Bartering and Tradegoods: Jerry Y

Here is the second prize submission by Jerry Y.

My thoughts and opinions on barter and trade

Never show more than necessary for a given trade. Never let on like you have more.

Only trade alcohol, weapons, and ammunition to those you know will not be a problem for you later.

Try to barter skills and knowledge rather than goods. They don’t run out.

Try to barter the information in books. Don’t let the books leave your control.

Try to barter the use of tools and equipment rather than trading them away.

Try to make trades in neutral areas or at a designated barter/trade meeting. Make sure you aren’t followed back home.

 

Not all the items/skills listed will be of much value early into the event. It could be three to five years or more for some of the items to become valuable.

Many of the items are only appropriate if one already has the items or skills involved. They aren’t something you would acquire just for barter. Listed simply as a reminder that many things might be in demand in the PAW, and various hobbies or existing businesses and skills can be the basis of trade goods or services.

Try to have most of your equipment and several months of consumables before you stockpile trade goods, including Precious Metals.

When it comes to PMs, unless you are wealthy, start slow. A few silver dimes & quarters at a time. When you feel it is time to get gold coins, stay with the small denominations. And remember that there will be some people that won’t trust or want them.

 

If you are trading bulk items, try to have the customers bring their own containers for the items. But it will be a good idea to have some of your own so you can trade just the amount you or they want without having to try and get full value for the full container of the goods. For many of them you can collect a deposit, to encourage the people to bring back the same container for repeat sales to conserve you stock of the containers.

 

Some of what I’m acquiring for barter (No, I don’t have all of these items. Yet.)

 

Scales to get agreed upon weights of items

commercial scale (±500#)

commercial scale (±100#)

commercial scale (±10#)

commercial scale (±16oz)

 

1.0 oz gold coins

0.1 oz gold coins

40 count rolls pre-1965 silver quarters

50 count rolls pre-1965 silver dimes

blank barter slips (pre-printed slips to record barter transaction – who, what, when, how much, etc.)

 

A large library of useful books (remember, trade the information, not the book)

 

200ml bottles 190 proof Everclear

smokeless tobacco

2 oz boxes tobacco

booklets cigarette papers

smoking pipes

small boxes matches

butane lighter fuel

Zippo lighter fuel

lighter flints

lighter wicks

disposable lighters

straight razors w/strop, soap, & cup

shaving soap

Q-tips

 

playing cards

dice

 

candle/oil lamp wick

Coleman lantern mantles

Crank flashlights

 

Canned green coffee beans (with a roaster and grinder to use, not trade away)

2 oz jars instant coffee

16 count boxes teabags

2 oz jars bouillon cubes

tubs add-water-only drink mix

 

1 pound boxes sugar

various spices

small containers of cooking oil

2 oz boxes salt

2 oz cans pepper

5 oz cans milk

4 oz cans cocoa

2 oz bars chocolate candy

8 oz bags hard candy (individually wrapped)

 

4 oz cans Vienna sausage/potted meat

12 oz cans roast beef

7 oz cans Spam (or 12oz)(or Treet)

6 oz cans tuna

10 oz cans soup (heavy on the meat types)

 

16 oz bags rice

16 oz bags beans/lentils

aspirin pain killer

acetaminophen pain killer

multi-vitamin

OTC reading glasses

OTC UVA/UVB resistant sunglasses

Cheap wide-brimmed straw hats

 

small boxes tampons/sanitary napkins

reusable sanitary napkins

 

reusable cotton diapers

diaper pins

plastic/poly/nylon/rubber diaper cover pants

 

clothes pins

 

wooden pencils/ink pens

small note books

legal pads

 

50 count bottles water purification tablets

 

6”-12” candles

boxes strike anywhere kitchen matches

 

rolls toilet paper

bars soap (Ivory, Lava, Fels Naptha laundry soap)

hair combs/brushes

disposable razors

toothbrushes

boxes baking soda

shoe and boot laces

 

packets safety pins

packets of sewing needles

spools of thread

 

mousetraps

rat traps

fly swatters

 

jersey gloves

cotton/leather work gloves

insulated gloves

socks

 

tubes silicone sealant

tubes Shoe Goo/Goop

tubes JB Weld

duct tape

mechanic’s wire

electrical tape

friction tape

rubber tape

sheet plastic

divided buckets with a variety of nails, screws, bolts, nuts, and washers

sealed cans of welding rods (6011 and/or 7018 1/8”)

variety of brazing rods

cans of brazing flux

 

regular canning lids

wide mouth canning lids

Tattler reusable canning lids

Tattler reusable canning lid rubber rings

P-38/P-51 can openers

 

6-hour cans ECOFuelXB

1-lb propane cylinders

10-lb bags charcoal briquettes

 

solar 12-volt battery chargers

solar AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt battery charger

rechargeable batteries AAA, AA, C, D, 9-volt

 

 

#10 cans heirloom seeds

Coffee plant seed

Tobacco plant seed

Tea plant seed

Poppy plant seed

 

Biodiesel production chemicals

Soap making chemicals

 

500-round bricks .22 LR RF cartridges

5-round boxes .410/20 GA shells

single units M6 Scout/Savage 24F/Remington SPR-94 O/U .22 RF/.410 or 20 gauge combos

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the prepackaged goods here are the things I think would be good trade goods bought in bulk and traded away in small quantities when things settle down, plus some items to make it easier.

