Favorpals Interview

One of the best ways to get something for free is to barter, and that’s what Favorpals is all about. “Get anything you want by simply giving something in return” is the motto of this services-exchange community.

Favorpals Co-Founder Amir Razmara

Think you don’t have something of value? On the contrary, say founders Amir Razmara and Zeo Solomon. From dog walking and mail retrieval to tutoring and business services, everyone can do a favor and get one in return.

LoveToKnow Save talked with Razmara about the barter process and how Favorpals brings people together.

For those unfamiliar with a barter system, please provide a brief overview of the process.

Favorpals Co-Founder Zeo Solomon

Favorpals bartering system is a non-monetary system of exchange, where members can swap their services or items with other members without the use of money. Simply barter with other members.

Many people might think, “Oh, I don’t run a business, so I can’t participate.” How does Favorpals expand on the barter concept?

Favorpals provides an online space for individuals to freely exchange superfluous items (just like a business’s excess inventory) with others—all without engaging in a traditional monetary transaction.

An example of excess inventory can be an item someone acquired in the past and no longer need, or even actual services. Services here are not limited to formal services as offered by businesses, such as plumbing, legal counseling, or accounting, but extend to an individual’s everyday skills as well.

Almost anyone can cook a meal, help someone move, walk dogs, housesit, or offer an airport ride. As you see, individuals can also offer their services and excess inventory items for exchange within the Favorpals community.

What is a unit of service, or UOS, and how is it exchanged for another?

A unit of service is the amount of effort required to render the service complete. This means that if you are offering to mow someone’s lawn, the UOS would be to mow the entire lawn, not half of it, just as with painting a room or filling a tooth—naturally you have to complete filling the tooth, not stop half way.

In agreed upon circumstances, a UOS can be defined as one hour of someone’s time. We established the UOS as a measure to help our members quantify their exchange.

Are all units of service equal?

Favorpals advocates that in order for the system of exchange to work, all units of service should be treated equally, and therefore exchanged one for one. This is vital for the community to work. If a lawyer thinks his hour of time (or unit of service) is worth much more than that of a plumber, then the Favorpals community might not work for him.

When using Favorpals, we remind our members that the intention is not just to get a good deal but also to give one. Only then do we all benefit from this progressive movement.

How does someone get started on Favorpals?

It’s very simple. Sign up for free by going to http://www.favorpals.com. Post what you need and what you are willing to offer in exchange. Then, either wait for other members to contact you or simply browse other members’ posts and see if anything matches what you’re looking for.

Your site has a “Favor Hints” page, where suggestions are outlined as to how someone might return a favor. Please share some of these with us.

Here are some examples of favors that most of us can offer:

• House sitting
• Dog walking
• Picking up someone’s mail while they are away
• Being a designated driver for a night out
• Lending an ear for an hour
• Being a personal trainer
• Cooking a meal

I’m sure your readers have many other ideas of favors that just about anyone can offer, and we’d love to hear from them.

How can someone be certain a favor will be exchanged?

We are currently implementing a rating system for members to rate their favor exchange experience with other members, and in this way, the community will quickly self-regulate, weeding out those who abuse our bartering system.

While Favorpals cautions its members to exercise their best judgment, our community—and our larger faith in the intrinsic value of our progressive movement—must rely on the integrity of our members, as endorsed by our rating system.

Similarly, when buying something online, one cannot guarantee that the person will deliver the item or that it will be of the same quality and condition promised, but one typically does gauge the risk and then hope for the best.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I’d like to encourage your readers to sign up and use Favorpals’ free barter service. Remember, the value of the community is in the strength of its network. So, please sign up, post exchanges, and reply to other postings. Take part in the progressive movement of Favorpals. Together we can create a world without money in which everyone has something to offer and can find what they need.

~Tracey L. Kelley

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