Safety tips
Most Kootenay trades go beautifully. A little common sense keeps it that way.
Meet in public for first trades
Coffee shops, town squares, the post office parking lot. Save the front-porch handoffs for folks you've already swapped with.
Bring a friend, or tell one
For larger items — vehicles, livestock, equipment — bring someone along, or at minimum share the meet-up details with a friend.
Keep negotiations on Tradesies
Our chat is private to the two of you. Moving off-platform makes it harder to resolve disputes and breaks the handshake trail.
Inspect before you commit
Test the chainsaw. Taste the sourdough. Look under the hood. The handshake comes after you've seen the goods.