Barter is the world s oldest and most universally accepted currency. Cave dwellers exchanged skins for food and native Americans traded Manhattan Island for trinkets. Today, countries trade commodities, weapons and industrial equipment with each other. Corporate barter and club exchanges are the United States dominant barter systems. R2 is a corporate barter company.
Most people are more familiar with the club exchange paradigm than with corporate barter.
The differences between the types of barter are comparable to Little League and the Major Leagues and city hall and the federal government. The clubs recruit small businesses to offer their wares to other members in exchange for access to their goods and services. Exchange members pay individual transaction and membership fees. The club exchanges do not take title to any of its clients merchandise or services and are usually unable to handle corporate barter caliber deals. Corporate barter involves the buying of large inventories from substantial organizations in exchange for advertising, various services and merchandise.