Is there any way to indicate that I have multiple copies of a book other than posting an entry for each one? And along that same line; is there any way to indicate which edition and printing (the covers can be very different) each one is?

Just to be clear, I'll give an example of what I'm on about.

I have three copies of the paperback "The Eyes Of The Dragon" by Stephen King. One is an exact match for the cover shown in the PBS database (and in the "most read" condition), one is a third edition with a red on black cover (much different dragon graphic and has a textured cover), and the last is a first edition with gold/yellow on green (same graphic and texture as the third edition) and in the best condition of the three.

So, how do I go about giving out that information so people can pick, or can I? Is it down to sending them a personal message? If so, that's ok by me! I just want to make sure I'm not missing something.

When you list books, you should look them up by ISBN, not title.  The ISBN on your book has to match the one on the listing - covers are irrelevant.  If I request ISBN X from you and get ISBN Y, I will mark it "received wrong book".

Your various editions will have various ISBNs, so you won't need to make any sort of indication - they're different books. 

Example:  http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780847693375-In+the+Eyes+of+the+Dragon your King book, with ISBN 0847693376

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780451151254-The+Eyes+of+the+Dragon ISBN 0451151259

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780451166586-The+Eyes+of+the+Dragon ISBN 0451166582

If they have the SAME ISBN, it won't matter anyway, because you can only list one copy.  Once you get rid of it, you'd be able to list another. 

ETA - Oops.  Didn't mean to post that yet.  No, you can't tell the edition or printing, beyond making sure you've listed it under the right ISBN.  Not an issue, though - your book will come up for request in the FIFO (first in, first out) system when it's turn comes.  Whoever requests it will either have Requestor Conditions or not.  If your book meets their conditions, you send it - no need to check if it's the right cover for them.

Thank you for the fast reply.

So, as all of the ISBN's are the same (from my example) and I want to let a requester know that they can have their pick from of the litter, it's going to be "Private Message" time? I really don't mind if that's the case. I'm looking at this as more of a courtesy than a requirement of the system. Bit of a shame that I can only enter one of them at a time though. *sigh*

Yes, you could try PM'ing the person to ask which they want, but of course if they don't answer by the time you need to mail the book, then you have to choose for them. As soon as one copy is mailed, then you can list another, I believe.

Cheryl

Thank you Cheryl,

I suspect that I'll forget to look back through the collection right away (I have way to many of these repeat ISBN/Edition/Prints duplications) but once the bookshelf empties out I'm sure it will come back to [haunt] me.

hehe - Stephen king - haunt me - ok, I'm done.

If you do pm you could say in the message something like I sent this message on XX/XX/XX if I dont hear from you by XX/XX/XX I will pick which one I send to you.

Marie,

Your diligence in wanting to satisfy the requester is wonderful!  Keep in mind, though, that this is not a site for book collectors, and cover images don't have to match.  As long as the book meets posting requirements, and carries the ISBN that it was posted under, you are good to go!  And, as already mentioned, you can only post one at a time with a given ISBN.

If you want to give a requester a choice, yes, you can PM them.  That's really nice of you, but not necessary.  Keep in mind, you may not get an answer - so if you decide to PM, I would suggest you give them a deadline.  (Example - "if I haven't heard from you by my mailing deadline, I will choose for you")

Happy swapping - I hope you're enjoying the club!

You can also put a post in the Book Bazaar or a line in your siggy advertising that you have various covers of the book. I know we had one person a couple months ago looking for the original covers of the Stephen King books.

Thank you Chris (or can I call you manny?)

That's a good point; I don't want to miss the mailing date waiting for a reply!

I suspect that some readers of this thread might not see the importance (to me) of the cover art or edition, so I'll just say that I would love to get an earlier edition of a Stephen King Book (Big fan, dontchya know) as a keeper, and doubly so if I had to wait weeks or months for it to turn up from my wish list. It rates even higher than overall condition, says me.
Hmm. Pride in ownership and all that Jazz...
Ummm. Hey! Did you see that?
*Marie slips out of the thread*

Thank you Marjorie and Melanie

I love that Book Bazaar idea (saw a mention of it in the "No ISBN"  help section) and I have and Idea of how I might make it work for me and what is left of the thing I call my memory!

Your welcome. Ive had to send pm's and got stuck losing out cause I waited too long for a reply.

You can call me either or shark or poolshark or hey you I'll answer to just about everything. :D

I suspect that I'll forget to look back through the collection right away

Not knowing which ISBN you've got, of the 3 above, two have over a hundred copies listed, so yours is going to be way down there on the FIFO list if you've got one of those. (0847693376 has one)  You'd have to remember for a long time.

I've seen someone mention this idea, which might work for you.  List a copy and tag it - find it on your bookshelf and click the "TAG" button under it.  Write "3 copies", "red black cover" whatever you want.  The idea seems to be that, when it gets requested, your tag will remind you to post another copy right away.  Your tags will have a red "x" next to them, so you can tell yours from everyone else's.

I think you'd be able to post another one as soon as you mark one shipped - listing the next one right away will mean no need to remember.  You'd go delete your "3 copies" tag and make a "2 copies" tag and delete any info on the cover you just shipped.  Just a thought!

In addition to the Bazaar, you might go hunt down your audience and post in the Horror forum, too.  :-)

Thanks for the reply Anna.
Oh_My_God

I would have to say that, just from the description of that process, it would be easier to gnaw off my own leg as a reminder! Please, don’t get me wrong, I really appreciate the advice and may (god help me) one day come to use it. But, right now? Nooooo!