There are a few ways to find out what people have to offer and what they are looking for! You can search right from the home page, browse by category, or even view all of the listings at once.
Searching for trades:
- From the search bar: type your zip code in and click “Search” to view all available trades near you. You can also select a category and location in the search bar.
- From the category menu: scroll down on the home page to the list of categories (click on the arrows to scroll through all available categories.)
- From the top menu: click on “listings” to view all active listings
Arranging a trade:
If you find a listing you are interested in, click on it for more information. This will open a new window where you can see information about the person offering the item. Click the green “chat” button to begin working on a trade!
If the person has set up their “store,” they may have included information about the types of trades they’re interested in, or other items they also have available to trade.
Sending the first message may feel weird, but people are excited to connect with others! The easiest first message is something along the lines of, “Hi, I saw that you have homemade bread available to trade. I have fresh eggs or honey from my bees, would either of those be something you are interested in?”
Making the trade
- Safety first, always. Choose a neutral location during daylight hours, and communicate clearly with each other about what you look like, who will be with you, and how the other person can identify you.
- Take the time to make your item look like something you would like to receive. Packaging and presentation matter — take pride in what you’ve made or grown!
- Be sure to rate and review your trading partner. (And if something went wrong, give them a chance to make it right before leaving negative comments.)
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