 

Bulk trade goods

 

Diamant #525 grain grinder to grind grains for customer

spare Diamant grinding plates

 

Katadyn Expedition water filter to make clean water for customers

spare Katadyn Expedition water filter element

 

Scales to get agreed upon weights of items

commercial scale (±500#)

commercial scale (±100#)

commercial scale (±10#)

commercial scale (±16oz)

 

small containers for measured out items (spices, meds, etc.)(really small zip-locks)

weighing scale to measure out items

set various scoops, funnels, etc. for measuring & transferring goods

5/6/7-gallon dispensing containers (to hold filtered water)

 

blank barter slips

 

5/6/7 gallon buckets w/lids for water (deposit)

1-gallon zip-lock bags/cloth bags (deposit)

1-quart zip-lock bags/cloth bags (deposit)

medium paper sacks/cloth bags (deposit)

small paper sacks/cloth bags (deposit)

pint cans w/screw lids (deposit)

small envelopes/zip-lock bags for spices/meds/etc

 

20# propane cylinder for refilling from large home tank

1-lb propane cylinders

10-lb bags charcoal briquettes

5-gallon buckets of pool shock (to make bleach)

Cases of

#2½ cans baking powder

#2½ cans baking soda

#2½ cans corn starch

#2½ cans or vacuum packed spices (cream of tartar, Allspice, season salt, pepper, mild chili powder, cinnamon, ginger, Italian seasoning, lemon pepper, nutmeg, spaghetti sauce spice, taco mix, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, clove, BBQ mix, basil, cumin, oregano, Paprika, anise, cayenne, garlic, curry mix, mustard, celery seed, turmeric, chives, tobasco, caraway seed, cardamom, dill, fennel, tarragon, coriander, Worcestershire sauce, spearmint, peppermint, savory, mace)

2 ounce bottles of extracts (Vanilla, mint, peppermint, butterscotch, maple, almond, anise)

1-lb packages yeast

 

Buckets of

wheat

rice

pinto beans

great northern beans

cornmeal

sugar

olive oil

coconut oil

shortening powder

iodized salt

kosher salt

powdered milk

vegetable stew mix

dried eggs

nutty granola

butter powder

cheese blend

tomato powder

macaroni

noodles

spaghetti noodles

rolled oats

peanut butter powder

honey

beef bouillon

chicken bouillon

beef TVP

chicken TVP

ham TVP

hard candy

rolls of toilet paper

bundles of red shop rags as reusable TP substitute

 

100# bags fertilizer

 

100# bags non-iodized canning salt

 

Large containers of simple homemade cleaner ingredients (Baking soda, Vinegar, rubbing alcohol, washing soda, Borax, mild dish detergent [castile soap], cream of tartar, hydrogen peroxide, Lemon juice, sodium percarbonate, salt, corn starch, olive oil)

 

 

 

 

Here are some examples of Tradesman’s Tools that could be stockpiled and either used and the product/service bartered, or their USE bartered out. One wouldn’t barter away the tools that bring in the food. (Again, I don’t have all the items or skills.)

±500# scale

±100# scale

±10# scale

±16oz scale

 

Tailor/Seamstress tools

Sewing machine

Serger

Sewing basket (needles, thimbles, thread, measuring tape,  seam ripper, scissors, shears, marking chalk, straight edge, pins, neck magnifying glass, etc.)

bolts of cloth, patterns, spare needles, pins, chalk, thread, buttons, zippers, snaps, etc)

Treadle type sewing machine (Janome 712T)

weaving looms

>1,000 watt generator

 

 

Food processing tools

Grain grinders, solar dehydrators, butchering tools, manual meat slicer, manual meat grinder, sausage stuffer, stuffing tubes, jerky shooter, meat smoker, water purifier

 

 

barbers tools

scissors, combs, hair brushes, dusting brush, broom, dust pan, chair, neck apron, razor, shaving cup, shaving soap, towels

 

ammunition re-loader’s tools

Dillion progressive tool w/primary caliber dies

RCBS press with common caliber dies

Bullet casting equipment

lead

black powder making tools & screens

 

laundry tools

Staber washing machine

laundry soap

bleach

clothes lines w/poles, stakes & clothes pins

water heater (kettle w/tripod)

water tank

12v pump & battery

drain line

James washer w/wringer

2+ washtubs

>1,000 watt generator

 

entertainment tools

band instruments

projection TV

TV projector

Lap-top computer

DVD disk player

VHS tape player

Chairs

Karaoke machine w/cd-g’s

Lighting system

Sound system

>1,500 watt generator

Battery bank, solar panels, and inverter

protective bullet resistant face for TV’s if used

Classic books for storyteller to read

 

home canning equipment & supplies

firewood cutting tools

knife/edged tool sharpening tools

printer’s/newspaper publisher’s tools

butcher/meat cutter’s tools

meat processors tools (sausage, etc.)

