You might not be having money, but that’s not a problem according to Abiola Fabio, the founder of Canzaa.com, a Nigerian online social swapping app that enables users barter goods and services, ditching the belief that money is the only measure of value.
Fabio is keen to encourage users to see their assets as better purchasing power than money through barter. Czaa allows users to exchange goods and with other nearby users or over social media platforms embedded the app minus the sress of selling for money then buying whatever you desire.
There’s literally no financial stress to achieving your goals, he says, Just barter. The app is allowing users to develop a wish list that allows them to connect with people interested in their goods or services.
Fabio says, the app, available for both iOS and Android aims to help Nigerians improve their quality of life through Barter as barter trade preceded the current cash based economy.
“Barter trade allowed individuals to satisfy their wants and needs,” Fabio says. “However, it was limited due to its one on one transaction model, geographical location and multiplicity of wants. Similarly, the idea of swapping items with neighbors and nearby community members is an informal practice utilized by many people.”
By using the Internet and social media, Canzaa Barter App aims to formalize this approach which is what most people in communities do.
“Everyone feels cash-strapped at one point or the other and this includes post happy anniversaries and ceremonies, unemploment, delayed paycheck or the increasing living conditions being experienced the world over like the economic crisis.
Canzaa users can barter goods and services ranging from clothes, books, toys, consultancy services, medical needs, media spend, video games , social currency and much more thereby allowing them to productively use what they have to get what they want. Just find the right barter partner and swap.
eBay’s major classifieds platforms Gumtree and Kijiji among others have swapping options.