# Options **URL:** \ **Category:** C2\ **Created:** [March 1, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409 "2005-03-01T03:46:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@RobertK](https://forums.collective2.com/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/1 "2005-03-01T03:46:39Z")
When I try to buy march ebay call options at 40 I get this: EBQCH is Mar05 0 call why is the call 0? ---
**Author:** ![MatthewKlein](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/matthewklein/32/21382_2.png) [@MatthewKlein](https://forums.collective2.com/u/MatthewKlein)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 7:57am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/2 "2005-03-01T07:57:44Z")
I’ll explain why you saw the ‘0’ strike. (This explanation will be aimed at software writers. If you’re not interested, ignore it.) When an option is not already in the C2 symbol database, my software needs to go out onto the Internet and look up the strike (sometimes strikes are different than their letter codes). Most of the time it is able to do that instantly - before you see the screen confirming the strike price. Every now and then, the strike is not looked up in time, so it says it is a ‘0’ strike when it confirms your order. But don’t worry, this doesn’t affect your trade in any way. The trade is still executed instantly (if it’s marketable). Later it will fill in the missing strike data (usually within a minute or so) and you will see the correct info on your system details page. More than you wanted to know, probably. -MK ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@RobertK](https://forums.collective2.com/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:45am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/3 "2005-03-01T08:45:24Z")
thanks, I"ll try and check it . One more question. When I look at the strike price codes columms for A it has 5, 105,205, 305 … If I want say 105 rather than 205 how do I get that? ---
**Author:** ![MatthewKlein](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/matthewklein/32/21382_2.png) [@MatthewKlein](https://forums.collective2.com/u/MatthewKlein)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 8:55am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/4 "2005-03-01T08:55:23Z")
Options symbols are determined by the underlying price. Usually, assume the strike codes represent a price near the current underlying price. For more info on how options work, see [www.optionsclearing.com](http://www.optionsclearing.com). ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@RobertK](https://forums.collective2.com/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:36am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/5 "2005-03-01T09:36:02Z")
thanks, I have traded options but with a broker you get a string of quotes at differnt prices. Working on collective is slightly different. Take Goog (google) I want a march call with strike price of 180 so I enter GOQCP and get a march call with strike price 80 … ---
**Author:** ![MatthewKlein](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/matthewklein/32/21382_2.png) [@MatthewKlein](https://forums.collective2.com/u/MatthewKlein)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/6 "2005-03-01T09:45:16Z")
There are **not** different option symbols depending on whether you use C2 or another broker. We all use the same option symbols. The GOQCP option really **is** the 80 call. Some stocks (volatile ones with lots of traded options over a broad price range) use non-standard symbols. (For example the SPX option chain.) You really need to know what symbol you want to trade before you enter a trade onto C2. I can add to the “To Do” list a feature that allows you to look up an option symbol, but it will take a bit of doing, and so, in the interim, you need to find another resource to look up option symbols. Does anyone out there have any suggestions for Robert? (I.E. Is there a web site he can use to figure out what symbol to use when he wants a GOOG March 80 call?) ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@RobertK](https://forums.collective2.com/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:03am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/7 "2005-03-01T10:03:58Z")
Matthew, I want a GOOG 180 march call, not the 80 . ---
**Author:** ![MatthewKlein](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forums.collective2.com/matthewklein/32/21382_2.png) [@MatthewKlein](https://forums.collective2.com/u/MatthewKlein)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 10:58am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/8 "2005-03-01T10:58:09Z")
GOU CP ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@RobertK](https://forums.collective2.com/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/9 "2005-03-01T17:48:20Z")
got it! ---
**Author:** ![NinaPerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c4cdca/32.png) [@NinaPerez](https://forums.collective2.com/u/NinaPerez)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/10 "2005-03-14T16:20:35Z")
I use [www.cboe.com](http://www.cboe.com) delayed quotes for all my option symbols chains it is a free site for delayed quotes and for $25 they have a great streamer for realtime quotes for stocks and options that I use ---
**Author:** ![RobertK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@RobertK](https://forums.collective2.com/u/RobertK)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.collective2.com/t/options/3409/11 "2005-03-21T08:17:59Z")
thanks Bob