the world of barter

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Welcome to Trade American Card (TAC)

In this presentation we’ll cover our most frequently asked questions and inform you of the features and benefits of being a member of America’s longest continually operating professional trade exchange.

Presented by Will Robertson Professional SpeakerMarketing ConsultantBarter Specialist www.psistrategies.com www.willrobertson.us

About Trade American Card / Will Robertson 562-577-7000 / [email protected]© 2013 Trade American Card / www.tradeamericancard.com

http://www.psistrategies.com/

http://www.willrobertson.us/

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What is TAC?

Trade American Card is a professional trade exchange company. Every major city has one and TAC is the largest in the Western States in operation for 43 years as of June 2013.


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What is a Trade Exchange?

A trade exchange administrates trades between business owners who are members with TAC so they can trade goods and services among our network of professionals instead of just each other. Let’s say you have a product or service you’d be willing to trade for some other product or service you could use. We create a formal system of trade credits and debits so you can do that.


4

How Does This Work?

Let’s say you paint houses and I trim trees. We agree to trade services but we both have to agree on the value and make good on our promise of work. With a trade exchange you can paint my house and I can give you a barter credit (trade check) that can be used with hundreds of other businesses locally and hundreds of thousands nationally. This makes the trade credit worth much more to you.


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How Do The Trade Checks Work?

A trade check is a sales receipt that has 3 copies. One is for the seller, one for the buyer and one goes to our office where the credits and debits are settled each day. Every member has a supply of trade checks and knows how to use them. If a sale or purchase is for more than $100 a toll-free call is placed to get an authorization code that guarantees the transaction will be honored. Your monthly statement summarizes all such transactions.


6

Why Would I Trade Anything Instead of Using Cash?

Because trading is just that, it is not selling or buying. Still, cash is king and most business operators want to conserve it if they can. A lot of what you spend cash on can be obtained with barter dollars, allowing you to conserve cash for payments that require only cash. With TAC barter checks you keep your cash while you trade what you have for what you need when it’s convenient for you.


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What if I’m Swamped and Can’t Take on Another Customer?

Few business operators are running at 100% capacity. If during your year you have excess or unsold inventory, empty tables, empty seats, empty rooms or empty time slots then barter makes a lot of sense. You can always turn down new business TAC sends to you if you are swamped, but our members tell us trading makes a lot of sense for a lot of reasons, including doctors, lawyers, CPAs and business owners.


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How Does it Make a Lot of Sense?

TAC does 95% of the work to bring you NEW customers and NEW business and NEW income. We promote you and your business to our network and to most of the major network events in the So Cal region that create both barter and NEW CASH customers for you, in addition to trade. All you have to do is answer the phone.


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What Do You Mean by Major Networks?

TAC has affiliates and members in our network that produce some of the largest network events in the So Cal region. We sponsor most of these huge events that draw thousands of CASH customers to your benefit if you are a member with us. For example, The Largest Mixer events and all the Orange County Chambers of Commerce are sponsored by TAC, as are many charities.


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How Do I Get Cash Customers From A Barter Club?

Not everyone who attends network events is a member of TAC. If you are a member and can’t attend such events TAC will still promote you and your company to the attendees. These contacts are mostly cash customers for you. We become your advertising, marketing and promotional partner.


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How Much Does It Cost Me For New Cash Customers?

Zero. Because TAC is a trade exchange we only earn money when we send you new trade customers, clients, patients, etc. We do not charge you a finder’s fee or a commission for new cash business you gain from your relationship with us. We only charge for trade deals with our other members. This is a HUGE benefit to our members.


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How Do I Know I Won’t Get Slammed With Barter Deals?

You will set what is called a “reserve.” This is a figure in barter dollars that you do not want to exceed. Once you hit that number we stop sending new referrals to you. Any cash customers, clients or patients you get from your relationship with us continue to bring you new revenues you did not have to advertise for. We do it for you. When you’re ready to resume your trade activity we will resume sending you new trade business. A quick call to our offices handles the details.


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What Can I Spend My Barter Dollars On?

We have hundreds of service categories that you can use your barter credits for including print advertising, medical, law, accounting, construction, repairs, cleaning, pet care, fitness and spa treatments, home or office supplies and maintenance, vehicle repairs, limo services, photography and video, computer repairs, web sites, graphics and printing, entertainment and restaurant venues and hundreds more. You can also gift trade credits to friends or family or use them as a bonus to your staff or loyal customers.


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Can I See a List of Your Members So I Can See Where I Can Use My Credits?

