How to Trade OTR

Here are the steps that I've discovered to get started trading. There are 2 sections, section A for those also new to collecting, Section B for those that have a collection started:

Section A: Increase your collection by:

Purchasing tapes from dealers that you can find on the web. A good place to start (and finish) is at www.old-time.com, dealers. You'll find tapes for $3.00 up. Another dealer I recommend is Gary Kramer. Contact him at:
        Great American Radio
        Genesee, MI 48437-0504
        (810) 686-5973
He's not on the web, but I've dealt with him for years.
Join some of the clubs where you can rent tapes and dub them as you listen. I haven't actually done this myself, but a couple trading friends do. They claim it's quite inexpensive. Again, the info can be found on www.old-time.com, look for clubs.
Trade. Check OTR Trader's Board www.otr-trader.com

The above section I did before I found out about trading. I officially started collecting about 1991 and by 1997 I had about 2500 to 3000 shows. Then I discovered trading, and have over doubled my collection since May 97.

Section B: How to trade:

Find a few people willing to trade with you (like me). Ask around. Check the OTR Traders Board. Email them to see if they'd like to trade.
Email your current list of shows to them or if you have them on the web, tell them where. USMail it to them if it's not on your computer, but consider typing it in while it's small. (see comment below)
Decide how you want to trade. Most traders I deal with trade tape-for-tape. This is generally hour for hour on C60 tapes, but some shows (Johnny Dollar, Big Show) are over an hour and need C90's. Some traders want to trade hour for hour only. I have yet to trade this way, though. The top of my collection listing explains my preferred guidelines, but all are subject to modifications.
Get yourself a good supply of blank tapes, C60's mainly. No need to get chrome or hi bias. I use normal Maxell UR tapes myself. But don't skimp, either. Good name brands are best.
Tape what they want
Wrap, box and mail the tapes to them

A basic trade of 12 tapes will generally cost under $12.00 for the tapes and $3.20 for priority mail (slightly higher in Canada) -- and the Post Office has boxes just about the right size for free. The one you trade with has the same expense, so everything is even. Viola! An old radio cassette for under $1.25 each.

That's about all there is to it. By the way, you don't have to go thru section A1 and 2 first. It's just a good way to increase your collection faster, but it is costlier.

Comment:
If you download my list and run the program that comes with it, you'll see the format that I use to store my collection, minus a couple columns. It helps me computerize the process of finding out what shows I need from someone's list and helps prevent me from requesting multiple copies of shows. I use a database (the program dBase specifically). Many use a spreadsheet. Both work, just figure out which works for best you. If by some chance you use dBase, I'll send you the programming I've developed if you wish.

Also, try to keep the info as up-to-date as possible by searching out logs of the shows you have and verifying dates, titles and such. Check out www.old-time.com and www.otrsite.com/radiolog for logs.

Comments, suggestions, additional info,

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