Setting Up A Trade

Asking For the Trade

To set up a trade, send a polite mail message to the person you're interested in trading with specifying what you would like to trade for. In the message, it is very important that you include a list of what shows you have to trade in return, either as in the message or via a URL to your list. You are unlikely to get much response if you just tell someone you have "a lot of shows" and don't tell them what those shows are! Please read the Making A List page to see tips for creating a good list. If you don't know how to make a web page, detailed instructions are provided on the Putting Your Dorama List on the Web page.

When you are setting up a trade, here are the following issues you need to decide:

Format. For DVD's, DVD-R or DVD+R. For tapes, SP or EP.
Any brand preferences, or preferences for a name brand vs. a generic brand.
For tapes, any tape-length preferences. T160's are often used and people assume they're OK. If you only want T120's, you should say so.

Don't forget to let the other person know your snail-mail address,

You should also mention when you expect to finish copying and send the package. Unless you get an OK up front for taking longer, you should try to mail your copies within a week or so of the trade being set up; if you know don't have time to do it within that time frame, you shouldn't set up a trade. It's polite to send a mail message when you do send the package and when you receive the other person's package.

The post office is occasionally very rough with packages so pad the package with bubble wrap, peanuts, or newspaper. In the US, you can send the shows by media mail or priority mail (specify which ahead of time). If you use priority mail, the post office provides free boxes and stickers that you can use. Plus, if you print a priority-mail shipping label from their web site, you get free delivery confirmation. (See the details here.) However, priority mail is much more expensive than media mail, so stick with media mail if you're on a budget.

Common questions:

What brand should I use?
I suggest sticking with name brands no matter what media you use. A name-brand is a well-known company such as Sony, TDK, Fuji, etc., vs. a company you have never heard of or a store brand. Name-brand media can have much better quality control than off-brand media, and why risk using off-brands for a little savings? Your doramas are worth much more than the hassle and loss if something goes wrong. Past using name-brand media, I don't think it really doesn't matter which brand you use.

On the other hand, I wouldn't spend a lot of money getting the high-end media. I haven't seen much difference between high-end name-brand media and low-end name-brand media. In general, both seem to work as well and last as long. So my suggested bottom line: buy name-brand media, but get the cheap varieties.

For DVD's, what speed should I use?

To answer this question, I made a test disk, and sent copies to a number of dorama watchers I knew who had very nice video equipment. The concensus I got back is that you'll get the best picture if you use settings that fill a disk with two ad-free 1-hour episodes. With a digital video recorder, that means you should use the 2 hours/disk speed. With a computer, that means you should use the 6000 kbits/sec VBR speed with 720x480 frames. A speed with less compression does not provide much improvement over these settings, while a speed with higher compression shows up as noticably worse with good video equipment (which we'll all have eventually as we transition to HDTV). More details about what DVD settings to use can be found on the Authoring a DVD page and the Tools for Creating DVD's page.

For tapes, which speed is better, SP or EP, and what tape lengths should I use?
EP has the advantage of storing an entire dorama in only 2 T120 tapes. Though a first-generation EP tape may look close to a first-generation SP tape, SP makes much better copies than EP, and retains the picture much better over time. EP is really intended for shows you want to record and watch right away once. Besides the quickly deteriorating picture quality with EP, EP copies often have problems with vertical hold. I've seen new third-generation EP copies that already have a "jerky" picture -- even if the person used SVHS EP. This means that if someone stores a program on EP, makes an EP copy without commercials, and then makes you a copy from his copy, your copy may already have some jerkiness that will only increase with time. I have seen older second-generation EP tapes that have developed a rolling that made them totally unwatchable.

Also, because of the better quality picture of SP copies, you'll have an easier time trading if you use them. I've run into some people who won't even consider trading for a C-quality copy, and it's hard to make an EP copy that's better than C-quality.

Of course, the problem with SP is you need to store 6 tapes per dorama using T120's. Some people have been shifting to trading with T160's. If you take out the ads, you can store 3 1-hour episodes on a T160, which makes it easier on the sender (easier to copy, less tapes to package and mail), and the receiver. Thus, you end up with only 4 tapes/dorama. The 2 tape/dorama saving can really add up.

So, personally, I would recommend you use EP if you are trading for shows you don't care about keeping long term, don't mind the poorer quality, and don't expect to trade; or if you have a severe space problem. Otherwise, use SP, ideally with T160's with the ads taken out.

Don't use tapes that are longer than a T160 because the tape is too thin and prone to breaking. Also, they will put a lot of stress on your VCR's motor.

For tapes, what if they want EP and I want SP?
First, keep in mind that the primary thing you're trading for is content, not tapes. Tapes are merely the storage medium you're using. If one person wants SP and the other wants EP, it is not reasonable for the person who wants SP to send 3 EP shows for every one SP show they get. Each person should send the same amount of content they would if they both wanted the same speed tapes, regardless of the different number of tapes it takes.

The fairest way to handle this situation is for the person who wants SP to send 4 blank, unused T120's (or equivalent) per show traded to make up for the extra tapes. Then each person sends the same number of tapes and the same amount of content to the other person.

Should I try trading with people in other countries?
In general, no. There are two problems. First, postage gets can get very high when shipping internationally. Second, customs agents are sometimes a pain. A lot of people don't want to deal with it, so even if you are willing to trade internationally, you'll have trouble finding any takers.

However, nearby countries (for example, US and Canada) are often less of a problem than distant ones.

Return to Dorama Traders Main Page.

If you wish to join, change information, or quit the dorama trading club, you can do so on the Membership Changes page. Otherwise, you can send me mail at mic-h@mic-hworld.com.
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