Think of Swim for FUTURES?

Quote from MrGecko:

TOS for futures...

If you're gonna scalp futures, then TOS in its current version is wholly unsuitable - even if you disregard the comiss. of $7 p/RT (which in my wallet rules it out unconditionally) there are no T&S or DOM, which without I wouldn't even DREAM of trying to trade the futures market (nor should any other sensible persons).

If you are considering TOS for futures, and are willing to stand the comm., then I suggest paying a subscription for a dedicated futures platform - over the month the costs are at least equivalent, but of course trading futures through X-trader (or other) is a whole lot easier, quicker, and with the T&S and DOM you need.

FYI, I trade both futures and options - I use TOS platform for options trades, X-Trader for futures. The gross reality is that TOS will never (or at least not in the near term) match the functionality and reliability of the platforms TT and PATS (or even Ninja) offer for futures traders.

However; TOS does have its uses for futures traders - I use TOS charts for all my price action and volume analysis [if the 15 second or so delay in chart updates for futures is an issue for you, then TOS really isnt what you're looking for] - personally, I think TOS charts are awesome (added to that, X Study sucks, but of course this is subjective). I make trades using the TOS charts, along with the T&S and DOM that TT has. With regard to futures, both TOS and TT can be measured and left wanting - but combined they make a formidable pair of tools.




I don't pay the regular commish. All you have to do is send the head honcho a message and he'll lower the rate based on volume and trade size that will match most futures broker's commissions.
 
Quote from OldTrader:

Before you call something a "weak assumption" you might want to trade for longer than a couple of years son.

No one said "having access to a live person in the event of a catastrophe" is "hand-holding". And I would guess that even you would grant that catastrophes don't happen every day, week, or month. Why do you think I said I have only needed customer service a handful of times in the a number of years?

You do have to be able to read. The online users manual, and other online help is quite comprehensive. And yet, I will guarantee you that large numbers of IB customers to not take the time to avail themselves of this help. Instead, they call IB, tieing up the lines for more critical problems, to ask a question that could have been easily answered out of the users guide. When they get what they feel is a rude response, then they are all over customer service instead of taking responsibility for their own lack of resourcefulness. Or perhaps they post here, usually with some dramatic, accusatory title about IB, when the source of the problem was really themselves.

Now, I doubt anyone would call me a "scalper". Yet, speed of quote is more important to me than someone patting my ass weekly over some question that I could have known through other sources. Call me crazy.

OldTrader

Son, huh? lol heh heh I guess my personal preferences don't matter because I have only traded 3 years and I am not a bitter old man.

Whoops.

By the way, that was in fact a weak assumption on your part...or at the very least, you should try to rephrase next time to better get your point across.

I don't really give a shit what others have to say about IB or anywhere else, I am entitled to my opinion. My personal preference is a company that doesn't act like assholes if you need to call in, for whatever reason.

They are called fucking customer service for a reason. They want to aggressively advertise to the general public, then what kind of people do they expect to have signing up for accounts with them?

Shit, if they were more discriminating with who they allowed to open accounts with them, then yeah no problem..but hey, they want the business, they deal with the idiotic customers.

That's the deal.

I am not taking up for the people that should be doing their own homework, but the basic premise of customer service is that they are there to help.

If IB chooses to not go that route, and they instead focus their strengths to offering the lowest quotes and zero customer service...then fine, no problem..their prerogative.

It's also my prerogative to select a broker I enjoy conducting business with. Period. Personal decision. This does not make me an idiot.

See, with IB taking the first $10K of my interest bearing cash out of the equation each month, that essentially would cost me another (appx) $40 each month, which pretty much negates any savings on commissions, since I am a longer term trader...not to mention the minimum commission threshold you must meet or you have to pay a penalty...

You also factor in someone who wants to be an asshole to me if I need to call, and you've got yourself a subpar broker. In my opinion, which frankly is the only one that matters to me.

My viewpoints do not make me an idiot or indicate a requirement for hand-holding.

