Tradio is the name given to a type of talk radio

Talk radio

Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...

 show format where listeners call in to buy or sell items. The concept of is analogous to classified ads

Classified advertising

Classified advertising is a form of advertising which is particularly common in newspapers, online and other periodicals which may be sold or distributed free of charge...

 in local newspapers.

The format is also often called Swap Shop, Buy Sell or Trade or Trading Post.

Format

Most tradio programs follow a similar format to each other. Callers are given a studio line in which they can call in and advertise, for free, a limited number of items for sale, or request an item to purchase from another listener. The caller then gives a phone number so that other listeners can contact the person for further information. Since the increased prevalence of e-mail

E-mail

Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...

 and other electronic media, most stations permit the sending in of items to sell via e-mail or fax. Most stations also permit listeners to send lists of items through postal mail. Tradio programs are particularly associated with the full service

Full service (radio format)

The full service radio format consists of a wide range of programming. Mostly found on the AM band, the format can be found on a handful of FM stations...

 format.

There are usually some limits to what can be bought and sold through tradio programs. Most stations stipulate that only individuals, and no businesses, may use the tradio service, since the financial security of these small stations usually relies on the advertising dollars from these businesses. Federal regulations prohibit the sale of firearms through these services; real estate

Real estate

In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...

 is also usually not allowed on tradio programs. Restrictions on the sale of automobile

Automobile

An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...

s varies from station to station.

The name "tradio" does not apply to any one particular program and there are no national or syndicated tradio programs. It is technically not a franchised format

Media franchise

A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...

, either. However, the name tradio has been trademarked by Simply Local Broadcasting and WRIL-FM Pineville, Kentucky.

Typically tradio and similar programs are only heard on small, rural stations; KDKA (AM)

KDKA (AM)

KDKA is a radio station licensed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Created by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation on November 2, 1920, it is one of the world's first modern radio stations , a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations, although it has claimed to be the first in...

 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

 is the largest market with a tradio program, airing weekly on Saturday afternoons. A similarly-styled program titled Wheelin' and Dealin' with Dave Ramos also airs during the weekends on WTAM

WTAM

WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...

 in Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...

 (but is not in a regular timeslot). In smaller markets, tradio programs can air daily.

Tradio in Pop Culture

Various Tradio programs have been the target of prank phone calling by The Howard Stern Shows Richard Christy

Richard Christy

Thomas Richard Christy is an American musician and radio personality who currently works on The Howard Stern Show. Christy began to work on the show after winning the "Get John's Job" contest on July 1, 2004. He is known for his prank calls, song parodies, personality, and stunts performed on the...

 and Sal Governale.