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Post by cajunlady87 on Sept 27, 2012 12:22:11 GMT -7
This is the scenario:
It's been months since TSHF. However caution must still be taken due to violent gangs scavenging for anything they can get, especially food, drugs, weapons and ammo.
You're halfway through your food supplies and meds you've saved and want to do something about it before the cupboard becomes totally bare. You make the decision to leave your comfort zone to seek out others to trade with.
Have you considered how you'd posibly approach doing this? Do you disguise your identity? Do you leave the traded item at a predetermined location in hopes you can trust the other person doing the same? Do you travel alone or have someone following you from a distance to cover your back? What about the time of day to try this?
We all talk about having items to trade, any thoughts on how you'd go about doing it?
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Post by offtrail on Sept 27, 2012 14:04:12 GMT -7
great scenario, like the fur traders of old had meeting places at predetermined times and places. Meeting a stranger one on one without knowing who's who will be dangerous no matter what precaution you take. But if you can hang fliers in a neighborhood and get many people to show up it should be safer. Other then that i see no sure proof way of doing this safely. Great thread cajunlady, can't wait to see what others post
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Post by graf on Sept 27, 2012 15:19:51 GMT -7
I have always preached power in numbers, I would have people with me if possible otherwise ready cocked and locked, gun or blade.
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Post by kutkota on Sept 27, 2012 15:27:39 GMT -7
I would think immediatly after the event would be the number one wrong time to attempt something like this unless it was a small number of people in which everyone new everyone.
I have thought on this all day and my first thought was not only power in numbers but power in show of force. Multiple people showing up with weapons slung and even more undercover so to speak. But then who is to say they would not now know your plan and that would only work once or twice. Very good question and one that I don't think there is a perfect answer for.
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Post by kutkota on Sept 27, 2012 15:28:43 GMT -7
I would also say that after TSHTF most if not all laws/rules/ government control would be little or none so I would imagine most would be in the wrong mindset of trading and more in the mindset of taking.
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Post by swamprat1 on Sept 27, 2012 18:54:05 GMT -7
Have a sniper hidden. And let the other party know. Also don't show your entire hand at once. Just enough to entice.
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Post by missasip on Sept 27, 2012 19:41:59 GMT -7
Guess I'll rest on this one. My preps are for close to 18 months now, food wise. Heck other items, maybe 2-5 years. I think trading anytime in the 1st year or more will not be a safe activity.
I would wait until I hear through the grapevine, and there will be one, that there are esablished trading going on. Hopefully something like a flea market/farmers market.
JMWAG
Jimmy
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Post by missj on Sept 28, 2012 0:19:20 GMT -7
Selco says in his blog that some men made an entire existence out of being a safe, trustworthy go between for trading. He called him "the man who knows how to get things, who to get things from" and that as society slowly started to rebuild; these men built and managed the open air "gray markets"
Selco said that trading was very dangerous and described all of the risks you'd take just to meet with someone, and then find out that they have nothing you need, or that they do but you don't have anything that they need, or that both of you do; but you two cannot negotiate a fair deal...
But, they still did it. 2 man teams. Only bring a few of each item. For instance if you have an abundance of lighters, or SPAM or whatever don't take a bunch of one item because that will signal that you have "Stockpiles" and you have suddenly become a lucrative target.
it is better to be the guy trying to barter 2 lighters, 1 pair of boots, some firewood and a leatherman than the guy trying to barter 5 cans of SPAM.
Often the relationships are more important than the actual trade; meaning it is better to make a slightly unfavorable trade with a guy you have safely traded with many times than to make a profitable trade across town with a stranger....sometimes people new to trading with each other would just bring petty little items to trade in the beginning just to "test each other out" and as the relationship grows so do the values of their trades.