There are plenty of brokers out there who can compete with IB's rates (especially for longer term traders), who also pay interest, and also will answer a question if I have one, or won't be an asshole if something goes wrong in my account.

IB may be a better choice for some, but not for others....
 
Quote from OldTrader:

Frankly I'm amazed that anyone would put customer service ahead of the speed of a quote. But hey, there's no accounting for stupidity. I didn't bring IB up, but since you did, I think they have their priorities right. I haven't needed customer service more than a hand full of times in the years i've been a customer at IB. Maybe that's why it's a low priority for me. For you, since you evidently need hand holding, it's more important than the speed of your quote. Each to his own.

OldTrader


look old guy show me where it says that quotes are lagging ,its CHARTS that lagging ,when is some kind extreme movement . use your fucking glasses.and tell me that IB don't have any problems at all ok .and tell me what do you do when they do have some kind hick ups waiting three days for response? give me a brake . i'm paying 2.50 for futures and i'm very happy, now start telling me that i can have better rate somewhere else, yes i probably could but you know what they have my back and thats whats important to me.
 
Wow, this thread got heated. LOL.

Bottomline. If you are a High frequency Futures trader TOS, for now, isnt for you.

If you are swing or position trader TOS is perfect for you.

I hate the order entry, but I love the analytics and the P&L summary pages.
 
Quote from opt789:

For anyone else following along, old fart thinks that TOS has slow quotes yet all the posts on this thread say the quotes are not slow.

Let's see now, here's what you yourself said earlier this thread:

12-21-07 08:21 AM

I believe I am one of their most active ES traders. What do you want to know? There is no time and sales, no DOM, the ES quotes are filtered so they are a little slow

Just in case you're having trouble reading your own words, here they are in caps: "THEY ARE A LITTLE SLOW".

Now, would you like to change what YOU said about your broker? Those of us who are following along are having a little trouble with your inconsistency.

OldTrader
 
Quote from thomfergu:

look old guy show me where it says that quotes are lagging ,its CHARTS that lagging ,when is some kind extreme movement . use your fucking glasses.and tell me that IB don't have any problems at all ok .and tell me what do you do when they do have some kind hick ups waiting three days for response? give me a brake . i'm paying 2.50 for futures and i'm very happy, now start telling me that i can have better rate somewhere else, yes i probably could but you know what they have my back and thats whats important to me.

The post above shows you "where it says". Use you fucking glasses fuckwad.

And by the way, IB has zero problems during extreme movement.

OldTrader
 
Quote from OldTrader:

The post above shows you "where it says". Use you fucking glasses fuckwad.

And by the way, IB has zero problems during extreme movement.

OldTrader


what a fucking brainless idiot you are i have two news for you ,bad one and good one . the bad one is that from sickness you sick there is still no medication and the good one is that you going to die from it .its called debility
 
Quote from thomfergu:

what a fucking brainless idiot you are i have two news for you ,bad one and good one . the bad one is that from sickness you sick there is still no medication and the good one is that you going to die from it .its called debility

"i have two news for you, bad one and good one" Geezus, your English is priceless. Too bad customer service wasn't around to help you write that post. LOL!!!!!

OldTrader
 
Oldtrader,
You really are completely worthless. I only hope you don't have any children to pass on such poor qualities. I realized what I said was ambiguous so I clarified it when I said that the TOS quotes are "some fraction of a second behind" because they are filtered. In most cases it is impossible to even notice and I also said the Prophet quotes/charts they also provide are fast. Then I said again "TOS quotes are not slow." The distinction here is that some scalpers only want to trade with a truly unfiltered direct feed to the CME. I said from my first post that a very active futures scalper would not trade with them because they don't offer all the things a scalper would want. But for anyone else a fraction of a fraction of second is irrelevant, and as I have said several times now they have two quote feeds, one is not filtered, and they have an institutional platform that is very fast.

If you notice this thread was going along fine until old fart steps in for no reason and starts attacking. Can we drop this whole thing now?
 
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