Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Free online classifieds have now become a rather standard means of selling, bartering, or finding local services. What isn’t there to like about it? “Free” sounds appealing all the time, “online” just screams convenience, and “classifieds” tells you that it’s a more than just a shot in the dark.

However, the unfortunate reality of free classifieds means that anybody who reads free online classifieds may take advantage of the opportunity to get in touch. As tempting as it may sound, and no matter how rewarding it can be at times, free online classified advertising can actually be a lot more troublesome than convenient.

Consider this situation: you’ve got an “overly patterned” sofa you now realize was a mistake. You don’t have enough things in your garage to get rid of, so doing a yard sale is a lot of effort. It would be really nice to sell the couch with a classified ad in the newspaper, but those cost too much for one item.

Should you post something on Craigslist?

Not if you want to deal with a half-dozen spammers crowding your e-mail inbox, random strangers showing up at your door, or unreliable “prospects” who end up wasting your time and effort because they weren’t that serious about purchasing your item in the first place.

I don’t know about you, but this situation comes up for me pretty often. I usually have something I don’t have room for or I want to replace. I’d pay for a classified ad in the newspaper if I could post it once every month, or every other week or so — but that’s not how classified ads work, unfortunately. Isn’t there a better solution?

Why not invest a known amount of money (a regular, reasonable, and low fee), into something that will pay off for both you and somebody in your community?

That’s where Boulder County Trader comes in. It’s the ideal time-saver, reliability-indicator, and option-creator when you need to trade skills, exchange gift cards you received for the holidays, or fill the extra customer hours you have ready to be filled at your business. You get all the benefits of a paid classified ad, but at a fraction of the cost, and with the ability to keep using the service. Plus, you have access to other members- traders, sellers and buyers who aren’t going to waste your time, because they don’t want to waste theirs. Unlike free classifieds, Boulder County Trader is geared towards trading — barter your goods or services for someone else’s goods or services, and both parties win.

Remember that sofa that was a mistake? Don’t try selling it and ultimately end up spending more money — if you sell it at all. Trade it for services, goods, or maybe even a sofa you’d much rather have in your living room — all for a much better experience and a lot less headache.

– Jenny N.

Tags: Craig's List, craigslist, Craigslist.com, free online classifieds, online classifieds
Posted in Guest Posts | No Comments »

Friday, February 12th, 2010

Meet Mark Collantes, author, pilot, financial markets wizard, marathon runner, dreamer.  Mark has a great imagination and isn’t afraid to put it to work.  His project for 2010 is to parlay ten signed copies of his novel The Academy into a ticket for a flight on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceshipTwo. (He needs about $288K; seating is limited.)  How will he do it?

Through barter.

What would you be willing to trade him for one book?   You can join the fun by making him an offer.

Let’s check in on Mark from time to time to see how he’s doing.  GalacticBarter.com

– Bonnie

Tags: Galactic Barter, Mark Collantes, Spaceship Two, The Academy, Virgin Atlantic
Posted in Boulder County Trader Posts | No Comments »

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

1.   Membership fee will barely buy a latte in Vail

2.   Impress friends with your extra income

3.   Finally get rid of the pool table ex-husband left behind

4.  Don’t have to wait for tax refund to get car fixed

5.   Something to do at work when bored with Twitter

6.   Beats dealing with whackos off Craig’s List

7.  Cut out the middle man without feeling guilty

8.  Time spent with barter clients could break afternoon nap habit

9.   Good way to get value out of that unused wedding tux

10. Great-Aunt Mildred will think you know how to manage money

Tags: reasons to barter, reasons to join, Top 10 lists
Posted in Boulder County Trader Posts | No Comments »

Monday, January 18th, 2010

I recently had a conversation with a new acquaintance.  We were discussing Boulder and how it had grown since we’d both moved there, then the conversation got around to skiing, and then to ski boots, specifically the new boots she’d bought last month.  She’d just used them for the first time on Sunday, and they’d killed her feet.  She hadn’t even been able to finish the day on the slopes. They’d felt fine to her in the store, but she now realized she wouldn’t be able to ski in them again; they just weren’t designed for “her” feet, not sole-mates. She’d tried to return them, but they’d been worn once, so… She has something she can’t use.

I suggested she might try bartering them.  Her response:  “Yeah, but what would I trade for?   I think I’ll just take them to that used sporting goods place.”  As this was a new acquaintance, I resisted my urge to render advice.  (I usually reserve that until at least  the second encounter.)   Still I wondered, what would she trade for?

The first step, of course, is finding a match for the boots.  There’s probably someone out there right now running a Google shopping search for that exact boot.   Or there’s likely someone in the area who also wears a size eight, who also needs new boots and would be happy to test drive these for a day.  Or there’s another woman whose new size eight boots are killing her and she’s headed out to go buy the same brand of boot that my new acquaintance is thinking about consigning at the used sporting goods store.

