SteamTrades: I really feel a private chat system would be helpful

any opinions to share?

Useful? Yes. But do you know how much time that would take? Alot.

seems like a nice idea, assuming you meant you'll trade keys on the SteamTrades aswell, if so i definitely agree.

Steam chat?

Sounds like a good idea. That way it's also harder for people to impersonate others. The only problems I see would be that it would take quite some time to make and it would also require quite a bit of database space (even if you only save the history for say a month).

i wonder why steamtrades doesn't have a discussion forum. 😕

Chat? Always helpful. Currently they can implement third party API for that but without it, it's fine too.

One of the benefits of chat would be saving alot of time. For example, if i want to quick ask for a price of a specific game from , say 4 user who are online, it would take me to post individually and wait till they get back. A chat could save the waiting time, connecting us immediately. But then there are cons. No one would bother to post in a trade thread, leaving a trader to answer same questions to multiple different people upon query. Normally, when u go to a trade thread and look down the comments, you will see what others are posting offers for a specific game and the seller is interested in by analyzing all the existing comments .

My suggestions would be :

1. Three types of trade thread. One, Selling items/games etc . Two, Buying items/games etc . Three, general purpose such as posting for idling etc. Categorizing them will get you better result upon searching on the site.
2. Message format on trade thread. Such as, when you post on a thread that is looking for a specific game, you need to post in format [H] bla bla [W] dong , without the format you are unable to make a post.
3. There should be a accept offer option on thread. For example, you posted offering your donger for my dragons dogma, there will be an accept button and decline. If i accept it, then a chat option appears with which i can immediately chat with you and do the trade with ease. If i decline, you will be notified promptly and you will have the option to counter offer or such.

I always felt like that this platform has grown enough so that a chat system is mandatory. Doing all communcation via the forums or Steam itself isn't enough anymore.

Probably better, more comprehensive, and easier would be if SG had an IRC network or an official channel on an existing popular network like freenode.

At worst you'd just need a bot that you could message/invite into a separate channel that the two parties had joined for a private chat to trade in, and maybe a couple commands/automated commands.

I'd prefer that, personally.

Edit: It'd also be a better place for new users to ask questions that might not be answered by the FAQ without creating a "I have a dumb question" thread and being excoriated.

Double Edit: But then again, I already use IRC and like it.

Fake Triple Edit: An official Discord server would be another alternative to site-based chat or IRC.

I feel the needing of a chat system too. Also to receive feedback from users... although contacting them on steam will be required sometimes if the winner doesn't login on steamgifts... In addition it is not that much of a harm to contact them on steam...