In Times Of Financial Strain Bartering May Be The Way To Go

During these challenging financial times, an old-school way of doing business may start to regain some strength among Americans — the bartering system.

An example of the return of bartering was recently reported by Reuters. A New York funeral director, in need of some home repairs, has advertised that he is offering a free funeral to someone who will undertake his construction job at his Manhattan home.

The funeral director said in his Craig’s List ad, “It may sound like a laughable barter transaction, but consider the average cost of paying for a funeral. The idea makes sense because the estimated cost of the construction work, at $6,000 to $10,000, is similar to the cost of a funeral.”

The director is looking for a builder or contractor to do some remodelling for a new patio, but did not have the cash on hand for the project. At the time of this writing, the director said he has gotten several calls from prospective takers, but has not yet filled the job.

The average cost of a funeral in the U.S. is about $7,300, according to the National Funeral Directors Association, which said it was not aware of any precedent for bartering funeral services.