Save Money And Trees By Trading Books Online.
Green Living/Suite101.com (Website) - 9/30/2009 by Nicki Heskin
Swapping books online is a great way to turn clutter into savings. PaperBackSwap is one of many book swapping websites for bartering books online.
PaperBackSwap.com (also known as PBS) has a great selection – with more than 4 million books listed there's a pretty good chance they will have a desired book in inventory. PBS offers users a chance to clean off bookshelves and obtain new reads for a fraction of the cost of new books.
How PaperBackSwap Works
Essentially, PaperBackSwap allows users to earn book credits by sending books to other users in the system. Those credits can then be used to request books. There is currently no charge for using the system and PBS charges no transaction fees to send or request books. The user pays only the postage cost to send books to others and the favor is returned by those sending out requested books in return. Credits can be saved in the system until there is a book the user wants to request.
How to Request PaperBackSwap Books
Users can browse books by category, or look up for specific books using the search feature. Users can choose to search only books that can be immediately requested, or lookup the status of books whether available or not.
Books not currently in the system can be added to wish lists that create a queue and notify users in turn when books become available. Wish lists can contain up to 200 books. Users can also create Reminder Lists of listed or unlisted books without triggering a request. Users have 48 hours to claim wish list offers, or items can be placed on automatic request.
Book credits are required to request books, but no fees are charged by PBS. All books require one credit regardless of binding type or weight. Audio books require two credits. PBS has no place to add condition notes for the books when they are listed; however, there are relatively high standards agreed to when adding each book (e.g. no water damage, overall good general condition and no writing or highlighting in most cases). Books sent through PBS are generally in excellent shape.
Read more: http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/book_swapping_at_paperbackswapcom#ixzz0UKKON3T4
Books are added to the user's "bookshelf" by entering the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), generally found on the back cover, dust jacket flap or on the back of the title page. Each book sent to another user earns one book credit (audio books earn 2 credits). When joining PBS, two credits are awarded as a welcome prize as soon as 10 books are listed into the system. A free credit can also be earned for each new active member that joins as a referral.
PBS members have about 5 days to accept a request, and then must indicate if the book can be sent within two days, or can select a longer time period up to about 5 days. PBS offers a built in postage program that prints mailing labels with prepaid postage (usually around $1.50-$3.50 using media mail class). If using this service, there is also a nominal PBS fee on each item and delivery confirmation is required. This adds about 70 cents to the cost of postage, but allows books to be sent from anywhere (even for books over 13 oz, which must normally be mailed from a post office).
As an added bonus, books mailed using PBS delivery confirmation receive instant credit rather having to wait until the requestor marks the book received. Mailing labels can also be printed with only PBS delivery confirmation but not postage, or for free with no services added. Fees and postage are paid using a PBS money account funded through PayPal, credit or debit card.
Additional PaperBackSwap Features
PaperBackSwap really has a very nice, user-friendly interface. While it may take some time to get a book, it's good to know that when the system reaches a user's turn on the wish list that the book is guaranteed. There is a vacation setting that places the bookshelf and the wish list (except automatic requests) on hold when traveling or busy. There is also the ability to place general "requestor conditions" such as books from non-smoking homes that must be acknowledged by senders when accepting the request. There is also the option to get involved in the PBS community, through discussion groups and even local meet ups.
Finally, as a nice bonus, credits earned at PBS can be transferred (sometimes for a small fee) for use on sister sites SwapaCD and SwapaDVD, so books can even be turned into other types of desired media How to Offer and Ship Swapped Books
Books are added to the user's "bookshelf" by entering the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), generally found on the back cover, dust jacket flap or on the back of the title page. Each book sent to another user earns one book credit (audio books earn 2 credits). When joining PBS, two credits are awarded as a welcome prize as soon as 10 books are listed into the system. A free credit can also be earned for each new active member that joins as a referral.
PBS members have about 5 days to accept a request, and then must indicate if the book can be sent within two days, or can select a longer time period up to about 5 days. PBS offers a built in postage program that prints mailing labels with prepaid postage (usually around $1.50-$3.50 using media mail class). If using this service, there is also a nominal PBS fee on each item and delivery confirmation is required. This adds about 70 cents to the cost of postage, but allows books to be sent from anywhere (even for books over 13 oz, which must normally be mailed from a post office).
As an added bonus, books mailed using PBS delivery confirmation receive instant credit rather having to wait until the requestor marks the book received. Mailing labels can also be printed with only PBS delivery confirmation but not postage, or for free with no services added. Fees and postage are paid using a PBS money account funded through PayPal, credit or debit card.
Additional PaperBackSwap Features
PaperBackSwap really has a very nice, user-friendly interface. While it may take some time to get a book, it's good to know that when the system reaches a user's turn on the wish list that the book is guaranteed. There is a vacation setting that places the bookshelf and the wish list (except automatic requests) on hold when traveling or busy. There is also the ability to place general "requestor conditions" such as books from non-smoking homes that must be acknowledged by senders when accepting the request. There is also the option to get involved in the PBS community, through discussion groups and even local meet ups.
