It was only a matter of time before somebody started a concept like Flip4new. The German e-commerce site focuses on electronics and digital products. That’s not new of course. But there payment method is. Instead of paying with cash, credit cards and so on, customers can pay with other goods. If you need a new iPod, you might pay with your old Nintendo Wii console. The business concept of this e-commerce platform is different from others due to the broad offering they have. Other ‘swap’ platforms are focused on one product or one niche only. For instance, give your old mobile in return for a new one.
In this case, you send in your product and the discount you get can only be used on the same platform. Soon we might see concepts were you can exchange your discount-credits (if that’s a good name) with other platforms as well. A ‘Pay with facebook‘ concept will soon arise. Secondly, people will elaborate on the idea of paying with products. Now only ‘old’ products are being used, but what about products that are being ‘modded’ or ‘hacked’ to become better products then before. A whole D.I.Y. generation is entering the e-commerce scene and they will definitely leave a stamp on the way we look at (online) trading.