Pocono News Section

Bringing Back Bartering

Bringing Back Bartering - Friday, January 23, 2009 at 4:07PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, Jan 23, 2009 @ 04:07pm EST
PRICE TOWNSHIP - With the job market tight, it's understandable people might put off home repairs. But sometimes you just have to find a way to fix up your house. So some people are bringing back the earliest form of trade - bartering.

Walt Jennings owns Walt Jennings Door and Remodeling. When he remodels your house, you could pay him $75 an hour or you could make a trade. "It's the economy and I think people are just trying to figure out ways to get things done," he said.

Walt says lately people have been very willing to barter. He finished Tom Carvalho's basement in exchange for an ATV. "With everything being tight the option was there, we didn't really use it anymore," said Tom.

Tom had fun with his four wheeler but he traded it so his kids could have fun in their own space. The ATV and the work on the house were both worth about $45,00 so Tom felt like he spent no money out of pocket and Walt got a new toy. He said, "It was definitely worth it for me to not have to go out and buy a new ATV."

Walt said he pays his bills with regular customers and bartering allows him to pick up little luxuries.

Walt expects if the economy gets worse, even more people will try to barter. Especially if they want a new space for family time but the sound of constructions scares the family budget.

Walt doesn't barter to pawn items. He only trades for things that he and his family can use themselves.