Do you stock up on items just for potential bartering? (Page 1 of 2)
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Posted: 5/3/2026 5:55:48 PM EDT
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I filled up a can with Bic lighters after I read that interview with the Sarajevo survivor. I really dont expect them to be as valuable as he said, but did it anyway. If you buy things just for potential bartering in event of some emergency what are you stashing? |
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Not specifically for bartering. I suggest stocking up on things you will use, which should also be pretty good for barter. Storage food and vegetable seeds are at the top of my list. Keep in mind that seeds do go bad in a few years. So I try to grow and save new seeds every year. |
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No. I don’t want a bunch of unusable junk around. Now, if I thought things were about to get really bad….yes I would. FYI….cheap Bic type lighters don’t last forever. I prefer to work on skills. Skills are one of the best barter things there is. |
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Originally Posted By ColtRifle: No. I don’t want a bunch of unusable junk around. Now, if I thought things were about to get really bad….yes I would. FYI….cheap Bic type lighters don’t last forever. I prefer to work on skills. Skills are one of the best barter things there is. Ive been carrying around the same little one in my shoulder pouch for maybe 10 years and it still works on the rare occasion I need it. |
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Not really for the specific purpose of bartering but some extra stuff I have has the potential to be useful in a barter situation. I try not to buy anything without the intention of eventually using it. Sometimes I get ahead of things for the purpose of sales/ savings, but I don't buy 100 of (insert whatever item) just to put in a box with its only plan being used for barter someday in some SHTF situation. I do have some bulk hardware that I got when cleaning out a garage of passed family. I probably won't use it all, but I didn't have it in me to scrap it all. As it was, I filled a pickup truck full of new hardware such as various sizes of nuts/ bolts/ threaded rod etc. Of course, it's never the sizes I need, and I often gift handfuls to any family or friends if I know they need some of what I already have. Buying that same handful of bolts is not cheap at a hardware store. Even my extra stuff that I plan to use, I think of it less as barter and more helping family and community in a time of need because the reality of SHTF is it won't really be like what's depicted on TV/ Movies or in books. Better looking at historical events that have actually occurred as a gauge of what might happen in the future. |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
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There is stuff that folks will need/want, if not for SHTF, then for after a hurricane or other supply chain disruption. Keeping a few bottles, some cigarettes (haven't smoke for a long time), batteries, and extra Coleman stove, fuel (all kinds) and stuff like that can win some friends under the right circumstances. In fact you might be the one that needs something....that's why they call it bartering. |
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There is stuff that folks will need/want, if not for SHTF, then for after a hurricane or other supply chain disruption. Keeping a few bottles, some cigarettes (haven't smoke for a long time), batteries, and extra Coleman stove, fuel (all kinds) and stuff like that can win some friends under the right circumstances. In fact you might be the one that needs something....that's why they call it bartering. I'm in this boat as well- I have some stuff that has little interest for me, or at a quantity I would not normally stock, for the intended purpose of possibly using it to fill unanticipated or developed gaps through trade. Booze is a big one. If cigarettes would keep, I'd stock them as well. |
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Originally Posted By TAP: I'm in this boat as well- I have some stuff that has little interest for me, or at a quantity I would not normally stock, for the intended purpose of possibly using it to fill unanticipated or developed gaps through trade. Booze is a big one. If cigarettes would keep, I'd stock them as well. Originally Posted By TAP: There is stuff that folks will need/want, if not for SHTF, then for after a hurricane or other supply chain disruption. Keeping a few bottles, some cigarettes (haven't smoke for a long time), batteries, and extra Coleman stove, fuel (all kinds) and stuff like that can win some friends under the right circumstances. In fact you might be the one that needs something....that's why they call it bartering. I'm in this boat as well- I have some stuff that has little interest for me, or at a quantity I would not normally stock, for the intended purpose of possibly using it to fill unanticipated or developed gaps through trade. Booze is a big one. If cigarettes would keep, I'd stock them as well. Not many people smoking these days. Kids vape, nicotine pouches seem to be selling well. Wonder how long vape juice and pouches would store? Google says nicotine lozenges have a shelf life of 24 months. |
