Old fashioned bartering in a high tech world

I'm curious to see how something like this works out. TheSmarterBarter.com is launching a new Web-based bartering system that pledges to help people who want to trade things find other like-minded people.

The company is in its beta stages now, offering its service in 10 states (though they count DC as a state, so technically nine states).

Obviously, this isn't the first site offering to help barterers connect. Craigslist, for example, has a bartering section. Someone there now wants to trade a couch. Another poster wants a tree branch cut down. And there's a laptop computer up for grabs.

What makes TheSmarterBarter different is its plan to ship all that out via e-mail. From the company's Web site:

"Once registered you will then receive e-mails from 'TheSmarterBarter' with various items and services that people want to barter with. This list will be broken down by state and a national list. During the BETA trial we will only be in 10 states. The e-mails you will receive will be labeled 'TheSmarterBarter.' If you see a service that you need or an item that you want, e-mail that person immediately."

It's a little unclear how the company plans to make money with this service, which is free for now. Though, I guess in the odd world of Internet that often seems to be a lesser consideration, at least in the early going.

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