24 Hour Authorizations: 919.469.5548 | BBE Office: 919.469.5538

Buying Procedures

What are the most important buying procedures?


It is the buyer’s responsibility to contact the seller.

Buyers must identify themselves as BBE clients when they call or they may be considered a cash customer. The buyer should only speak with the contact person listed in the seller’s BBE Marketplace company description and/or the contact name given to them by the barter brokers.

Buyers are encouraged to get written estimates before the work begins if the trade involves special orders, construction jobs, service work, or long-term leases, and/or other work-in-progress trades.

The buyer presents his or her barter card to the seller at the time of purchase. However, if the buyer is paying with gift cards, gift certificates, and/or scrip, it is not necessary to present a barter card.

Sellers will provide their goods and services at their prevailing retail prices for 100% trade to buyers in good standing.

All taxes and tips are to be paid in cash by the buyer to the seller.

The buyer's account will be debited for the amount of the purchase when the BBE Trade Department issues the authorization number to the seller. BBE is not responsible for honoring authorizations granted due to any misrepresentations made by buyer or seller. BBE reserves the right to refuse to issue an authorization number approving a transaction if the buyer does not have a sufficient barter dollar balance, if the buyer’s account is past due on cash fees owed, and/or if either party is not a client in good standing.

Buyers must sign a completed 3-part form when the job is finished. They buyer’s signature acknowledges satisfactory receipt of the products and services described on the 3-part form and authorizes BBE to debit the buyer’s account in accordance to the BBE Trading Policies and Procedures.

Restaurants, golf courses, and establishments that sell food only accept scrip, gift cards and/or gift certificates for payment. Scrip, gift cards, and gift certificates can be ordered online in the BBE Marketplace or via phone by calling the BBE office. It is not necessary to complete a 3-part form when these certificates are used at these establishments.

 

How can I get help spending my barter dollars?


Call your barter brokers at (919) 469-5538 or email them with your barter needs. They can recommend the best sellers to fulfill your barter needs. They will tell you about the new clients, one-time offers, special discount offers, and clients who are looking for more barter business. The better you know your barter brokers, the more they will be able to understand you and your spending habits.
 
Go to the online membership directory, the BBE Marketplace. The BBE Marketplace only lists the active clients who want more barter business! View the new client list, one-time offers, special discount offers, travel offers, scrip, gift cards,  gift certificates, and showroom merchandise available for sale. Review archived "Barter Loop" broadcast emails and faxes. Use the “Search by Location” category to view the clients in your area that want more barter business. View the daily “Spotlight” on the BBE Marketplace’s homepage to see the new clients and one-time offers. View the “Featured Clients” on the BBE Marketplace’s homepage to see the clients that want new barter business. View the “Popular Trades” on the bottom of the BBE Marketplace’s homepage to see the established barter clients who are looking for more barter business. View the “Sponsored Ads” that are displayed next to each individual client’s barter description.
 
Call your barter brokers to see if the products and services that you need are available from another barter exchange.
 
Read the "Barter Loop" broadcast emails. Each business day, BBE sends a broadcast email to all clients and debit card holders with an email address. Only the clients who are looking for more barter business are advertised on these emails.  Emails advertise new clients, one-time offers, and clients who are looking for more barter business. We also send out emails by categories. For example, all florists are advertised on Valentine’s Day Barter Loop.
 
Attend the BBE Holiday Fair. Meet the people who you want to do business with and purchase holiday gift for 100% barter from the participating barter vendors.
 
Refer the business owners that you want to use to the BBE network! If the product or service that you need is not available in the BBE barter network, refer the business owner to BBE. A referral bonus of $100 BBE barter dollars will be given to each client who refers a new client who joins our barter network! What a great way to earn some extra barter and spend on the products and services that you need!
 
Call the BBE sales director to request a product or service on barter that BBE does not have in your area. Call the Director of Sales, Christina Carman on her cell phone at (919) 796-6767 or email Christina with your specific barter needs. The sales staff will telemarket business owners that you request in your area to recruit their businesses into the BBE network.
 
Accept customer service calls from the barter brokers when they call to promote the new members, one-time offers, and clients who want more barter business.
 
Make BBE an integral part of your business! Always call the barter brokers before you spend cash!

What are the travel procedures?

 

BBE works with many different barter exchanges to offer our clients a wide selection of travel accommodations. Each barter exchange has different policies regarding how travel is handled. It is our goal to provide you the best possible service and have your reservation placed in a timely fashion.

Before any travel inquiries are made, the traveling client must “agree to” online or “sign” the “BBE Travel Agreement and Reservation Request Forms.”


BBE will not make travel inquiries for clients who owe past due cash fees.

BBE is not a travel agency. BBE purchases available excess travel inventory from other barter exchanges. Please allow up to ten (10) business days for all reservations. BBE needs at least two (2) business days to respond to any travel request. BBE is unable to check availability or pricing prior to booking the reservation. If the traveling client is concerned about rates, client must list the maximum price per night under the "Special Request" notes on the "Make a Reservation" form. Once dates are selected, a reservation will be booked if there is availability within the requested price range. All reservations are subject to availability. Some properties will not accept barter reservations once their occupancy level reaches a certain percentage. Blackout dates may exist. Rates are based upon the "rack rates" and advertised discounts or special offers do not apply. BBE will not be held responsible for the quality of the properties.

