a single item with another player for another item.
• Item overpay - Overpaying for an item by .11 (1 scrap) to 1 key in items compared to the required amount for the other player's item(s)
• Game trading - involves exchanging items for games and vice versa.
• 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; this practice is very risky, and is not supported by Valve.
• Pure trading - when a person pays the pure value for a specified item(s), generally in Refined, Keys or Earbuds.
• Quicksell trading - when a person sells an item (often with the Unusual quality) for pure currency for a value that is less than the suggested price of their item.

Things that should be watched out for:

• Scamming - the act of stealing from another person, generally when a player promises another player items that they will never give.
• Phishing/Hijacking - when a user pretending to be a trader sends a phishing link (which redirects the player to a fake site that harvests their login details or other information), or asks for a player's password. Players should always check the name of the link they are clicking and check for a green bar at the top of their browser signifying security. They should never share their password with anyone.
• Sharking - the act of targeting a player (usually new or inexperienced players) and offering items that are worth a significant amount less than the targeted player's item(s) while telling them that they are worth the same amount.

Before the Trade

• Ascertain the value of the items you want to trade. Always try to figure out what your items are worth before trading them. See Item Value for more information.

• Check if the person you are trading with is a legitimate trader and is who they say they are. Check the person’s Steam profile yourself (do not click any links) and/or their SteamRep page. Their SteamRep profile will also display if the person has a Valve trade ban or Valve trade probation. (For other ways to verify, see Reputation below.)

• Do NOT click on any links to external websites as these sites could be malicious and/or phishing sites.

• If cash trades are involved, make sure that you secure a verified community middleman.

• Do NOT use TeamViewer or any other software that the other user tells you to install or use.

• DO NOT believe anyone who says that they are from Steam Support. Steam Support will NEVER ask you to trade items to them for any reason.

• Steam Wallet Funds can not be traded. Any trades offers that state that Steam Wallet Funds will be added after the trade are scams.

During the Trade

• Click on the name of the other person while in the trade window to verify that is the real person and not an impersonator.

• DO NOT click on any links the person sends you in the trade chat window or run any programs the person asks you to run while in the trade.

• Pay close attention to the trade. Check the trade chat to ensure that no items were removed. Make certain all agreed items are visible in the window before accepting the trade. If you cannot see an item, cancel the trade.

• Pay attention to the quality of the items being offered. Take your time to verify all items by hovering over them to ensure it is exactly the item you agreed to get.

• Be aware of renamed items, as a scammer can rename a common item to appear as a rare item. Double-check the quality, names, and descriptions of all items. Items which are renamed or have had their description changed will have quotation marks (“) around the name and description. The chat box will also show notifications about renamed items to help avoid confusion.

• 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).

• Check if the items you receive in the trade are craftable. After the October 13, 2011 patch, weapons bought from the store are uncraftable, but can be traded. After the November 29, 2012 patch, cosmetic items bought from the store are craftable.

• Common courtesy is important. Always treat other players with respect.

• DO NOT rush the trade. Give yourself plenty of time to review and verify all items before completing the trade- especially after the green box is checked but before the final trade button is pressed.

• You should always have a bit of control over the trade. You should never be pressured to sell your item at an discounted price. If you ever feel uncomfortable, do not hesitate to cancel the trade.

• Never be afraid to check item history. If an item is duplicated, which will appear in the item history, it is not recommended to buy that item. This is because they are much less desirable on the market, and it will be harder to sell.

What NOT to Trade

• Do NOT trade for CD keys or games that cannot be traded through the trading window.

• Do NOT trade Steam accounts. The buying, selling, sharing, or trading of Steam accounts violates the Steam Subscriber Agreement.

• Do NOT trade for items in other platforms, such as for Runescape gold, Minecraft accounts, etc.

Reputation

Reputation is often used in the trading community especially in the realm of cash trading. Red Flags:

• New account (if the account that the person is on is relatively new, they could be using an alternate account)

• Low TF2 hours (if the person has only 100 or so hours in TF2, but they want to trade for a high value item, it could be a fishy situation)

• Low amount of games in their library, or only free to play games. People who have no attachment to their accounts (alts) often have almost no games in their account, or only free to play games. (This way if they lose their account they don't lose any games)

Other Tips

• 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 Metal (ref)
  • 1 Reclaimed Metal (rec) is 0.33 ref
  • 1 Refined Metal (ref) 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.

• Make sure the items you are receiving are not duplicated. Duplicated items may not be legitimate and/or are worth considerably less than non-duplicated items.
• If you are trading for a strange weapon, its current kill count will be reset to 0.
• While trading, verify the trader's last alias (this user has also played as) on his profile. Scamming players often use many different aliases so they can't be recognized after the trade.
• Some trading communities have adopted a verify system that can be very useful to the traders. If your trading community has it, be aware of it.