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Originally Posted By WantGrape: Not many people smoking these days. Kids vape, nicotine pouches seem to be selling well. Wonder how long vape juice and pouches would store? Google says nicotine lozenges have a shelf life of 24 months. Originally Posted By WantGrape: Originally Posted By TAP: There is stuff that folks will need/want, if not for SHTF, then for after a hurricane or other supply chain disruption. Keeping a few bottles, some cigarettes (haven't smoke for a long time), batteries, and extra Coleman stove, fuel (all kinds) and stuff like that can win some friends under the right circumstances. In fact you might be the one that needs something....that's why they call it bartering. I'm in this boat as well- I have some stuff that has little interest for me, or at a quantity I would not normally stock, for the intended purpose of possibly using it to fill unanticipated or developed gaps through trade. Booze is a big one. If cigarettes would keep, I'd stock them as well. Not many people smoking these days. Kids vape, nicotine pouches seem to be selling well. Wonder how long vape juice and pouches would store? Google says nicotine lozenges have a shelf life of 24 months. They don't store long term well. Pipe tobacco stores ok in a cool dark place and I have some simply for the purposes of puffing on a corn cob pipe around a campfire a few times a year but that's about it. I stumbled across nicotine or caffeine infused toothpicks. I bet they would store the best. I use 2mg nicotine pouches, but I wouldn't never get more than a couple months ahead because I have got some packs that were obviously old and are not very good. I have been meaning to try some of these just to see but haven't yet. https://zippixtoothpicks.com/collections/nicotine-infused-toothpicks link left cold. |
Originally Posted By ar-jedi:
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
SO MUCH WIN IN ONE POST IT COULD CRASH ARFCOM !!!
| I bought some lighters and book matches to keep in my GHB. Figured they keep better and are lighter and last longer than any food I could put in my bag and forget about and they should be easy to trade for a few meals along the way. |
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| On one of the last "barter" threads, one of the guys was going to post a scan of one of the articles I wrote years ago from the old American Survival Guide magazine on bartering. November 1996 issue. If someone wants to scan and post that, your welcome to. That magazine is long defunct so they won't have a problem with it, and I don't personally. |
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Originally Posted By Mannlicher: folks have been awaiting for, planning for, and stocking up for Ragnarok for years now. It may, or may not happen. Likely never will. I will say that extra food and water is never bad to have. Far more likely to need it for a natural disaster or something similar. I just enjoy having stuff there even if I never need it. |
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I have a bunch of those mini booze bottles for barter. people need to get their drink on
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Guys, think about every time you've had to go to a seedy or even not so seedy convenience store. The people that are hanging around, going there and back multiple times during the day, in general looking like POS, what are they usually getting? Beer, cigs, lotto tickets. Vices and of course the concept of getting 'sumtim for nuthin", i.e, putting in no work and getting rich. So if you think you will "barter" these things, this is going to potentially be your MARKET..... think about it. Do you want to AVOID people like this in a bad situation or deal more with them? These things (booze, cigs) are better used for "gift" purposes, i.e, winning favor, repaying a favor, etc. with people you actually know. In sales/marketing (things you will need to know to truly "barter") you will hear about your "target market." Do you want your "target market" to be hand to mouth (i.e, need food and the very basics) and/or even worse the "I need a fix for my vice" crowd? While that could be lucrative from a "eff it" type of attitude, it makes no sense SEEKING out that market in a bad situation where ROL is gone. We all know that base level of existence types do whatever NOW, can you imagine after the fact?? And bartering ammo? Really??? Someone you know, as in you share DNA with, or have shared a helluva lot of sweat, tears and maybe some blood with, then I will happily give them some if they need some. Outside of that...hell to the no. Finally, the most important and always missing piece from this type of discussion which like all "prepper" discussions focuses on THINGS rather than skills- How good are you at selling and negotiating now? Do you do that regularly? If not it's time to learn and practice if you think your going to be Barter Master 4000 in the pockey'lips. It's going to be a lot more than the classic "prepper" idea that you'll have some precious metals you can "name your price" on and everyone will be happy to get screwed on, I mean do business with you on.... Meanwhile, do you know how to meet up and do a deal with someone on the down low? A bad situation is not the best place for a "Karen" type approach, or acting cagey in the slightest bit. Demanding shit, trying to play hardball, etc. also could be a bad choice. Might be just a slight hand movement from the person your attempting to negotiate with and a round from 200 yards comes your way- all because you "weren't acting right." |
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HDR MREs would be the ideal barter food. While nutritionally good, it's bland red beans & rice, and it tastes like shit unless you are REALLY hungry. A couple of those and they won't be asking your for food... I don't think I can let my neighbor's kids go genuinely hungry. I didn't buy them for barter, i bought them for "hard rations" for myself. I only ate one. |
