Goods and Services index

[Bald Eagle]

There has been some discussion about having an index of FSP-run and porcupine-friendly businesses.

What about also having something along the lines of www.freecycle.org.

There are folks out there who have stuff that they're just holding onto because they can't bear to throw it out, and are just waiting for someone to give it to.

For example:
I just gave away a free pair of boots to a guy as a reward for his interest in the FSP - http://forum.freestateproject.org/index.php?topic=13340.0
Boy was he HAPPY!   


There are also people out there with specialized tools and equipment that can be used, so that we don't all have to go out and buy another one or pay exorbitant sums for services based upon using such equipment.

For example:
I'm getting my car tuned up and ready for the move to NH, and I wanted to have some work done on the brakes, have the tires balanced and aligned, have the transmission checked out, have the fuel system cleaned, and investigate what the "check engine" light was going on for.

Most shops wanted $120 to do brake work - I did it myself for the price of the pads: $15.
Most shops wanted $75-$100 just read the on board diagnostic computer, so I spent slightly more than that and bought myself an OBDI/OBDII scanner.  I'd be happy to run the scanner on any porcupine vehicles for free (or a small voluntary donation  )


There's also plenty of stuff that I let go, because I simply don't have a place to store it. 

Maybe we could dedicate a section of the forum to the exchange of goods and services?  Something where only advertisements of availability are posted, and any discussion of details is conducted outside of the forum, to keep it easy to find what people are looking for.

Clothing
Firearms
Furniture
Automotive
Services
Tools
Storage

It could even be organized like classifieds, or user-sortable by fields such as category, description, price, date posted, poster, etc.

A related idea is that something like an Ebay store could be set up, and items could be donated to benefit the FSP.  The individual(s) running the store(s) could split the proceeds 50/50, so that the store is a viable business, and the FSP benefits from the sale of donated material.  Dumpster dive for Freedom!


Just sharing some brainstorming ideas.

[Kat Kanning]

You mean something like this?

Porcupine Trading Post

[Lloyd Danforth]

That's where the Damn Freecycle conversation was!  I did a search and couldn't find it!

[Bald Eagle]

Yay,

Thanks, Kat!

I knew someone else would have had to thought of this by now.

[Kat Kanning]

It was Ridley's idea, if I remember right.

[Ron Helwig]

While the forum is great for discussing goods and services, it really isn't appropriate as a place to quickly look up info.

People really need to learn how to use the wiki. That IS a more appropriate place to have a list/database of goods and services.

Like this: 
http://www.soulawakenings.com/underground/tikiwiki/tiki-index.php?page=Liberty%20Business%20Directory

[Lloyd Danforth]

I think I saw that before.  Needs editing.