About our idea
We are a group of people passionate about enabling you to get what you need out of life, without being limited to money. Connecting one person’s talent with another person’s need and creating a little magic in between. Bringing back to people the basic tradition of cooperation, mutual exchange, and representing the inherent value of the individual. Our vision is a platform where ‘everyone’ has access to the vast marketplace that is ‘everyone else’. For more information about our project head over to our blog.
Barter & Trade
Bartering or the barter system, is an age-old tradition, we used to do it all the time;
Person A. Has sheep and extra wool, meat and milk.
Person B. Is good at fishing and has more than enough to spare
Person A and Person B negotiate the worth of each item and make a swap accordingly.
An exchange
It’s a straight exchange, individuals would weigh up the value and offer what they deem reasonable to obtain something they didn’t have.
Barter was the predominant means by which people supplemented themselves and their communities. Tribes in Mesopotamia are credited as being the most likely starting point for the barter system going back to 6000 BCE. Utilising the bartering system to get the food, weapons, and spices they needed. Because of salt’s great value, Roman soldiers bartered their services for the empire in exchange for salt. Even after the invention of money, people continued to barter. Today we still have alternative currency exchange groups such as LETS and Timebanking operating in the voluntary sector,
The invention of money
So why didn’t bartering stick around? Well, it didn’t fade out completely and it still exists in some societies, but let’s say why isn’t it prevalent? Some reasons listed are; Double Coincidence of Wants, Lack of a Standard Unit of Account, Production of large Goods not Feasible, Impossibility of Subdivision of Goods. But it basically boils down to, two words “Choice” and “Convenience”.
People began to use objects to represent the value of what they were offering, because It was easier and provided a means for expanding the choice of what they could trade. The shekel, (a token that represented barley and its weight) and “tally sticks” (sticks with lines that tallied what a person owed) are examples of some of the earliest known objects used to do this. In ancient empires of Egypt, Babylon and china, clay tokens were used. And with the arrival of the bronze age precious metals began to be used.
A token or tally gave you more choice. Having something that represented the value of what you had, meant you didn’t only have to swap a ‘cow’ for ‘grain’, a person could choose,
between grain, wool and any other item. It was also just easier to walk to a market with a token. An object that that represented the item was easier to carry than walking with the Items themselves.
So why barter now?
Almost everyone has things they need that they don’t have spare money for.
Most people have items in their homes that that they don’t need anymore.
Many people have talents and skills that they aren’t utilising.
Convenient & diverse
Although barter is used in some indigenous societies, also used in some forms of online trading. It’s not in an accessible medium for everyone. But what if we could make Barter convenient and diverse?
Barter’d is a website that presents all the skills and items that a person has to offer, uses the convenience of modern technology to help you trade easily. Our algorithm matches you with people in your geographical area who have an exchange that meets your needs. You simply register, input your items and wants, and get matched. Then join up with a £1 per month subscription to connect with them. Your barter is a click away.
You may be a talented artist, DJ, gardener, hair stylist, cake baker, decorator. You may have a number of items that you don’t need anymore. You may just need a favour in exchange for one. Barter’d is a place where you can swap all your items and skills for something you need, whatever it is. You are the marketplace. Barter’d it’s how we used to do things.
So why barter now?
Almost everyone has things they need that they don’t have spare money for.
Most people have items in their homes that that they don’t need anymore.
Many people have talents and skills that they aren’t utilising.
Convenient & diverse
Although barter is used in some indigenous societies, also used in some forms of online trading. It’s not in an accessible medium for everyone. But what if we could make Barter convenient and diverse?
Barter’d is a website that presents all the skills and items that a person has to offer, uses the convenience of modern technology to help you trade easily. Our algorithm matches you with people in your geographical area who have an exchange that meets your needs. You simply register, input your items and wants, and get matched. Then join up with a £1 per month subscription to connect with them. Your barter is a click away.
You may be a talented artist, DJ, gardener, hair stylist, cake baker, decorator. You may have a number of items that you don’t need anymore. You may just need a favour in exchange for one. Barter’d is a place where you can swap all your items and skills for something you need, whatever it is. You are the marketplace. Barter’d it’s how we used to do things.
Get in touch
Want to find out more or have a question for us? Get in touch with Barter’d today
and contact us here for more information. Alternatively use our email:
info@barterd.co.uk
You can also subscribe to our mailing list for update and exclusive information.
