Big long view on trading ahead. It's sort of my thought process on trading on Pinpics, but nothing is hard and fast with me...just some things I think over when looking at TAs. Please don't take it as me saying that there's only one way to trade...I'm not that rigid.
I've made it a long standing habit to at least look at the other party's traders and make a counter offer, if possible, for the pin they want. I view the TA as a tool to begin negotiations.
Mmmm, yes, I do this, too. But I don't always reply, even when they ask for a dialogue. The reason? Well, let's run a scenario:
Someone sends me a TA for a recent ds.com LE 250 that I just haven't gotten around to getting yet. They want one of my "Jessica as" pins, or something in that range. They put a note at the bottom, saying that they'd like to open a trade chat.
So far, so good...nothing wrong with that. So I go to their traders and look. Basically, nothing in their Traders is on the same level that they're wanting to trade at, or they have absolutely nothing in my field of interest, except maybe that one recent release I'm slacking on. This tells me that they're hoping that:
A.) I'll trade a higher value pin for multiple new releases
B.) I'll take pity on them and let the pin go for a lesser value than it's selling for, because they don't want to trade or buy at current value.
C.) They have something equal, but don't have it posted for some reason.
True, it could be C...but that's the exception, not the rule. Some people do A, and so do I, on occasion. But the longer I'm in this hobby, the more I find that the rarity is more important than the value. So even though 3 $10 pins for a $30 pin might seem like a good deal (and it IS fair, value-wise), it's not really the best way for me to go when I can get those $10 pins any time I want to, but my Trader might continue to rise in value.
So that leaves B, in which someone wants my pins, but isn't willing to (or can't) lay down an equal amount in either money, value, or rarity. I do feel bad when someone wants my pins, but doesn't seem to have anything I like (believe me, been there)...but what can I reply with? When they ask "Can I buy you something?", I always think, "Sure, but you'd pretty much have to buy the same amount as the pin you're asking for, soooooooo...you could just buy the pin you want instead...?"
"Can I buy you something?" is definitely a better tool for the rare pins, like DA LE 100s and such. In that case, it makes sense, because we're willing to pay the appropriate value...we just can't find the darn pin on ebay ever!
But back to scenrio B- It's not a matter of "my pins are better than your pins"...it's a matter of "I know what I put into my pins, and I know what I'd like out of them". For as much as some people complain about people treating their pins like gold (and I get frustrated with hostage-holding, too), I'm equally annoyed when someone refuses to recognize the amount of time, money, and effort put into my Traders.
And THAT'S when TA requests like the one Merryweather posted about get annoying.
But even if the TA isn't incredibly lop-sided, I still might not reply, because I just don't see potential after looking at their Traders. At least, not at this moment.
I've found these to be true when trading VIA Pinpics:
1.) Try and match up the values as much as possible.
We all know we're not SUPPOSE to take a lop-sided trade as an insult or personally, but it's better to eliminate the chance of this happening as much as possible, because we're all human, and things can rub us the wrong way.
2.) It's a good idea to include a note.
The only time I don't is when I feel the trade is pretty much dead even (or sometimes if I'm in a hurry). But a little note as simple as "counter offers welcome" can go a long way in the communication department.
3.) Remember, a rejection might not be about you or your pins.
We all use Pinpics for different things. I use it to keep track of things I still need to buy, of things I'm waiting for sales on, things I want less than other things. I might also be too busy to trade those weeks, I might forget, I might be leaving town soon and don't want to wait on a package...there
are any number of reasons why I might pass, even if the trade is fair.
4.) There's no need to be rude.
I'll admit, I've snapped once or twice when I just couldn't communicate well with someone. But overall, I don't reply unless I see potential (I don't like wasting time, mine or theirs), and I try very hard to NEVER be rude. This hobby of trading is tricky enough without lashing out over perceived slights, and the internet is a harsh mistress when it comes to tone and intent.
Last note (because darn, this is turning into a novel, and I need to eat soon...)
I find this:
Well if you didn't want to trade the pin, remove it.
...completely baffling. Are you saying that any pin on my Traders should match up to any pin on my Wants? If so, WHOO-HOO! I just got all my Disney Auctions LE 100 Wants for my PWP Traders! I can retire from pin trading happily!
69503, a GWP pin for my 
or 
both LE 250 pins.
