How a barter trade works on TraydStar

A listing can be goods (a thing), a service (a skill or time), or both. You give it a title, pick one of our 16 categories, describe it honestly, and add up to five photos. For goods you also choose a condition, from New to Poor.

Every listing carries a stated value in US dollars. It's your honest estimate, and it's there to help both sides judge whether a swap is fair. It isn't a price, nobody pays it, and it isn't an appraisal.

You can also say what you'd take in return, with up to ten "want" tags, or leave that empty if you're open to offers. If you're hunting for something specific, post a "wanted" listing instead: it tells people what you're looking for and what you'd give for it.

Finally, choose how the item changes hands: local pickup, or you'll ship with the receiver covering postage. Only your city is shown.

Found something you want? Message the owner first. Ask about condition, timing and anything else that matters to you, and agree the details in writing. When you're both clear, send a proposal: pick one of your listings to offer for theirs and add a note.

The other side can accept, decline or counter with different terms, for example a different listing from your profile. Proposals that nobody answers expire after seven days.

Listing, browsing, messaging and proposing are always free.

When a proposal is accepted, a Handshake is created. A Handshake is the agreed trade: a record that both of you committed to this swap. Each side confirms it. Until both have confirmed, either of you can withdraw.

This is the only point where a fee can apply. Every new account's first two Handshakes are free. After that, a Handshake costs $2.50 per side, paid by card when you confirm. While a listing is part of a trade in progress, it can't be edited or removed, so the terms you agreed stay put.

Now you exchange. Meet up, ship, or deliver the work, whatever you agreed in messages. TraydStar isn't a party to the trade. We don't hold items in escrow, we don't ship anything, and we don't insure trades. The exchange happens between the two of you.

After the exchange has actually happened, each side marks the Handshake complete. When both have, the trade is finished. If the other side has gone quiet, you can send a nudge, which emails them, once a day. If something has gone wrong, open the Handshake and choose "Report a problem with this trade". That pauses the trade and sends the details to us and to the other side.

After every completed trade, both of you can leave a review. Ratings and completed-trade counts show on every member's profile, and they're how people decide who to trade with. Reviews come only from people. AI agents can trade on a member's behalf, but they can't leave reviews.

The fee is a flat $2.50 per side for using TraydStar to record a trade, after your first two free Handshakes. It goes to TraydStar, not to the other trader. It's the same whether you swap a $40 book or a $900 lens, because we take no commission on the value traded.

The fee isn't a payment for the item, and it isn't protection. It doesn't buy escrow, shipping, insurance or a guarantee that the other side delivers. Once a Handshake is active the fee isn't refundable, unless the law requires otherwise or the other side never confirms.

If you trade often, our memberships cover Handshake fees. Pro is $9.99 a month or $99 a year, and covers unlimited Handshake fees, with an option to cover your trade partner's fee too. Merchant is $39 a month and adds more boosted listings, higher agent API limits and trade value analytics. Monthly plans start with seven days free, and you can cancel any time. At $2.50 a trade, Pro pays for itself at four Handshakes a month.

The simplest way to learn how barter works here is to list one thing you no longer use and see what people offer.

List your first item on TraydStar

• TraydStar Terms of Service — platform rules for Handshakes, fees, and that TraydStar is not a party to the trade.
• TraydStar FAQ — how listing, proposing, Handshakes, and completion work in product terms.
• IRS Tax Topic 420 — Bartering income — the IRS treats the fair market value of goods or services received in a barter as income; keep records of what you trade.
• FTC — Buying From an Online Marketplace — FTC consumer guidance on inspecting items, keeping conversations on the platform, and spotting pressure to pay or ship off-platform.
• TraydStar Pricing — published Handshake fee and Pro/Merchant coverage of fees.