1.  Can you tell me a little more about TBM?

TBM and its affiliated barter Exchange is a private-for-profit, dues based, professional Membership organization. TBM operates transparently, and for the benefit of its Members. To do this "right," all TBM trading & financial activity is managed by an independent clearing house with a bank oversight (FDIC insured), bank Trustee cash stewardship, published third-party auditing, and Exchange Board supervised IRS-accountability.

 

2.  Can you tell me a little more about TBM Membership?

TBM Members join for the primary purpose of using its affiliated barter Exchange to trade. Members come to sell their wares at full fair-market retail prices and to buy the things they want and need. Every Membership, even a minimum Membership, provides and includes:

(a) TBM trade credit account that is included as part of Dues and is, therefore, already paid for (Minimum Membership of $595 receives $300 "already paid for", Platinum Membership of $2,400 receives $1,200 "already paid for")

(b) Unlimited bartering -- Exchange and (toll-free & online 24/7)  Broker access

(c) The Right to sell, earn, and buy on the Exchange, without limit. 

(d) The Right to "100%--dollar for dollar" convert-to-cash all earned trade credit (without limit) 

(e) All other Membership and Exchange amenities, rights and privileges.

 

3.  Can you tell me a little more about Membership costs, fees? and monthly-payment options (financing)?

TBM Members pay dues but they pay no initiation and no renewal fees. The amount of said dues is determined by the trade credit amount being issued to a Member. Dues is the only payment ever required for a lifetime TBM Membership. The minimum Membership Dues is $595 which gives the Member $300 in Trade Credit; Platinum Membership Dues is $2,400 which gives the Member $1,200 in Trade Credit to start. For most Members, these one-time Dues are 100% tax deductible (check with your tax advisor to see if you qualify). Additional Trade Credit may be purchased with no extra costs

Both minimum Membership and Platinum Membership Dues have to be paid (or financed) upon acceptance/joining. The Exchange itself charges a 3% trade fee to the buyer,  6% trade fee to Seller on every completed sale. These fees are paid (on behalf of its members as a service) by TBM. TBM is reimbursed by each Member for these exchange trade fees by debiting the (involved) Members trade accounts. In this way, Members never receive charges or billings from TBM other than the one-time dues they paid to open and fund their accounts.

 

4.  What are the required steps of the approval process?

Following are the standard steps we undertake upon the receipt of your online application:

Complete and submit the online Membership Application and Agreement.

OR, printout the Membership Application and Agreement, sign it, and fax it to TBM; 1-866-546-8737

we then telephone you to verify your signature, business name and its location (home-based is acceptable);

If you are Bank financing your Membership Dues, we await to hear from them that you are funded which may take several days, or:

If you are paying by credit card we can usually approve you within a single business day, so that;

We can then Email the confirmation that your membership application is accepted and that your account is open for trading!

 

5. This sounds too good to be true. Can TBM actually "convert" my earned trade dollars into real cash?

TBM is not offering "something for nothing". You and your business must qualify for Membership. You must commit to selling your products to other TBM members. You must make your full Membership Dues payment when you join. So there are costs and commitments made by you. Most importantly, TBM gives each new Member a place to sell their wares while buying (if desired) using their trade credit accounts. That is, you can gain profit while making purchases with your trade credit.

 

6. There is a $200 referral program and 2% of membership deposit paid-- is this an MLM or pyramid Scheme?

No. This is a straight commission and residual sharing program.
Paying the one-time finders fee helps TBM enjoin new Members at a reasonable cost. The residuals are additional incentive. This program helps many businesses make additional money at no cost to them.

