Steam – How to start trading as a free to play TF2 player

steamteam-fortress-2

I'm a free to play Team Fortress 2 player and was wondering how can I start trading?

I want to to trade some of the items for games (max $15) at some point and hopefully without spending a dime.

I already have my bag full of items/tools. Most of them are Unique except for Vintage Pyrovision Goggles (which everyone has, as far as I know) and Unusual Haunted Metal Scrap.

Got a couple of #43, #44 and #45 crates which everyone says are not worth much and I'm better off destroying them to free up my space.

Just found out about the http://tf2spreadsheet.blogspot.ca and http://backpack.tf that everyone seems to be using/recommending, but I'm totally confused by all the terminology such as "+/- buds" and so on.

So, could anyone suggest some good resources to get started with trading in TF2?

I'm watching this video tutorial at the moment, but can't really tell if this guy is providing legitimate information:

Best Answer

As a F2P, you are restricted to a certain set of privliges, taken from here.

Q. How is a free account different than a premium account?

Premium accounts have a few extra features, including access to rare and cosmetic items through random item drops, the ability to store more items in your backpack, and more powerful trading and crafting abilities. Otherwise, the gameplay experience will be identical for both accounts.

What this is saying here is that, as F2P, you can only receive items, but you cannot send items out. As a premium player, you are able to receive AND send items to any player. There is one exception: items you receive in trades can be traded away. Item drops, however, aren't.

You need to buy something from the Mann Co. Store (or the Orange Box) to become Premium and gain the benefits of full trading.

For more information of trading, go here.