If you can imagine eBay, but with a simple twist, I think this concept could have some wings and I have in fact proven it.

The basic theory can be explained with this basic analogy. You have two forks, I have two knives. In this current state, neither of us derives much utility from what we own. Now if we exchange one fork for one knife, all of a sudden, TOTAL utility, as well as individual utility has just gone up for each of us. With the eBay model, this works fairly effectively where value is maximized for the seller via an auction; however in each exchange, a little value is lost to eBay and PayPal (or CC) in the form of listing fees. On top of this, an individual may simply not have the know how to effectively run a listing on eBay, nor do they necessarily have the funds.

With this new concept, you would simply create a list (your inventory) of stuff you own but no longer need or use and post it to the exchange forum. No frills, no fees, no bells or whistles. You just make a list. You can then wait for someone to inquire about an item on your list, or you can also post a 'wanted' message if there's something specific you're looking for. Once you find what you're looking for in someone's list, you let them know, ask your questions, then ask them if there's something on your list they would like. Just like trading baseball cards in the playground - this is bartering in its purest form, but with the leverage of the Internet's reach. Once you both come to an agreement, you just ship the goods to one another (usually each pays to ship their own items).

I have tested this on my own forum and have since completed the first successful transaction. I happened to be looking for a used PS2, someone had one, they found an old laptop on my list that I no longer needed, we agreed it would be a fair trade, and a week later, we each received the others' item.

There are other finer details that cover eventualities and minimizing fraud, but this is the gist of it.

What say everyone?

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