I've been using barter recently to expand my "trading profile" I guess. I like its integrations and for the most part, I find it pretty straightforward to use. The detailed information about each game it can get is useful too, and big props to the devs working on it. I also like that if Barter can't match your text to a game page, you can pick it from a drop-down menu. IMO it's not as flexible as SteamTrades with how you want to post your list/what you want/discussing trade options, but SteamTrades's search function is too relaxed and looking for a compatible list is cumbersome.
Anyway not to get too OT on an already OT post, but the main reason I'm writing is because I find barter kinda frustrating to use. Once you click on a user to initiate a trade, you have to click every game on your list you want to propose, click add, remember to do the same for them afterward, double-check the item quantities, make sure to update the numbers if you don't want to do a 1:1 trade (per person), send the offer, and then if you want to add any comments to your trade you have to do that after you send the trade and type in the box. I've accidentally pinged a few traders multiple times because I'd forget to update my game counts to do a n:1 trade, or I'd accidentally send the trade without requesting a game because I forgot to click "set games" even though I checkboxed them (apologies in advance if I multi-pinged any of you).
Anyway, just wanted to share a rant and see if anyone else felt the same way and/or if someone preferred one site over the other. I may have some giveaways coming up in the coming days. :)

2 years ago

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Does anybody else find Barter a bit frustrating to use?

View Results
(Yes) I find Barter a bit cumbersome to use.
(Yes) I prefer SteamTrades.
(No) I use Barter just fine.
(No) I prefer Barter.
(Indifferent) Both sites are equally useful to me.

Yeah the UI is complete trash.

2 years ago
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+1
awesome idea, disgusting UI

2 years ago
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Some things can be a bit confusing at first and the site definitely has a "low rent" look to it but it's far, FAAAR superior to steamtrades. I barely use steamtrades anymore thx to barter. Adding a game to your tradables or wishlist literally takes a click of a button. With steamtrades you have to manually type it or remove it and if you want to add store links to make it more convenient you have to format it properly and it just takes like 50x longer.

Many trade offers on steamtrades consist of "hey is there something from my trade link you want for so-and-so game"? I don't wanna constantly look through your potentially long list of games. With barter it's synced to your steam wishlist so you just click Match and it instantly lists the games you both have and want from each other.

I thought the same thing initially about creating trades but now it's fine. It's so much better than constantly going back and forth asking and waiting for replies, scrolling back up to find other games if you change your mind.

Barter's not perfect but it's a million times more functional than steamtrades.

2 years ago*
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+1. I definitely agree with the pros you mentioned, and those are why I continue to use it and even make better use of my Steam wishlist. It just needs a bit more polish, IMO, but SteamTrades isn't perfect either. :)

2 years ago
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Ironically I found it easier to use than Steamtrades and I've always gotten more offers and wishlisted games from barter so I switched lmao.

2 years ago
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so have i - i think it's way easier to see what people want and what they have

2 years ago
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I'll agree, I've gotten a lot more wishlist-compatible trades on barter (mainly because you can specify wishlist only). Personally with ST I get a lot more "blanket" trades which is good for finding new games I wouldn't have normally considered, but it does take more time and get more frustrating when you have to scour a list a thousand rows long.

2 years ago
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This was a luke warm take

2 years ago
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Lestrades is better but a lot less popular than barter so it's harder to find trades.

2 years ago
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I tried checking out Lestrades but my browser always returns a "Potential Security Risk Ahead" message. What's it like?

2 years ago
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Similar to barter but with a much better user interface. I don't think many traders still use it though.

2 years ago
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Closed 2 years ago by Ricky2468.