Then make sure, you do NOT go directly home. You never know when your trustworthy contact's situation may have changed, or there is just a silent observer who decides to follow one or both of you home. Have a plan for something else you can do to occupy your time after the trade is made. Go gather firewood, or go read a book in a secure location or whatever but make darned sure you don't get followed back home.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Sept 28, 2012 6:15:27 GMT -7
I believe your location would be more of a challenge to venture out to trade.
My location is in the country amongst many people I grew up with. Months after the dust has settled would be the most likely time to attempt doing this.
Traveling around with others would be the smart thing to do. Begin with those nearest you who you have known for many years and have come to trust. Through word of mouth with people you know and trust I think eventually a trade market amongst ourselves would be profitable in many ways.
Not only are you forming a trade market but also bonding with others thus forging an inner circle community. We will need others to watch our backs and vice versa.
Over time this community will strengthen as a group in mind and in reestablishing future goals for all as a team by working together.
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Post by solargeek1 on Sept 28, 2012 6:49:48 GMT -7
Selco says in his blog that some men made an entire existence out of being a safe, trustworthy go between for trading. He called him "the man who knows how to get things, who to get things from" and that as society slowly started to rebuild; these men built and managed the open air "gray markets" . Sorry, WHO is Selco? And where do I find this info first hand i.e. is there a website from him? Thanks:)
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Post by cajunlady87 on Sept 28, 2012 8:02:52 GMT -7
Sorry, WHO is Selco? And where do I find this info first hand i.e. is there a website from him? Thanks:) SG, Selco's story was mentioned on old forum and you probably just don't remember it. He wrote a first-hand account of his personal experience living through the 1992 collapse of Bosnia. I provided a link below but if you do a search you'll find various listings and some more indepth accounts of his day to day survival struggles during those chaotic times. www.tacticalintelligence.net/blog/shtf-survival-qa-a-first-hand-account.htm
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Post by pathwinder14 on Sept 28, 2012 9:51:26 GMT -7
Have a sniper hidden. And let the other party know. Also don't show your entire hand at once. Just enough to entice. Have multiple sniper teams with their own guards hidden nearby. Prove it to the other party by having the snipers hit a target near the trade area.
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Post by kutkota on Sept 28, 2012 12:39:44 GMT -7
The more I have thought about this I think you are way behind the eight ball( that's the way the saying goes correct) if you are having to trade a year into the event. That being said, I can see no safe way of going about this. Sure multiple sniper teams with multiple teams supporting them is great, but who here has the man power and firepower for that? I know that I don't.
I just can not see a safe way to go about it. If you have to trade it for dang sure better be life or death because the way I see it, it will be a life and death struggle for what ever it is that you are trading for.
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Post by cowgirlup on Sept 28, 2012 14:55:05 GMT -7
I would wait until I hear through the grapevine, and there will be one, that there are esablished trading going on. Hopefully something like a flea market/farmers market. JMWAG Jimmy That's what I'm thinking. If something like that is established then thing have calmed down to some degree. In an emergency I think I'd ask someone I know, like our mechanic, if he knows anyone who could get XYZ and go about it that way. It's not a total give away that you have neything just that you need something. If you could make someone you know your go between that that works too. Until or unless they shoot their mouth off or turn out to be untrustworthy.
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Post by cajunlady87 on Sept 29, 2012 6:49:20 GMT -7
I would wait until I hear through the grapevine, and there will be one, that there are esablished trading going on. Hopefully something like a flea market/farmers market. JMWAG Jimmy That's what I'm thinking. If something like that is established then thing have calmed down to some degree. In an emergency I think I'd ask someone I know, like our mechanic, if he knows anyone who could get XYZ and go about it that way. It's not a total give away that you have neything just that you need something. If you could make someone you know your go between that that works too. Until or unless they shoot their mouth off or turn out to be untrustworthy. I agree with both of y'all. If you must trade for a much needed item, reach out to those nearest you that you have known for some time. Much later once the situation has really settled down and you hear of a trade market further away, then you cautiously venture out but still have backup buddies with you just in case you come upon a rogue gang.
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