We no longer publish our member list due to spamming issues. Instead we publish our service categories that show you the broad spectrum of products and services you can enjoy as a result of your membership with TAC. When you join our network we issue you an ID code that gives you full access to our online database.


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But I Want To See Your Online Database Before I Join.

After 43 years in business we can offer you as many references as you have the time to call. We do not publish our member data base nor does any legitimate trade exchange. We are professional and have decades-long members to prove it. We can offer a list of service categories and professional references at your request.


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This All Sounds Like Funny Money to Me… is it Legal?

We are an IRS recognized legitimate business just like your banker, lawyer, doctor or accountant. Your barter exchange activity is recorded and all activity is reported in your monthly statement showing purchases or sales along with any fees or dues. At the end of the year you are given a 1099-B to cover your bookkeeping requirements.


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What About Taxes or Tips On My Sales?

All taxes or tips are required to be paid in cash. All our members know this in advance. There is never a problem with this consideration. Also if a TAC member refers a CASH customer to you that business is 100% yours – no fees or commissions required now or in the future.


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What About My “Hard Costs” … Am I Expected to Eat That?

Every business has hard costs. TAC does not ask our members to give anything away. We are all about trading one product or service for another. We send you new customers and new revenue you did not have to advertise for because we did that for you. Barter revenue is the same as cash revenue. When you take cash do you mention your “hard costs?” It is important to remember that barter dollars simply allow you to trade products or services with other TAC members. It is a second source of revenue for you. It does not replace your cash business.


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If I’m Going to Barter Why Not Just Do it on My Own?

A lot of people trade. But there are dangers in such dealings if the trades are not formally recorded and credited. Would it be more valuable if you could trade with hundreds of business owners instead of just one? Then there are times when you will trade with less than honest people who will not deliver what you expected. TAC eliminates all these considerations because we give you a system of trades and credits and gurantees. We protect your trades through our professional operations.


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Can I Charge One Price for Barter and Another for Cash?

Not below a trade value of $1,500. Trading is not a replacement for your cash business. There are instances where you might take part cash and mostly barter in transactions that exceed $1,500. Remember that barter dollars are the same as cash dollars so we do not encourage price discounts for cash but not for barter. Business is business and member prices should remain constant no matter whether you are selling or buying or trading. A call to the office will clear up any questions on any trade.


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What Do I Do With My Barter Dollars if I Don’t Need Anything?

It is a very rare person who can say “I don’t need anything.” How do you acquire what you buy now? Why always pay cash if you can trade for it? If you’re running a business just office supplies, printers, faxes, copiers and phone equipment are necessary. On the personal side medical, eye care, dental, dining, art, web sites, printing, cleaning or repairs are needs. You can even gift barter certificates to employees, customers, friends or family. You can also donate them to charities and take a tax deduction.


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I’m Running a Restaurant. How Does Barter Benefit Me?

What benefits you the most is the trade exchange, not just the barter currency. TAC advertises you with online E Mail and every 90 days we will send out your flyers to our membership. Tips and taxes are paid in cash and you have less empty seats that currently pay you nothing while your overhead remains fixed. In addition you can use your barter credits to buy ads in regional magazines that drive new cash customers to your business.


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I’m Running a Hotel / Motel. How Does Barter Benefit Me?

Empty rooms are lost revenue for good if they remain empty. Why sell such rooms for large discounts when our barter members will pay your full price for those rooms? You will be far better off taking a barter client paying you 100% of your room charges instead of taking a cash customer for half that amount or even less.


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I Run A Limo – Pro Transport Business. How Do You Help Me?

Every hour your cars, vans or busses sit parked you lose money. Your overhead never stops ticking. With TAC we can send you new clients to fill in the time slots you do not have booked for cash customers. Since tips and taxes are always paid in cash you gain revenues, new customers and keep your vehicles under contract and that’s good for business overall. Plus you can use your barter dollars to buy ads in our member publications that drive new cash business to you.


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I’m Running A Fitness Center. Why Would I Allow Barter?

If your facility can hold 200 and on any given day you only have 100 using it what is your real cost to put 50 more people in your facility especially if those 50 came as referrals to you from TAC and are paying you 100% of your fees? The answer is practically zero. The equipment, lights, AC and staff are there anyway. Why not take the full price barter business on top of the cash business and max out your space? Barter is smart business for smart business owners.


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But I Can’t Pay My Staff With Barter Currency.

