Has anyone traded product to a shop for something different?
Basically, I was gifted an Heroin Avi guest egg for my bday a few months back. I put it on ice as I had just set up a bigger (9.5") symmetrical egg and I kind of want to stay at that size. There are a ton of shops in LB/OC that carry Heroin, I just don't want to go in trying to trade if that's not a thing.
Yes, but I have good rapport with the owners. It's worth a try but don't make an issue of it if they are reluctant.
It is almost always about how easily something can move, so a fresh Heroin deck might just be a good seller and the shop will be really good with you, or if they are a bit more "stay with their own" and not really thinking outside the box, they might just be flat no.
Gotta say from being a guy who had often got this or that I didn't want, as well as being the guy behind the counter at other times and had people come in wanting to swap / trade all manner of things, I have this to say.
Simple respect goes a long way, as does a familiar face, so from being behind the counter and some random comes in with his spono package of brands XYZ (lowest brands out there) and wants to swap for brands ABC (best brands out there) and is a dick about it, the answer is a flat NO and I don't care how much you beg or ask, it is just not going to happen.
If someone I barely know comes in with a bunch of amazing stuff and is super cool, I have no problem with them and try to help them with whatever they want. Then if someone I am very familiar with comes in with a load of rubbish, or is trying to do the "but I am a regular..." and wants mates rates on stuff, then I often end up with a bad taste in my mouth and just don't want to deal with that dude again, even if I do some swap / trade deal. I have ended up saying something like "I just can't help you any more" to more than one dude who was just too much trouble in the past. Didn't miss not seeing him again, but that is just me.
But back to swaps and trades, when I have had things I didn't want, with a small shop I know, I have even left things there on consignment so if they sell, then I get shop credit. That worked really well and they were down with it, but I did spend a decent amount in there too, helping to grease the wheels.
Other times I have offered to trade in a couple of decent things, with the desire to spend a good amount in that store, so the guy was cool with it as he made money, not just had a "no sale" swap and go happen.
Anyway, that is probably more than enough words for now - good luck and if you are cool and they are down, you can easily have a positive business deal, but I know some places would just be flat "No we can't do that" for various reasons, warranty and stock order issues one thing that comes to mind.