Pokémon Trading FAQ

• What is going on here?
  • Nice people have signed up to volunteer their time to trade Pokémon from their Diamond and Pearl DS games with anyone - and anywhere around the world.
• Does this cost anything?
  • No, it is free.
• Can I trade from anywhere?
  • No, your DS or DS Lite game must have access to the internet. This is usually done via a WiFi connection, or by a cable connection to an internet able computer.
• Why trade?
  • Traded Pokémon level up faster in the game, plus there are many Pokémon that cannot be captured in either Diamond or Pearl, and sometimes you can only get Pokémon to evolve by trading them.
• Isn't there a Global Trade Station in the game?
  • Yes, there is, but you can only trade for Pokémon that you have already seen in the game. Plus, many people are clogging the trading system with a cheat known as "cloning."
• Why do you have to exchange Pal Pad numbers?
  • Two players who are physically close to each other can trade directly. In order to trade with someone over a long distance, the two players must connect to the internet, and exchange Pal Pad numbers. It is how the two games know to talk to each other.
• What are the rules of etiquette?
  • The trainer is volunteering his or her time, so traders are expected to have their games ready, the correct Pokémon in their party, and to be on time.
  • If the trader turns his or her game off, disconnects, or exits the trade, the trainer may feel the trader is cloning or up to some trick. The trade will be canceled.
  • If the wrong Pokémon are offered, the trade may be canceled.
  • Trainers are expected to be friendly and courteous, but can cancel a trade if they feel the trader is shady or trying to be tricky.
• Can I become a trainer and offer up my Pokémon?
  • If you would like to do this, contact kendall@professor-oak.com. There is no online way to sign up, only people personally approved will be allowed to act as trainers.
• Can I get Shining Star Pokémon?
  • Yes, but there is no way to search or ask that you want Shining Pokémon, so it has to be the decision of the trainer to give up a shining Pokémon.
• What if I miss the appointment? What happens to the Pokémon I wanted?
  • If you miss the appointment the trade is canceled, the Pokémon you had reserved are returned to the main pool and may be taken by some other trader.
• Can I be banned?
  • Yes, the system maintains a banned Pal Pad list, and will not allow you to make trades if you have been banned. You can be banned for offensive behaviour durring the trade, trading hacked Pokémon, routinely missing appointments, or for any other reason that a trainer feels you should be banned for.
• How do I know the trainer and I will meet at the correct times?
  • Both the trainer and the trader see the schedule in their own time zone. The times are automatically adjusted for time differences.
• What about Daylight Savings Time?
• This can mess things up. If the trader or trainer changes time, and the other does not, then the trade will be messed up. There is just no way to program in all the time changes that occur throughout the world.
• How can this be avoided?
  • When you schedule a trade, make sure you will not go on or off Daylight Savings inbetween the time you are making the appointment, and the time of the appointment.
• What do I do if I change my mind?
  • I am working on this.