Swaptree: A Web-Based Swap Meet for Sustainable Living

Think that the Internet marks the end of sustainable practices like swap meets? Think that getting rid of your old stuff online means you have to have your items bid on? Boston-based startup Swaptree has set out to prove you wrong. Swaptree allows you to trade your old books, CDs, DVDs, and video games with others online.

No money is exchanged and no bidding is involved. You offer to trade a single item and then, in turn, you can choose from thousands of items listed on the site in exchange. All you have to pay for is the shipping.

Swaptree utilizes an algorithm that associates the value of the item you offer for trade with other items available. As the website notes, "Once you find something you like click the 'Get Now' link next to the item. A detailed description of both the item and the trader will appear so you can be certain it's what you want, and who you want to swap with. (Think 'online-dating-meets-eBay'.)"

Indeed, much like eBay, you can easily post all the items to the site that you wish to trade. The site will show you the items that are eligible for exchange for your goods.

Swaptree also allows you to import your Amazon wishlist into your profile, so you can see if any of the items you want on Amazon are available for trade on Swaptree. Swaptree also offers a Facebook application so you can easily make trades with your friends without leaving the social networking site.

Although the startup has several competitors - sites like Neighborrow and PaperbackSwap - Swaptree does distinguish itself in a number of ways, including the option of three-way trades. (A three-way trade is when user A sends an item to user B, User B sends their item to User C, and User C sends their item to User A.) You can also trade across categories: DVDs for CDs and books for video games.

Although there was some question when the company was founded as to whether or not it could compete in a world where eBay dominates the online market for used goods, Swaptree recently received $6 million in venture capital funding and also named Jeff Bennett as its new CEO. And so it appears as though there is plenty of interest - from customers and investors. The sustainable living practices we appreciate offline, in the form of swap meets, are now accessible online as well.

Photo Credit: Flickr