• If you want to set up a trade or have questions not answered here, please contact me.
• It is customary that the person making first contact on a first trade be the one who sends their item first. If this is a problem, we can discuss it, but I generally follow it.
• I trade in Cassette, VHS, CD, MD, 8MM and MP3 format.
• All video is NTSC unless otherwise noted. I am willing to trade for (receive) PAL or SECAM, but I can only produce (send) NTSC videos in return at this time.
• If trading cassettes, I use Maxell or TDK high bias (type II). If you have another type you would like to use, please clear it with me first! I use Sony gold or silver hi-fi VHS, and use SP (2-hour) mode at all times, unless the length of the recording necessitates I use EP/SLP (6-hour) strictly for continuity. My equipment does not read or record in LP (4-hour) mode. I am not especially particular with the brand media for my CDs or MDs (as long as it isn't unbranded bargain type stuff), and will usually base my choice on the media's outward appearance and ease of labeling.
• I am willing to trade MP3 format over the internet, but will do it half-a-show at a time in order to keep you honest/reciprocal. I use a different address every time and will only keep them up for 24-hours when these types of transactions are done.
• If you don't have anything I want or are a tape-trade newbie, I'll record things for you when time permits on a 1:1 basis. However, you have to send me the media and postage stamps or coupons (no money whatsoever), along with a return envelope if you don't want me to reuse the one you sent the media to me in. Under no circumstances will I accept payment for recordings. Turn around for these are much slower than regular trades, and I will not label track names or divide tracks on MDs, since you can do this on your own.
• I've been told in my feedback that I grade both too harshly and not harsh enough. Unfortunately, all grading is rather subjective, and so I won't change my grades on a recording because you disagree with it. Please also understand that I will not renege on a completed trade just because you disagree with a grade I've assigned. If you are skeptical of my grades, I am willing to send sound samples - usually 30-second snips in MP3.
• I grade my audio recordings on 3 criteria: audience noise, vocal clarity and instrument volume. If the recording is an obvious audience recording (even with high quality vocals and separation), it will not get a grade higher than B+. Soundboard recordings are the only ones which I will grant an A. I do not give A+ grades. I also will not post or trade anything I consider a D- or worse, even if I may have some in my collection for purely completist purposes. For audience recordings, if the vocals are clear and the vocal-instrument balance sounds proper with no distortion or overpowering elements, it will probably get a B so long as it is not too old and deteriorated by generations. If there is excessive audience noise or tape hiss, it will probably have a C. If the vocals are hard to make out or if they significantly overpower the instruments, making it a difficult or uncomfortable listen, it will get a D. I will accept D-grade recordings if they fill in gaps in my collection, but if you see a D-grade recording listed and think you have the same show in better quality, I am open to replace it.
• For video recordings, the generation deterioration can be so significant that I only reward an A to professionally-recorded video in SP mode or direct-from-digital/high-res (MPEG/DV/LD/Beta source). I do not use A+ grades, so A is my highest rating. If it is a low-generation audience recording in SP mode with clear audio, it can get a B. If there is significant generation deterioration but the audio is still clear and the picture can still be distinguished, I will give it a C. If the video is being kept strictly for its audio due to generation deterioration, or if the audio is so distorted or unlistenable that I only have it for its visuals (which themselves are imperfect to some extent), it will recieve a D grade. I do not list or trade in anything with a grade of D- or lower. If I have something listed with a low grade and you think you have the same one in higher quality, I am open to replacing it.
• If I do a cassette trade, I will generally keep the cassettes as my permanent format for that item, unless the quality is extremely good (B+ or A), in which case I will transfer the recording to CD or MD depending upon its length, for archiving. This increases its generation, but allows me to better preserve high-quality recordings over time and does not allow a high amount of trading to diminish a particular recording's quality.
• Turn around time for me is generally under a week, unless you have an unusual request or a cross-format request. It will take significantly longer for me to record from tape source to CD, since I have to divide tracks, and anything involving MDs or MP3s requiring I add track labels, which increases turn-around time.
• Only on MD-to-MD trades and MP3-to-MP3 trades will I divide tracks or add in track names (if reciprocated), since it takes so much time, and you can do this on your own. Rather I'll provide a paper noting the track names and approximate time signatures. If this is not desireable to you, we can work something out (commonly, if you're sending CD-to-CD trades and I'm making you CD-to-MP3 discs, you'll have to send me 1.5 CDs for every CD I send in order to compensate the additional work and content you're receiving).

I will add to this list as questions get raised or new information comes to mind. if you want to set up a trade, please contact me!