tanner’s tools

milk processors tools (cheese, etc.)

baker’s tools & supplies

bath house/shower room tools

candle maker’s tools & supplies

gardener’s tools

mechanic’s tools

machinist’s tools – Smithy Granite 1340 Industrial Max metalworking all-in-one machine

woodworker’s tools – Smithy Supershop 220 woodworking all-in-one machine

blacksmith’s tools – Oxygen accumulator, acetylene generator

plumber’s tools

lumber making tools – portable sawmill

electrician’s tools

carpenter’s tools

roofer’s tools

stonemason’s tools

primitive building tools

cobbler/shoe maker’s tools

soap maker’s tools

brewer/wine maker’s tools

distillery tools

miller’s tools

spinner & weaver’s tools (looms)

teaching tools and supplies K-12

smelter/foundry/metal worker’s tools

sheep sheering tools

papermaking tools

rope, cordage, and net making tools

millwright’s tools

farm tools (prepare, sow, cultivate, harvest)

biodiesel equipment & supplies

wood gas generator equipment & supplies

charcoal making tools

black powder making tools

reference/do-it-yourself library (books/magazines/CD-ROMs/DVDs)(never let the media out of your control)

 

 

Here are the skill sets I think most likely to be needed. (I only have a few of them myself)

 

Alternative energy specialist

Alternative HVAC specialist

Ammunition re-loader

Appliance repairman

Assayer

Baker

Banker

Barber

Basket maker

Bathhouse/shower room operator

Beekeeper

Bicycle Repairman

Biodiesel maker

Blackpowder maker

Blacksmith

Botanist

Brew master

Brick maker

Bullet caster

Butcher/meat processor

Candle maker

Carpenter

Cartridge maker

Cartwright

Chandler

Charcoal burner

Cheese maker

Chemist

Chimney sweep

Cobbler/shoe maker

Coffin maker

Cook

Cooper (barrel maker)

Coppersmith

Dentist

Distiller, drinking alcohol

Distiller, fuel alcohol

Doctor

Dog trainer

Edged tool sharpener (knives/saw blades/chainsaw chains, etc)

Electrician

Electronics tech

EMT/Paramedic

Experienced barterer/flea market operator

Farmer

Farm hand

Farrier

Firefighter

Firewood purveyor

Fisherman

Food canner/processor

Furniture maker

Gardener

Gatherer (wild plants, useful rocks and minerals)

Glass maker

Goatherd

Goldsmith/silversmith

Gravedigger

Gunpowder maker

Gunsmith/gun maker

Handyman

Harvester/picker

Heavy equipment operator

Herbalist/mineralist

Horse trainer/wrangler

Hunter/trapper

Ice purveyor/harvester/maker

Knife maker

Knife sharpener

Knitter/crocheter

Laundress/laundry room operator

Leather worker

Librarian

Locksmith

Logger/forester/sawyer

Lumber maker

Machinist

Mechanic

Metal worker

Metallurgist

Midwife

Milk maid

Milk processor

Miller

Millwright

Miner

Mulcher/composter/manure collector

Net maker

Nurse

Optician (eyeglass maker)

Orchardman/arborist

Paper maker

Peace Officer

Pedi-cab driver

Pest control specialist

Pharmacist

Plumber

Postman

Pottery maker

Pressure canner food storage specialist

Primitive building specialist

Printer/newspaperman

Psychologist/Psychiatrist

Quilter/Quilt maker

Radio Operator

Rancher

Ranch hand

Repairman

Roofer

Rope/cordage maker

Sail maker

Sailor (Boatswain)

Salt maker

Salvage specialist

Security guard

Shake/shingle maker

Sheep sheerer

Shepherd

Shipwright/boat builder

Shoemaker

Skill At Arms instructor

Small engine mechanic

Smelter/foundryman

Soap maker

Soldier

Spice purveyor

Spinner/Weaver

Stonemason/brick layer

Sugar maker

Surveyor

Tailor/seamstress

Tanner

Teacher

Thatcher

Tinker

Tire repairman

Tool & die maker

Trade maker

Trader/Wagoner

Trapper

Truck driver

Undertaker

Veterinarian

Watch/clock repairman/maker

Weaver

Welder

Well driller

Wheelwright

Winemaker

Wood gas equipment maker

Woodworker

 

 

A few skills that won’t be in high demand, but would be a good secondary skill

 

Artist

Bookbinder

Candy maker

Comedian

Dye maker

Entertainer

Historian

Ink maker

Judge/arbitrator

Karaoke operator

Maid

Massage therapist

Musician

Physicist

Scribe

Secretary

Storyteller

Toy & game maker

 

 

Some things I probably won’t get for barter for this reason: If there is a large die off the items will be available to pick up all sorts of places. If there isn’t one, they will still be available through normal channels.

 

Knives, especially ‘Cheap’ knives

Clothing

Tools (Yes, have a really good set for yourself, and possibly one to barter the use of, but keep the tools)

Cooking equipment

Fishing gear