Dixon's Trading Page: The Rules
I have a few rules; don't be intimidated, they're pretty standard among traders.

1. Please DO NOT cut out any of the commercials.
2. PLEASE DO NOT cut out any of the commercials.
3. PLEASE DO NOT CUT OUT ANY OF THE COMMERCIALS.

I don't care if the show ran in 1949 or 1966 or 1978 or last week, I want the commercials kept in.  The fact that it makes each show shorter and you can cram more on a tape or DVD because of it doesn't mean anything to me.  I have found real treasures in my collection in commercials--future stars, low prices, fashions and mores frozen in time.  Just a few months ago I caught a 21st Century Auto Insurance commercial (the one where the guy is stranded on the road) that was apparently pulled and re-edited due to complaints.  (It had a joke similar to that gruesome plot twist in the movie "Deliverance.")  But I still have the original.  I prefer as many of my shows as possible to have their original commercials anyway but will make exceptions for game shows and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."  But if your copy has commercials...please don't remove them.  If the show in question doesn't have commercials in the first place please let me know.

4.  No, repeat no, absolutely positively NO monetary offers will be accepted.  It's illegal.  Don't even waste my time trying to change my mind, I'll just ignore your email. This even goes for offers just to pay for materials. Don't ask me to just dub onto blank tapes, either.  It's unfair and I would never burden anyone else like this.
5.  If you ask me just to dub stuff to you and send it to you for nothing, period, you will be ignored.  This goes even for "dying relative" and similar requests (don't even get me started).  Sorry to be so cold but I have to do this if the only time I've heard of you is through a single email.  (You'd be surprised at how many people have asked me to burn all of my "Hollywood Squares" for them just because, not even stooping to making up a "dying relative" story.)
6.  I prefer DVD to VHS.  But if you send out on VHS, please, PLEASE absolutely do NOT dub them on the 6-hour speed.  It hurts the video and/or audio quality.  I have a bunch of stuff people dubbed on the SLP speed so they could cram as much as possible on one tape.  I'd rather not even have it at all than have it like that. A multi-generation dub on SLP is its own special kind of hell.  
7.  Get a fairly decent brand of video tape, not the cheapest one you can find (unless that cheap brand has an especially good track record).  I don't want something that will give me lines and tears on the second pass.
8.  If you are dubbing on DVD please discuss with me the speed on which you plan to record. I don't want someone dubbing on the longest speed just to jam a bunch of stuff on one DVD, then I'll just have the DVD equivalent of what I said I didn't like in rule #2.  Video and audio *do* get inferior as the speeds increase on DVD.
9.  Don't try to "back door" your way into getting extra material from me, I consider that downright dishonest.  Don't put three or four more hours of stuff in the package that I didn't ask for (even if you're convinced I might like it), then email me two weeks later to say "Well, since I sent you that stuff why don't you send me three or four hours of..."  If you send me something other than what we agreed on, it will be strictly out of the kindness of your heart.  Otherwise we stick to our original agreement.  If you DO run across something I might like just email me before you send anything and we'll probably handle it as a seperate trade.  (One person tried to argue with me and say this rule meant "no second trades" with anyone.  It means NO SUCH thing, it just means don't send me something UNSOLICITED and expect me to send stuff back.)  This also doesn't apply to small "bonuses" I might occasionally send to fill out an hour or so like commercials, promos, etc.  I've had people send me multiple hour-long programs before, THAT is what I'm referring to.
10. If you're a first time trader or otherwise someone I've never spoken to before, I will ask you to mail your stuff first.  Sorry, but I got burned in this area once.  (This obviously doesn't apply if I'm the one who requested the trade or if I know you.)   
11.  Make extra sure the video quality, if it's not exactly pristine, is at least watchable.  And be honest about it.  I want to be able to trade it with others and if it won't survive a transfer to DVD, please let me know. 
12. I understand unexpected developments but you'd be surprised how often it's obviously avoidable. Please try to figure out any problems (like the tape broke, etc) BEFORE you prompt me to send my stuff.   And please consult with me before you have to change a selection. I don't like to get surprises in the mail.  You'd be surprised how often people have said "oops the video quality isn't so good," etc. and simultaneously prompt me to send them my stuff ASAP. 
13.  I can NOT guarantee my DVDs will play on all players.  Any player before 1999, for instance, will likely have problems. So far it seems to work on every newer player I've tried. If for some reason the DVD freezes, digitizes or skips at the same place(s) on several different brands of DVD players, contact me immediately and I will try to make it right.  As a rule, if other homemade DVD's play on your machine, mine will too. 
14.  Please respect my rules.  They're standard among frequent traders and some people who don't usually trade don't like them.  Fine, everyone's entitled to their opinion.  But don't send me endless emails trying to harangue me into relaxing them for you and grilling me on why I have them.  Or worse, don't badger me because I don't what some show you have 30 episodes of.  Persuasion is one thing (feel free to try that), but I don't respect anyone who tries to harrass me with multiple emails into liking something.  (Yes, that has come up...several times, in fact.)
15. If you can, please send the discs in a mailer with some kind of cushion.  I have two mail people who deliver to my small apartment box.  One is a really nice lady; the other is a real jerk who has no conception of the meaning of "Do Not Bend."  I've complained about him several times but he must be the postmaster's nephew or something.
16. You see something you like and have nothing to offer? Email me and maybe...MAYBE...we can work something out.  It will NOT repeat NOT be monetary.

All shows are traded on a collector-to-collector, not-for-profit basis.  No assertion of or challenge to existing rights is either implied or stated. 

You're still my friend, right?...contact me and let's trade!

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