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Bartering “A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned”

September 27, 2009

With our current economy in recession and an ever increasing government looking to place more beauracracy, taxes and fees upon business owners bartering is one smart option to place in your entreprenuerial tool box. When i first purchased the real estate where our current business www.MidTnAUTOS.com is located here on Jefferson Pike (Smyrna) i wanted to add a shop area. I had a nice chevy truck for sale when a man called me and i asked what he had one for a living he stated he was a framer. I asked if he would be interested in doing some trading. Well a few weeks later i had a nice 2200 square foot addition at the back of our office. I fact him and i have traded out on several occasions. Since then we have become good friends he even finally came to Church with us last Sunday. When i needed a central/heat and air system including duct work installed sure enough a central air company called me about another truck for sale. I had a truck for sale that had once belonged to singer Alan Jackson which i purchase for $800 it was an old Dodge flatbed. I traded the truck for a new CH/A unit and paid the owner $500 difference(boot). A unit at retail would of cost me about $4000 installed at retail value, but hey who wants to pay retail? Even my $8000 sign out front I swapped a Suzuki 600 motorcycle for it.
From advertising on WGNS 1450am/100.5 fm, 3 concrete driveways, lawn care and more bartering can certainly be a smart way to save money and leverage buying power.
What if you were a lawn care company and bartered area restaurants gift certificates and in turned sold the gift certificates, certainly a Win/Win situation. What about hair cuts if your you repaired computers? Make the computer repair and get haircuts for 90 days.
Being in the car business can be difficult to barter due to the higher cost of the item. One smart guy that i know Dan Miller of 48days.net even traded out a beautiful BMW 740 i sold him for some printing and not only had a car free for 6 months but made money due to the savings on the printing cost. The potential for bartering is limitless. From free web sites such as Craigslist, U-Exchange.com, and GoLSN.com the use of “leverage” to help your business or your family’s bottomline the tools are out there for you. Remember the old adage of Ben Franklin “A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned”.

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Written by Mike Sparks · Filed Under Smyrna News Blog 

Comments

6 Responses to “Bartering “A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned””

  1. Marie on September 28th, 2009 7:58 am

    great to hear others having success with bartering. I recently bartered my PR skills for a new web design. I have also begun bartering my kids clothes on http://barterquest.com, it is a great site where you can also barter your services, and even real estate.

  2. Mike Sparks on September 28th, 2009 9:40 am

    Thanks Marie for the comment. In tough times Value is certainly in style. I will check out that website.
    thanks
    Mike
    http://www.MidTnAUTOS.com
    Smyrna, Tn

  3. Don Wright on September 28th, 2009 10:28 am

    Check the tax laws first.

  4. Old Bill on September 28th, 2009 1:42 pm

    Just try to put a license tag on a car or motorcycle without paying the harpies in the county clerks office the sales tax.

  5. Old Bill on September 29th, 2009 11:23 am

    Norm,

    Your “new invention” appears to be a rehash of a gimmick from about twenty-five years ago. I do not recall the name of that particular “late night infomercial star.”

    The main difference between it and your product is that rather than being powered by what appears to be a hand held hair dryer running in suck mode rather than blow, the older “invention” attached to one’s home vacuum cleaner. Like your gizmo, it promised a perfect (and free) haircut every time.

    Alas, it appears that in the marketplace, it was a failure. I wish you all the success in the world.

  6. Russ on September 30th, 2009 8:35 am

    Seems to me that the difference with Norm’s invention is significant. I could see packing it in a suitcase and taking it on a trip. Interesting invention, Norm. I know that the “other guy” sold millions (wouldn’t really call that a failure). With any luck for you, yours can do the same.

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