Then he traded printing for painting, carpeting, furniture, a computer, a stereo, the clock on his desk and new pavement for the driveway. After all, a mover can use only so many printed fliers in a year, and a printer rarely moves. That s where exchanges come in. Members then spend what they ve earned on any combination of products and services offered by other members. So a mover can use some barter dollars on fliers, if he wishes, and some on parts and service for his trucks.
Some firms do much more, though.
Barter dollars he earns for trading flowers buy things he otherwise would have used cash for, such as printing, office equipment, vehicle maintenance, shelving even baskets, plants and flowers to supply his inventory. Because his barter exchange has ties to other networks, Lach says, bartering has opened the door for new customers in distant locations such as Hawaii, Los Angeles and New York City. Barter-network members tend to shop within the system first, and satisfied barter customers make referrals to cash customers. Hotels barter rooms and airlines trade seats that would otherwise go unused. Jerry Trombo turns to barter jobs when his cash business is slow, so extra printing capacity isn t wasted.