I know I want to order at least one person a book for Christmas. I'm going to order it new because it's a gift to someone else (Yes, I buy myself books as a gift to me for the holidays :-)  Hey, at least I know I will get exactly what I want!lol) I have an Amazon account already but want to make sure PBS gets credit from me for ordering the book(s). All I need to do is search from the PBS site, then press Amazon, then order right? And Amazon will give credit to PBS?

I just want to make sure PBS gets credit when I order books through Amazon. Thanks!

Oh, one more thing. There's a buy new from PBS option too. How does that work? Thanks!

There's a buy new from PBS option too. How does that work?

The PaperBackSwap Market is the place where members and non-members can buy NEW (brand-new from publisher, OR new overstock) books for bargain prices.

• Members can choose to use a Book Credit for each purchase, to reduce the already-low price of the book even further.
• Members can check their Wish Lists and Reminder Lists to show books currently available in the PBS  Market.

How to find books in the PBS Market:

• Go directly to the Market and search for them by genre, title, author, etc.
  • If any of your Wish List books are currently available in the market, there will be a green box at the top of the Market with a link to click to see those books
• Search/Browse PBS as usual for books you want, and note the "Buy from PBS Market" button on any listing for a book that is currently available in the Market.
• Set the lower sliding display on the member homepage to show "New Books for Purchase" (click the second link on the left below the sliding display).  This will show current Market books.
• Sort your Wish List or Reminder List to see books currently available in the Market.

Remember, purchasing multiple books at a time will save shipping costs!

FAQs:

Q - Are these new books?

A - Yes, they are new (overstock) books, which means some of them may have "remainder" marks (usually a pen mark on the bottom edge).

Q - What are "overstock" books?

A - Books that the publisher printed that are not being used to stock bookstores.

Q - How is PBS getting books so inexpensively?  Where do the books come from?

A - Trees.  Books come from trees.  No, seriously - we have a special contractual arrangement with a business partner which is allowing us to pass along these great prices to our members.

Q - Are there unlimited copies?

A - No - so if you see a book you want, you should grab it!   Some books are available only in limited quantities.

Q - How often does the stock change? 

A - Hourly (at least during the workday).

Q - How are these shipped?  When will I get them?

A - They are sent US Postal Service Media mail, but our testing demonstrated pretty quick transit times.  We will be gathering the USPS scan data from the shipments, and at some point in the future this data should enable us to provide an estimate of transit time to customers at the time of purchase.

Q - Why is the shipping cost more than Media Mail postage?

A - It's not much more!  The charges is actually for "shipping AND HANDLING". "Handling"  = the cost of preparing the book for shipping (a human being locating the book in the warehouse, Wrapping the book, etc).  Yeah, we always wondered what that meant, too.  Now we know!

Q - If a book is on my Wish List but it is on hold, will it still show me if the PBS Market has that book available?

A- Yes, books that are on your wish list on hold, either because your account is on hold or because the books are on individual hold, will appear on the list of books available in the PBS Market.

Q - What is your return policy?  We hope that you are completely satisfied with your purchase. PaperbackSwap stands behind the quality of our products. If there is a problem with your order we will refund the purchase amount excluding shipping and handling costs. If you want to return an item, please contact our customer service department with any questions regarding returns at market@paperbackswap.com.   Items must be returned within 30 days of receipt by the customer. To ensure that your order is returned, it is suggested that you use a shipping method that has a tracking number. Items must be returned in unopened or original condition.

Yes, if you start from your wishlist (or even book data page) and use the 'Buy From Amazon' button, then PBS will receive credit/funds/etc. from
Amazon for your purchase.

And they will get credit for anything you purchase by following that link. So if you go to order something else from Amazon, you can use a PBS Buy From Amazon book link and then order whatever it is and PBS will get credit for the link. Even if you don't buy that book.

Books take forever from the PBS Marketplace so don't go there if you are in a hurry for it.

The Marketplace is more than one bookstore. We can't tell which one the order goes to. And one of them has a history of being rather slow.

Okay, thank you so much!

By slow, if I order it today, it should be here in time for Christmas though right?

I learned this last year about the PBS Marketplace and it may be important if you are buying gifts.  Go to the page of the book you want that is available in the marketplace i.e. it has a BUY IT NEW button.  Place your mouse over the button until you can see the hidden text.  If it says "buy this NEW book" you are getting a brand new clean book.  If it says "buy this NEW overstock book", overstock being important, it means it could have remainder marks.  Last year I didn't know this and got a couple of books that I later learned were overstock that had multiple large red permanent ink remainder marks.  They were certainly ok for me but I would have been uncomfortable giving as gifts.  So if that is important to you be sure and check whether it is NEW or NEW overstock.  Price isn't always an indicator.

Just an FYI.  You don't have to go through a book listing to Amazon in order for PBS to get credit for the purchase.  You can click on the Amazon "a"  located at the top right corner of any page.

Thanks, Hunter for that short-cut tip......I've been going to the homepage then down at bottom near the 'contact us' link I've been clicking the Amazon link.......your way is soooo much easier!

It connects me right to "my account" on Amazon so all my wish lists are there, etc.