BookMooching

It's surprisingly seductive. I didn't think I'd enjoy BookMooch so much. I don't really like getting rid of books. Yet I'm thrilled with it, and already owed books I've really wanted.

What are your reactions? Hopes, dreams, and problems? Indeed: who are you? Who among us are new or 'seasoned' BookMoochers? How do you like the interface with LT?

Opinicus, it is a pleasure, but no surprise, to see you here. :)

BookMooch is incredible! I registered on Wed morning, I had a book mooched off me by 3pm, and by the time I got back from the PO, at 4pm I had a hit on one of the books I wanted! How cool is that! I donated a point to Charity on Thurs, and today someone wants another of my books, so I'm going to mooch two more. I love it! It's so easy to use! I just come over to LT and click a button! (KUDOS TIM!) I have several wishlists in general. But I've got a BIG one that's just books that I've wanted for a long time and can't justify full price for, but if I wasn't broke, I'd buy first, so they are on my christmas & birthday wishlist. I put them all on there, and I'm just waiting on the mail! They do need some site improvements that I suggested in the forums there, but I found that if I just use LT to look for what I want, the info is posted here as to whether or not BM has it. Much easier to use LT to search them. I'm so glad I joined them. I've been looking at other swap sites, and none of them seemed to click with me, but when I saw that TIM had set them up here and in the order of cooperation, I joined BookMooch out of that, and shhhh....I liked their graphics better...they are so cute. I'm with you Eurydice on not liking getting rid of books, but when the prospect of getting a book I'd rather have presents itself, I just have to send that book on it's merry way!

I joined yesterday. Already, I have one book I've shipped, three on the way, the fourth requested, and two more I posted that have been asked for. A morning post office trip is clearly called for. :) But I think it's great. Trading what I don't want for what I've wanted very much: you could say it's 'priceless.' ;)

Opinicus, I noticed we both had Haruki Murakami on our wishlists. My save-for-later list is large, but the wishlist limited for now. I think your approach to it is excellent. (Also, it made me hungry.)

Have you added the Mooch tool bar to your browser? It mooches the info of any book listed clearly on a website. If you're browsing Amazon and see a book you wish to mooch, you just click "Mooch" and a popup from Bookmooch appears to verify the book to your wishlist or inventory! So easy!

Excellent. Shall repair the omission soon. :)

I got sent two limited edition German history books from Canada. They arrived here in Australia within a week. It was great! I am still waiting for a book from a fellow Aussie. A lot of people who wanted to mooch his books have given up and cancelled the transaction. But I REALLY want the book On Writing Well so I'm going to wait!

When Tim asked what people thought about swapping I told him not to bother. A few months later and here I am, addicted to BookMooch.

By Monday I will have sent four books. So far I got one book and am waiting for three others which have been marked as sent. Unfortunately I'm either unlucky or there's a reasonably large number of abandoned accounts - I have four other books requested from people who won't answer me. One person has even promised to send me the book and now I don't know if they did it or not. (it's ok if they don't want to use BM anymore... but can't they at least answer "no"?)

The curious thing is that I more or less expected to never receive a request, so having received four so far is not too shabby. (well, and people really jumped at the Murakami novel I offered ...)

Yes, well, I would have said the same thing. (Trade books? Who, me? Surely not! ;) ) Which shows how very mistaken I can be...

I took a look at SwapSimple today (see the blog), and found I didn't really like it. It looks chaotic and clunky to me. And BookMooch's inventory seems better. Even so, I'm glad there are new outlets for LibraryThing, and a good response.

Do you feel differently about it?

Amandaellis: Seems like the proper thing to do. I'd give it all reasonable latitude before cancelling - at least when, as you say, it's something you've really wanted.

Guilherme: I have a couple of Murakamis on my own wishlist, as I know Opinicus does, and having seen a few others, am not surprised you got such a response.

Hope everyone's book trades go through...

I've never used a book swap site before, but do have some books I wanted to get rid of.

Bookmooch looked better than the other sites, however I haven't had any luck with people wanting to mooch any yet!

Maybe soon....

I've had a good experience with Bookins. For every book you receive, you pay a straight $3.99 in shipping. The nice thing about it is you get to choose only the books you want. They select from your selection by what people agree to release. Therefore, you are not held up by one person who doesn't agree to release a specific book...and you might be surprised by which of your selections comes first. That all adds up to fun.

It works by a point system. Basically you post your books and agree to give them away for free. You get points for books people actually receive of yours to then order the books you want. When yours have a bid, you are told to print out a free postage-page mailer to affix to an envelope or any other package containing your book.

For me, it's really been hassle-free. The books I've received have all been in excellent condition. They are BookCrossing compatible...as long as the bookcrossing label is placed neatly within the book.

The only problem is that, per Tim, Bookins did not want to integrate with LibraryThing. I did send them an email urging them to do so!!! I hope they change their mind.

SqueakyChu - Bookins is US only, isn't it?

Unfortunately for those outside of the USA, yes.

That's why the $3.99 remains the set mailing fee for all books.

