For those of us on PaperbackSwap.com

[Tera, First Chick]

lol now I'm all confused. Teri I did have TTW on my list. I didn't get a PM from you but I did get one from Maria... (now Ill have to work on remembering everyones PBS names). My account shows that I have requested that book from a member and it is waiting to be sent. I think it was from Maria but maybe it was from you? I'm not sure how to check to see who I am getting the book from. I know I got a PM from Maria about it though because I PM'd her back and have a log of that on my account but I dont see one from you.

[Lori]

All right...I made my list available to only my friends (aka, yall) without any problems. I saw that I have the options of saying that I can't send the book or that my copy doesn't meet the standards of the person requesting it (didn't know you could set standards). But what does that do to me if I say no?

[Tera, First Chick]

The standards thing is up to the person requesting the book. Sometimes Ill get requests to only send the book if it's from a smoke free house, or only if it has the dust jacket on. If you can't meet those standards you just PM them and they will cancell the request.

If you cant send out the book in the time then you also need to make that known with the receiver. I have known I wasn't going to get to the post office in 48hours so I just sent them a message and told them when I would be able to send it out. They can then agree to those terms or cancel their request with me.

You want to send the books out asap because that's how you get credits.
Also people can leave comments on you as a sender kind of like ebay. I had someone upset with how I sent out a book even though its how i've sent books before and she could leave that comment on me. (She didn't like that I used a big envelope that and tape...too picky its a free book!)

[Lori]

They all said I had 4 days and 16 hours to answer when I looked this morning. One of them gave me the option of sending later, which I did. Another has criteria that my book meets, but doesn't give me the option of saying I can mail it later. I can either say, the book meets the conditions, it doesn't, or I can't mail the book. What should I do?

[Tera, First Chick]

okay I have a question. Is there or how do you make a book available to only one member? Say I have a book that I know one of you want but it might be a highly requested book how do I make sure that you get first dibs on the book and not james Shmackelbodacker from Boise?

[Lori]

How do we request a book we want? Do we click order or what?

[Tera, First Chick]

Yes if there is a book you want and you have the credit to get it just click "order this book" and it will walk you through the rest.

[Lori]

I'm also having issues with the mailing part. I get that I need to buy packing tape. But do I have to use the thing I have the option of printing out? I'm really not good at wrapping books and I'm afraid of buying envelopes because of what Tera said about someone being upset with how the book was mailed.

[Holli]

I requested you Cindy! I'm totally getting how this whole things works and I'm having fun playing around in it. Thanks for all of your explanations...its good to know we have each other to explain this new stuff huh?

[Tera, First Chick]

I sent a book yesterday and I just bought one of the padded envelopes at the post office and wrote the address on myself. You dont have to print of the mailer slip and I think I will just use the padded envelopes from now on since they are right there and only about a dollar or so.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Tera, you asked how to make a book available to only one member. To send you Nefertiti (which is going out in todays mail) I looked you up on my buddy list, then clicked to see your wish list, then posted the book from your wish list (where you had Nefertiti listed). It said something about the fact that I was posting the book "to this member". So I think to make sure a book goes to one person, you have to post it from that person's wish list. Once it posted though it said it was just on hold, so that was why I emailed to make sure it was you that it was holding for.

[Cindy]

Got your invite Holli! I haven't had time to mess with this much, but will try to get my books I have on here to give away, posted on there. I did check out all of your wish lists and unfortunately I don't have any of the books requested.

[Maria]

Tera - that was me who posted TTW ! I'm going to mail it out on Thursday (sorry for couple day delay ) It's strange that Teri could still see it on your wishlist after you had already accepted it from me.
I'm still tinkering with the packaging to - to see what works for me. Any more wrapping tips from you mailing pros would be great. Does anyone use cling wrap as suggested on the site?

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Wrapping:
For small paperbacks I do wrap them with a piece of plastic wrap, then just use the two pieces of paper that you can print out from the site, and seal the edges well with packaging tape.

I also hate having to make a trip to the post office so I always buy my postage from PBS, with the delivery confirmation number, print it out on my computer, then just put the books out in my mailbox.

For bigger books, where it is hard to wrap them with a piece of paper, I will use a mailing envelope (usually a padded envelope) then just tape the printed label with postage to the envelope. I have started saving and recycling mailing envelopes that I get in the mail so I don't have to buy an envelope every time. Then just seal with packaging tape.

[Lori]

When you say use the two pieces of paper and seal the edges, so you mean make a sandwich with the book in the middle (and seal the edges) or wrap it like a present?

