Most people on the Internet who are looking for good deals normally choose to shop with traditional retailers or they may place a bid at their favorite auction website. There is another way to land a fantastic deal and that doesn't requireperson to pay an arm and a leg after the deal is done. Consider the art of swapping your old or unwanted items you have for unwanted items other people have for example.
This article was inspired after following the bartering (swapping) skills of a man named Kyle MacDonald and his website “One Red Paperclip". Kyle, Swapped his self from one trade to another, until he had himself his very own house. Amazingly, he managed to swap himself to a house in only fourteen trades.
Now, I am not suggesting that anyone can do what Kyle MacDonald did, but if you never try, then you will never know. Even if your idea isn't so grand as swapping until you achieve something big, it is cheaper than buying new or bidding in an auction. You can still swap your old things for the things that you want and only be responsible for paying the cost of shipping the things you have agreed to swap with another member(s).
This list isn't a Top 10 list, but if it were, then I would suspect that this list would look pretty much the same as I have it right now. So, enjoy!
Books, CDs, DVDs Swaps
Bookmooch
Exchange used books with other BookMooch members and “Get” the book(s) that you want in return. There is no cost to participate in the BookMooch community. Only pay for the actual shipping of the books that you agree to swap.
Paper Back Swap
Swap paperback Books, CDs and DVDs with other members of Paperback Swap. Membership is currently free. Like with any swapping community, members are responsible for paying the actual shipping cost for the products that they have agreed to swap.
Swap Simple
SwapSimple makes swapping books, DVDs and video games really easy and simple. List the books, DVDs and video games simply by entering the UPC code that is printed on the DVDs or video games or enter the ISBN number that is printed on the back cover of the books into the swap listing tools and SwapSimple will take care of the rest. Swap with members who are included in your swap network free and only pay $1.00 or $2.00 per swap, if you are swapping with members outside of your swap network. Swaps are backed with a 100% Money Back Guarantee. Membership is free and required.
Sequential Swap
Dust off your old and new comic books, trade paperbacks and graphic novels and use Sequential Swap to swap what you have to get the comics that you want with other members. Membership is free and required.
Fashion and Cosmetics
Swap Style
Swapstyle.com describes itself as “an online fashion swap party where you can swap, sell and buy fashion, accessories, cosmetics, shoes and lots more with people from all around the world at any time, day or night”. This is a fantastic idea in my opinion, because it can save its members a lot of money on the name brand fashions and cosmetics that are normally purchased at retailers at high markups. Members can also participate in forums and discuss the latest fashion trends, sales and/or whatever comes to your mind at the time. Members are only responsible for paying the actual shipping costs associated with the items that they have traded or sold and the other members are responsible for paying for the actual shipping of the things that they agreed to swap with you. Membership is free and required.
Make Upalley
Ladies here is your chance to swap cosmetics that you own, but don't use for cosmetics that other members have and you want. We're talking about name brand cosmetics - the expensive stuff. Members are only responsible for covering the shipping costs for the cosmetics that they have agreed to swap. Members can read products reviews or write a review on the products that you have used. Participate in forums and meet other members, so that you can get to know the people that you might want to make a swap with later. Membership is free and required.
Swap Anything
U Swap It
Members of the Swapit.com community can swap anything that they desire with other members and for the things that they want. Swapit.com members are not limited, just to swapping books, CDs and DVDs, but can swap electronics, sporting goods or anything that they want to swap with other members. Members are responsible for paying for the shipping of the items that they have agreed to swap with other members. Members can also join into the Swapit forums to get to know other members better. Membership is free and required.
