BM vs. PBS vs....?

Aloha (s)moochers,
I'm trying to consider all my options for joining the mooching revolution but am unsure where to start. After reading through various posts I'm encouraged by the friendliness among the mooching community; however, I'm curious about your preferred destinations and why.

So is it BookMooch or PaperBackSwap? Which features dictate your preference?

Or do you simply use a combination of them, along with amazon, ebay, abebooks...etc.? From what I gather mooching seems seems a bit more than just a means to an end.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

I use both sites (as well as amazon, ebay, swaptree, bookstores, etc.) but consider Bookmooch my "home". I do the majority of my trading there. I have more points available because of international sending and can afford to mooch books that look interesting that I don't have enough points on PBS to take a chance on. I also enjoy the community aspect of Bookmooch. I find PBS useful for getting wishlisted books with their FIFO system. I usually have fewer PBS points and reserve them for wishlisted books.

Since BM is international and PBS is not, it is a given for me as I do not live in the US.

I do, however, get books from dealers on amazon.co.uk from time to time.

On the whole, I have a large "to read" list, so I will only make a particular effort if I get into a certain author or genre.

I had a bad experience with PBS, but I love Bookmooch. I also use Title Trader, but have never been able to get a handle on what the TT people want. Unlike BM I can't look at individual accounts at TT and see what people are looking for in case a run across it at a garage sale or Goodwill.

I use both sites. Both have their advantages. I was able to snag a book on Bookmooch that I was like 29 out of 59 on the waiting list on PBS. On the other hand if I am lucky enough to be near the top of the queue at PBS then I get first dibs on books that come in. PBS is more persnicklety about the condition of books. For instance they don't allow ARCs to be list. If you have a book with flaws you can list it on Bookmooch making sure you list flaws in condition notes. No way to do that at PBS. On bookmooch as soon as your book is mooched you get your point. On PBS you have to wait until the recipent gets your books and posts that they received the book before you get your point.

As I said I use both sites. I've had good luck on both sites. I do get frustrated on Bookmooch when I book I've been wanting gets snagged by someone else. I have to keep checking several times a day to see if any books come available. I like it that I don't have to do that at PBS. PBS nags the heck out of you at every little step. I received a request on Saturday and Sunday evening they are nagging me. Have you mailed your book yet?

I'm on both PBS & BM and I definitely do more exchanges via BM now.

I've been on PBS for over 4 years & swapped LOTS of books.

I've been on BM almost 2 years & swapped about half of that.... and right now I'm really busy on BM!!

I've gotten friends to join both PBS & BM and I explain it to them this way: BM is a bit more laid back, but communication is key to good mooches. PBS is the OCD person's swap... a little more rules & a little more conformist, but it is more 'orderly' especially with the FIFO system of books & wishlisting.

There are 'bad apples' in both groups... but it takes a lot of apples to make apple pie & apple cider!! and apple sauce. Some apples are better for pie, and some for apple cider!!

One note, you can get credit immeditately on PBS if you use PBS postage & delivery confirmation... you can also buy credits & I do buy them. (books move slower on PBS due to the FIFO system, there are ways to find out where a book is in the FIFO but only when you first post it.)

The pluses for me for BookMooch are the international swaps (really cool that I get books from all over & get to send them all over, too!! my books travel more than I do!!) and this community!! This group on LT is great & are really supportive... even with my weirdnesses.

If you are laid back & relaxed, then join Bookmooch.

If you are OCD, then join PBS.... but keep your eye on Bookmooch, too.... in fact, join both, but watch the inventories & remove a book that is posted on both when it is requested.

Good Luck & post the links on your LT profile page so we can mooch/swap from you!!

Thanks a lot, y'all. I've been doing some searching on both and it seems that the books I'm looking for on BM are striking zeros, with only a few listed on PBS. That probably doesn't mean much, as I may just have more sought after selections than I realize. Perhaps I'll poke around in each to get a better feel.

Good to know about listing flaws on BM, and it seems to have more of a social aspect to it. I suppose it also depends on the patience of the moocher to switch between the sites.

Another point is that on BM you can't always count on receiving the actual edition of the book that you are mooching since they do not REQUIRE that your book be entered by isbn# as PBS does. If you are particular about the edition or binding of your book, it is possible to end up disappointed with some mooches. You also are never sure of whether you will be delighted with the condition or disappointed in the condition on BM since as mentioned above, there are no actual standards for condition of books listed and even though there is a spot for adding condition notes, they are not always used. If they are used, then you can be pretty sure of what you will receive.

As Skittles mentioned, it is very important to immediately remove books from one site when it is requested on the other. IMO, if a book is wishlisted on one site, then do not list it on the other site, pick a place to list it. If there are only 1 or 2 available on PBS and it is wishlisted on BM, then it should not be listed on both sites, pick one.

To make moochers happy on either site, read the rules and follow them. Wrap your books properly. Respond to requests promptly. Communicate. On BM, list by ISbn and note in condition notes if your book differs from the listing and use condition notes. Condition notes are doubly important if there are several books already listed as this helps yours stand out from others, also doubly important if your book differs from the listing or if your book is in any other condition than average.

JMHO

I'm only on BookMooch and have found it adequate for me. I have a huge wishlist and so there is always something available to mooch. I just mooched a copy of The Children's Book, the Booker winner, while there are other books that have sat on my wishlist for months. It is a random thing, unlike just buying it somewhere, but it does allow me the freedom to take chances on books I would not have gotten had I had to pay more for them. The international aspect is also valuable--if you have any interest in books in a foreign language, or books published outside of the US, this is the site for you.

Never tried PBS but I do use Bookhopper which is kinda like BM only its specific to your country,which helps to narrow down book searches! Its very quiet tho!

It is possible to post books at PBS without an ISBN, but it takes longer.

I find it frustrating when I look for a book in both places... BM has zero copies & PBS has over 50!! for the same ISBN #!! The book isn't that obscure!! I can understand how frustrating it is for non-US moochers to know that books are available but that they cannot get to them!!

But the fun part of wishlisting books at BM is not knowing when one comes available!! All of a sudden, SURPRISE!!!! and you have to grab it!! and recently I've gotten three or four of my wishlist books... after a drought!! Do you think that people are cleaning out their closets? or maybe other people's closets?

It's true that in the end I have probably gotten as many of my wishlist books on BM as on PBS. You just can't anticipate it. There have been several times when I have been way back on the wishlist at PBS and managed to snag a copy that came up on BM. It's kind of like winning the lottery. I never remove my book from my PBS wishlist until I actually receive the book through BM, though, just in case the sender doesn't come through.