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

For books that one piece of paper will go all the way around, I put the two pieces of paper that print out together, then just wrap the book like a present, taping the seam at the back, then folding the ends in and sealing them with tape too.

Sometimes a book is too thick or big for one piece of paper to go all the way around though, so you may have to get creative, like lay one piece of paper on the table, put the book on top of it, fold the paper around, try to hold onto it, then put fold the second piece of paper around the top. Sometimes you might have one piece of paper facing one direction (the long side going left and right) and the second piece of paper going the other direction (the long side going top to bottom) to get the book completely wrapped.

[Cindy]

I am going to try and get some books posted this weekend and I am wondering how I should do this in case any of you want any of them. Does anyone know??

[Tera, First Chick]

There is a neat feature on PBS that is fun to use. If you go to "search" and then to "club wish list" you can then see some of the most requested books. I try to keep them in my mind and if I see them offered at a thrift shop or garage sale I pick them up for cheap and post them. It's like buying credits in a really cheap way. my useless tip of the day.

[Vicki]

Cindy, I think the easiest way, if you want us to have first dibs is send a message of what you plan on posting, and then if we put it on our wishlists, you can post the book for us. Feel free to chime in, if there is a better way, though I have been a member of PBS for a while, this part is still a bit new to me.

[Cindy]

Thanks Vicki, now I have to gather up books and make my list! and Tera, thanks for the tip!

[Cindy]

OK, I went through my bookshelfs and sent you all a list of the books I have to give away on PBS by sending you a message on PBS. Let me know if you want any of them. I won't post them to PBS until I hear from you.

[Vicki]

Cindy, I don't think I have you on my buddy list. I tried to add a Cindy off of someone's list yesterday, but I am not sure if it was you.

[Cindy]

Vicki, I just noticed the buddy invite on PBS and added you! Thanks!

[Yoby]

On packaging. I print out the third one sheet option, just wrap that around the book and slip in in a gallon freezer bag with the address showing on the clear side, Fold over the bag, and tape. It doesn't add any extra weight and will fit most books. It goes really fast, and I have more gallon freezer bags than I do envelopes.

I am Purple Alice on PBS, so come be my buddy, maybe that will motivate me to cull out some books I know I'll never get back to in order to get more of the ones I want.

I am also keeping lists of the ones that look interesting now that are in the bookstores, so I'll remember to ask for them later, then I put them in my (oh, what is it called, not TBR, and not Wish, but some other one, that way I don't have a bunch of wish ones come up all at once.)

Anyone else bot some uselful hints?

Anyone else do the swap a CD or DVD?

[Lori]

I just have an easier time slipping it into an envelope. I'm not a fan of origami.

[Yoby]

Lori wrote: "I just have an easier time slipping it into an envelope. I'm not a fan of origami. "

Don't take what I said as a criticism. I just pour out advice on trivial things like hints from Helouise, because I just flat talk too much. So if it works great, if not,k envelope away.

We are a community and friends, and some of our little (or big) habits will irk, but lets stick to what we have in common.
My irritating quality, if you say anythingm, I will tell you how to do it better. Trying to stop, but only aware afterward.

[Lori]

I didn't think you were criticizing me. It's no big deal. I wish I could get it to work, and maybe someday I will, because that would definitely be less expensive than buying envelopes.

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

For all those chicks on PBS, if you have not ventured to the discussion forums you have to check them out for some great deals. Just click on "Community" at the top of your PBS page, then Discussion Forums", then go to "Book Bazaar". Lots of great offers from people, 2 books for 1 credit, 3 books for 1 credit, even 4 books for 1 credit, and sometimes people just freely giving away 'unpostable' books. I have taken advantage of several offers, and just yesterday got "Eat, Pray and Love", "The Lovely Bones", and "Midwives" all for 1 credit. Plus I got a completely free copy of "The Color Purple" that someone was mailing free to anyone that wanted it because it had some underlining and was therefore "unpostable". Many of the shelves of people making offers have nothing that interests me (romance novels, lots of kids stuff, etc) but sometimes you can get some real gems!

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Bringing this thread back to the top for Melissa, who was asking if anyone was on PBS on the Chicks trading post thread.

melissa, my id name on PBS is Sheila09, name Sheila M., and I live in WA state, if you want to look me up there and send me a buddy request. :o)

[Melissa]

Thanks so much Sheila!
I will send you a buddy request over at PBS~
:o)

my id name is mblisa on pbs - I invite everyone to look at my bookshelf and see if there is anything that you need, make me a offer~ :o)

[Meg]

make me a friend, and, welcome aboard!

[Melissa]

Meg wrote: "Boy Sheila you hit the jackpot. Never happened to me. So what was the second book you ordered?"