I just found BookMooch today thanks to this group, so many thanks & nice to meet you all! I wasn't sure I'd really get into it at first, either, because I'm a book hoarder. But there are a fair few books in my collection I know I'm never going to touch, and trading them up for things I covet is obviously very appealing. Haven't completed a Mooch one way or the other yet, but looking forward to more mail & trips to the post office!

Afinpassing, as a book hoarder myself, I know just how you feel. You're most welcome, in both senses. :)

SqueakyChu, while the postage sounds convenient, and waiting on points at least until a book is sent is wise, integration with LibraryThing is particularly attractive to me. Hopefully Bookins will also choose to implement it, eventually. Has anyone joined one of the other swap sites that has, as well?

Indylead, I wish I was desperate for something you'd listed - I really do. But not as yet. :) Unfortunately, I have far more wishes I could gratify than points to do it with... however, I hope you find yourself well and quickly mooched!

Incidentally, let me extend the welcome to everyone who reads this: I'm pleased each of you chose to join the group, and glad you're here.

Well I read all your postings to get my courage up to try a book swap. As of tonight I have 3 books packaged up to send tomorrow and am waiting for someone to reply to my request for one book. I'm a bit overstimulated by all the time I am spending on the computer thinking about books. Also my husband rearranged the bookcases again so I have the physical challenge ahead of replacing and rearranging the piles of books on the floor. I think I need some reading time!

Sounds like it, katbook! But I hope the swaps go well. :) It sounds very good that you got three requests so quickly.

Hope the reading is relaxing...

I'm a hoarder too, but I'm listing my duplicates and fad books. They might just be someone else's cup of tea!!

I'm going to the post office now to send 4 books (another request last night) and received a confirmation that The Road to Oxiana has been sent to me! Now I'm jazzed- plan to stop at coffee shop on the way back to read!

Sounds wonderful, both of you!

I'm usually years late on popular books, so in that respect, anyway, I can speak for possible moochers. Listing 'fad' books of that or any kind is quite sensible, amandaellis. Also, I'm listing a few duplicates of my own. I shall have to try finding the rest. Glad it's going well for you, katbook! I hope you enjoyed a latte for me!

I haven't had anything mooched since last weekend. Have listed some MaryJanice Davidson's and a few Laurell K. Hamilton Anita Blake's in the hope they'll be requested so I can start looking for books in my 'mental list'.

Oh, All Right - I joined BookMooch*.

I kept wondering, "OK, where's the catch?" - - but that's exactly like first hearing about eBay: "HOW did you say that works?"

In going through my library, I discovered some dupes - books not valuable enough to sell on eBay, but too nice to give to my library, either. BookMooch seems to fill that gap nicely. (I'm also mourning the near-total loss of used bookstores in my area, too: no more swapping books for store credit.)

Judging by the comments here, BookMooch seems to work. So thanks to LT and to Eurydice for talking me into it.

*Same username over there as here, if you're curious.

> Has anyone joined one of the other swap sites that has, as well?

I signed up for 'What's on my Bookshelf' but in all honestly, I don't really like the interface and haven't done anything other than sign up. Last time I checked the 'inventory' was pretty limited - so I don't go there very often.

I also belong to paperbackswap -- another US only site -- which isn't integrated with LT. I've had some success there, but lately have been staying away. Books are listed both on PBS and the Mooch, removed when requested from the other site (or I give to the Friends of the Library book sale).

There's pros and cons to each of the two sites I use frequently, but they both work for me. I do find that the 'audiences' are a bit different at each site -- what goes on PBS sits at the Mooch and vice versa. I know the Mooch is new still, hoping it grows and more of my books are mooched in time.

First of all, I'm thrilled AsYouKnow_Bob has joined. :) I hope it will be useful and even fun; certainly it has been entirely free of catches, thus far. Further, I'm thrilled I'VE joined. The books I'm getting vs. what I'm getting rid of, stagger me. How nice we all - in this - have different systems of value! And impeccable copy of If on a winter's night a traveler arrived today, save a previous owner's name on the flyleaf.

marcinyc: how would you describe the different audiences or markets for the two sites? Or, rather, the different books which are snapped up?

Eurydice (had to make sure I spelt that correctly!) asked: how would you describe the different audiences or markets for the two sites? Or, rather, the different books which are snapped up?

--
In my experience, a lot of popular stuff has flown off my shelf at PBS, whereas what's gone (and listed by others) at the Mooch is a bit more obscure. Not to say that I haven't gotten some obscure stuff from PBS or popular books from the Mooch. But stuff that's sat at PBS flew off my shelves at the Mooch...

Sometimes I get the impression that the folks at the Mooch are more 'literary' or at least have a broader range of interests, whereas, the people at PBS seem to be buying their books at Wal-Mart. Not that there's anything wrong with buying books at Wal-Mart. Anyone who reads, be it smut or lit-tra-chure is okay in my book, but the variety at the Mooch seems to cover a broader spectrum; and it's not the Grisham/Steele/Nora Roberts stuff again and again. (It's there, but not overwhelmingly that I can tell - yet.)

