When is a trade finalized?

calaski8123 · 05-27-2003, 05:32 AM

In my league a trade was agreed to in principal by two owners on AOL IM. One owner posted the trade on the league's message board and the other GM has not posted to confirm it because he had second thoughts. The first GM is upset because he is already making a deal with one of the players with a third team.

My question is how do other leagues handle trade disputes? At what point is a trade finalized?

Does the trade have to go through because it was agreed to? Both owners admit it was agreed on AOL, the one owner just says he had second thoughts and wants to pull out at the last second before he has confirmed on the board.

Thanks for any insight.

Jim

Cole · 05-27-2003, 06:52 AM

Usually it becomes "official" when it is posted on the league messageboard and then agreed on by the other party.

However, I think this guy should step up and do the honorable thing and just accept it, since he admits to telling the other owner he would.

LedgerSko · 05-27-2003, 07:06 AM

Yeah if you agree to a trade even in an IM conversation you should honor your word.

jameyhammock · 05-27-2003, 08:27 AM

Well, there are two different questions here - one a "moral" one, and the other a more technical one.

Technically, no trade is official until both parties have done their part according to their league's rule, whether that's filling out an online form, posting to a forum, or sending an email. If the other owner never followed through according to the rules, there's not a whole lot you can do. However...

The other owner made an agreement with you and has a "moral" obligation to keep his word. If he chooses to break his word, you can't force him to complete the trade. But you can inform him that you won't deal with him in the future and you can make sure all of the other owners in the league know how this owner has acted, which can be a pretty good deterent.

jameyhammock · 05-27-2003, 08:30 AM

BTW, here's a real life example from this year's NFL draft where one team doesn't confirm a trade...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/columnist?id=1545117

mad0die · 05-27-2003, 09:38 AM

A trade is not official in the MBBA until both participants have posted on the board confirming the deal. What happens in an AIM chat is subjective and can easily be taken out of context or misunderstodd. All my owners understand this.

Eckstein 4 Prez · 05-27-2003, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ripwalk
Usually it becomes "official" when it is posted on the league messageboard and then agreed on by the other party.

However, I think this guy should step up and do the honorable thing and just accept it, since he admits to telling the other owner he would.

I agree. But this is more of a technical question. If the second owner hasn't confirmed on the board, he should certainly be able to back out. However, I for one would never trade with such an owner again.

pacrich · 05-27-2003, 03:49 PM

Trades should never be finalized till it is posted and confirmed on the league message boards. Too many times people read more into an AOL IM and assume a deal is done, when in reality it is far from completed.

sporr · 05-27-2003, 04:25 PM

I agree with what everyone has said so far. In our league, no trade is complete until both parties affirm on the messageboard. There have been cases in leagues where someone will post a trade on the boards just on the hopes that the deal posted would be finalized by some deadline.

Scott Vibert · 05-27-2003, 04:30 PM

I would agree, while the trade isn't official until confirmed on the messageboard.

While the situation sucks for the guy who thought he had a done deal (and was working to spin one of the guys off to someone else); this would be akin to the situation of one guy never confirming the deal with the "league office" meaning the deal wasn't actually done.

hotrod74ss · 05-27-2003, 05:21 PM

Well I'd say it this way.. Trades are posted and done on the boards not im. So yeah to people sit down at a Burger King and hash out a prospective deal.. it doesn't become official untill they sign on the dotted line--or in this case a forum board.. Thats just my opinion.

GVBLCommish · 05-27-2003, 09:45 PM

IMO, a deal doesn't become official until 1 of three things occurs, depending on your league:

1) Both team owners e-mail the commissioner, giving him all the particulars of the deal.

2) Both team owners post a message on the league message board.

3) Both teams confirm the trade through BOSI (another reason why BOSI rules).

If one of those three things doesn't happen, it isn't official. . .the only IM program I would say would be an exception is ICQ due to its archive function.

