2 children sharing shores "If you empty the compost for me, I will empty the dishwasher for you today!"

TreeFrog

You send me those 2 Fat Quarters and I will send you this pattern.
In a true barter, no money is exchanged..only one (or group) of item(s) for item(s). If someone wants to barter with you, and what you have is of more "value" than what they want to give, you can always "barter" for some item + money for some item. It is really up to the 2 people bartering. In the early American days, there was a lot of bartering going on because many people were cash poor, but had their own time (to quilt, cook, hunt etc) to barter with for what they needed...you know the famous pay the doctor with a chicken and an apple pie. We've come a long way baby.

bartering is exchange of good(s)/service(s) for another good(s)/service(s).

The latest example I've witnessed: a church friend's family has goats. They give some of their excess milk (and milk products - cheese, etc.) to a neighbor has grows lots of vegetables, who in turns gives extra veggies to my friend's family.

One part of the exchange can be a good while the other part can be a service or both parts can be goods or services. So in my example, both parts are goods (milk for veggies), but both parts can be services (hair cut for babysitting) or one of each (hair cut for homemade jam).

So, out of curiosity, and a possible learning experience for all of us, what happened?

We did a lot of bartering after Hurricane Katrina. Next time I stock up for hurricane supplies I will include several 6-packs and cigarettes. You can men to do anything you need for those items. I bartered a trip to get ice in the back of a pickup for a can of Fix-a-Flat.

I hate housework, but love yard work. The lady across the street hates yard work, but doesn't mind housework. She cleans my house, I clean her yard. Bartering services. No one has to pay for what they don't like doing themselves, but it still gets done.

An even exchange for goods or services. :-D

I traded a quilt for all new electrical outlets.

I LOVE bartering!!! I've bartered a lot at our farmer's market - soap for produce and pottery. I've bartered soap for children's books and toys online, and I've bartered here soap for fabric as well as other items. I do report it all though - an invoice is made up for each barter and is included in my income.

what you just described is a purchase not a barter. A barter is an exchange of an object or service.

It's also called "barganing" when actual $$$ is involved in the world of antique traders/sellers.