I read this messge..from a past posting~ but thought that I would mention, the Book Bazaar under PBS Discussions~ are a GREAT way to stretch your credits, you can get 2 for 1, or even 3 for 1 on some bookshelves..
:) ~ Ive done it a few times, and always had good results!

[Kristin]

I've never used PBS swap before, can you only swap books or can you have them to keep? Im not sure if i understand how it works?

[Sheila , Supporting Chick]

Hi Kristin,
Any book you get on PBS is yours to keep or do with what you want. How it works is you post books that you own that you are willing to get rid of. When someone requests one of your books, you mail it to them (you pay the postage), and then you earn a credit so you can request a book of your own. The book you request is sent to you in exchange for your credit (you pay no money to receive a book, it just costs you a credit). It's a fun and cheap way to get new books, and to clean books of your own bookshelf that you no longer want.

I also agree with Melissa that the Book Bazaar is a great place to check out. I have used it a few times to get 2 books for 1 credit, and 3 books for 1 credit deals, and even one 4 books for 1 credit deal. I even listed a series of 11 books I had there as a 2 for 1 deal, and ended up sending all books to one person for 5 credits. Saved me on postage to mail them all in one box, and I earned 5 credits to use myself!

[Melissa]

Kristin wrote: "I've never used PBS swap before, can you only swap books or can you have them to keep? Im not sure if i understand how it works?"

I like Sheila's explanation of how PBS works~ PBS is a great way to "trade" books for ones that you want.
( when you post your first 10 books..at least 10, but you could post more..of course~ you get free credits, I think its 2 credits right off the bat!)
A Credit = A free book, over 3,000,000 to choose from! Everyone that Ive met on PBS ( Ive been a member for over a year and a half ) is really nice and they are "anxious" for you to receive the book that you request from them..so they can get a credit for any book that they want~ :)
there are also interesting discussion on PBS, and even a chat room..

[Cassandra]

I'm on PBS too and my userid is utexfan.

[Melissa]

Cindy wrote: "Ok, signed up and tried to add some of you as Buddy's; not sure if they all went through. I am Cindy (cyndil62) from Chandler AZ. Have to add some books now. This seems like it will be fun if I ..."

Cindy, I just sent you a buddy request at paperback swap..how do you like PBS?

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys*]

Hey I'm learing all kinds of things! I've been there along time and heck I didn't even know how to add buddies. I didn't know they rate you on how you send out like ebay. Dang I made some dude mad one time because I put tape on the book accidentally. He kinda griped me out. Turkey.
I'm pebbles32s on there.

[Cindy]

Got your request Melissa. I love PBS! The only problem is I keep getting more books that I just have to have!

[Melissa]

Cindy wrote: "Got your request Melissa. I love PBS! The only problem is I keep getting more books that I just have to have!

"

I totally understand, about getting more books! ( as soon as I get a credit added to my account, I cant wait to use it ) lol...

[Melissa]

Shelby wrote: "Hey I'm learing all kinds of things! I've been there along time and heck I didn't even know how to add buddies. I didn't know they rate you on how you send out like ebay. Dang I made some dude mad ..."

I will send you a PM at PBS~ What are your favorite kinds of books?

[Christy (TheReaderBee)]

Hi all- I'm trying to add you guys over at PBS, but I don't think it's working!

[Christy (TheReaderBee)]

Oh, I think I got it to work! I'm adding when it lets me, so if you get a request, it's from me. :)

If anyone wants to add me, I'm Ennuim. :)

[Cindy]

Hi Christy, I got your request. Let me know if you want any of the books on my list! No points required...just send me a note!

[Lori]

I think what you do Teri is go to your buddy's wish list and there will be a link next to the titles that says Post This Book. I believe that will grant their wish.

[Christy (TheReaderBee)]

Cindy wrote: "Hi Christy, I got your request. Let me know if you want any of the books on my list! No points required...just send me a note!"

Thank you Cindy, that's so nice of you!! I don't have any books up yet, but will try to get some up this week! We have a huge used book store in our area, if anyone ever wants me to look for anything, just let me know! :)

[Kristin]

I signed up with both PBS and Book Mooch, so far I like Mooch better, I got one book from there so far.. or didnt GET it yet but requested it.. anyone else use BM?

[Cindy]

Thanks for the tip Lori, I was not sure how to do it either. I'll check it out next time I post a 'wished for by my buddies' book.

[Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)]

ooh I never realized that you could do that. I would much rather give books to all of the chicks rather than strangers!

My nickname on there is jamieleee

[Lori]

Is your middle name Lee too?!