"So... how does this barter thing work anyway?"
Bartering is a timeless form of trading goods or services for other goods or services instead of paying for them by cash or credit. It allows people to trade something they have or something they can do for the person who has something they seek.
"I don't get it. You mean someone is just going to give me something without me needing to pay for it?"
Not at all. Everything has value, including your time, your knowledge or your skillsets. Bartering is a way to negotiate what those things are while coming to an agreement that is mutually beneficial to all parties.
Imagine that you are really good at mowing lawns, or you even enjoy doing it because you like the exercise. But you can't bake a cake without the fire department making an appearance. Perhaps there is someone out there who doesn't have a lawn mower, but happens to be world-class baker. The Barters' Guild is the place to connect so you can decide on a mutually beneficial plan where you can help each other out!
Another example might be that you make furniture and have a beautiful range of bedroom dressers available, but you really need someone to photograph your upcoming wedding. Turns out, that photographer happens to be in need of a new bedroom set! You meet, figure out the details and everyone is happy!
"How do we find each other?"
Simply complete a profile that includes your location, the list of skills/items that you have to offer and the skills/items you are seeking. The Barters' Guild will match you with people who would be a good fit and you can contact the other party to begin working out the details! It's that simple!
"But is there anyone local to me?"
The Barters' Guild is strictly Atlantic Canadian. That means that all members available to barter with are your neighbors! Atlantic Canada has a long and proud history of helping each out in time of need and the Barters' Guild wants to help people facilitate that. If two or more people need a favor, work together so that everyone benefits.
Members are welcome from all over Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Newfoundland & Labrador. Check people's profiles and you may see members from Sydney to Halifax to Yarmouth, from Bathurst to Moncton to Saint John, from Tignish to Summerside to Charlottetown and from St. John's to Corner Brook to Gander City. And everywhere in between!
We are proudly Atlantic Canadian!
"Can a barter happen between more than 1 person?"
Absolutely! While it may take a little more negotiating between all parties, combination bartering can be very effective. The key is to coming to an agreement on the value of the services/items being bartered and finding an appropriate trade. If someone has something you want, but you don't have something they want, perhaps you could find someone to bridge the gap. Then all parties win! You never know what you may find in someone's profile. Get creative!
"What happens if we can't negotiate terms?"
Not everyone will value theirs or other people's services or goods equally. The best method is to compare to "market value" and negotiate from there based on skill levels, quality and reputation. Obviously a backyard mechanic may not be as valued as a professional mechanic, but maybe they have built up a reputation that they do great work and are trustworthy, so therefore are able to "charge" a little more than an average backyard mechanic. If you can't come to an agreement that works for all parties, the best suggestion is to amicably part ways and move on to the next option. Perhaps the next person is seeking an entirely different set of skills that you also happen to possess.
"What do I do if someone doesn't hold up their end of the agreement?"
The Barters' Guild cannot be responsible for any breaches of agreements, but we do encourage all members to be prudent in their interactions. There are several basic contract agreement templates online that can be used to make transactions more official. We encourage people to rate other members, in a fair and honest way, using our rating system. This can help others know about people's history. We also encourage all members to report any and all illegal activities to us and to authorities. Do your homework the same way you would when obtaining any services from anyone.
"Can I pay in cash instead?"
The premise behind the Barters' Guild is to avoid paying in cash as much as possible, however, if both parties agree to offset a deal with cash, then this is acceptable. However, we ask that the majority of the transaction be cashless. We hope to implement some sort of "credit" system in the future that can be used to trade. Kind of like an IOU of sorts.
"How secure is my data?"
We take all precautions in safeguarding people's data. We do not share it with any 3rd party. Our site uses SSL and encryption. We do require your birthdate to ensure all members are 18 years of age or older. Your birthdate is not displayed in your public profile.
Your first and last name will be visible to registered members of the site. This is to help build a trusting relationship between yourself and those you barter with.