Posted By andymak It's funny how things happen, I have been looking for a role for a while now and have set up on my own trying to build a business until things pick up. Going round our small town today I bumped into a local butcher, and the owner of the local tyre place. I have dealt with these guys on a personal level using their businesses, and have talked to them about my situation giving a gentle plug about my services. Today both asked if I would be interested in doing some H&S work in return for something from them, in the case of the butcher a risk assessment on a new machine in return for a months meat, and for the tyre guy update his H&S policy in exchange for a new set of tyres fitted when I needed them. I am still working out the tangible value in ££'s of each offer but wonder if in this recession this may be the way to go for locals as it shows good will and gets the company name known. Peoples thoughts and opinions would be most welcome!

Posted By bereznikov Any local jewellery stores you could visit? - I'm sure your other half would appreciate it ;-)

Posted By A Campbell And it's not even Friday yet!!... Must pop round my morgage provider and see if they would like to barter ;0)

Posted By Neil R Ah good old communist values eh? haha

Posted By andymak Thanks for the good humoured responses who says H&S people have no sense of humour! With repesct to the liability bit as I am setting up on my own, I have PI and PL insurances. I was working out the monetary value just in case at some point I need to know the value of services provided for the tax man etc. Not sure of the tax situation for payment in kind!

Posted By Richard Altoft Andy i have two problems, backlog of work in the office and too many duck eggs at present - can we deal ?? R

Posted By Raymond Rapp I have just done some h&s work for a friend who is also owns an opticians. By coincidence I have also ordered a pair of sunglasses which cost £122. Here's hoping...

Posted By andymak Hi Richard, how many duck egs, where are you and what kind of work? :-)

Posted By Jane Bastow Personally I'd go for it. You never know where word of mouth recommendations can take you. Some of my best contracts have been the result of a casual meeting or recommendation. In 30 years I have had all sorts of strange barter offers from a supply of free range eggs to a new staircase. My two year old daughter benefited from a hand made wooden rocking horse (she's 25 now and we still have a lot of pleasure watching visiting children on the rocking horse) The riskiest barter was with a group of wood working machinery suppliers and the Russsian Wood Agency. Equipment, including dust extraction units from my business, was selected by saw mill operators in Archangel Russia but they had no hard currency. They wanted to stop selling lumber and use it themselves to create added value furniture to export. A load of lumber was consigned to all of the machinery manufacturers, shipped to Europe, and several months later we were all indeed reimbursed when the lumber was auctioned off in Rotterdam. All you have to do is keep a record, fairly value the exchange, and reflect it in your accounts.

Posted By Bob Youel the only people to lose out re bartering are those who put nothing into society e.g. the stocks, shares, bankers brigade and similar types think about it?

Posted By Jonathan Carrick Andy, Bartering was featured on BBC TV's "Working Lunch" this week: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/...orking_lunch/7869855.stm Follow the links, they may be helpful to you. Jon

Posted By Peter F Just my look, the local sewerage works have just asked me to help them out. and next week Iv'e been asked to look at communicable diseases for the lap dancing club. I thought things were looking up!