In the course of TGN's short but interesting history, we have seen lots of swaps. Most went fine, and both parties were happy, and went on to make even MORE swaps. Some went bad for no one person's fault, but were salvageable. And some were simply attempts by crooks to steal people's stuff. Yes, it happens, even though we do everything we can to protect you from such carbuncles on the buttocks of swapper society.

In answer to your requests for a clear, easy to read list of the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of game and media swapping, we have made the following list, which we call the TGN Trader's Manifesto. Follow these suggestions, and we guarantee you will have a better swap experience. Don't, and your deal may very well go off without a hitch (swapping is still safe in most situations after all), but the risk of fraud is greater. And now, with no further ado, the lists:

When I want to trade my games, DVDs, or game systems I always DO:

1. Make an official Swap Offer in the "My Messages" section.

2. Work out all the details of the swap to my complete satisfaction BEFORE agreeing to the deal.

3. Verify all items' condition before finalizing the deal.

4. Verify the address, phone number and email address of the other person before shipping.

5. Look the user up in "Very Bad Things" before agreeing, to make sure they don't have any Warnings or Violations.

6. Check my swap partner's Feedback carefully and take Complaints seriously.

7. Ask them to send their item first if they have zero, or minimal, Feedback.

8. Add Insurance to any package I'd be unhappy about loosing in the mail (let's face it: it happens sometimes).

9. Put Delivery Confirmation on all my packages so I know they were delivered, as I realize TGN cannot assist me very well if my partner says "I never got the game- it must be lost in the mail" and I can't prove it was delivered.

10. Always leave appropriate feedback promptly when my partner's item arrives.

11. Always state the condition of my games accurately and truthfully.

12. Try to work out disputes with my partner BEFORE contacting TGNs Administrators - often misunderstandings can easily be cleared up with a simple phone call.

13. Always pay for things I buy with a check or a money order, NEVER CASH.

14. Stick to the details of the deal I agreed to in My Messages in every way.

15. Report people that offer me swaps for copies to the Site Administrators

16. Trust my instincts and Decline any deal that "seems to good to be true"

Wanting to be as safe as possible, I DO NOT:

1. Complete trades through email or chat, or any other channel that TGN cannot officially archive- I ONLY use the Swap Offer screen in My Messages.

2. Agree to a swap before I am clear of all details, including shipping terms, item condition, etc.

3. Swap with any user that does not have a complete street address, email address or phone number, whatever their assurances or excuses.

4. Disregard Feedback that makes me uncomfortable.

5. Ship large or expensive items, or anything I would not be happy about loosing without using signature confirmation and insurance.

6. Let my partner bully me with demands that I "send right away or the deal's off", as I know that this is a classic ripper technique.

7. Ever agree to swap for a illegal COPY of a game or music CD.

8. Ship without Delivery Confirmation, as I know this is the minimum way to prove my package was delivered by the post office.

9. Fail to leave appropriate Feedback after the trade is completed.

10. Ever send cash in the mail.

11. Slam my partner in the TGN Forums before I've tried working out the problem with them first, then tried contacting TGN's Administrators after that.

12. Wait to send my item until the other guy's stuff arrives, unless this was specifically part of the deal both parties agreed on.

13. Hang the terms of the deal that was finalized in My Messages without written proof (such as an email, which the other person agreed to also in writing).