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Items, no I have to much crap taking up room in my house as it is. Goods or services I can produce for sale/barter absolutely. A hand cranked bench grinder can become a home knife sharpening business. A hand pumped well can produce buckets of clean water you can then trade. Fishing gear trot lines, crab traps, cast nets, etc. Can all produce extra food you can then sell. Just look at what poor people do in third world countries and mimic that. I travel to the Philippines occasionally. There is no EBT or welfare there so even the poorest people put there hands to some sort of work to survive. They are all looking to make things to sell, instead sell stuff they already have that they cannot get more of. There is a Filipina influencer on youtube that just got back from a vacation in the USA. Her father is a very poor fisherman that uses a home made canoe and hand lines. She brought him a fishing pole from Walmart as a present and made a video of him using it to catch a bunch of fish. Then she filmed herself going around the neighborhood and bartering the extra catch for things like rice, cooking oil, and fruit. That is how you do it. ![]() Province Life In The Philippines: Selling Fish Door-to-Door With The Barter System! |
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My planning is towards the purpose of self-sufficiency. The potential needs of strangers who aren’t a part of my life today doesn’t factor into that. I am not a convenience, liquor, hardware, or gun store for anyone. Maybe that’s the wrong call, but a line has to be drawn somewhere, and that’s where I’ve drawn mine. |
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Originally Posted By WantGrape: I filled up a can with Bic lighters after I read that interview with the Sarajevo survivor. I really dont expect them to be as valuable as he said, but did it anyway. If you buy things just for potential bartering in event of some emergency what are you stashing? Yes. Lighters and booze ftw. |
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Originally Posted By WantGrape: I filled up a can with Bic lighters after I read that interview with the Sarajevo survivor. I really dont expect them to be as valuable as he said, but did it anyway. If you buy things just for potential bartering in event of some emergency what are you stashing? Being “that guy who has everything” is a great way to get robbed. |
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Originally Posted By NotIssued: No, i'm not a hoarder. Originally Posted By NotIssued: No, i'm not a hoarder. Pretty much me. If thing's go way south enough like that I don't want any unnecessary contact with unknown people. People I know or live close by is another story, maybe. |
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Originally Posted By WantGrape: Not many people smoking these days. Kids vape, nicotine pouches seem to be selling well. Wonder how long vape juice and pouches would store? Google says nicotine lozenges have a shelf life of 24 months. Originally Posted By WantGrape: Originally Posted By TAP: There is stuff that folks will need/want, if not for SHTF, then for after a hurricane or other supply chain disruption. Keeping a few bottles, some cigarettes (haven't smoke for a long time), batteries, and extra Coleman stove, fuel (all kinds) and stuff like that can win some friends under the right circumstances. In fact you might be the one that needs something....that's why they call it bartering. I'm in this boat as well- I have some stuff that has little interest for me, or at a quantity I would not normally stock, for the intended purpose of possibly using it to fill unanticipated or developed gaps through trade. Booze is a big one. If cigarettes would keep, I'd stock them as well. Not many people smoking these days. Kids vape, nicotine pouches seem to be selling well. Wonder how long vape juice and pouches would store? Google says nicotine lozenges have a shelf life of 24 months. I conservatively have about 2,000 cigars and they rotate frequently as I probably smoke 800-1,000 a year. During COVID I had friends calling me asking if I could spare any. I think during the first four months of COVID I didn’t smoke a single cigar because it was cold out and the lounge was closed, but others were desperate. I do also ave a decent bourbon selection, but I rarely drink. Mostly it is gifts over the years. Would happily barter that. Food, ammo… yeah no. That I won’t barter unless it is for something I really need. |
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The Sarajevo guy (Selco Begovic) also said to stock up on gold wedding rings. If you ever had to trade a ring to a local gangster for special supplies, he would assume it was your one and only wedding ring. Joke is on him--you've got a stash of them buried in your back yard. Meanwhile, if you tried to trade a golden krugerrand to the gangster, he would immediately hold you at gunpoint, rightly assuming that you have a stash of gold coins in your back yard. |
