Sep 24, 2008 5:59 pm US/Eastern
3 On Your Side: Swaptree
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
It's been said that when times get tough, the tough go shopping! But with the economy the way it is these days, that's easier said than done. What if we told you that you could get items like DVD's, CD's, books and video games for free?
That's right free! No, it's not a club. 3-On Your Side's Jim Donovan shows you how.
As the stock market continues its roller coaster ride, Bill and Aimee Gallagher keep on trading.
But they aren't trading stocks and bonds, they're trading books, DVD's, CD's and video games, and the best part is it's completely free! Bill says all they pay for is the postage.
The Gallagher's have traded hundreds of items online using a site called Swap Tree.
According to Bill, "if I got involved, it's simple enough for a caveman, like they say and anyone can do it."
On Swap Tree, you can trade a book for a book, a CD for a movie, it's an item for item trade. You start by typing in the bar code found on the item you want to swap. A picture then appears and using a drop-down menu you describe the items condition. Then the hunt begins. You can browse for items currently available or Swap Tree searches for items that you have on a wish list.
When a match is made, you're alerted by e-mail and then have 48 hours to accept or reject the trade.
Sometimes the computer-matched trade can involve more than two people.
According to Bill, "it could be up to 3, 4, 5. But you're just told what item to ship where and what item you'll be getting and from whom."
Once a trade is accepted, you ship your item using your own postage or a prepaid label that you can print out. Bill says that the postage is quite manageable, in the two to three dollar range, give or take 50 cents.
A few days later after accepting a trade, a new book, CD, video game or DVD arrives in the mail.
Bill just received his latest CD, The Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits.
Users of Swap Tree can rate the trade after it's complete and can also offer everything from book reviews to their own music critiques on the items listed.
At any given time, the Gallagher's have dozens of items up for grabs just waiting for a match and according to Bill, "so far, so good."
RELATED LINK:
Swaptree
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