since it's settled you're basically not clearing thru gs unless you have a lot of money, look into bloomberg tradebook if you want multi asset trading capability. agree w/ previous poster who wonders why more people can't just pick up phone or call esp when it would take less time than to post in most cases.
1. My initial post had two goals: (i) seek an introduction from someone trading futures via REDI at GSET. As opposed to calling a general number it generally helps to speak to a known person at a direct number. Additionally, brokers/sales reps generally like referrals. I have referred many colleagues to brokers and other service providers. I don't give the people I refer a general firm number (which they do not need me to get in any event as such is in the public domain)- I make an introduction direct to my broker - this ensures my broker gets the business at the firm and it gives my colleague the assurance that he would be in good hands. This is win-win for all sides. My broker /service provider gets new business, my colleague gets an intro to a capable service provider and my broker/service provider extends appreciation to me for making an introduction. This is standard practice and over the years I have been on both sides of the referral process - making referrals and receiving referrals. (ii) I wanted a sense of the quality of services of GSET and the REDI platform 2. Despite the above, I am not afraid to call. If you look at the GSET website they have NO direct telephone number listed for Futures only equities. So what number do I call, the main number and get the telephone lottery? The email address listed for Futures also is invalid - email sent to that address bounces back. 3. I thought the purpose of ET was for traders to help other traders. I thought that I could get someone in the ET community to make an introduction, especially in the absence of a direct number to the GSET Futures department. I now know that expecting normal behavior from ET is highly mistaken. 3. I frankly cannot understand the ET approach of constantly trying to demean and besmirch every poster. Everyone assumes that everyone else is a charlatan...when it's the charlatans themselves who are the biggest noisemakers. The constant theme in all the negative postings above - is "You don't have enough funds to clear at GSET so why pretend you can". This notion is so flawed and mistaken in so many ways - and most importantly whether or not I as the original poser am qualified to clear at GSET is not the point of the posting - the point was two fold- share your experiences with GSET/REDI for Futures trading and please provide an introduction. If you can't assist with any of those two key issues, why not just ignore the thread?
"Normal behavior," anywhere but ET, would be to show you've <i>made some kind of effort</i> yourself -- a post like, "I called GS, spoke to Mr XYZ, and here's what he told me. Does anyone have any other suggestions or leads at GS?"
If anyone wants an alternative to Redi, take a look at WEX. It's now a broker neutral platform that offers stocks, options, futures and even international exposure.