When a disaster devastates a community, and takes weeks, months ... to come back to "normal " you'd expect bater to emerge as the basic tool of post-disaster economy. Batering needs to be explored for many reasons. One : who sets the value of anything and how is agreement reached ? Is there no system for example ? Is it your need that dictate what goes thru a bater. You need a few shots of insulin, and the other guy demands a month's supply of wheat. Well ??

Also, how would you even find matches ???
I mean how do you find the folks that need what you have versus the guys who have what you need ??? Will church or Red Cross Center be a "batering market" of some sort ?

Well, I'd never barter for something as storage sensative as insulin. In that case, I'd recommend evac.

But I stash a few packs of cigs in my gear. I haven't smoked in years, but other people can't shake the habit. I don't plan on getting much for them, but someone holding gas might be willing to swap a couple gallons for a pack of butts after a week without. Nic-fits suck!

The rules of supply and demand will take over.

I have always thought that some sort of hooch, like Everclear, would be a very tradeable commodity, besides being useful for medicinal purposes.

I would think a bulletin board set up at some central location would be the simplest way to set up trades. Obviously it should be near some important location that lots of people will pass.

As for setting value, I think that is best left to the individuals involved in the trades.

-Mark

Good topic. The wife gets upset with all the "junk" I have in the garage, but if needed, I have lots of stuff to barter with. I agree that the smokes are a must have barter item. I know my next door neighbor loves Winston cigs...so I have a few around..just in case. I would only barter alcohol in small amounts. Wouldn't want the guy I just gave a whole bottle to get tanked up and come back to cause trouble. Still, it will be a commodity for sure.

Other things that would quickly accelerate up the barter list would be common everyday items that the average person can't produce. Fuel of any kind, water purificiation, hygine items like soap, toliet paper. Trust me on this one, I live with a wife and a daughter and when the toliet paper starts running low...it's a red alert.

I would imagine that alot of churchs in smaller communites would begin to be places to gather for trade and conversation..that is if you have the gas or means to get there. Hope everyone has a pedal bike...cheap now, but could be worth it's weight in gold later...or platinum in the case of Chris's horse. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

In barter it is a matter of offer and acceptance. You see something you need you offer something you got. If the other person likes the deal it works.

Read Alas Babylon. It gives you a couple of scenes of trading.

What you have to trade is only worth what someone else is willing to offer. In a true barter system there are no fixed prices.

Just about any highly populated area would have some sort of central meeting spot or travel rought in and out, and that's where I'd imagine the trading would take place. But, unless you or someone else is willing to create some sort of 'General Store' of sorts, bartering would be more random.

Ex: someone sees you use a flashlight and happens to need batteries, so he asks you if you have some to spare, so you reply, "what will you trade?" Or someone sees your sidearm and asks if you have some ammo of such and such a caliber... The posibilities are endless.

I don't know if I'd have the time or inclination to set up shop somewhere and announce that I have a hundred extra AA batteries for trade.

If I needed something I would go to where the most people are and announce that I need whatever it is, and if someone said yes, then I'd offer what I've got. All the better if you have a wide selection of stuff to offer, and would make it less likely that you'd even need to barter if you did so.

My $0.02

-Jeff

Here are some of the major rules for barter in Asia and Africa (and sometimes, the American Prison System.)

Never Ever barter anything new.
Anything new was stolen. Even if you bought it and have the receipt, to the local authorities, it is stolen, will be taken from you, and you will be very lucky to escape with your life.
Jails are not punishment, jails are holding places until your stuff is divided, ransomes raised, and you are executed.

Never Ever barter weapons or ammunition.
Weapons are earned, presented, or taken, and ammunition is purchased like a man. Barter is the pastime of feeble old men and women. A man buys outright or takes what he wants.
(Common sense really, never trade off something that can be used against you.)

Never Ever barter anything heavy enough that you can't run with it.

Never Ever offer money to even up or seal a barter. Grave insult.

Never Ever barter something you only have one of. It means you are poor, and can not afford protection, so you will be robbed, and probably killed.

Barter takes place in the center of market, and is high entertainment for all. Do not confuse trade and price haggleing on the edge of market with barter. All prices are negotiable, so money exchanges for goods and services are simple common trade for commodities.
Barter is the superbowl of village market life.

Anyone with a block of wood and a machette (cutlass) is an Authority Figure. Do what he says, or loose a hand or foot.

Pay the Market Chief whatever they want as tax. If you don't know how to spot the Market Chief, don't offer barter. It's not worth your life.

Barter excess supplies, like lighter fluid, canned food, batteries. Never trade for anything that can be altered, faked, diluted, and make sure you also include the cantainer it is in, in the deal.
I've seen barter in chickens for fuel, and when accord was reached, and the chickens handed over, the fuel was poured on the girls hands, because she didn't include the can in the deal.

A pint of Diesel fuel floating on 20 liters of water is a good barter, for one of the parties involved. It is expected that both parties are going to do what we call cheating.

Generally, if you have excess goods offer them for sale at a reasonable price from a location that is easily defended. Buy needed supplies from people doing the same. Never offer food or shelter for labor. Pay them after the labor is complete, and let them buy their own food and shelter.

I imagine that reputation would become important. If you do your bartering in a recognised marketplace, and you get cheated, other people are likely to remember the cheater.

Does it matter what brand of cigarettes? What's their shelf-life like?

Pretty good post Fallshirmjager. Very important to remember that bartering is a Dark Art when performed properly.

about six months if in the cellophane

then I have them vaccume packed by a friend. possibly forever.