Online Book Swapping
Save Money and Save Trees by Book Trading
Book swapping is a great option to save money on book purchases and reduce the storage space taken up by books in the home. Book swapping is also environmentally friendly, both reducing the demand for new book printing as well as increasing usefulness by getting books into someone's hands rather than sitting on a shelf.
How to Trade Books
Most sites start with some sort of book inventory, also known as wish list, bookshelf, have list, etc. Some have a minimum number of books you must list before requesting books, or may have bonus credits once a certain minimum is listed so that it's not necessary to wait for a book to be requested before participating.
The best way to list books is by entering the 10-digit or 13-digit International Standard Book Number (ISBN), which can generally be found on the back cover the book, the inner fold of a book cover or the back of the title page. On an older book with a 9-digit SBN, add a zero to the start of the number.
Using the ISBN ensures that the exact book, edition and binding match up in the site's system and reduce potential confusion or disputes with requestors. Some sites have minimum book condition requirements or restrictions (most sites don't accept Advance Reader Copies or books with no front cover, for example). Other sites allow you to describe the condition of the book. Be sure to follow the specific rules and procedures of each site.
Most sites have two ways to request books once credits are available through bonuses or sending out books. Browsing available books by topic or other variable is very satisfying as books can be immediately requested. Searching for specific books can yield success; however, if books are not available there is generally a wish list, want list or other similar feature. Some wish lists put requestors in an ordered queue, some send an email to wishers to try to request first come-first serve and one creative site creates two or three-way trades by matching up have lists and want lists of different users.
Mailing Books for Trade
Mailing books when swapping is generally done at the media mail rate, a special low rate set by USPS for books and certain other media. Very light books, usually under around 7 ounces, are less expensive to send at the first class package rate. In general, most books will cost between $2.00 and $3.50 to send. Postage costs are always borne by the sender on most sites, so there is no cost to receive books.
Books can be wrapped in cut up brown paper grocery bags for the thrifty (an inner wrap of a couple sheets of newspaper are great for hardcovers). Those wanting less work and willing to spend a few cents can purchase clasp envelopes or bubble mailers. Once swapping regularly, save the packaging books are received in and recycle them to send books out. However books are wrapped, be sure to use postal-quality clear packing or shipping tape to seal any openings – standard transparent desk tape will not hold up in the mail. Most sites offer some sort of printable mailing label, and some even offer the ability to create a postage account to be able to mail from home for minimal fees.
Books weighing less than 13 oz can be sent from home with stamps, but for security reasons packages over 13 oz need to be sent from a post office, or from home with a printable/traceable postage.
Each book swapping site has a slightly different interface, rules and system for arranging trades. Start with the site that seems like the best fit and give it a try – if using more than one site, it's important to be sure to keep inventories and wish lists up to date between sites so as not to disappoint other participants and develop a poor feedback reputation.
Book swapping can be a lot of fun – saving money and reducing waste and consumption, while getting books of interest and helping others to do the same. Also consider other options for What to Do with Used Books, such as Selling Used Books on Amazon. For a great online book swapping site, see Swapping Books at PaperBackSwap.com, which also has links to two other great trading websites.
Trade Used Books Online to Save Money and Trees
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