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Honest question for you guys: In a society where everyone is already entitled and ‘owed’ to a level where if they knew a family had enough for Them and Theirs in a SHTF, they would blame them for their starvation and label them as Evil and deserving of whatever happens to them…… how do you think someone who barters would be seen? “That Bob down the street KNOWS I needed that alcohol to clean up Silas’s wound but I didn’t have what he wanted so now our boy is losing his hand…..” or “Bob is such a prick, we wanted to trade a gallon of gas for his 10lb bag of rice, but we Needed it to charge our phones in case the cell network is down. Now we don’t have the gas and he says he traded the rice off for something else and we are hungry…. Has he done anything like that to you, Betty? He sure has, Pam…. We needed a roll of visqueen to make a greenhouse and wanted my husband’s fishing pole. My husband and he have plenty of fishing poles so I don’t see the need for him-all I know is that we don’t have vegetables and we are tired of scrounging for food every day….. Bob’s an Asshole and not really a member of our community-he was a loner before and now he is profiting from our misery. I’m going to talk to my husband about catching him out of his house and holding him until the other men can go get what rightfully belongs to the community-it came from us, it belongs to us.” Sure, you can always shoot your way out of marauding looters, but wouldn’t it be better to have friends around in a SHTF? I would think that becoming the guy that has things people need would be a great way to bring problems upon yourself-especially if you stock ammo. Speaking of ammo, I had a little bit of a problem when Covid hit-I work in a stamping plant of about 300 employees. The people that work with me closely all know I am into shooting at a more-than-casual level and I had quite a few calls and night time meetings in parking lots giving/selling people a few mags worth of ammo. It did work out in my favor as I was able to “panic sell” a few guns I didn’t want anymore for rediculous amounts of money, but the saving grace is that anyone who wasn’t a good enough friend/coworker didn’t know where I lived for me to worry about a burglary while we bugged out to my cabin for a month. |
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"Some People Are Like Slinkies. They're Not Really Good For Anything, But They Bring a Smile To Your Face When Pushed Down The Stairs."
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Originally Posted By TheOtherDave: Honest question for you guys: In a society where everyone is already entitled and ‘owed’ to a level where if they knew a family had enough for Them and Theirs in a SHTF, they would blame them for their starvation and label them as Evil and deserving of whatever happens to them…… how do you think someone who barters would be seen? “That Bob down the street KNOWS I needed that alcohol to clean up Silas’s wound but I didn’t have what he wanted so now our boy is losing his hand…..” or “Bob is such a prick, we wanted to trade a gallon of gas for his 10lb bag of rice, but we Needed it to charge our phones in case the cell network is down. Now we don’t have the gas and he says he traded the rice off for something else and we are hungry…. Has he done anything like that to you, Betty? He sure has, Pam…. We needed a roll of visqueen to make a greenhouse and wanted my husband’s fishing pole. My husband and he have plenty of fishing poles so I don’t see the need for him-all I know is that we don’t have vegetables and we are tired of scrounging for food every day….. Bob’s an Asshole and not really a member of our community-he was a loner before and now he is profiting from our misery. I’m going to talk to my husband about catching him out of his house and holding him until the other men can go get what rightfully belongs to the community-it came from us, it belongs to us.” Sure, you can always shoot your way out of marauding looters, but wouldn’t it be better to have friends around in a SHTF? I would think that becoming the guy that has things people need would be a great way to bring problems upon yourself-especially if you stock ammo. Speaking of ammo, I had a little bit of a problem when Covid hit-I work in a stamping plant of about 300 employees. The people that work with me closely all know I am into shooting at a more-than-casual level and I had quite a few calls and night time meetings in parking lots giving/selling people a few mags worth of ammo. It did work out in my favor as I was able to “panic sell” a few guns I didn’t want anymore for rediculous amounts of money, but the saving grace is that anyone who wasn’t a good enough friend/coworker didn’t know where I lived for me to worry about a burglary while we bugged out to my cabin for a month. Originally Posted By TheOtherDave: Honest question for you guys: In a society where everyone is already entitled and ‘owed’ to a level where if they knew a family had enough for Them and Theirs in a SHTF, they would blame them for their starvation and label them as Evil and deserving of whatever happens to them…… how do you think someone who barters would be seen? “That Bob down the street KNOWS I needed that alcohol to clean up Silas’s wound but I didn’t have what he wanted so now our boy is losing his hand…..” or “Bob is such a prick, we wanted to trade a gallon of gas for his 10lb bag of rice, but we Needed it to charge our phones in case the cell network is down. Now we don’t have the gas and he says he traded the rice off for something else and we are hungry…. Has he done anything like that to you, Betty? He sure has, Pam…. We needed a roll of visqueen to make a greenhouse and wanted my husband’s fishing pole. My husband and he have plenty of fishing poles so I don’t see the need for him-all I know is that we don’t have vegetables and we are tired of scrounging for food every day….. Bob’s an Asshole and not really a member of our community-he was a loner before and now he is profiting from