Do not confuse trade transactions as a replacement for your cash business. You have to pay your staff in most cases with cash even if there are no customers for them to care for. Barter is a second source of income for your business, not a replacement for cash business. Barter allows you to conserve cash so you can pay obligations that require only cash such as salaries, phone bills, utilities, rent, etc. And you can bonus your staff with barter credits for a job well done.


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Where Do I Draw The Line On Barter Income?

TAC allows you to set up a trade reserve. This is an amount of barter currency on your account that triggers NO MORE BARTER REFERRALS until you tell us otherwise. Reserves can be set at $5,000 up to $10,000 and higher. When you spend down your barter dollars we can start sending you new referrals once again.


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What About Part Barter and Part Cash Deals?

TAC has strict rules about trade. With rare exception you will be expected to take 100% barter up to $1,500 just as you would cash when you accept a barter customer. Remember, you are trading, not replacing your cash business. Trading partners who want part of the sale in cash hurt the purpose of trade in the first place. You should be prepared to sell at 100% barter and purchase at 100% barter up to $1,500. Call the office for exceptions. 949-225-6000 or call Will Robertson at 562-577-7000.


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What Are The Costs To Be A Member With TAC?

Corporations pay a one-time set up fee of $995 while non-corporations pay $495. You then pay $15 per month in cash and $15 barter dollars per month for the admin fee. The only other cash cost is 6% of any barter transaction, either sale or purchase. We require a credit or debit card for monthly fees and we send you a monthly statement showing all purchases or sales so there are no surprises. The annual renewal fee is 100 barter dollars, no cash required.


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This Sounds A Little Expensive Over Time.

TAC has a full time headquarters in Irvine near the JW Airport with a professional staff on duty 9 to 5 five days a week to support you and your business. We also assume all costs of our membership promotion and advertising of you and your business. Thus barter clients are found money to you. If someone offers you $1000 would you reward them $120 to keep the rest? Very few people would say NO to the $880 in found money. Just the annual postage alone to send your flyers to our membership every 90 days far exceeds your sign on and admin fees. Trading is not a replacement for your cash business.


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How Big Is TAC?

TAC was started in 1970 in Orange, CA. We have had thousands of card holders over the years. We have about a thousand card holders in the So Cal region now with about 55,000 in our extended online data base through our affiliates. Nationally there are over 500,000 businesses in the trade networks. We average about ten million barter dollars in new business per year for our membership just here in Orange County. Thus we can create new profits for you as well.


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Why Do I Have To Apply For Membership?

Not everyone who wants to be a member with TAC will qualify. We maintain the highest standards of professional and ethical business conduct for the benefit of all our members. New applicants must have been in business for two years and have both banking and residency credentials with references. You pay nothing if TAC does not accept your application.


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Once I’m Approved How Soon Can I Start Trading?

On average your application requires 2 to 4 days to process. Mr. Robertson will then call you to deliver a 3 ring binder with your materials, ID number, access to our online data base and instructions. You can start trading right away. About 10 days later you’ll receive your plastic ID card with your unique membership number on it.


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What If I Travel? Can I Use My Barter Credits Anywhere?

Every major city in the USA has a trade exchange and most belong to the National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE). If you are planning travel just call the office for details on using your trade credits in other cities in the U.S. or even other countries outside the U.S.


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What If I Want To Quit TAC?

Every year on your sign up anniversary you have the option to quit. You must notify the office of your intention and of course your account must be in good standing. If you have trade credits the staff will explain your options.


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How Many Businesses Like Mine Will Be In The Membership?

We only allow as many similar business types as our membership can support. In many cases your business may qualify for an exclusive in your business category. There is no extra charge for this unique position. Remember… we don’t earn a dime until you do.


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In Summary…

Trade American Card brought our members over $10,000,000 in new business last year. We are a network of over 1000 local card holders and 500,000 national businesses that want to do business with you. If you own or manage a restaurant, retail store, fitness gym, spa, salon, hotel, theater, service business, professional practice, manufacturing company, magazine or newspaper, or any other type of business that could use more sales, we have customers ready and waiting to buy from your overstock, downtime, unsold seats, empty tables, non-peak rentals, excess inventory, unused services or any other goods or services of value. We help you turn otherwise lost business into profitable sales!


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Okay – I’m Ready To Give It A Try. What’s The Next Step?

You’ll need to fill out an application and for that you’ll need to call Will Robertson at 562-577-7000. He will meet you for this purpose and get you started enjoying new business, new revenues and new profits. www.tradeamericancard.com

Mr. Robertson is in charge of New Member Benefits. His EM is [email protected]


http://www.tradeamericancard.com/

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