I use both. i like PBS better (I must be OCD) and list my books there first, then on BM if they don't move on PBS. the PBS site is more robust & you can get around the condition & arc restrictions by posting on the BB. If it is a wishlist book, it is likely someone will give you a credit for it. You can also ask for multibook orders by posting to the BB instead of shelf (only really works for wishlisted books) or for multibooks for 1 credit (works for heavily posted books). The biggest advantage of PBS is it has a lot of users and books.

I like that BM is international.

I like both but I get a lot more wishlist books on PBS. I try out a lot of new authors with BM though and occasionally, I'll get a book on BM that's got like 100 people wishing for it on PBS- and I was near the bottom of those 100. I love that I can list my less than perfect books on BM or books that already have a ton of copies listed at PBS though and the books actually move instead of sitting there. Back before I joined BM, my trade box was always so full and I had to squeeze books into it, but now it's roomy- and even has enough room for when I do my periodic book purges.

I'm happy with BM. I haven't had too many problems, just the occasional person who accepted a mooch and didn't send. I would like a little more choice and some newer books, but sometimes you get lucky.

I have to say I like PBS. It has a nice user interface and I have gotten a lot of books from my wishlist relatively quickly.

They recently added the PBS Market where they sell new books (overstocks) for low prices or half that price and 1 credit. I can get one of my wishlist books like that.

I found BM to have more technical difficulties (bugs and downtime albeit short some of which I was told are due to the need for tighter security since it is an international site), and from reading this blog people who don't send books, and people who wait months to send books. I haven't experienced any of this on PBS. When I joined they assigned me a guide who answered some of my early questions right away. On BM technical support is staffed by what I later learned of as volunteers who take longer to respond.

As a New Zealander, I am unable to use PBS, and my local library is actually really good for having most books I want to read. However, thanks to BM being international, I am able to obtain the books which aren't so easy find here: books in other languages. I also find it exciting to see all the places in the world I have sent and received books from :)

I'm in the UK so PBS isn't available to me. As well as Bookmooch I use Bookhopper (which is UK only) but I don't like the system nearly as much as Bookmooch - it's more complicated and restrictive as to when you can have a book. By comparison with Bookmooch it seems impersonal but perhaps I just haven't made as much effort to join in. I also tried Readitswapit (also UK only, I think). That was direct swaps only so it was rare that the person wanting to one of my books had anything that I fancied and vice versa. I send internationally and have accumulated a lot of points that I'm finding it hard to use on Bookmooch but I do like to give away my books to people who really want them.

After signing up for BM, I find its interface lacking. For a site that prides itself on its social aspect, one can't directly search for members unless you already know them or find them through book searches. I suppose it's a no frills site with the international posting its selling point. Which is fine, but I'm liking the structure of PBS a bit more. I wonder what the reception would be if PBS allowed international shipping.

Gonzobrarian, it is true the the interface on BM is lacking but you have to understand that BM is operating on a bare bones budget. PBS has more income at it's disposal. I think BM has done very well for what it has to work with. BM is privately owned and the owner has much in many hours of his time and his own money to keep this site going.

I look at it this way:

Can I find books? Yes. I can look by author, title & ISBN. I can browse by keyword. I can find book titles in other locations (LT, reviews, stores) & search for them on BM & PBS.

Can I get books? Yes. I get books. They may not be immediately available, but I do get them. I have discovered other authors & other books that I didn't know about. I am able to 'try' books that I haven't liked, but don't feel guilty about it because there isn't much cash outlay & I can 'get rid of' the books just as easily.

Is it cost effective? VERY!! The high cost estimate is approximately $3US a book. (actually less than that, but that's what I use as an estimate of cost) That $3US is less than half the cost of a mass market paperback, even discounted. For me, that's a no guilt trip book trip.

Is it easy? Yes & No. It is reasonably easy to send the books out. Yes, I have to search for my tape & I have to print out the labels & put them on the packages & then go to the post office & wait in line & pay money.... a little inconvenient, but life is inconvenient.

Easy to browse? On both sites, not really, but I have so many other ways to browse for books, many many sources of information that if I want a book on a certain subject, I can usually find something. I wanted some vegetarian cookbooks recently. None of the Linda McCartney books are available on BM or PBS, but I've found others.

Another good point for me in this swap/trade/mooch 'thing' is that I can let books go... and not by throwing them in the trash. It is easier for me to get rid of a book if I know that it is going to someone else... even if I have to pay to get rid of it.

I've been trading for more than 4 years. I've gotten more than 1000 books from many many places & in various conditions (even from PBS, I've gotten books in terrible condition) I'm very glad that I joined both PBS & BM!!

There are bad moochers/swappers on both sites. The atmospheres & attitudes are different on both sites (except that both sites love books).

and lastly, if you swap/mooch with a bad or negative attitude, that's what you'll find there. If you go into this with a positive & appreciative attitude, you will love it. It is YOUR ATTITUDE that determines your enjoyment of the sites.

Good Luck & Good Reading to all.

After all your thoughts, I've believe both PBS and BM, and the international equivalents to PBS, serve to complement each other, what with balancing one's desire for books and the desire to get rid of them. So I think I'll use both. And meet some other moochers along the way.

Start slowly, though. There are people who jump in too quickly and become overwhelmed. List a few books on each site (don't list the same book on both sites!) every few days, keeping the number of books to send out at a comfortable amount for you. And then enjoy finding books for yourself!

Oh, and read any and all instructions and advice on each site. It can't hurt.

I wish more people on BookMooch would ship internationally; I just sent a book to Vienna for 9 bucks (4-6 weeks shipping, but, hey, it'll get there) and I wish more people would be open to sending books to Canada. Coincidentally, I live in Canada. Send books to me!!! :D

Agreed, bravewolf. It's also sad to see people go over to PBS over Bookmooch (when they could try both), because it means I'll never get a chance at all those wonderful books. (Oh, the dozens of books sitting unwanted on PBS that I would snap up in instant!) Especially since Canada is so nearby. Ah, well.

Bravewolf, please make use of the Angel network or use the angel thread here when you see a book you want that's unavailable to you. Americans love to angel books for Canadians as it is a very good deal for us, points-wise.

@24: I love sending international, as it makes more sense for me on a $/points ratio.
But use the angel thread, it works really great.

I'm an old lady, and I don't multitask very well, unless it is reading while keeping one eye on the idiot box. So I made the decision NOT to add to the mix by joining PBS. I use bookmooch exclusively, that way I know that my inventory is not compromised.

#29: For the extra heavy books, you might want to note in the condition that "due to the weight of the book, I cannot ship this internationally".

I belong to Book Mooch and Paperback Swap. I started on Book Mooch first...but couldn't find the titles i wanted. They weren't available and, i admit, some were older & obscure. So i joined PBS and ..voila!..there they were..and available.

