Swaptree Sensation

Everyone has some books, movies, CDs, or video games laying around the house that they no longer want.  Whether this is because they have served their purpose or simply because they were a bad gift that you couldn’t return.  Either way, here is a way that you can trade your items for items that other people are looking to get rid of.  Just create your free account at swaptree.com.

On Swaptree, you first create a list of the items you are looking to get rid of by typing in the UPC code.  Listing the condition the item is in and adding an optional description, these items are added to your account as “items I have.”  Next is the fun part: create your want list.

Swaptree has a large database of what other users are looking to trade.  Simply browse the selections or specifically search for one item in particular.  By clicking “want this” next to the image of the item, it is then added to your account under “items I want.” 

Swaptree then does most of the work for you.  It will match up users looking to trade items.  You can initiate a trade with someone who has an item you want if you have an item they want.  If you initiate the trade, you must wait for the other user(s) accepts.  However, they may also reject your trade.  Other users may also initiate trades with you in which you will be able to accept or reject the trade.  There are two types of trades: one on one and three way trade.  In a one on one trade, the user you send your item to, will send their item to you.  However, in a three way trade, you send your item to one person, they send theirs to a third user, and the third user sends their item to you. 

Worried about giving out your address?  Your address will only appear once you accept a trade.  You may print a shipping label from the Swaptree site (I believe for a small fee) or take the item to the post office once the trade is complete.  While Swaptree is free to use, the user must pay to ship the item. 

Swaptree limits the number of concurrent trades that you may process.  Starting you  off slowly, you are limited to a few open trades at once.  Similar to eBay, users leave feedback after the trade is complete.  The more trades you complete, the more feedback you receive, and thus more trades you may have open at once. 

So why not give it a shot?  Clean out the clutter of books, movies, CDs, and video games and get something you would really enjoy.