 

7. How can TBM convert its trade dollars into real cash?

Every TBM Trade Dollar is backed, dollar for dollar, with U.S. dollars at the time of issuance. "Issuance" occurs when a TBM trade dollar is issued (made available) on credit to a Member. It allows for the TBM Membership benefit --- to be able to cash-in earned Trade Dollars.  Our Members have the unique and exclusive comfort that there can never be inflation within TBM’s Exchange. Nor can there be the insolvency problems common on other Exchanges --- often occurring because an Exchange’s owners issue themselves credit which they do not repay… ………. "counterfeit" Trade Dollars for their own benefit. 

 

9. What happens if TBM goes out of business?

The Owners and Management of TBM earn money by properly managing and operating the TBM Exchange. For this they earn fees  which dispersed by the bank after they are earned. All money is handled, held, overseen, and accounted for by the bank and an independent clearing house.  All TBM trade dollars are secured with cash that is also held by the bank. Additionally every member account is covered by pre-paid third-party (A-rated Insurance company) default credit insurance. Therefore, It is impossible for a Member to suffer financial loss because of Exchange insolvency.

 

10. How does TBM make money?

TBM exclusively recruits "serious" barter and trade Members. TBM wants businesses to join because they want to sell more of  their wares at full retail pricing. This helps Member businesses make money at an exceptionally low cost. TBM earns money by assessing Members a modest Membership Dues. TBM also charges very reasonable trade fees. These earnings are dispersed by the clearing house to TBM management only after they are earned. All of this fosters a trustworthy, mutually beneficial, and long term relationship between Members and the Exchange.

 

11. What are the fees involved? Are there hidden fees or pre-planned rate  increases?

Again, TBM assesses a modest Membership Dues upon joining. The low trade fees charged are deducted from the Members trade credit account. There are NO hidden fees or gimmicks. The Membership rates you obtain when you join are permanent.  Please note; if rates ever do change, these may only apply to changes you make to your own Membership. For example, if you increase your trade credit, then any new rates at that time will be applied to (only) your newly issued trade credit. 

 

12. Who are TBMs competitors?

This is a truly unique program and, to date, no other barter Exchange offers it.

 

13. Will TBM be going public?

 Can you keep a secret? So can we.

 

14.  Can I join as an individual or do I have to be a business?

To enjoy any of the possible tax benefits that being a Member of a barter Exchange offers, you must join as a business.  Nevertheless, yes, individuals may join and offer their goods and services through the Exchange. And individuals enjoy all of the rights and privileges that TBM offers all other Members, business and/or individual.

 

15. Can I quit at any time?

Yes, of course. If you do so within the first 60 days of Membership, and you have not bought, sold, or received a Referral commission, you pay nothing. But please help us: TBM seeks Members who intend to use  barter and trade as a profitable marketing and sales tool over the long term. If you are unsure, hold off making an application for TBM Membership until you are ready.

 

16. Can I get an exclusive for my type of business?

TBM does not actively recruit competitors for any Member. Nevertheless, no Membership application will be declined for the purpose of stifling market or business competition. TBM is a Laissez-Faire Free-Market place. You know that you are the best, so it is your competition who needs to worry!

 

17. How will other Members see my product or services?

To promote the strong positioning of your wares, you need to list all the various things you offer, with pictures, pricing, quantity, and time-availabilities (for services). The more frequently you promote yourself on the website, the greater the probability of selling your products and services.

 

18. If I have a Hot product, can I continue to sell and "cash-convert" without limitations?

TBM exists to help you build the best business you can. There are no limitations to the amount of business you can do on the Exchange, or on the amount of cash-converting you can do with your earned TBM trade dollars. We realize that until TBM is large enough to handle 100% customer fulfillment, you may need to currency convert. You will find that as our marketplace grows, there will be more opportunities for you to buy the things you want within TBM.

 

19. (a) Can I trade online?   (b) And, is it safe to do so?

(a) Yes. Internet-based barter Exchanges, such as TBM, are excellent or small businesses to get involved in this commerce method. They offer many of the same advantages as other forms of Web commerce and marketing -- access to new markets, customers and opportunities, a larger base of goods and services to choose from, added convenience, and lower cost.