The travel broker must make all reservations. If the traveling client contacts a property directly for ANY REASON prior to receiving a written confirmation from BBE, the client will be considered a cash customer. If a reservation is made directly with a travel property, BBE will not be able to convert it from cash to barter and the traveling client will be considered a cash customer.

Credit cards are mandatory when placing a travel reservation. The information will be forwarded to the property to secure your reservation. All taxes, gratuities, service charges, and incidentals will be charged to the client’s credit card.

There is a twenty ($20.00) cash "Finders Fee" if BBE locates an available property within ten (10) business days that meets the traveling clients requested criteria on the "Make a Reservation Form". This fee will be charged even if the client does not book the available property.

BBE clients will be charged an additional two and one-half (2.5%) percent cash transaction fee for all confirmed reservations from other barter exchanges. This fee will not be charged for travel purchased from clients who are members of BBE. When trading with other barter exchanges, please be advised that travel policies, procedures and requests may differ from BBE’s travel procedures.

When the travel broker receives confirmation from the property, the confirmation will be sent to the client via email. If the client does not have an email address, the confirmation will be sent via fax or via mail.

By agreeing to the terms of the “BBE Travel Agreement and Reservation Request Form” the client also agrees to have the BBE Travel Broker bill their barter account. It is not necessary for a traveling client to complete or sign a 3-part form. The travel broker will process all billing paperwork.

All confirmed reservations are guaranteed and are non-cancelable, non-changeable, and non-refundable. Once a reservation is confirmed, client will be responsible for any charges incurred. If, for some reason, the traveling client do not show or must cancel, the client will be charged for the full stay.

How do I make a travel reservation?


To make a reservation to travel on barter, select the “Travel” category on the left hand side of the BBE Marketplace.

Click the desired sub-category to view the available travel destinations.  The sub-categories will clearly state if the offers are from BBE clients or BANC / UC clients (other barter exchanges).

For travel offered by BBE clients:


If you wish to purchase, click the “Read More” link for the desired BBE travel property.  

Below the description and notes, scroll down to click the “Make A Reservation” button.

Review and agree to the terms of the “BBE Travel Agreement and Reservation Request Form” and check off “I Agree” and click the “Next” button.

Complete the online “Travel Item” reservation form and click the “Next” button. 
Review your request and click "Confirm" button.

The travel broker will receive the request on the next business day.

The travel broker will call or send you email to let you know that BBE has received your travel request.

The travel broker will email your reservation request directly to the BBE client. If the property is available, they will book the reservation.

Reservations are not guaranteed until BBE receives a written confirmation from the property.
The travel broker will contact you via email, mail, or fax as soon as he receives the written confirmation from the property.

A copy of the confirmation information will be mailed, emailed, and/or faxed to you with the final confirmation number and contact information for the property.

All confirmed reservations are guaranteed and are non-cancelable, non-changeable, and non-refundable.


For travel offered by other barter exchanges:


If you wish to submit "general" travel reserviation from another barter exchange in the US or worldwide, click the sub-category “Travel Directions & Reservation Requests" in the Travel category and click the “Read More” link.

Below the description and notes, scroll down to click the “Make A Reservation” button.
Review and agree to the terms of the “BBE Travel Agreement and Reservation Request Form” and check off “I Agree” and click the “Next” button.

Complete the online “Travel Item” reservation form.  In the "Special Requests" list your detailed request. Remember to include the city, state, and country!  Click the “Next” button.

Review your request and click "Confirm" button.

The travel broker will receive the request on the next business day.

The travel brojer will call or send you email to let you know that BBE has received your travel request.

The travel broker will email your reservation request to the appropriate barter exchanges to check availability. If the property meets your requested requirements, the travel broker at that barter exchange will book your reservation.

Reservations are not guaranteed until BBE receives a written confirmation from the property.
The travel broker will contact you via email, mail, or fax as soon as the he receives the written confirmation from the property.

A copy of the confirmation information will be mailed, emailed, and/or faxed to you with the final confirmation number and contact information for the property.
All confirmed reservations are guaranteed and are non-cancelable, non-changeable, and non-refundable.


Travel directions if you do not have access to the BBE Marketplace:


If you do not have access to the online BBE Marketplace, you must complete and sign the “BBE Travel Agreement and Reservation Request Form” and the ”Make a Reservation Form” which can be emailed, faxed, or mailed by the travel broker. Submit the forms to the Travel Department via email at travel@ncbarter.com, via fax at (919) 469-5558, or mail it to Barter Business Exchange, 1125 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 207, Cary, NC 27511. Both forms must be completed and signed before any inquiries are made about travel. 
 

When should I get a written estimate for a barter purchase?


The buying client should obtain a written estimate from the selling client before authorizing the work to begin for all purchase over five hundred ($500) barter dollars. The sellers may choose to obtain a work-in-progress deposit / down-payment in barter dollars in the same non-refundable manner as a cash transaction. This is done with a 3-part form and work-in-progress authorization number. Work-in-progress deposits and down payments are considered normal trades.
 

What happens when a client tries to charge me cash?


It is imperative that clients always identify themselves as a BBE client before they purchase products and services on barter. Clients who charge other BBE clients cash for their products and services who have not notified the BBE Trade Department in writing that their account is “on hold” prior to sale will be charged a twenty-five (25%) percent cash transaction fee on the total amount of the cash sale. It is the buyer’s responsibility to contact the BBE office when this happens.