Finally, as a nice bonus, credits earned at PBS can be transferred (sometimes for a small fee) for use on sister sites SwapaCD and SwapaDVD, so books can even be turned into other types of desired media
Read more: http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/book_swapping_at_paperbackswapcom#ixzz0UKLIlOKT
PaperBackSwap.com (also known as PBS) has a great selection – with more than 4 million books listed there's a pretty good chance they will have a desired book in inventory. PBS offers users a chance to clean off bookshelves and obtain new reads for a fraction of the cost of new books.
How PaperBackSwap Works
Essentially, PaperBackSwap allows users to earn book credits by sending books to other users in the system. Those credits can then be used to request books. There is currently no charge for using the system and PBS charges no transaction fees to send or request books. The user pays only the postage cost to send books to others and the favor is returned by those sending out requested books in return. Credits can be saved in the system until there is a book the user wants to request.
How to Request PaperBackSwap Books
Users can browse books by category, or look up for specific books using the search feature. Users can choose to search only books that can be immediately requested, or lookup the status of books whether available or not.
Books not currently in the system can be added to wish lists that create a queue and notify users in turn when books become available. Wish lists can contain up to 200 books. Users can also create Reminder Lists of listed or unlisted books without triggering a request. Users have 48 hours to claim wish list offers, or items can be placed on automatic request.
Book credits are required to request books, but no fees are charged by PBS. All books require one credit regardless of binding type or weight. Audio books require two credits. PBS has no place to add condition notes for the books when they are listed; however, there are relatively high standards agreed to when adding each book (e.g. no water damage, overall good general condition and no writing or highlighting in most cases). Books sent through PBS are generally in excellent shape.
Read more: http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/book_swapping_at_paperbackswapcom#ixzz0UKKON3T4
Books are added to the user's "bookshelf" by entering the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), generally found on the back cover, dust jacket flap or on the back of the title page. Each book sent to another user earns one book credit (audio books earn 2 credits). When joining PBS, two credits are awarded as a welcome prize as soon as 10 books are listed into the system. A free credit can also be earned for each new active member that joins as a referral.
PBS members have about 5 days to accept a request, and then must indicate if the book can be sent within two days, or can select a longer time period up to about 5 days. PBS offers a built in postage program that prints mailing labels with prepaid postage (usually around $1.50-$3.50 using media mail class). If using this service, there is also a nominal PBS fee on each item and delivery confirmation is required. This adds about 70 cents to the cost of postage, but allows books to be sent from anywhere (even for books over 13 oz, which must normally be mailed from a post office).
As an added bonus, books mailed using PBS delivery confirmation receive instant credit rather having to wait until the requestor marks the book received. Mailing labels can also be printed with only PBS delivery confirmation but not postage, or for free with no services added. Fees and postage are paid using a PBS money account funded through PayPal, credit or debit card.
Additional PaperBackSwap Features
PaperBackSwap really has a very nice, user-friendly interface. While it may take some time to get a book, it's good to know that when the system reaches a user's turn on the wish list that the book is guaranteed. There is a vacation setting that places the bookshelf and the wish list (except automatic requests) on hold when traveling or busy. There is also the ability to place general "requestor conditions" such as books from non-smoking homes that must be acknowledged by senders when accepting the request. There is also the option to get involved in the PBS community, through discussion groups and even local meet ups.
Finally, as a nice bonus, credits earned at PBS can be transferred (sometimes for a small fee) for use on sister sites SwapaCD and SwapaDVD, so books can even be turned into other types of desired media How to Offer and Ship Swapped Books
Books are added to the user's "bookshelf" by entering the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), generally found on the back cover, dust jacket flap or on the back of the title page. Each book sent to another user earns one book credit (audio books earn 2 credits). When joining PBS, two credits are awarded as a welcome prize as soon as 10 books are listed into the system. A free credit can also be earned for each new active member that joins as a referral.
PBS members have about 5 days to accept a request, and then must indicate if the book can be sent within two days, or can select a longer time period up to about 5 days. PBS offers a built in postage program that prints mailing labels with prepaid postage (usually around $1.50-$3.50 using media mail class). If using this service, there is also a nominal PBS fee on each item and delivery confirmation is required. This adds about 70 cents to the cost of postage, but allows books to be sent from anywhere (even for books over 13 oz, which must normally be mailed from a post office).
As an added bonus, books mailed using PBS delivery confirmation receive instant credit rather having to wait until the requestor marks the book received. Mailing labels can also be printed with only PBS delivery confirmation but not postage, or for free with no services added. Fees and postage are paid using a PBS money account funded through PayPal, credit or debit card.
Additional PaperBackSwap Features
PaperBackSwap really has a very nice, user-friendly interface. While it may take some time to get a book, it's good to know that when the system reaches a user's turn on the wish list that the book is guaranteed. There is a vacation setting that places the bookshelf and the wish list (except automatic requests) on hold when traveling or busy. There is also the ability to place general "requestor conditions" such as books from non-smoking homes that must be acknowledged by senders when accepting the request. There is also the option to get involved in the PBS community, through discussion groups and even local meet ups.
Finally, as a nice bonus, credits earned at PBS can be transferred (sometimes for a small fee) for use on sister sites SwapaCD and SwapaDVD, so books can even be turned into other types of desired media
Read more: http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/book_swapping_at_paperbackswapcom#ixzz0UKLIlOKT
