Paperbackswap.com experiences?

[MulanUSAF]

Does anyone have experience with www.paperbackswap.com to share? I'm thinking about doing it, but want to see what positive/negative experiences others may have. Was it easy to use? Did the books you receive meet your expectations? If you no longer use it, why did you stop?

Thanks!

 

[intheworks]

I have been a member for about three years now and love it! I have traded and received several hundred books at this point. Most all my transactions have been positive, I have receiveda couple of less than stellar books but not many;some I have received have looked brand new. If you have any more questions I would be glad to try and help.

 

[JVL1018]

All positive!
I just checked-I have received 220 books and sent 230. In all that time, I have gotten one book that was water damaged-still readable, but definitely nto tradeable and I got my credit refunded with no issue at all.
It's a great idea, I love it!

 

[HannaBelle]

I like it!

I think I have been a member about a year, but it is very easy/user friendly. Both of my kids are in gifted/talented & advance placement classes and I was buying several paperbacks per kiddo per school year. Now, I just get them @ paperback swap and then re-listed them once they have read them.

I also like the fact that you can put money in your paperback swap account and print postage from your computer. It costs a bit more for postage, but it saves me standing in line at the post office!

 

[amyy]

Another happy member. I have never really had any problem. Some of the books have been traded multiple times and you can tell. For what I "pay" it is worth it. Love printing the postage at home.

 

[MulanUSAF]

Thank you all so much for the great feedback! Now I'm really excited to try it!

 

[Christine]

I *tried* to do it. I read an awful lot and I signed up and posted my books, got my credits or whatever they are, and attempted to order a book. Well, I don't know if it was just bad timing but I couldn't find anything to buy. Almost all the books posted were things I had read YEARS ago. Admittedly, I am an avid and voracious reader but I figured people on Paperbackswap were also. They were posting things like "The Lovely Bones" and "Water for Elephants" etc. Stuff that was wildly popular, oh, say 5 or more years ago....

I ended up getting one book from there and then I just stopped my membership because I knew it wasn't going to work for me.

 

[amyy]

I will say when I first started I did experience the same problem that Christine did. Now as soon as a new book is published I sign on to get on the list. Whenever I hear of a book in a magazine I stop and log right on to paperbackswap.com to add it to my Wish list. I still use the library and occasionally buy a book if I just can't wait.

I also request cookbooks and craft books that sometimes are more plentiful then another on the best seller list.

 

[Christine]

I will say when I first started I did experience the same problem that Christine did. Now as soon as a new book is published I sign on to get on the list. Whenever I hear of a book in a magazine I stop and log right on to paperbackswap.com to add it to my Wish list. I still use the library and occasionally buy a book if I just can't wait.

I also request cookbooks and craft books that sometimes are more plentiful then another on the best seller list.

I figured there must be a way around this.

I've now been doing this with my library in an attempt to STOP buying books. As soon as I read a good review in a magazine or newspaper, I get right up and put it on hold at my library.

 

[C.Ann]

I thought about trying this too (or similar places), but it just wouldn't work for me.. Whenever I place an order on half.com, it's a "bulk" order - at least 20 different books.. I read a lot of Amish books and they are usually written in "series".. It drives me nuts if I read book #'s 1 & 2 and then have to wait and wait for #3.. So - I try to order the whole series at once.. If I can't, and I have book # 1 & 2, I may read them over when I get #3 so I can remember the entire story line..

I also buy a lot of non-fiction concerning the Amish (for research) - as well as 9/11 - and I don't part with those books.. Same for anything related to "The" Kennedy family.. Once I have them, they're keepers..

So - while it might work for some, I've just learned how to adjust my budget for used books from half.com.. Reading is my guilty pleasure - I don't go out to eat; go to the movies; buy clothes; etc. - so I don't feel too bad spending money on books..

 

[MushyMushy]

This site looks like a real budget saver!

You know how *some* of us have our dirty little secrets? Well, mine is buying books. This summer has been the worst since I've discovered ebooks for my iPhone. I've spent a small fortune on books.

BUT the good news is, it looks like I'll have a good collection to earn credits for this site!

 

[swanmom]

You might also want to try www.swaptree.com. They seem to have a few features that are different than paperbackswap.com. They let you swap movies, music and games as well as books. There is no annual fee or membership at all. Really easy to navigate website and a couple of helpful 'top choices' list of different kinds of books and media. I have found them to have a good selection and I really like being able to 'give' a book but get back a movie or game. So far, all my trades have been very smooth.

 

[MinnieMe87]

You might also want to try www.swaptree.com. They seem to have a few features that are different than paperbackswap.com. They let you swap movies, music and games as well as books. There is no annual fee or membership at all. Really easy to navigate website and a couple of helpful 'top choices' list of different kinds of books and media. I have found them to have a good selection and I really like being able to 'give' a book but get back a movie or game. So far, all my trades have been very smooth.

I'm a fan of swaptree! They seem to have more of the books I'm interested in than paperbackswap.

 

[wdw4life]

I've been a member of PBS for almost three years now and love it! I've sent 353 books and received 249 and have rarely received a problem book. I play a lot in the games and get a lot of my WL books that way. I read a sub genre that doesn't move a lot and the games are pretty much the only way I'm able to get them other than buying them myself. My biggest complaint is the maximum # of books you can put on your WL is 200. I am always filling it up and I still have books to add!

 

[MushyMushy]

I entered five books and got two hits today -- one from a Disney fan! I wonder if she's a DISer.

 

[ckay87]

I also wanted to give PBS a thumbs up. My bookshelf at home now contains a stack of books I want to read rather than a stack of books I have already read. It's fun and strangely addictive. Next plan is to try the games - maybe this winter

I also actively use their partner site, Swap a CD (credits are transferable back and forth between sites). I'm a big music fan and have found some great stuff this way, including a big, expensive box set that I've been wanting forever.

 

[left210]

Can you post church type cookbooks on there? My mother passed away and we have hundreds of church type cookbooks. We also have Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, etc. She loved cookbooks and I have tried selling a few here and there on ebay with not much luck. My son and I love to read so maybe PBS would be a better avenue to trade them for something we would use.

 

[ckay87]

Can you post church type cookbooks on there? My mother passed away and we have hundreds of church type cookbooks. We also have Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, etc. She loved cookbooks and I have tried selling a few here and there on ebay with not much luck. My son and I love to read so maybe PBS would be a better avenue to trade them for something we would use.

You can absolutely swap cookbooks. I've read nothing that would prevent you from posting your church cookbooks as well. I went on and did a search for "church cookbooks" and noticed several that appeared to be of this type. Your church cookbooks may not have ISBN numbers, but you can post non-ISBN books manually.

 

[wdw4life]

I also wanted to give PBS a thumbs up. My bookshelf at home now contains a stack of books I want to read rather than a stack of books I have already read. It's fun and strangely addictive. Next plan is to try the games - maybe this winter.

Be forewarned the games are highly addictive. They may seem confusing at first but once you start playing you'll be cruising the games forum looking for new ones to join.

 

[Pig Pen]

I signed up for it and had tons of credits. Unfortunately, I am not patient enough to be on a waiting list for months for a book I want so it didn't work for me. I have much better luck at yard sales and library sales.