Community guidelines

Trade and give first. Cash only where a listing says so.

Barter’s Market is for trading goods and services and giving things away. Estimated values are a yardstick so trades feel fair. A listing can also say it accepts cash; only then can a trade for it include cash, and that trade must meet at a Trading Post at an agreed time, where the cash is paid in person.

Never use Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, crypto or gift cards here: they are how most marketplace scams work. Asking for money on a trade-or-give listing, or for a payment app anywhere, is blocked, and accounts that keep trying are suspended.

What's not allowed

Weapons, ammunition, drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vapes, prescription medicine.
Recalled items, including recalled car seats and cribs. Check cpsc.gov/Recalls.
Live animals traded as goods (pet sitting and dog walking are fine).
Adult services, anything illegal, and anything you don't have the right to trade.
Home-cooked food is fine between neighbors, but label allergens and be honest about how it was made.

Be a good neighbor

Describe things honestly, including flaws.
Show up when you say you will. If plans change, say so in the trade messages.
Counter-offers are normal. Be kind about them, and it's fine to say no.
Leave feedback after a trade. A thank-you helps others trust each other.

Safety

We only show neighborhoods, never addresses. Share your address only when you're comfortable, inside a trade.
Meet at a Trading Post or somewhere public for the first swap. Trades with cash always meet at a Trading Post.
Bring exact cash, count it together, and check the item before you pay.
For babysitting, elder care, pet care, cleaning or repairs in your home, meet first, ask for references, and trust your instincts. Barter’s Market does not run background checks.
Keep conversations in the trade messages so there's a record.
Report anyone who asks for a payment app, pressures you, or makes you uncomfortable. Admins review every report.
In an emergency, call 911.