I'm not really a book snob -- I've tried reading 'award winning literature' and it's been hit or miss with me. I loved The Stone Diaries (forget which award it won -- Pulitzer?) but hated Vernon God Little (Booker prize winner, I believe) with a passion. Hated it so much, I threw the dang thing across the room in disgust before I was 100 pages in.

That's helpful, macinyc. I actually have to check - or at least THINK - every time I type your name out!

I've been very pleased with the quality of books offered on BookMooch. Adding LibraryThing people can't hurt that. But there are certainly benefits in being able to appeal to both crowds. The only two books I've ever bought at Wal-Mart are Agatha Christie's Sleeping Murder and Anna Karenina; but I'd also vastly prefer that someone buy books there, than not at all.

There is, I think, more shame in NEVER hating a prize-winning book than in sometimes doing so. In the former case, I'd be afraid the reader HAD no personal taste. Far better to disagree, or dislike some things, than be idly guided by others' opinions or one's own snobbery! :)

marcinyc -- so you'll not be wanting to mooch the copy of Ludmila's Broken English that I've got in inventory, then? :)

anitpodean asked: marcinyc -- so you'll not be wanting to mooch the copy of Ludmila's Broken English that I've got in inventory, then? :)

ROTFLMAO... It took me a moment to make the connection. Honestly, I might give DBC Pierre a second chance - but let me get through the 400 books I've got on Mt Bookmore before I mooch that one! :)

Oh... and if any of you are the ones who have The Constant Princess on your wish list there, I just added it to my Mooch inventory. Of course, I've got a UK edition and it's not on anyone's wishlist, but the US version is on quite a few.

I'm a new moocher (as of last week) and have a book being sent to me already. On the other hand I'm still waiting for the chance to return the favour. How long did it take others to be mooched from?

I think I had two the first day. Then a little while without; and so on.

I've had three books mooched from me. It's definitely slow going, but I think it will get better as the site grows, ne? As a Canadian, it's very nice to have a swapping site that works for those of us outside the US!

it's very nice to have a swapping site that works for those of us outside the US!

I agree! Now if we could only search BM by country. I went through the list of users last week and CA was definitely in the minority.

lohengrin, are you from Japan or have you been to Japan? I don't usually hear a Canadian say ne? instead of eh? ;o)

Ahh, too many long years in anime and manga fandom. I have purged most terrible fangirl Japanese from my speech, but 'ne' seems to have stuck. *blush*

Nothing mooched from me yet - but I have mooched one that is on it's way. I also joined the bookins site - I like that one too. The point system is different and you pay shipping when you grab a book - but the good thing is you start out with 15 points. I already grabbed three books from that site! Goodies in the mail coming my way :)

I had three mooched almost immediately, but I had posted them by going through my library and seeing what people were looking for, so that may skew things. I have another 7, I think, available for mooching that haven't been touched (I'd confirm, but bookmooch is down). I plan on going through my library this weekend and offering more.

Now if we could only search BM by country.

There was a problem with the country-specific listings. I complained because they went offline and John Buckman the developer said that he would be going on holidays but that when he got back he would fix it. That was 3 September. I expect that pretty soon (he said 4 weeks) it will be back up again.

I have been having tremendous success on Bookmooch. I didn't think I would but so far I love that site!

Me, too! I may try Bookins, but honestly find this more appealing.

I only wish I had more points - but then, I probably don't need more than nine 'new' traded books in a month. ;)

As for mooches from me, I admit part of my inventory, like cabegley's, came from adding things others wanted which I could part with. However, I did add several which are on wishlists, but have NOT been mooched - despite being in the same country. Perhaps the people in question aren't using their save-for-later lists. :)

For searching by country:
http://ketsugi.com/software/web/search-for-bookmooch-users-by-country/?countryco...

It was posted on the BM forums a few days ago, and while it's not as good as the original search by country, it's still pretty useful. Change the last two letters to your country code, or it can be changed within the webpage.

Thank you, alasen, for posting that! I wouldn't have noticed it, and am glad everyone has it at hand, now.

That's wonderful! Thanks alasen.

Thanks so much! It's great there are so many Australians on here, makes it easy to work out how to drive BM!

Someone in Germany just mooched my copy of The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. I never got round to reading it and listed it as punishment (and for points!). Oh well, I guess I'll never get round to reading it :)

It's ok. You're doing a good thing sending it off to Germany. Another copy will come your way again, maybe when you're ready to read it.

Does that help?

Yep! Maybe I should read it between now and when the post office opens! :)

It's very short (and very good)--not a bad idea!

I feel like I have just had a mooching frenzy- I mooched 3 books from one person and 2 books from another. I usually check out a moochee's inventory figuring if they have one book I want, they may have more. I recently received From Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains and The Natural History of the Long Expedition to the Rocky Mountains from the same person. Considering I have never heard of the Major Stephen Long Expedition (which according to the covers took place 1819-1820), I guess it was a chance, but that adds to the thrill of the mooch! In this case the books look right up my alley.

Sounds wonderful, katbook! I do look, but rarely have the points for a multiple mooch, myself.

If I want two books from a person I will sometimes wait till I have enough points so I can mooch both and save them on postage.