our misery. I’m going to talk to my husband about catching him out of his house and holding him until the other men can go get what rightfully belongs to the community-it came from us, it belongs to us.” Sure, you can always shoot your way out of marauding looters, but wouldn’t it be better to have friends around in a SHTF? I would think that becoming the guy that has things people need would be a great way to bring problems upon yourself-especially if you stock ammo. Speaking of ammo, I had a little bit of a problem when Covid hit-I work in a stamping plant of about 300 employees. The people that work with me closely all know I am into shooting at a more-than-casual level and I had quite a few calls and night time meetings in parking lots giving/selling people a few mags worth of ammo. It did work out in my favor as I was able to “panic sell” a few guns I didn’t want anymore for rediculous amounts of money, but the saving grace is that anyone who wasn’t a good enough friend/coworker didn’t know where I lived for me to worry about a burglary while we bugged out to my cabin for a month. I eluded to issues like this in my previous post. Finally, the most important and always missing piece from this type of discussion which like all "prepper" discussions focuses on THINGS rather than skills- How good are you at selling and negotiating now? Do you do that regularly? If not it's time to learn and practice if you think your going to be Barter Master 4000 in the pockey'lips. It's going to be a lot more than the classic "prepper" idea that you'll have some precious metals you can "name your price" on and everyone will be happy to get screwed on, I mean do business with you on.... Meanwhile, do you know how to meet up and do a deal with someone on the down low? A bad situation is not the best place for a "Karen" type approach, or acting cagey in the slightest bit. Demanding shit, trying to play hardball, etc. also could be a bad choice. Might be just a slight hand movement from the person your attempting to negotiate with and a round from 200 yards comes your way- all because you "weren't acting right." Certainly with the "socialist" leaning of MOST modern Amerikan "culture" what you mentioned is a DEFINITE possibility. One needs to look no further than some of the "prepper" forums on the net now including at arm pits like reddit to see how many of these types preach "community" yet offer nothing to their supposed community, nor are stocking supplies in quantity enough that they COULD conceivably "help others" in a bad situation. No, these are similar to the types that join survival groups looking for that common security afforded to being in a group, yet do next to nothing past "getting their foot in the door." It's the 80/20 thing that you often hear about that IS REAL. So yeah, Suzy Soccor Mom will EXPECT you to give sacrificially and she of course will have NOTHING to offer in return. Worse than that, as seen often in real relationships now, few understand the concept of RECIPROCATION. It's the "take me as I am" mantra as well as 20 or so years now of social(ist) media programming. Everyone that has something they don't will be a kulak... |
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A lot of folks have raised the issue of risk from entitled or bad folks if you have things and are bartering with them. It's certainly something to consider (I love the wedding bands idea) and to work to minimize, but in my opinion those folks are STILL a risk to you even without barter. If you're eating but have no spare for them or to barter, you're still a target for them. You might successfully fly below the radar a little longer without any visible trade, but that's far from certain and almost impossible to do long term. Smart barter can help cover gaps that develop in items or skills. Risky barter can do the same but at unacceptable risk. It's really no different than almost anything else- it has pros and cons and should be done thoughtfully to balance them. Stocking items and learning skills can just be one more tool on the shelf, to use or not use as the situation warrants. |
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but in my opinion those folks are STILL a risk to you even without barter. Of course. Any "hand to mouth" types are, both (slightly less) now and definitely more so later. |
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Originally Posted By Lowdown3: On one of the last "barter" threads, one of the guys was going to post a scan of one of the articles I wrote years ago from the old American Survival Guide magazine on bartering. November 1996 issue. If someone wants to scan and post that, your welcome to. That magazine is long defunct so they won't have a problem with it, and I don't personally. That was probably my thread, asking if people think there will actually be bartering in an emergency. I guess at this point you can figure out where my curiosity lies |
