Online Swapper Carves Niche
Frustrated with buying and selling schoolbooks, Brian Karpf set out to change the process as he approached his third year of law school.
”I was sick of the system, so I started thinking how I could fix it,” said Karpf, 26. “I thought a blog where people could trade one thing for another could work.”
In the summer of 2006 the ”CareToTrade blog” hit cyberspace, offering students the chance to trade books instead of buying and selling.
The idea quickly morphed into something bigger and better.
People who used the site for books began posting iPods and video games. Months later CareToTrade.com was born. Around 7,000 users are registered with the site to barter items and services, Karpf said.
”This is a free way to get what you want,” said Karpf, who graduated from law school at Florida International University.
Karpf said his site doesn’t compete with similar sites such as eBay or Craigslist because CareToTrade users only swap.
”On CareToTrade they don’t have to worry about bidding,” Karpf said. “There are no risks and no hassles.”
To guarantee each trade Karpf set up an escrow system. Two people trading can set up an escrow account and deposit a dollar amount. If each person receives the item or items they wanted to trade the money is returned, if not they get the money.
Photo by Candace West.
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