ATLANTA, GA — 04/14/10 — Uber Trade, the first B2B barter exchange to charge no membership or accounting fees, is giving 1,000 trade dollars to new businesses.Businesses save their cash by trading their products or services with other members. It’s not one-to-one swapping; you trade what you have (excess inventory, extra billable hours, tickets) and get trade dollars to buy more of the items you need from any member in the exchange.
Uber Trade has put a new twist on the trade concept by eliminating brokers and allowing businesses to contact one another directly. Members can update their profiles, post classified listings, and create cashless or part-cash deals with other members at the touch of a button. Members are also able to rate one another after they trade, opening the way to referrals and eliminating any buyer-beware concerns.
Whereas most trade exchanges charge hundreds of dollars for an upfront membership fee, plus monthly or quarterly accounting fees, Uber Trade costs NO money to join and has NO monthly or quarterly fees.
According to small business owner Chris Manning, CEO, Community Fundraising Coupon Books, “One of the many areas that I have been able to use bartering as an effective tool has been making sure that all of our ad sponsorships are 100% filled. I felt an immediate relief because I was now reaching my goals and was able to use my trade dollars, instead of cash, to offset ongoing costs associated with signage, copywriting, and design work… For the businesses that buy my ad space on trade, it not only helps them to try our flavor of marketing but helps their businesses grow without affecting their bottom line which is truly a win-win situation.”
Uber Trade is working to give back to the community, as well. Though each trade generates a nominal trading fee, non-profits (501c3s) trade free and a portion of each fee is donated in cash to the non-profit organization of the ‘member’s’ choice.
As an introductory special, Uber Trade offers 1,000 trade dollars to their first 500 members. While Uber Trade was designed for like-minded business owners, individuals too can trade or earn trade dollars by simply referring businesses to the community. Uber Trade opened its doors to trading in November 2009 and is available 24/7 at www.ubertrade.com, Twitter and Facebook.
Ok, I normally don’t comment about this kind of thing, but I have to point out some inconsistencies here…
Uber Trade ways they are the first to charge no monthly, sign up, or quarterly fees, but they aren’t (Tons of internet sites don’t charge fees…U-Exchange, TriBarter, etc).
They say they are the first to eliminate brokers…they’re not (Big Vine, All Business Barter, any internet barter site of current date).
They’ve been in business since November, and are now trying to bribe people to join by giving them 1,000 in barter. Times that by 500 and you are putting 500,000 in to your local currency. Who is selling at that point? This is one of the worst examples of deficit spending a barter exchange that I have seen in a while. Second only to BarterZone giving away a million barter dollars…that was just silly.
There is no faster way to devalue your currency than to give it away. Uber Trade has just declared to the world that their barter dollars aren’t worth anything…
I have to respectfully disagree. I am a business owner who has had an outstanding experience with UberTrade. I immediately got a brand new client from the moment the trading doors opened and have gone on to forge a strong relationship with him.
I did not perceive my barter dollars as being at all worthless. You have to remember that they are only available if you use them in the first 90 days of receipt. It’s to help people get into the trading swing of things. From a business owners perspective, that got me new business quickly! It then encouraged me to turn around, quickly, and help out another business owner. The trade dollar offer was only to a limited number of members, too. I viewed it as an introductory offer.
I’ve found UberTrade very easy and affordable to use, and intend to continue working with them for some time.
-Carmen
I don’t get it. They charge roughly the same as 90% of the barter exchanges out there. They take away the brokers, leaving you to fend for yourself. So what exactly are you paying for? One would think the fees would be lower.
I’ve been in the industry since 1994, we have all seen the “Free” method tried in most countries. From memory, they no longer exist. So, if UBER have come up with a method of employing and maintaning staff with out charging any fees, best of luck to them. As for the clients, I’m sure some people will value something for “Free” however, those savvy business’ out there will no better. Devaluing your own currency has to be suicidal at best.