My problem with Book Mooch is the "reserve" factor. When books are available it's easy for folks to reserve them for "friends" or whomever (which is fine, but it shuts other folks out) and Bingo! the book's gone. Too, Book Mooch is more "responsible" as a site-meaning the members have to communicate with each other regarding Mooches (which i love..but some folks are uncommunicative..a real bummer) and Condition Notes..whereas PBS assumes the books listed are in fairly decent shape..but, if anything goes wrong PBS steps in with their Procedure..makes "lost" books easier to deal with....

Jeesh..looks like i'm sitting on the Fence..i like both sites..but for availability of Titles, i'll take PBS any day..and i say that with a few points on BookMooch that will Languish for a spell

if any of this makes sense..bless you. If not, i'll clarify if need be.

Oh God, i feel such a fool

I initially used both sites, but abandoned PBS after about three months. I could generally find books easier on PBS, but I really dislike that certain features cost money. I also dislike that you don't get your points until the person marks the books as received. And the community on BM is much more friendly.

>32 maryjanemanolos: What features on PBS cost money? I've been using it for a little under a year and with over 200 swaps have never heard of any feature costing money. Are you thinking of Title Trader where you do have to get an upgraded membership if you want certain features?

rxtheresa, the delivery confirmation costs 27 cents at pbs & then 18 cents at the post office... which is much less than the 80 cents the post office charges. I use it both for the quick credit & the assurance that the receiver can't claim they didn't get it... or it is harder to claim they didn't get it with the post office saying that they did deliver it (hopefully at the correct address)

you can print postage via PBS & there is an additional charge, but I don't use that... my post office is great!! and I want my post office to stay here!! (Use it or lose it!)

#29 - Cariola, when you say:

"... I tend to say "sorry" to international swappers who do NOT ship internationally themselves ..."

you do realise that's against the T&C (and the spirit) of BM, don't you?

36> You have answered your own question- The people who do not send overseas have reasons too- the most common would probably be money! And that is your second reason for rejection mooches! So both you and the other person are in the same boat...

Saying I won't send you because you won't send to another country is like saying: You won't give my cousin your sandwich, in addition to having already giving me your Cookies, so I won't give you my bag of Chips. Not exactly fair to the people who can't give away their entire lunch.

It isn't just about the spirit of BM. It's a rule, part of the terms and conditions that all of us agreed to when we joined the site. Refusing to send books because of the high cost is fine, but refusing to send because of something about the person on the other end means you are making a value judgment about the person. And that's where it starts going against BM site policy.

Cariola, I'm sure you are a great moocher and an asset to the BM community. Your shipping decisions are up to you, of course. But please reconsider your third criterion. Sometimes there are other factors that cause a person not to send internationally, like finances or inability to get to the PO to fill out the customs form, or whatever. But that person still has to earn the points to spend on mooching internationally. Somewhere, somehow, books are being sent. It's best to give the benefit of the doubt.

>34 skittles: I use Shipping Assistant for all my shipping including PBS, have for years,DC is 18 cents and for Priority it is free but I don't think that could be what >32 maryjanemanolos: was talking about because you are right it is much less than the 80 cents at the post office and she doesn't have to use that service on PBS. You can download Shipping Assistant for free from the USPS.

But I guess it's true with Shipping Assistant you don't get the quick credit. I have had no problem waiting for the credit.

#36: Cariola, There are many behaviors & beliefs that each of us hold dear that others think are either awesome, upstanding, bigoted, mean-spirited, fantastic or wrong.... sometimes even weird.

At PBS, they have the FIFO system of assigning book senders to recipients and FIFO on the wishlists. You cannot choose who gets your books, but just like with BM & other groups, there are ways to get around the FIFO & ways to go around the line to get a book. Many people there say that posting books to friends' wishlists & other FIFO avoidance behaviors goes against the Spirit of PBS. The others say that it is their book, so they can do what they want to do. It doesn't happen much, but it does happen.

And on BM, there are rules that help define the Spirit of BM.

Let's say that I had a book that you really really wanted & was heavily wishlisted. You were able to mooch it from me, but I refused because I had seen that you had posted on LT that you refused to ship internationally to those who won't ship internationally... you wouldn't be happy. But my reasoning is the same as your reasoning.

I understand that you want to discourage people from refusing to ship internationally, but life doesn't work that way. For me, sometimes the cost of shipping internationally is much greater than my average cost per point.... but if I have committed to sending internationally, then I do it. So, I miss out on getting an extra Mocha that week.... I can get two or three books from that shipment.

But some people don't have the luxury of being able to spend the extra money to send internationally... or even nationally.. on a regular basis. And when you refuse them, you are essentially saying, "I'm not going to send books to you because you are too poor to send books internationally." That's not a nice attitude to have and it can be considered a very childish attitude, too.

Cariola, please consider both sides. I know you are trying to encourage international shipments & not punish those who can't or won't ship internationally. But what if you couldn't ship internationally, for any number of reasons, would you want someone to deny you a book you really wanted? Or if they denied you for any reason, including your posting above?

The saying isn't "Do it to others before they do it to you!". The saying is "Do (good) unto others as you would have them do (good) to you."

Thanks for considering this viewpoint.

well said, Skittles!

I don't even care whether a moocher ships internatioanlly or not. I look seriously at their record: number of cancellations/books rejected or lost in comparison to the number of successful transactions. (not necessarily for sending out, but for my own mooching. I don't usually mooch from someone who seems flakey no matter how much I may want the book) I'm a patient person, the book will show up again... eventually.

What it comes down to, really, is what you consider to be the poorer outcome: to refuse to send a book to someone who honestly cannot send internationally (say, on a small pension, disabled or unable to go to the post office) or to send to someone who doesn't send internationally because they can't be bothered. I look at it as erring on the side of kindness. I also think that sending internationally does more to change people's minds than behaving as though they are morally inferior.

Well said RidgewayGirl - the way I look at it is like giving Christmas or Birthday gifts. You do what you can afford to do at the time. You never know when that person will change their status to shipping internationally because their life situation has changed. I know I was out of work with an illness for 3 years and now that I'm back to work I can afford to do a lot more than I could at that time.

Well said, Skittles and RidgewayGirl. It's the spirit of kindness and sharing, internationally speaking, that got me here this far. I started with "only to my country" then changed to "ask me first" but I begin this year to send internationally as a matter of fact. I do have my fair share of profiteers and scammers but by and large, BM is a wonderful community and I feel like doing my part by not judging and rejecting people's requests.

I would say that some posters are being a bit harsh on Cariola, who does ship internationally. I, too, am set to 'Ask first' so that I have the option to refuse international requests for any number of reasons. If funds are low, or if I don't have time to go to the PO (domestic mooches can go straight in the post box) and probably other reasons too. I wouldn't like to refuse a mooch request - and I've never done so yet - but if I'm undecided I'd probably make more of an effort for some requests than others - sometimes the tone of a request or any conditions attached might make me think twice or if a member has too much bad feedback or any other obvious problems. We are given the option to refuse to ship internationally and we do not have to give the reason.