When my new friend takes the boots to the consignment store, she and the store clerk are going to have to set the “fair price” a customer would be willing to pay for the boots.  My guess is that will be about half of the retail price new.  Then, when (or if) the boots sell, the store will want their consignment fee, usually 50% of what they got for the boots.  So, my friend is left with about 25%, or $100, of the retail price she originally paid for the boots just a few weeks ago.

But what if she were to trade the boots?   Again, let’s arrive at a fair dollar amount- maybe a 25%-30% reduction in retail.  After all, they’ve been worn- but only once.   That leaves about $300 in value.  So what would she trade for?  The windows washed, upstairs and down?  An afternoon at a spa?  A restaurant gift certificate?  Some new landscaping?   Tax planning advice?   30 hours of babysitting?   A course in dog training?   Having the plumbing around the house tuned up?  $300 cash?

When thinking, “Yeah, but what would I trade for?” ask instead, what you would want or need to spend $300 on.  Whatever it is, you’ll get more in value than the $100 from the consignment store.

Don’t worry.  I’ll tell her next time.  – Bonnie

Tags: barter, consignment store, ski boots, trade, valuation
Posted in Boulder County Trader Posts | No Comments »

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

it was with Butchie Louderback.  We were in the third grade, growing up in a small Colorado mountain town. Everyone in town knew everyone else in town, Main Street was the only one paved, and if you were looking to buy anything other than ski stuff, food or liquor, your opportunities were limited.  For other necessities, one had to drive forty miles down valley to a larger town.  Hard core shopping for something like school clothes or Christmas meant a trip to Denver, maybe twice a year.

Kids made do with fewer, simpler things back then. During the long class recesses of Fall, the game was marbles for boys and girls alike.   Alike, but usually separate.  The only time a boy would visit the girls’ circle was when he needed to replenish his arsenal after losing most of his own marbles to the other boys in a game of keepsies.   A girl would never go to the boys’ circle alone; you need a girlfriend with you if you’re going to be roughed up and literally lose your marbles.

Butchie was a master at both barter and marbles, and he had the consummate marble stash to show for it: cat’s-eyes, steelies, agates, pearls, swirls, multi-swirls, opaques, Popeyes, corkscrews, peewees and shooters.  A gift recipient of many a doll, my meager marble collection was self-earned and lacking a single steely.  I’d often approached Butchie at the swings set, a mutually safe location, about the possibility of a trade for a steely shooter. He was steadfast; for one steely I would have to part with three cat’s-eyes, all of his choosing.  I was willing to do two but three was just too far a stretch, even for a steely shooter.

My father returned from a business trip to Chicago.  He always brought home gifts for us, and as I opened mine I was looking forward to the hair barrettes or doll’s dress.  Instead, there was a small suede drawstring bag, and inside that a dozen green cat’s-eye marbles.  Not much variety, but just exactly what I needed.

The following school day I approached the boys’ circle and boldly held out my hand to Butchie, revealing two of the brand new cat’s-eyes and another cat’s-eye I could live without.  He reached into his pocket, pulled out the exact steely shooter I’d been yearning for and took my offering of the three cat’s-eyes.

It was odd how that steely shooter improved my game.  Not long afterward, I became a good enough player to be occasionally welcomed at the boys’ circle, solo.  Some days I lost and some days I won, and so it goes still.  I have no idea what happened to my marble collection, or to Butchie, but remember to this day one of the most satisfying trades I ever made.

What’s yours?  - Bonnie

Tags: first barter deal, first trade, marbles
Posted in Boulder County Trader Posts | 2 Comments »

Saturday, January 9th, 2010

In the span of a year, Boulder County Trader has gone from concept to reality.  That worn saying, “I couldn’t have done it without you” especially holds true here.  My gratitude and deep appreciation goes out to:

Heidi Markus, my talented friend, co-conspirator, reality checker, editor, cocktail partner and cheerleader.

The gifted people at All City Solutions, who put together a beautiful site and came up with the bells and whistles, all while dealing with someone with absolutely no website background or knowledge of the technical stuff.  They broke the language barrier and gave new meaning to “the patience of Job.”

Jody Reale, for her editing, language and technical skills, and for keeping me laughing through thick and thin.

Jenny Newell, tech savvy gal who taught me the difference between Twitter and Facebook.

Steve Arney, who tenaciously proofread and hand corrected every single bit of copy on the entire site. Twice.

Steve and Carol Miller of IdeaSource, for their insight and guidance.

My husband David, for not complaining too much.

Everyone who posts a listing during this startup phase, for your confidence and imagination.

Thank you one and all.  I couldn’t have done it without you.   -Bonnie

Tags: All City Solutions, Carol Miller, Heidi Markus, Jenny Newell, Jody Reale, startup, Steve Arney, Steve Miller
Posted in Boulder County Trader Posts | No Comments »