Saturday 21 February 2015

New Ways To Swap Stuff

By Olivia Cross


Do you have clothes, books and more cluttering up your closets while you struggle to make ends meet? The concept of bartering has been embraced by people all over the globe. With the ability the internet has to bring traders together, a whole rash of bartering sites and communities have sprung up. Swap stuff you do not want for items or services you do want and save money.

On some of the larger websites, people can post all kinds of items and offer many different services too. There are also niche websites dedicated to exchanging particular items like books or clothing whilst others offer only services such as pet sitting or baby sitting. Some websites only serve a particular area and people can meet up with one another more easily.

There are some safety risks involved in swapping but most of these websites have strict rules to protect users. Swapping less costly items usually involves shipping or posting. It is obviously more risky when it comes to more expensive items like cars and certain precautions need to be taken.

Users of such sites can arrange to meet in person. When doing so, it is better to arrange a neutral meeting place for the transaction. A coffee shop is a good location and taking someone along is an added safety measure. Once both parties have examined the goods and are satisfied, swapping occurs and each party walks away satisfied.

Bartering provides the perfect way for someone who is short of cash to experience having new items like clothing. Those who love fashion but cannot afford to buy new clothes all the time are often addicted to a clothing site where they can join a community swapping clothing as well as accessories and cosmetics. Parents with children who grow out of their clothing at an alarming rate also really appreciate a website dedicated to helping them exchange gently worn items and even toys with other parents who can still use them. People also benefit from swapping hundreds of other items from books to video games.

Timing your swaps carefully can make a difference as some items are bound to go better at certain times of the year. Cash in by swapping old Halloween costumes just before Halloween or old Christmas decorations a few weeks before Christmas. A prom dress will be very popular before prom.

Membership of many of the websites is free. Some use a points system whereby you receive points and then spend them on what you want. On some websites, members do not even have to come into contact with each other at all to set up swaps as this is arranged for them. Some communities are closed and require another member to recommend someone. Many are open to all and the more members the better.

For those who are cash strapped but possess many unwanted goods, this is the perfect solution. They can easily replace the goods they do not want with those they do want without parting with any money at all. The popularity of such sites is growing all the time, indicating just how many people appreciate bartering.




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