http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/21/10202145-swap-o-matic-vending-machine-based-on-the-barter-economy
SWAP-O-MATIC Vending Machine Based on the barter economy is entering the vending machine market in New York City. To join the barter economy the user has to enter his or her email address and zip code to get started here, they do not plan to stay in just the NYC market for long so join and maybe we could get on at owu. Credits are tagged to your email address by recycling goods into the vending machine, the vending machine will give the recycler a bottle water or can of soda in return. The company is currently very small and plans to use their IT database to find their customers and not just limit themselves to NYC. The link includes other online-based bartering tools
3 comments:
I think the idea of the machine is great, although it's actual application and use could be tricky. In terms of the bartering system it's common to haggle with merchants and salesmen, but with this machine it's a single price established by the creator (I'm assuming). It really takes the fun out of a bartering based economy. The whole recycle and reuse theme is good though, that's an important topic for a majority of Americans today and it will attract a lot of customers. As for getting one at OWU, I would definitely try it out. Who knows what kind of things would be in there...
This is definitely an interesting machine, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it is bartering. Bartering is trading one item for another, but in this case, the person receives credits for donating items. The person than uses those credits to get an item, so it is not so much barter as just another type of money. Nonetheless, I think the machine is good in that it helps promote the idea that items should be reused and not just thrown away.
Seems like a great idea. While everyone knows the importance of recycling on a global scale, many people choose not to because it is hard to see many direct benefits for themselves. When I return home I will look for one of these machines.
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