Location, Location, Location. Rather than recruit members from across the Metro Area, when we build our trading communities, we focus on a limited geographic area. Our East Valley Division is focused on Mesa, Tempe, Chandler and Gilbert. The West Valley Division is focused on Glendale and Peoria. As we see it, a restaurant in Surprise doesn't do a member in Gilbert much good. Your ATE trade dollars are more valuable because you can barter for things that you can easily access.

In addition to these local businesses, ATE Members have the opportunity to trade nationally and internationally through our relationships with other members of the National Association of Trade Exchanges (NATE).

We Don’t Waste Your Cash. Many trade exchanges charge a commission the moment you earn a trade dollar. At ATE, no commission is charged until you spend your trade dollars. Our brokers and sales staff work hard helping our members find the products and services they need. If they didn't, we'd go broke!

In addition, ATE is the only trade exchange in Arizona that doesn't charge its members cash monthly fees. Never have, never will! We do assess our members a nominal monthly fee ($9.50) that is deducted from their trade balance. This is not a cash fee!

A Trade Fair Extraordinaire. . Most trade exchanges have an annual trade fair. Usually these affairs are a chance for members to set up booths and sell to each other for the holidays. ATE is different. For our Holiday Trade Fair, our owners go to the largest wholesaler's convention in America and spend a lot of money buying everything from remote controlled planes to home décor; sporting goods to jewelry. These items are then marked at retail prices and set up in department store atmosphere for our members to peruse. But you'd better be quick. Last year, our members bought more than $400,000 of our $650,000 inventory in less than three hours!!! The rest of the merchandise becomes the inventory that we continue to sell through our showroom throughout the year.

A Balanced Membership. Are you worried about getting enough work from barter because there might be ten other businesses like you already signed up? With ATE you have no reason to worry. We're selective about the number of like businesses we let into our trade exchange, thus ensuring that everyone has the opportunity for success. If you're successful, we're successful. While other trade exchanges become diluted because they allow any business to join, ATE goes to great lengths so you never have to worry about that.

Members that Trade. Some trade exchanges allow their members to "go on hold" when they feel their balance is too large. This can create a very uncomfortable situation, especially when you've just enjoyed a good meal and are ready to pay the tab in trade. ATE members are not allowed to become inactive. Again, we strive to maintain a balanced membership so no one takes too much or too little trade.