I'm sorry for offending you, Cariola. I did understand that the moocher's sending status was your third (not first, or second) criterion. But the point is that it shouldn't be part of our criterion, period.

CDVicarage is right that we don't have to give our reasons for not shipping internationally. But just because you can't get dinged for something doesn't mean it's okay.

Thank you, wisewoman!!

and to think that the criteria at PBS is stricter... you can get 'black marks' for not sending a book when asked, for any reason. If you list a book, then you must send it within the time allotted. No excuses. None. At. All.

I belong to both, but I like the atmosphere at BM (& this forum) much better.

And I'm considered grouchy & touchy!! Curmudgeonly even!!

#47: Cariola, please take no offense from some of our comments here (mine included). I for one don't want to judge you just as I wish that no one makes a decision based on some criteria other than personal or financial ones. You just happen to voice an opinion than some beg to differ, but that is to be expected from an international community of people with diversed background.

Hang on there. I hate to see my pool of books for mooching diminished, even by one member's -:).

In summary, to send internationally, on an "ask-me" or "doing business as usual" basis is a very personal choice and I would hope than none of us here was actually intending to criticize Cariola for her choices. What I ( and most others, I think) intended was an explanation or defense of what our own personal philosophies are.

I think it is great that BM allows us to makes that choice, for whatever reason is valid for each of us, and - at least for me- I consider everyone's choices as their own personal business and it will in no way affect my response should you ever choose to mooch from me.

Edit: duh, I clicked 'post' once and it posted four times!! My apologies to all

We forgive you, Glenda. As long as it never happens again (or again, or again, or again) :-P

skittles wrote: (at PBS) you can get 'black marks' for not sending a book when asked, for any reason. If you list a book, then you must send it within the time allotted. No excuses. None. At. All.

This is one of the more annoying aspects of PBS, the strict times by which you MUST send your books once they are requested.

I will say that PBS does allow you to reject people's requests for any and every reason, unlike BM. I once had a request rejected because the person thought I was a bookseller. When I contacted the PBS staff to complain, they told me it was her right to decide who she wanted to send her books to. She didn't like my requestor conditions and so rejected my request with a sniffy message. That's one thing I like about BM: that kind of discrimination is not aided and abetted by the site owner.

Oh my, I'm sure no one who disagreed with your opinion intended to hurt your feelings. The threads on this forum (and on LT as a whole) often include discussions, in which conflicting views are debated. Your comments were seen as a starting point to an interesting and spirited debate about the issue. Many of us have made comments that we have then had to defend, but unless (as spinifex once put it) the nazis are invoked, we do consider the exchange of ideas a friendly one and look with fondness upon those whose views we heartily disagree with.

#55: yes, you can reject a book based upon requester conditions, but otherwise you cannot.

If you requested a book from me, I cannot see that it is you requesting it until I accept it.

Right, skittles. It's just that the person rejected my request based on a faulty assumption she made about me as a person (which shouldn't even matter in the first place — whether I'm a bookseller or not, I'm still spending an honestly earned or bought credit on her book!). That is what BM does not allow — hence the rule about not rejecting international requests from people who do not themselves (for whatever reason) send internationally.

*dittos RidgewayGirl*

47: I think your preference, refusing to send internationally to anyone that is set to "same only", should be allowed. I think it is very hypocritical to ask someone else to do something you yourself will not. However, apparently hypocracy is in style because you and I are in the minority opinion.

BTW: for the record, I haven't refused an international request yet.

59: Why am I being a hypocrite by sending internationally to people who don't?

I think 59's point is that the person who doesn't send internationally, but requests internationally, is a hypocrite.

This is why it sounds extremely judgmental to say you won't send internationally to someone who doesn't send internationally him- or herself, and where the phrase "morally inferior" comes in. Basically you're punishing someone for their settings, which you find hypocritical/distasteful/etc.

60: I have no idea. You'll have to tell me since I didn't make any comment on that.

61: I agree. I figured I might as well be the one to address the elephant in the room and call a spade by its true name. *

It has to be said though. What is it when you ask demand that someone else to do something when you refuse to do it yourself?

* Give me a minute and I'll work another cliche into this message. :-)

"Mooch unto others more generously than they mooch unto you (or others)."

But mtdew_72, no one here has argued from the position of refusing to send internationally while mooching from members in other countries.

You said, "However, apparently hypocracy is in style because you and I are in the minority opinion."

Which seems to say that people who disagree with your position are behaving in a hypocritical way. I disagree with your view, yet fail to see how that makes me a hypocrite. My view, in a nutshell, is that refusing to send to people based on my own personal preference goes against the spirit of BookMooch and that since I can't personally assess why someone would not send worldwide, I can't decide that they don't deserve my book.

I can disagree with you and not be a hypocrite, right?

64: I'd hate to see you leave over this particular thing. I agree with your side of it, but we are in the minority.

I think you're being too sensitive though. I don't see anyone acting self-righteously.

67: Ditto. I hope you will reconsider and stick around, Cariola. Like I said, you are clearly an asset to the BM site and I think you would be to this informal community as well.

mtdew wrote: It has to be said though. What is it when you ask demand that someone else to do something when you refuse to do it yourself?

On the face of it, I agree with you — that *is* hypocritical. But as RG has said, we don't really have enough information to judge the person's motives for not sending internationally. Maybe it's a cost issue for them (which is, after all, a permissible reason to reject mooches).

I think we immediately leap to the conclusion that the person who requests internationally but won't send internationally is just a bigoted, greedy jerk who is just out for all that he/she can get from the site, without giving back at all. And that's just not always the case. We don't know for SURE that the person is being hypocritical by requesting that someone else do what he/she can't or won't. It could be cost, it could be a problem with getting to the PO for customs forms, who knows? We just don't know... so we err on the side of giving the benefit of the doubt. That's what we mean when we keep talking about the "spirit of BM" and all that.

And after all, he/she is still paying two points (that had to be earned somehow) for an international mooch. The person has earned those points, and an international mooch costs him/her more than a domestic mooch. So that person has to send two books domestically to get one book internationally. Books are moving through the system... and the more books, the more people who will be attracted to the site and stick around.

66: "Which seems to say that people who disagree with your position are behaving in a hypocritical way."

I wasn't making that assertation at all.

" I disagree with your view, yet fail to see how that makes me a hypocrite."

Yeah, I don't see how it does either, but maybe you can explain it to me.

I think it is hypocritical for someone to ask demand that someone else send international when that same person refuses to do so.

However, this demand carries wide support instead of being decried. Thus hypocrisy appears to carry more support than those who speak out against it.

EDITED: spelling

68: "It could be cost, it could be a problem with getting to the PO for customs forms, who knows?"

I don't see how that makes it any less hypocritical. More defendable, sure, but not less hypocritical.

