Define what you want before negotiating

Before proposing a trade, define your objective.

Decide:

• what type of gear you are looking for;
• which models you would consider;
• which ones do not interest you;
• the realistic value of your own item;
• how much cash you would be willing to add;
• whether you would accept a cash adjustment in your favour.

Without these limits, it is easy for a trade to become a series of interesting-looking proposals that do not actually solve the reason you wanted to change gear.