New to bartering? Here are some tips

Last update: June 14, 2008 - 4:55 PM

No price is still a price: "It's just a price in terms of stuff instead of dollars," said Mark Bergen of the Carlson School of Management. Be aware of the retail price for an item of similar condition.

Time is money: "A lot of people don't tend to think of time as a cost," Bergen points out. Keep track of the time you're spending when bartering. If you're constantly being stood up by potential traders or spending hours e-mailing the details of your items, is it really worth it?

Be detailed: Some people create a single post with a laundry list of every item they are hoping to trade. Others target trading one similarly priced item for another. Whichever method you select, Craigslist CEO Jim Buckmaster suggests including a photo to generate more response.

Be safe: Meet the other party in a public place and use common sense when meeting a stranger to trade an item.