I don't like spending the money for international postage, and I find customs forms to be a hassle too. So why should I (or anyone else) be forced to do those things for someone else who won't do it at all?

I've bit my tongue on this issue a couple of times, but Cariola's experience has brought me out on this. I don't see any point in mincing words. Sorry if that offends anyone, but there is this word that needs to be used to describe this.

70: Because you're discriminating based on income.

71: Is that is an accusation aimed at me? I will presume that it is.

I am not discriminating based on income, nor have I ever discriminated based on income. People with both high and low incomes can mooch as they please from me.

But you may reject their request based on their sending status, which (more often than not) is based on their income. The result is the same.

When I was a newbie, someone mooched a book from me and gave me a -1 feedback with no explanation. I e-mailed, asked several times what was wrong with the mooch and got no response. I still don't know why he was unhappy.

About a year later, that same person tried to mooch a book from me and it has been one of my few rejects. but I stated in my reason "previous bad mooching experience". That guy was literally all over me, saying that is no excuse for a rejection.

soo, should I have "turned the other cheek"? Maybe I'm a hypocrit too, but I just didn't want to deal with him again.

"soo, should I have "turned the other cheek"? Maybe I'm a hypocrit too, but I just didn't want to deal with him again."

Is this aimed at me, or the group in general?

I don't understand your use of the word hypocrite since I don't see how that word would apply to the situation you described.

Is this attack mtdew_72 day or what?

The thing is, Bookmooch is not based on doing favors for other people. It's a point system. People who request internationally from you when they won't send internationally are contributing the same points you would get from someone else. They aren't asking a favor from you, you're doing an exchange. If you didn't want to exchange a book for Bookmooch points, it shouldn't have been put on Bookmooch. If you just want to trade books with people that you like, or that you feel are worthy of exchanging books with you, that's another system entirely. It would be nice if more people shipped internationally, but you're not going to win any converts by going against Bookmooch rules/spirit and refusing to honor their points. An email asking them to consider sending internationally would work a lot better.

no attack intended, it is just I'm getting totally confused. Should we always accept mooches, international, our country and old farts? just a philosophical question, nothing personal.

I just would like to know: under what circumstances do other people "reject" a request (besides the obvious, "I no longer have the book")

73: What reasons they have for setting their status has no bearing on whether their request demand is hypocritical or not.

You could extend your argument to say "Why require people to send books at all? Why not allow people to refuse to send books, but still request books?" Isn't it discriminating on income to demand people to send books at all? Maybe they can't afford to send books domestically either?

76: I mostly agree with your points. I still think it stinks when someone who refuses to send books internationally will use the rules to request demand an international mooch from someone else who isn't willing.

74 & 77: Based on your story, I would absolutely defend your decision not to send the book. I think you were completely justified in your rejection. If I was in the same situation, I'm sure I would've made the same choice that you did.

GlendaHam, yes, according to the BookMooch terms, there are no acceptable reasons to reject a mooch except based on cost. People do tend to be forgiving, however, for the rare occasion of a person being unable to find a book--but if this is a regular excuse, then it is considered abuse.

The only control you really have (if you choose to follow the rules) is on the mooching side. I tend not to mooch from people who have a lot of "lost" books or bad feedback, or from people who feature angry rants on their profile pages.

Just curious, mtdew, why do you keep striking through "request" and using "demand" instead? I don't see how that mindset benefits the mooching process or this discussion.

73: What reasons they have for setting their status has no bearing on whether their request demand is hypocritical or not.

But you're sidestepping the point, that you are discriminating against people who don't send internationally based on their income or other factors. How do you work around that?

As for Glenda's situation, I would contact abuse about someone like that and ask their opinion before accepting or rejecting the mooch. Perhaps the admins could act as mediators and get the situation cleared up. Or maybe not... but it's worth a try.

I'm sorry if you feel attacked, mtdew. Again, I don't think anyone here is intending to be unpleasant about the topic.

*comes in late*

mtdew_72, I think that people might be "attacking" you because of your post: "I think it is very hypocritical to ask someone else to do something you yourself will not."

That may be your opinion, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. However, that simply *doesn't matter* on BookMooch. On BookMooch there are certain rules, and one of the rules is that you cannot reject a mooch because of the moocher's sending status. It has nothing to do with opinions or how you feel about the moocher, it's simply against the rules.

However, since you brought your opinion into it, I'll bring mine. I think it's overly presumptuous to demand that people *not* mooch internationally unless they themselves can afford to send internationally. If you earn your BM points, and earn them fairly, they are yours to mooch with as you please. It's like telling me that I can't buy something made in China because I've never done anything nice for China. See how little sense that makes?

good point, Ridgeway girl, I just don't mooch from "suspicious" BM members, as defined in your posting. I figure that eventually the book will show up again with a more reliable member. and if not, there is always the thrift shops, library sales, and even... borrowing the book from the local library.

#82 Heather, I personally consider whether or not they send internationally a non-issue, but obviously it IS an issue with others, and I respect that.. but the nice thing about all of this is that we are free to express our opinions and act (or not act) accordingly.

78:

You can't reasonably extend that argument there, no. Again, this is a point system.

That's the same as saying you could extend your argument to say "I put all my books on Bookmooch, and some people only put some of their books on Bookmooch. Anyone who doesn't put all of their books on Bookmooch should be able to be refused by me, because it's hypocritical to say that I should share all my books when they won't share all of theirs." It's not an honest representation of the argument.

I have already spent more than $130 US this month on sending out mooches, I have a stack of other books ready to be posted, but honestly, I am holding back until after March first, because I have run out of money to mail books...since I read about 3 books a week, I always have a stack to be posted... I accept that a number of BM members tell me, there will be a "delay" in sending, but I hate to have to tell anyone that, so I don't post them until I am sure I can mail them out in a timely manner.

This is not a criticism of anyone else's style.. it's just how I feel personally.

I know how you feel--I have no problem with other people delaying things (as long as they communicate), but if it takes me more than a few days to get to the post office, I begin to feel haunted.

You certainly got the book I mooched from you into the mail quickly! I was going to suggest that you wait to send mine, but you were too fast.

no problem.. it was included in my Feb budget. I hope it arrives quickly.

My one and only question is this why does it matter? The person has two points to spend on a book, you have stated that you are willing to send internationally, therefore, its a simple transaction that should be completed.

If points equaled money, you wouldn't turn down a potential customer no matter how much you didn't like said person. This is the same situation.

Now, on a more ethical note, there are some very nice BookMoochers who had to stop sending internationally do to a financial situation. Would you be willing to send to someone who has proven that they do have a financial situation? And if you would be willing, how would you tell from a bio? And last, for every book you send internationally to someone who stays in country, you set a good example and maybe change someones mind.

Just my two cents :)

#88: You are just divine & your post is divine, too!!