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Originally Posted By Lowdown3: Guys, think about every time you've had to go to a seedy or even not so seedy convenience store. The people that are hanging around, going there and back multiple times during the day, in general looking like POS, what are they usually getting? Beer, cigs, lotto tickets. Vices and of course the concept of getting 'sumtim for nuthin", i.e, putting in no work and getting rich. So if you think you will "barter" these things, this is going to potentially be your MARKET..... think about it. Do you want to AVOID people like this in a bad situation or deal more with them? These things (booze, cigs) are better used for "gift" purposes, i.e, winning favor, repaying a favor, etc. with people you actually know. In sales/marketing (things you will need to know to truly "barter") you will hear about your "target market." Do you want your "target market" to be hand to mouth (i.e, need food and the very basics) and/or even worse the "I need a fix for my vice" crowd? While that could be lucrative from a "eff it" type of attitude, it makes no sense SEEKING out that market in a bad situation where ROL is gone. We all know that base level of existence types do whatever NOW, can you imagine after the fact?? And bartering ammo? Really??? Someone you know, as in you share DNA with, or have shared a helluva lot of sweat, tears and maybe some blood with, then I will happily give them some if they need some. Outside of that...hell to the no. Finally, the most important and always missing piece from this type of discussion which like all "prepper" discussions focuses on THINGS rather than skills- How good are you at selling and negotiating now? Do you do that regularly? If not it's time to learn and practice if you think your going to be Barter Master 4000 in the pockey'lips. It's going to be a lot more than the classic "prepper" idea that you'll have some precious metals you can "name your price" on and everyone will be happy to get screwed on, I mean do business with you on.... Meanwhile, do you know how to meet up and do a deal with someone on the down low? A bad situation is not the best place for a "Karen" type approach, or acting cagey in the slightest bit. Demanding shit, trying to play hardball, etc. also could be a bad choice. Might be just a slight hand movement from the person your attempting to negotiate with and a round from 200 yards comes your way- all because you "weren't acting right." I was thinking more like "oh no my generator needs repaired and the local small engine guy isnt taking cash" |
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I was thinking more like "oh no my generator needs repaired and the local small engine guy isn't taking cash" That's exactly the situation where barter shines. You cannot possibly have all the skills and parts to keep everything squared away, forever. A "menu" of possible trade options might indeed make you the ideal customer to someone who can help you out. Want booze? Want gold? Want med supplies? Want water filters? Depending on the person, want weapons or ammo? Including those options into your planning just seems smart to me. |
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Originally Posted By TAP: That's exactly the situation where barter shines. You cannot possibly have all the skills and parts to keep everything squared away, forever. A "menu" of possible trade options might indeed make you the ideal customer to someone who can help you out. Want booze? Want gold? Want med supplies? Want water filters? Depending on the person, want weapons or ammo? Including those options into your planning just seems smart to me. Originally Posted By TAP: I was thinking more like "oh no my generator needs repaired and the local small engine guy isn't taking cash" That's exactly the situation where barter shines. You cannot possibly have all the skills and parts to keep everything squared away, forever. A "menu" of possible trade options might indeed make you the ideal customer to someone who can help you out. Want booze? Want gold? Want med supplies? Want water filters? Depending on the person, want weapons or ammo? Including those options into your planning just seems smart to me. Not really sure what else you'd do. Like maybe the guy I was responding to envisioned people setting up some little peddler stand in the middle of town and trying to hock your gold and booze to just any stranger that happens to wander by? |
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Originally Posted By WantGrape: Not really sure what else you'd do. Like maybe the guy I was responding to envisioned people setting up some little peddler stand in the middle of town and trying to hock your gold and booze to just any stranger that happens to wander by? It's not that "I" envisioned that, it's been the idea of MORE THAN A FEW new folks..... If you've watched these types of threads on survival forums over 30+ years like I have, you know people come with all kinds of stupid ideas like doing just what you mentioned!!! And no matter how on the DL you think you might be on trades, word will get around. Better to "gift" your "last" bottle of: whiskey, bourbon/whatever to someone who you need to curry favor from/repay a favor, etc. then trade it. |
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In business since 1992- Over 30 Years in business- Thank you for your business!
Quickest ways to contact us-
912.375.1480
[email protected]
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Originally Posted By Lowdown3: It's not that "I" envisioned that, it's been the idea of MORE THAN A FEW new folks..... If you've watched these types of threads on survival forums over 30+ years like I have, you know people come with all kinds of stupid ideas like doing just what you mentioned!!! And no matter how on the DL you think you might be on trades, word will get around. Better to "gift" your "last" bottle of: whiskey, bourbon/whatever to someone who you need to curry favor from/repay a favor, etc. then trade it. This is the way... Also your comment made me think of Stripes (this clip at the 2:08 mark). This clip is a little slap stick humor but, that bottle of booze shows what it can get you, access. ![]() Breaking Into a Soviet Base With an RV | Stripes (Bill Murray, Harold Ramis) |

