New Delhi: Trends from the past are being revived everyday and old school is the new cool. What's trending nowadays is the new crop of exchange related startups that are reintroducing the age old barter system.
Bartering isn't reserved for recession anymore. New startups like the Delhi based Barterstreets are introducing barter as an everyday alternative to the monetary system and turning a simple concept into an innovative and convenient solution.
Currently operational in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, Barterstreets is an Android app that provides a platform for exchange within hyperlocal communities. Bartering on the app is not just for material goods but skills and services as well.
From books and furniture to frisbee and art lessons, there are many interesting things and skills being offered on the app. It's a common misconception that only related products and services can be bartered. For example, one could barter legal services for website design, an arrangement that would professionally benefit both parties involved. Barterstreets leaves this decision of determining what to barter and the fairness of the transaction entirely to its users.
Meeting new people over a barter, whose interests match your own is the core idea behind the app, says founder Ambuj Singh. It's not just about dating, anymore. In an age where technology rules most areas of our everyday lives, it's important to keep the charm of real human interaction alive, he adds.
Collaborative consumption models like these also foster a sense of community and help reduce wastage and excessive consumption. Given all the obvious benefits, maybe it's time to change the way we transact by exploring such viable alternatives to the current economy.