Thanks!

81> I'm doing it to make the point clear that it's not really a request if you force the person to comply. Again, I'm calling a spade a spade, and a request that you force upon someone else is called a "demand".

"But you're sidestepping the point..."

No, I've stated quite clearly that whatever reason someone might have for not sending internationally doesn't change the fact that I view it as a hypocracy. It is because of the hypocracy of the demand, not the reason for it, that I support someone's wish to refuse it.

As a group, you all make a very strong argument as to why nobody should ever send any books internationally unless it is in that person's own selfish interests to do so. Some might offer to send internationally because they think it is nice thing to do (altruism), but would think it would only be reasonable that anyone taking advantage of the favor would pay it back. By the arguments presented here by the majority, that person is wrong, and should just set their preference to "my country only".

EDITED: for clarity (hopefully)

90: You.... aren't really making much sense. How on EARTH has this thread made an arguement for people only sending international for "selfish reasons"? Are you saying that, because people aren't allowed to be discrimatory about who they send to, the only reason to send internationally is selfish? That makes no sense.

You have indeed stated your opinion very clearly. But have you understood that opinions don't MATTER here? It's not a matter of being selfish or hypocritical or whatever else you want to call it. It's a matter of following the *rules*. If a person wants to be a part of BM, they have to follow the rules. They don't have to like it, they don't have to agree with it. But they have to follow the rules.

90 >

Then /all/ Bookmooch transactions are "demands".

Again, sending out books for a point exchange is not altruism, and it's not a favor. If they are making less on a per-point basis than if they send within their own country (which is not always the case), and they decide to send it internationally anyways, yes, that is kind. But it's not a contract. It doesn't make any sense to say "I would do this nice thing for you, but only if you also do this nice thing for me." Then no one is doing anyone any favors, because it's a trade. So you have to drop one of your arguments. Either trading internationally by your rules is not altruistic (because you're demanding--yes, demanding--that others do the same for you, thus making it an even trade) or people don't need to reciprocate international shipping to request it.

I don't get it. You're the one that seems to be saying people should send internationally for their own "selfish interests": you're the one saying they MUST return the favor. If someone is sending books out internationally only while requiring other people to do the same for them, or they don't get access to those books, that's far from altruism.

Bookmooch is not a quid pro quo site. Points for books. If you don't want to send internationally to people who don't send internationally, then switch your status to my country and stop arguing about hypocrisy.

I'm going to wade into this discussion here, perhaps at my own peril. ;) :D

Cariola, I hope you are not so sad any more. I know some of the people who responded to you on here, at least one of them well, and the others through some interaction. I am certain that none of them meant to hurt your feelings. I hope that you are not feeling alienated. God bless you. *Hugs* :)

I will use myself as an example so there is yet another concrete one to look at. I am one of those with limited sending. I send internationally to Canada and Western Europe. That is it. I understand not wanting to send to people who don't send out of suspicion that they do not send internationally out of greed, but in my case and many others, that is not so. I am currently looking for employment, and have some serious struggles and simply can not pay that much at this time.

I can see from comments that you changed your mind, and I am happy for that. I'm so glad you are on BM and LT. God bless. :)

mtdew_72, would you please stop with calling people a hypocrite. I am a sinner saved by the Lord Jesus. I have committed evil, and also have done much for necessity and good that I am haunted by. I further have been hypocritical on much in my life, but this is not one of them. This debate is healthy, but you are dragging it down to an angry, mean-spirited place. I respect your opinion, despite my intense disagreement with it (you after all, probably think of me as a hypocrite). I do not think it is helping though. And please don't directly call me a hypocrite, as you know nothing of my life. God bless.

Wow, I can't believe I came home from working my evening shift at the hospital and this heated discussion is still going full swing. We're only talking swapping used books here not negotiating health care reform. Just thought I'd lighten things up a bit. LOL

I thought I was just making a good point and trying to admonish people not to get so heated. I sort of fell into furthering it by doing so. Good point, 95: ;) :D

MereChristian, your points are good ones. Don't apologize for your opinions.

Incidentally, it costs the same to send a book anywhere outside of the USA, Canada and Mexico. Why would you send to Western Europe and not to, say, Asia? I do understand the financial argument, but wouldn't it be easier to say "two international mooches a month" or "mass market paperbacks only", than "I will send here, but not here". I get the greatest enjoyment out of sending books where they would not otherwise be available. Also, the clerks at my post office are always interested in where my books are going and my kids love learning about the places my books go.

I think I'll stop sending books to people who do ship internationally, just to even things out a bit.

Eeek! Seeing as I was the one whos started all this way back at #35, I do apologise - I can't respond to Cariola as all his/her messages have been deleted, so I'm only getting half the story ... Anyway, as far as I know, John's guiding principle when he started BM was to get books to people. He doesn't make it obligatory to send internationally, but obviously the more people who do, the better. However, some of us simply don't have the disposable income to send worldwide ('m currently on about 60% of what I was earning 15 years ago!) - but that should not prevent me from spending my BM points with overseas moochers. BM points are a form of currency, after all!

LOL fleela

I used to be very active on bookmooch.

Then I started getting hassled a bit -to me 5 requests rejected because I didn't send internationally at that time (I sure did previously send internationally)-put me off.

less active.

got tired of being insulted. Nothing more to say really about that except its rather sad.

I get a lot more titles I am looking for on PBS but I agree with others that joining both makes for a nice balance and see how it goes for your own needs and personality.

Good luck! have fun!

97: I don't know the postal rates is part of it. I know that Australia and the Mid-East are way more expensive. I found that out the hard way. *Blush*

Is the rest of Europe the same price as Western Europe? How do I find out so I can re-evaluate this? Also, do you think that two international mooches a month outside of Canada would be an equitable way to do things? Opinions are welcome. :)

And thanks for the encouragement. :)

>101 MereChristian:

rates should be helpful. (if you were in Canada which I thought for some reason...)

From the States - flat-rate envelopes are the same to anywhere I believe.

http://ircalc.usps.gov/ has some useful calculations as well... But from what I had seen while mailing stuff back home while in the States, the price looked the same to UK and Bulgaria (and that's not Western Europe for sure)

The USPS charges the same for all international packages, with the exception of Canada and Mexico, which are cheaper. You are charged by weight of the package. Could the ones you sent to Australia and the Middle East have been a little heavier?

Paperbacks, unless they are larger than average, cost me between nine and twelve dollars. Heavier books can get expensive. And after 3 lbs, the price skyrockets. Flat rate envelopes are useful, and you can require a second mooch so that using one becomes economical.

But there is no difference, price-wise, between sending a book to the United Kingdom, Australia, China or the Fiji Islands.

I am in the UK so cannot access PBS, but there is a UK-only website called ReadItSwapIt, which I have tried, but which is not a patch on BM. It is far less flexible, being based on direct 1-1 swaps, not points, so less mainstream tastes are harder to handle.