(b) Yes. Online barter exchanges, like other electronic commerce applications, provide the highest levels of transaction security and safety. By utilizing web security measures, online trading communities assure that member information is kept safe and confidential.   

 

20. Can I buy from the barter exchange if I haven't sold anything yet?

TBM issues each Member at least the minimum ($1200) of trade credit. This trade credit account allows every Member to have immediate purchasing power of goods or services through the Exchange. The line of trade credit may not be drawn against for cash conversion. Only earned Trade Dollars may be converted.

 

21.  Will a broker assist me in my purchases?

We realize you may need assistance with promoting your business or finding spending opportunities.  Our national call center is here to assist you. We make regular calls to help educate you on how to use the many tools we have available to you to become an eventual self-empowered trader.

 

22.  Do I get a statement? From whom? When?

You will receive a monthly statement generated by our clearing house,
Barter Exchange Clearing Services.  This is an attachment to your monthly email TBM Account Statement.  You also have the ability, at any time, to logon to review, in "real-time," your Account. You may print out that moments Statement if you desire.

 

23.  What happens if I purchase something and want to return it, can I get a credit?

When a trade is cancelled or returned, the Seller is responsible for (easily) entering a "transaction reversal" to re-credit your account. TBM would only get involved if there is a complaint against the Seller or Buyer.

 

24.  How long does it normally take for Membership Application approval?

Application processing takes, on average, several "business" days.

 

25.  Will any of this affect my credit score?

No, with exceptions. However, egregious, fraudulent, or malfeasant Member activity may be reported. Although we do believe as you begin utilizing the many benefits of your TBM account, your personal and business credit scores will improve -- you will have been saving money and building a better business.

 

26.  If I join, for the $2,400 lifetime membership and get issued the minimum $1,200 initial Trade Credit, but I sell much more than that, can I still cash convert all of my earned TBM Trade Dollars, or is there a "catch"?

There are NO limits on any Member as to the amount of earned TBM Trade Dollars that are cash convertible. There is NO "catch".

 

27. Can I use my TBM Trade Credit line to get a cash advance?

No. Only TBM Trade Dollars that a Member earns (by selling via the Exchange) may be redeemed for cash.

 

28.  Can I increase my credit line?

Yes. Credit Line increase requests are processed after an initial Membership period of at least 30 days.

 

29. If I have used a portion of my credit line, and I also have earned TBM Trade Dollars, can I use my earnings to pay additional amounts towards my used credit?

Yes.

 

30.  Can I use my earned TBM Trade Dollars to pay trade or other fees?

Yes. In fact, this is how any such fees are normally assessed.

 

31.  What if I don’t use all of my Trade Credit?

 Your trade credit account is something that you have paid for as an incorporated benefit of becoming a Member. If you do not use it, than you will have wasted it.

 

32.  Are there tax advantages to bartering?

 Yes and No.  "Yes" because (for most businesses) 100% of the monthly dues and fees are deductible, and barter purchases made for business are deductible expenses.  "No" because the tax code treats barter transactions identically to cash transactions, and barter sales are considered taxable income in the year they occur. Traders are responsible for issuing and filing Form 1099-B (Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions) for barter transactions. Barter exchanges will often report the barter transactions and issue the 1099-Bs for their clients. TBM does this for its Members.

 

33. Will I get a 1099 from TBM?

Yes. Business income and expenses generated by barter is treated the same as other business income and expenses. The value is determined by the fair market value of the goods or services traded as recorded in Trade Dollars:  the Internal Revenue mandates that TBM Trade Dollars equal U.S. Dollars at all times.

 

34. Do I pay taxes on my barter sales or earned TBM trade dollars?

Yes. You must account for all barter activity when reporting/filing your taxes. But we suggest that you consult a competent CPA who is familiar with the IRS Rulings on barter sales, who can assist you with your own specific and unique tax situations.