Bartering is part of human nature. Remember when you were a kid and your mom packed something you didn’t like in your school lunch? You of course tried to trade – aka barter – with a friend for something you preferred, right? Or on Halloween, when you sat down with your siblings or friends to swap for your favorite candies?
When did we stop bartering? Why don’t we barter more as adults? Somehow our culture has evolved to where we cherish possessions and end up with a lot of “stuff” we really have no use for. We have dozens (or hundreds) of books sitting on the shelf we only read once (or not at all). Our children have closets full of toys they played with once, but refuse to part with.
So why do we have all of this stuff lying around, taking up space, that we don’t really use? Is there a way for us to change that paradigm and start living more simply and minimalistically?
mySwapp
thinks so. This technology company was founded to change the way we consume products by bringing back the barter system with a modern twist. Today, people are constantly connected to one another through their smart phones. mySwapp is a free app that allows you to connect with others who are also interested in bartering.
‘Do it with strangers (swap)’
When you see something you want on the mySwapp app, you can offer that person something you’d like to exchange for it. Once an agreement is made between the parties, mySwapp lists the nearest meeting locations for you. You choose a location and a date, and your appointment to swap your items is all set.
You can feel safe using mySwapp because it doesn’t require you to share your phone number, email address or even your name with the person you’re bartering with. When you arrive at your bartering swap location, you simply press “I’m here” in the mySwapp app. Then the mySwapp app uses a special technology to call both of you from a mySwapp number. You swap your items and head home with your privacy intact.
If you want to stop wasting and start swapping, check out mySwapp. It’s currently only available for iOS devices, and can be downloaded in the App Store.
How often do you barter your old belongings for new ones?
Feature image courtesy of Johan Larsson