Another UK-only swap site is Bookhopper. It allows you to take a book a month, or a fortnight or a week depending on how many you are offering. It's not as friendly or as well organised as Bookmooch but more flexible than Readitswapit. I tried that and found it difficult to make many swaps.

Thanks for the info. I'll check it out, all. The books may have been heavier. I think that I'll expand the international to everywhere, but make it clear that I can only do two international outside of North America per month.

Thanks for all of the help. :)

#105 - thanks for mentioning Bookhopper, I think I shoudl check it out, not least as it appears to be named after me ;)

For me, the reason for not wanting to send to those who do not send internationally is that it's taking books out of the system. In the UK, BM is pretty much the only option we have - I've looked at RiSi but 1-1 swaps isn't a system that suits me and there's very few sites available herel. If I send books to people who don't send outside of their country, it's taking books outside where I could get them. BM is the only place I get books due to living in the middle of nowhere and not being able to get to a library so that's very important to me and there's really nothing like BM out there.

The way I see it, if I want to get a book from someone who doesn't send outside their country, I have to find a willing angel to get it for me. I don't see why it shouldn't work vice versa and they should have to find someone to get it from me as it is NOT cheap to be sending abroad, especially to America. Within Europe isn't so much of an issue but then most Europeans send internationally.

And no, we don't always know why people don't send internationally, but sometimes we do - I have seen people say 'I've no need to send internationally as I can get enough points just sending within America'. Well, there's a whole world out here - something which Americans often seem to forget - and I'd rather not send my books to someone like that, thank you.

The angel network gets these books to pretty much anywhere so they are not out of the system technically...

Nothing's out of the system if the owner's willing to send to someone, and that person is willing to forward it to you.

"I don't see why". Because Bookmooch is not a 1 for 1 swap, the same reason you're criticizing the other UK site. Plus there's no reason why other UK members can't "keep books out of the system too".

I realize it's less convenient to find an Angel, but Bookmooch is not exactly a system built for instant convenience. If you want that, go find said book at a bookstore for sale.

Besides, if people refused to send to others if they wouldn't send internationally, wouldn't those people be likely to leave for, say, PBS? And that's /definitely/ taking books out of the system.

"The angel network gets these books to pretty much anywhere so they are not out of the system technically..."

No offense, but uh, not really. Some books are so highly wishlisted there would be no time - an ask first would be a sort of reserve. This is quite usual.

>109 booktrash: I do see your point! If a book on 200 wishlists gets relisted it is nicer if it gets relisted by somebody who would consider sending anywhere, IMO as well.

"Well, there's a whole world out here - something which Americans often seem to forget"

...uh..wow. That's a pretty tacky generalization.

Wait- sending to someone who won't send internationally is taking the book out of the system? But aren't you basically doing that by refusing to send it to them? And if you make them get an angel it ends up with them anyway so it would be "out of the system" then anyway.

I'm confused. I say everyone deserves books- and the wonderful generous angels are there to help the people who can't afford to send to other countries and they are there for the people to whom other people refuse to send to for various unknown reasons.

I think it all evens out in the end.

I agree maryjane, the tacky generalization is totally out of line. I wish bookmooch could make a total tally of the number of American members who have shipped internationally and how many books they have sent.

It happens there are a lot of international members who cannot ship abroad because of the prohibitive cost. Having lived in Europe and North Africa for a good part of my long life, I can attest to the high cost of postage in many of those countries. But when I send a book abroad, I think of myself as an Ambassador sharing American culture! and it's a good feeling. but I don't demand that everyone feel the same as i do.

My own part American indian mother's tribe (Delaware) had a saying "Walk in another's moccasins for a full moon before passing judgement." This is a democracy and we all have a free choice to ship internationally or not, and all bookmooch members are free to decide whether or not to accept mooches from our fellow bookmoochers who cannot or will not ship abroad. But to pontificate... now that is TACKY.

My own tally is more than 136 books sent abroad in the past 18 months and I am sure there are many other American bookmoochers who have the same or better history of international sharing.

I can't decide if I am offended by the statement or I feel sorry for the person who made it.

Refusing to send books to those who don't send internationally is a violation of BookMooch TOS. If you run into someone with words to that effect posted on their page, please let them know this or contact the BookMooch admins so they can explain things.

back to the original question . . . Does anyone use Swaptree??

I do. But usually to get DVDs. (I trade books for them)

#118 - nctwila,

I used to. And, in fact, my books seem to move faster there. But there are problems, & I no longer use that service.

As an example of what the management is like, I'll quote a message from their forums: "We're your members, not your subjects."

I am so excited. I got 2 books today from PBS swappers that I had on my wishlist. The unbelievable part is one was sent from Ohio 2 days ago and one from Virginia mailed yesterday both bought postage at the post office and were mailed Media Mail and I live in Georgia. I have never had media mail come that quickly!

Hey, guys, I am doing a series on my blog comparing online book swapping sites. I just put up the post about bookmooch (my first entry, natch), which you can see here: http://deadwhiteguyslit.blogspot.com/

I ask for any tips I forgot in the post, so if you see anything I missed about how to maximize your BM experience, please leave it in the comments :) I'll be doing PBS, goodreads swap, and swaptree in the following weeks- I think. I can't think of any others. Thanks guys!

>122 maryjanemanolos: Although I didn't end up joining I think Title Trader might be another one to review. FrugalReader closed the beginning of this year.

I do (use swaptree.com). I've traded a few ones and received one. I've only been a member there 1.5 weeks, so my sample is small still. Just like anything there are people that can scam the system but I've had no issues and been quite happy with my trades.

I haven't used bookmooch.com yet but shied away from it due to some of my friend's experiences. However, I signed up there today to get my own impression.

124 I''m sorry some of your friends had a bad experience on BM. I've been a member since last Nov. and I love it. The main thing to ensure a good experience is to be almost obsessive about communicating and reading the site instructions. There are also threads on LT to help newbies. As many newbies have learned, it's best to start by listing only as many books as you are able comfortably to send as you will receive requests immediately! Then add more books to your inventory as you become more experienced. It's a great site, and there are many on LT who will be glad to help if you have questions.

I use Bookmooch, PBS and Swaptree.com all three. That way I stand a better chance of getting books that are on my wishlist. I've not really had any problems with any of the sites - maybe I've been lucky - but lately I seem to be getting more of those on my wishlist from Swaptree.com.
I must say though that I like Bookmooch much better overall because you can have some contact with the other party.

#126 - do you post the same books on each site? I was wondering if that was considered a "faux pas".

I post the same books on both sites on a first-come, first-served basis. The trick is to make sure you delete the book from your shelf on the second site when it's requested on the first.

