Help me build a new way to swap!
 

The website is now live!

www.hunters-exchange.com


I would like to get some feedback from hunters about a new system that I am building. I would like to see what other hunters feel are important pieces to include into it, and also, what isn't as important.

I posted the following paragraph under "Swap a Hunt".

How does everyone feel about a system that allows you to deposit your hunting or fishing trip into a preverbial bucket. Then, once you have deposited this trip into the bucket, you get to pick from other trips that have been deposited into the bucket. This would fix the problem with trying to find someone that wants what you have and also has what you want. It could be set up so that after each trip you rated the sponsor of the trip. giving future hunters / fisherman an idea of what they could expect.

After recieving a ton of possitive feedback from this site, as well as others, I decided to make it a go.

I am working with web designers now, and I am looking for as much input as possible. Please let me know if you have any ideas!

Thanks again for all of the support so for!

Keith

[email protected]
(231) 627-7360

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Sounds like the way a timeshare works.

If you can get enough people interested I think it could work.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I guess I can see the similarities. One big difference being you don't have to buy a "timeshare" to deposit into the system. you deposit something you already have.

I agree, that the more people depositing into it, the better it will work.

I'm trying now to start getting information from people that are interested, that way when it's up and running, there are already a bunch of trips in there.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I don't know about the dropping your trip in the bucket. The whole premise of the swap hunt is you hunt with me and I will treat you well and then I hunt with you and you return the favor. That is a built in accountability to some extent. If you were taking someone that you would not be hunting with in return you would not have that drive in place to make sure they have a good hunt. If Joe comes and hunts with me what's there to assure me that Tom is going to let me come hunt? Do I have it wrong or is this that the type of system that you were referring to? Now two things that I think would be beneficial in a swap hunt setup is have a good rating and feedback system in place. Also, since I have heard of people getting burned on these things before, you could make both parties pay in a sum of money that is equal to the value of the hunt. The money would be held until both parties have hunted. That way you don't have to worry about someone hunting with you and then backing out or just generally showing you a poor hunt in comparison to the hunt you showed them. That could include everything from lodging and accomodations to transportation and game. Hunting is hunting but there is alwasy the oppurtunity for someone to misrepresent their land (ie. they may tell you that you will be hunting private ground and you wind up hunting public etc.) In the case of a successful hunt both parties get their money back minus a small fee. In the case that a hunt is challenged then parties must have agreed to let an arbitrator settle the matter. The arbitrator would take a nominal fee say $150 from both sides, for arbitration costs, and pay the winner their funds back as well as the funds of the other party. That would give both sides incentive to not file for arbitration unless it was waranted and to first try to work things out amongst themselves. I personally think that would be a benefit because there are many people out there that are fearful of swap hunts because they are afraid they will get taken. This would certainly proved some accountability. I haven't put much thought to this, I am just throwing some ideas out but those are some things to think about at the least.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

You are right on with your description of the system. It will be the only system actively rating "swappers". Right now, many people do get burned on swaps. There should an amount of concern with swappers - given they way it has worked in the past.

Initially, I am personally contacting depositors to "keep people real" about what they have. That certainly will not 100% guarantee that someone won't slip through, but it will weed out most. From there, satisfaction will be rated by the hunter / fisherman going on the trip.

I like your arbitration angle too. I want to put more thought into it, but off the cuff I like it.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

Time share hunts. Sounds good as long as they are equivilant.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I've been putting some thought into a way to make people feel comfortable depositing a trip initially.

I could charge a refundable fee, like suggested. But would that actually repel more people than it attracts?

Isn't being an independent 3rd party that shows reviews of swappers better than the system everyone uses now?

Also, I could allow people to contact the potential swap, to get their own comfort with that person before they book it.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

personally, i have done a few swaps, and had all great hunts. everybody that has hunted with me would say the same im pretty sure. i think the deposit would scare people off, it would me, thats the reason im doing swaps, not paying guides. talking on the phone beforehand would be a great idea, i talk on the phone a LOT to other hunters, and so far (knock on wood) i have been right on my initial impression. im sure ill get burned one day, hope not though. some of my thoughts

have a rating system: if your not swapping hunt for hunt with one person, i dont see how this could work without one. weed out the bad ones

watch anyone who guarentees any kind of animal (unless its high fenced, but who wants to go on that anyway) not many areas is that possible.

for anyone who has done these before, get refenences if possible

good luck with this, i love the idea. if i come up with anything else, ill post later
brad

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I am not much for a TRADE so to speek. I do have a few hunters every year come to my home or camp to elk hunt.So far every one of them have been very good people.I do not expect ANY THING in return for my help.I do know that any one of the guys that have came to my home I could go hunt,fish or just vacation in there home most any day. I look at it as making friends to hunt with,not people I take hunting.

I know if I hade to pay to come hunt IT IS A GUIDED hunt.I nore the guys that I have hunted with, want a guide.This is why they call it a trade.

I beleave it is all in what YOU as the hunter expect to get when you go to some place to hunt.I do know that some people promess more than they can give,This is a problem allso.But I do know that you as the hunter know what hunting is like so you should not be miss lead.

RE: Help me build a new way to swap!
 

I love the rating idea! That would keep the trips equal, or at least you would know if your doing a lesser trip!