From furniture and brand new GPS systems, to bushels of basil and pine cones for decorating -#8212; you can find pretty much anything at the Petaluma Trading Post. But don't go digging for your wallet, it's not for sale. Here, it's barter or nothing.
A microwave may go for a bottle of sparkling wine. A dual oven gas range trades for a solid wood dresser. A decorative lantern can go for a bag of gourmet coffee. It's up to the people trading to decide what's fair.
Hosted entirely on Facebook, many who participate in the Petaluma Trading Post end their pitch with WTF?, meaning "will trade for?" -#8212; implying that they are open to suggestion when it comes to what to trade.
"There's always someone who can make treasure from your trash," said Heidi Baxagocsy, who established the local online trading group, modeled after a similar page she saw in Sonoma. "I was just obsessed with the group Sonoma Hitch and Barter, and I told my partner, 'We need to bring this to Petaluma.'"
The grassroots group grew slowly but surely, as more and more people discovered the unique way to get rid of unwanted goods. Nothing is too bizarre to post, from vintage Girl Scout uniforms to Cabbage Patch Dolls, concert tickets to kitschy dishware.
"One of my favorite posts recently was someone who had Amish bread starters -#8212; I don't know what that is, but I want it," Baxagocsy laughed. "You can really think outside the box when trading."
The group launched in February and has already gained almost 900 members, who all live or work in Petaluma or its neighboring cities.
"I click on every single person who wants to join the group and make sure they're from Petaluma or the immediate area," Baxagocsy confirmed. "Since it's all about trading, people need to be close by."
The fact that the group is comprised of friends and neighbors makes many users feel more comfortable. Unlike Craigslist or other bartering websites, Petaluma Trading Post participants can easily vet the people they're trading with by checking for mutual friends or other common threads on the user's Facebook page.
"I think when there's a face attached to a post, it just makes everyone feel safer," Baxagocsy said. But, she cautioned, traders are reminded to be smart and sensible when dealing with strangers online.
"We put in our 'About' section that it's still important to practice wise and careful personal decisions," she said.
Bartering is becoming a big business in the United States. Even corporations are getting in on the action -#8211; the International Reciprocal Trade Association reported that around 400,000 businesses a year barter goods and services representing up to $4 billion in transactions.
"Going back to the basics with bartering can help a business owner cut down on personal and business operating costs in a tight economy," said Steve Cox, a spokesman for the Better Business Bureau. "Whether you're trading services or goods, bartering can help out your bottom line and even help generate new customers."
Baxagocsy, who owns In Her Image Photography, knows the importance of networking between businesses, and has seen her connections grow on Petaluma Trading Post. But beyond the business, she said it is the building of community she's most excited about.
"I've seen friendships blossom out of this group, it's really enriching," she said.
Every now and again a member doesn't follow the communal rules, seeking cash in exchange for their goods instead of a trade. When that happens, Baxagocsy reminds the poster that this is an all-barter group before asking them to remove or modify the post.
"Absolutely no money is exchanged or offered, it's about the coming together of goods and services," she said. "The vast majority of people just embrace the concept and have fun with it."
She said she expects to see the page's popularity continue to soar. "Reusing, recycling and up-cycling is so huge right now, it's become really trendy," she said. "The community has really embraced us."
Get in on the trades at facebook.com/groups/PetalumaTradingPost.
(Contact Emily Charrier at emily.charrier@arguscourier.com)
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