And if you do decide to list the same books on multiple sites you should be able to remove a book from the other sites quickly. If you won't be able to check several times a day, it might be better not to. And post any wishlisted books on one site only.

I generally do not post books on more than one site - I fear confusing myself. If they do not move on one site, I will list them on the other. If my BM points are getting low , I post on BM. I like to keep a good number of points on BM as I am afraid that lots of good stuff will become available and I will be left looking in the window so to speak!!

I think one thing that confuses people is seeing that their books are 'not available' on BM and not realizing that books cycle through the system fairly quickly (sometimes) and get discouraged. Just because a book in not available right that minute does not mean that it will not be available shortly.

I joined bookmooch in February and love it. One of the keys I think is to have a large wishlist, don't limit yourself! I love that you can get international books through bookmooch, I have a cookbook coming from England! You can also post books that are advanced copies, or copies that are perfectly good but just no mint anymore.

I know some people don't like that you actually have to 'be there' to request the books on BM when they come up. Like anything else in life, I think you get what you put into it. If you post a list and run, you are less likely to get the books you want than if you are willing to check your list even just once a day. You get what you put in.

So true. I've overall had quite good success at getting a number of highly wishlisted books at BM, but it's almost always because I am frequently checking the site and just happened to catch one at the right time.

131: Exactly! :)

I'm in the UK - I joined read it swap it a few months ago and have had lots of rejections but have managed to agree some really nice swaps as well.

I've more recently joined bookmooch - I've put that I will just send in the UK, but I'm not asking for swaps from abroad either. I have swapped books on an email discussion group before, and thought that as well as it being really expensive for me to send, the US members were having to spend too much to send me books - someone posted me via airmail a copy of a novel by an English author and I could easily have bought it here for less than it cost her.

If I decide I want to be able to get books from abroad, I think I would feel I should offer to send out.

131: Agreed. I think a large part of BM is playing the 'waiting game' - especially if a book has been given a few times before, it's just a matter of waiting for it to come up again (which is helped by the fact that lots of BMers re-list books when they're done). It helps to have a large wishlist because over time, most books will probably come up.

I have what I consider to be a large wishlist (maybe 50 - 100 at any given time), I check BM @ least once/day and I have not been able to nab many books in some time. I did manage to pounce on one this week. The poor guy had just listed it, only listed this one book, was still signed on when I requested it and accepted all in the same transaction. Then I received an e-mail the next day stating that he mailed it!! But I digress - I suppose that praise should go on a different thread . . .

#136 - my wishlist is over 700 books, yet weeks and weeks - or months even - can go past without one of them being available. It happens when it happens, I accept that as a long term BM member.

700!! Well, it appears that I am truely conservative in all aspects - even in my wishlist!! I have that same attitude - it is what it is . . . It is not like I do not have anything to read. I have an entire bookshelf full of my TRB. My family and friends are all the time asking me for books to read b/c they know I know their preferrences and can hook them up!! That is what makes it a true joy when a new book arrives in the mail.

After two years on LT and BookMooch (the unholy duo!), my wishlist is well over 1,300 and growing. I can pretty much always find something to mooch. I do have a lot of related editions listed and a large number of children's books and a fair few rare or expensive books I don't expect to see, but it's still a lot.

Since I mooch books in German and some published only in the UK or Canada, BookMooch fulfills my needs perfectly. It would be outrageously expensive for me to get these books otherwise and they aren't available at all on PBS.

#136: I'm also one of the BMers with a 'larger' wishlist... BUT I also have my wishlist page on an RSS feed (google reader) so I get notified if something appears on my wishlist. Sometimes I get back in time, sometimes I'm late.

This week, I had 3 books appear at the same time & not from the same BMer. By the time I saw them, one was gone, but I got the other two. Life was sweet that day.

It is, as many have already said, a patience-testing wait, but extremely satisfying when said patience is rewarded.

Let me also add that when I mooch, I've gotten into the habit of checking that person's additional inventory for a book or two to add to the mooch, both for my benefit & to make the other person's postage costs (per point) go down. I've gotten some really nice books that way!!

OH!! I ALWAYS check the inventory of the person I am mooching from - they may have something I would be interested in but haven't thought to put on my wishlist and who doesn't want to get two books in the mail!

#140/#141 - I always do that, too, and have found some excellent books via "moochual" mooching!

>136 nctwila:

When I first joined I thought I had a large wishlist at 150, it is now approaching 750. Had I stopped at 150 I would have missed many good books, and been frustrated that the books I had up were not popping up :P This way I get a couple books every second week or so.

When I first started I saw people with huge wishlists and wondered how they could have found that many books they wanted to read, and if they actually wanted to read all those books or were adding on books just for the heck of it. Then my list started growing, and yes I do want to read all the books on my list :P I started finding them through related books (Look up the books you want the most on Amazon etc) found a few through bookmooch itself when it was still updating (I miss that!!) and am now finding even more books through librarything. None are books that would be 'ok' if I found them, they are all books I really want to read now :P And when books pop up every couple of weeks or so, it is much less frustrating to boot!

Edit: Also found some books through the most wishlisted feature here and on BM.. I am assuming it is still updating on BM?

I'm at around 250 on my wishlist on BM. I check once or twice a day and manage to nab something every week! I find that if I click on "Show Related Editions" at the top of the page before I scan, I find books in editions I don't have listed, and have stopped having to list multiple editions. I also always check the inventory or those I'm mooching from and have mooched some great books that way.

Ridgeway - the "Unholy Duo" is so apt! I am fast approaching 300 on my tbr (actual books in my possesion) after being on these 2 sites only since last Nov. No room, no room.... but I can't stop!

I often do general keyword searches, but realized last night that I actually do need to add more books to my wishlist or even save-for-later, because searches don't always work! I wound up searching by author last night and found two books that should have shown up from the keywords I was using and just didn't.

And so my wishlist has grown. :) I also like keeping a save-for-later. I know a lot of people have huge wishlists, but my save-for-later is about twice as big as my wishlist. It's great for those times when I feel like mooching something and my wishlist is dry.

You only want 50-100 books at any one time? *baffled*

146: Well that was me, awhile ago. I never had more then 70 or 80 books in my wishlist, simply because I never *thought* about what books I might want. And then I joined this LT BM group, and started looking through other people's wishlists, and my wishlist grew considerably. lol

I check the inventory of anyone who mooches from me. I also look at the inventory of people who have wishlisted the same books - I've found things by both methods. Just now I only have one point and there are a few things I'd quite like available but I don't want to use that point and then spot something fab on an inventory.

On either site, I see it as a bonus if I can get something I would otherwise have wanted to buy, or a book that I didn't even know about.

Yes, checking out inventories is a great way to find new books. I sometimes check the wishlists of people who are wishing for some of the same books as me, if I see their name come up as wishing for the same book as me a few times. Found some good books that way too.