Barter is an age-old way to purchase and sell services. Before paper and coin money were widely available, people would trade goods and services. A farmer would trade a basket of fruit for a bushel of vegetable. Shoes would be traded for a chicken. A midwife would receive a goat for delivering a baby. While money is the primary form of currency these days, barter is still quite common. The problems with barter is that items traded are not always equal in value and that people want to trade for things that they actually need instead of what is being offered. Barter exchange companies are often in barter in order to make trades equal. If you want to barter goods and services on a regular basis, it would be advantageous to use a barter exchange company. Choosing a quality barter exchange company will determine whether or not you have good bartering experiences.
Instructions
1. Locate all of the barter exchange companies in your area. Every major city has a few barter exchange companies. You want to deal with a company that you can visit should you need to as they are in essence an accountant for your barter exchanges. You don’t want an accountant you have never met. In addition you want access to goods and services that are in your actual locality.
2. Find out who the barter accompanies do business with. Some barter companies are strictly business exchanges. Others are less discriminating. Your personal or business needs should dictate what kind of companies you want to trade with. It may also be to your benefit if the barter club limits how many people in the same business can join.
3. Ask how big the barter company’s network is. It is most advantageous to you to use a barter company that networks with other barter companies. This will give you more selections when you want to cash in barter dollars you have earned.
4. Find out about the barter companies reputation. Do a better business bureau check for any possible complaints. Also find out how long they have been in business and ask outright questions about how long the current management has been in place.
5. Find out how much each barter club wants as a sign-up fee. Some can be exorbitant. A high sign up fee may give you the impression that this club is high quality. On the other hand it could just be overpriced. If the barter club broker is quick to cut their fees, you should be worried.
6. Speak to members of the barter company before joining. These are the people who will be the most honest about advantages and downfalls of the barter club.
