I'm scrolling through the reviews and I see the normal 5 star/1 star dichotomy. We've been with VCA since mid 2011, six and a half years now. We've traded over $100,000 with clients we would have never reached if it weren't for barter. I believe in Barter. The gargantuan majority of the reviews here are not targeting the Value Card Alliance but rather barter in general. I've lost my pity for the people who complain they can't spend their dollars, that it didn't benefit them or that the system doesn't work. It takes basic economic education to understand the method and reap its rewards and the administrations lack of support for this I rate understandable. If you don't have the common sense to run your own business they can't help you.
VCA specifically, has been both a benefit and a detriment. I've had some great opportunities and some serious aggravation from them. Their membership is large enough that I've never had difficulty spending my balance. Of that $100,000 sold $94,000 has been spent. I do feel they play dirty though, their practices can be controversial. Some of the product they offer has been genuine trash but I've also purchased some fantastic stuff on trade at a more than fair price. That said my star count comes from a lack of quality control and an imbalance in their sales/service. Refining their offerings would go a long way in building a stronger image as well as reciprocating when asked for services rather than simply pushing sales.