05-27-2003, 05:32 AM	#1
calaski8123 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 107	When is a trade finalized? In my league a trade was agreed to in principal by two owners on AOL IM. One owner posted the trade on the league's message board and the other GM has not posted to confirm it because he had second thoughts. The first GM is upset because he is already making a deal with one of the players with a third team. My question is how do other leagues handle trade disputes? At what point is a trade finalized? Does the trade have to go through because it was agreed to? Both owners admit it was agreed on AOL, the one owner just says he had second thoughts and wants to pull out at the last second before he has confirmed on the board. Thanks for any insight. Jim

05-27-2003, 09:38 AM	#6
mad0die All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: TX Posts: 913	A trade is not official in the MBBA until both participants have posted on the board confirming the deal. What happens in an AIM chat is subjective and can easily be taken out of context or misunderstodd. All my owners understand this. __________________ Commish GUBA

05-27-2003, 09:45 PM	#12
GVBLCommish Minors (Single A) Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 61	IMO, a deal doesn't become official until 1 of three things occurs, depending on your league: 1) Both team owners e-mail the commissioner, giving him all the particulars of the deal. 2) Both team owners post a message on the league message board. 3) Both teams confirm the trade through BOSI (another reason why BOSI rules). If one of those three things doesn't happen, it isn't official. . .the only IM program I would say would be an exception is ICQ due to its archive function. __________________ ------------ "You don't throw a piranha into the kiddie pool and stick around to watch the bubbles." -- Jimmy James, WNYX Radio

05-27-2003, 06:52 AM	#2
Cole Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick Posts: 2,685	Usually it becomes "official" when it is posted on the league messageboard and then agreed on by the other party. However, I think this guy should step up and do the honorable thing and just accept it, since he admits to telling the other owner he would.

05-27-2003, 07:06 AM	#3
LedgerSko All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,085	Yeah if you agree to a trade even in an IM conversation you should honor your word.

05-27-2003, 08:27 AM	#4
jameyhammock Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 223	Well, there are two different questions here - one a "moral" one, and the other a more technical one. Technically, no trade is official until both parties have done their part according to their league's rule, whether that's filling out an online form, posting to a forum, or sending an email. If the other owner never followed through according to the rules, there's not a whole lot you can do. However... The other owner made an agreement with you and has a "moral" obligation to keep his word. If he chooses to break his word, you can't force him to complete the trade. But you can inform him that you won't deal with him in the future and you can make sure all of the other owners in the league know how this owner has acted, which can be a pretty good deterent.

05-27-2003, 08:30 AM	#5
jameyhammock Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 223	BTW, here's a real life example from this year's NFL draft where one team doesn't confirm a trade... http://sports.espn.go.com/nfldraft/columnist?id=1545117

05-27-2003, 03:49 PM	#8
pacrich Minors (Single A) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 57	Trades should never be finalized till it is posted and confirmed on the league message boards. Too many times people read more into an AOL IM and assume a deal is done, when in reality it is far from completed.

05-27-2003, 04:25 PM	#9
sporr Global Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Muscatine, IA Posts: 8,277	I agree with what everyone has said so far. In our league, no trade is complete until both parties affirm on the messageboard. There have been cases in leagues where someone will post a trade on the boards just on the hopes that the deal posted would be finalized by some deadline.

05-27-2003, 04:30 PM	#10
Scott Vibert Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: My Computer Posts: 8,256	I would agree, while the trade isn't official until confirmed on the messageboard. While the situation sucks for the guy who thought he had a done deal (and was working to spin one of the guys off to someone else); this would be akin to the situation of one guy never confirming the deal with the "league office" meaning the deal wasn't actually done.

05-27-2003, 05:21 PM	#11
hotrod74ss Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: florida Posts: 36	Well I'd say it this way.. Trades are posted and done on the boards not im. So yeah to people sit down at a Burger King and hash out a prospective deal.. it doesn't become official untill they sign on the dotted line--or in this case a forum board.. Thats just my opinion.