Hey, they changed the buddy list. Now you have to invite people to be your buddy. 

Why, why can they not be polite enough to TELL us in advance when the site makes changes like this?????????? Arrgh!

Because it is a no-win situation.  If they tell us in advance, then they (& we) have to deal with all the complaining that happens before people even see it or even really know what it is.  (Example - the upcoming wish list changes.)  If they don't tell us in advance, then they (& we) have to deal with all the complaints about how awful it is and why don't they tell us beforehand.

Either way, change is hard!  I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the methods, but as a tour guide I get a ton of comments about these things.  I can't imagine the number that go straight to the powers that be!!

I don't even understand WHY they changed the buddy list!  There was nothing added to or taken away from it so there's no difference.

Sherri

Yes Cathy, I agree, change is hard but has to happen, but changing the way the site functions and not sending out ANY information on those changes is not only rude, but makes it difficult to find out any real information about how the changes work or affect us as members.

I still don't have a good grasp of the changes that occoured to our bookshelves, because NO information has been sent out, and I am not going to spend three hours trolling the boards trying to figure out how everone else thinks it MIGHT work.

Sherri - actually, there are some things different!!  You have more control over your privacy!  Who you let see what info...   If you go to your account page, then click on 'settings', you'll notice a new link right under the settings tab called "privacy controls".  Click on that to do things such as hide your buddy list from others, assign different levels to different buddies, keep your wishlist private...

Samantha - trust me, again as a tour guide, to know how frustrating it is to not know ahead of time!!!  There are times I find things out when someone asks me a question.  :-)  Lucky for you, there is an easy way for you to find out how the new buddy list works without trolling the boards.  Go to the help section, enter "buddy list upgrade" into the search area, and click on the 'buddy list upgrade' link.  It explains it pretty well.  And of course, if you have questions, you can ask me or any of the other tour guides!   This link may work...  http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/search.php?terms=buddy+list+upgrade

I will just go with the flow but don't be suprised to see a buddy request form me. I like to order form all of you first and so I go to my buddy list.

I did discover you can set a default to automatically accept each buddy invitation. That's what I did, because it's far easier to not worry about having to respond to an invitation. I mean, I figure if someone wants to be my buddy--I'm really not gonna stress over why! I add a lot of folks to my buddy list when I find a bookshelf that looks interesting. That's an easy way for me to look them up again.

Hmm, I kind of like it.  I know lots of people were complaining about the importance of their privacy, and you can control who knows how old you are, where you live, or what books you've ordered or are on your WL.

Yeah, if we're opting, i wouldn't mind putting all of you guys on there.  Just like, don't send me an inbox, going "ok, why do you want to be my buddy?" or I'm gonna feel rejected... and I can't deal with rejection:(

Well there are probably a couple people wondering why I asked them to be my Buddy.  It's because I have a couple WL books of theirs in my TBR pile.  If they decline, then I guess they won't get my books posted to their WL. 

My only complaint is that many people have had bad transactions and put those people on their BL with a tag saying they got a bad book from them. So now I guess you just have to write it down and cancel if their name pops up on your request. 

Can someone explain why I would want a buddy list?  My sis-in-law joined and she was linked as my buddy and I got credit for recommending her, but she's never on and so I don't really know what the value of a buddy is.

The only reason I used the buddy list originally was so I could remember/find certain people in case I couldnt' find them later when scrolling through. Ihave a couple  I buy credits from and tagged them 'credits', others have great wishlists I like to scroll through and get ideas, some usually run deals, some usually  ahve stuff on their shelves I like, some I've seen post a certain something in  'club members' thoughts' and though I might want to remember them in case I need to ask something in that area sometime in the future...and some I just didn't 'like' and wanted to remember who they are! also you can transfer credits back and forth between buddies ike for games and such.

I think most of the people on my buddy list were people that've hosted swaps I've been in.  You have to buddy list them to send them the credit deposit for the game.

I'm glad I read about the accept all invites function, it'll keep my inbox from flooding with emails with requests.  I don't care who wants to be my buddy, I like all of you!

I wonder if it might not be an interem step to something, like when searching for a book, you'll be able to search your buddies first.

I think I just denied two buddy requests accidentally.  Argh!

Oh I see that now on the settings.  Thanks.

I've had three buddy requests today that I have no idea who these people are.  Is this happening to anyone else?  I think I've added most everyone here.  If I haven't, send me one and I'll add you.

Sherri

I just deleted everyone.  The only reason I even kept up with it was because that's where I had my list of DO NOT SENDS.  Yeah, I can see sending them an invite to join my buddy list....   Actually, that might be a hoot. 

And Sherri - LOVE those pics - can't understand why he didn't beat out Matt Damon  ;)

I have no buddies :(  and I don't know how to get one.  I can't even figure out how to get all those pictures and doodads on my name the way all of you have.   Boy, I'm really pathetic, aren't I?

You mean that you can keep track of people you don't want to receive from through a buddy list?  I had 2 really bad trades recently.  One was a flat out lie that took weeks to receive the book and then the other was a smelly book that I had to put in a bag of baking soda for a month before I could take it out and read it....which made me really mad because everything on my bookshelf is practically brand new.  Plus, I keep them in a plastic storage container to keep them safe from any moisture.

Well now you can't track people you don't want to request from unless they'll agree to let you add them to your buddy list.  Lots of people used the old buddy list to track who they didn't want to request from again. 

Guess the way to do it now is to start a list on a piece of paper or even on your computer.  You can check who the request is going to (if you're not requesting directly off of someone's shelf) by clicking on the "order more from this member" before you confirm the book request.  It'll take you to the member's bookshelf.  If it's someone you don't want to order from, you cancel the order at that point before you actually send the request thru.

Your buddy list is useful for a quick reference of people you like to request from or if you get into the Games forum, you have to add the hostess to your buddy list to buddy them the credit deposit for the game.

What kind of pictures and doodads do you want to add?  We can help you with it.  The little picture next to your name is an avatar.  Anything below your post would be your signature.

There, I sent you a buddy request so I can be your first buddy.

Oh, thank you :)

I didn't know what signature was......now I'm going to say something.  I thought it was your signature.....literally....which makes no sense, does it?

Yeah I have one and I'm not sure who this person is!  I went over my transacton history and I don't see one coming or going to them. But I liked the looks of their shelf.  So I kept them on my buddy list.  I'm hoping it's because they're interested in ordering from me sometime or maybe have a WL book of mine in the TBR pile.  Who knows. I'm sure there are a couple people on mine going why does she want me to be her buddy?  But it's for the same reason-I like their shelf or they have a similar WL to me. 

okay, I got a bunch of requests to be on buddy lists, and I was really excited!! Had no idea what it meant, but here somebody picked me --- like being picked to be on a team and you're not the very last person!!  Except now I'm seeing it could be cause I'm a bad sender!  I'm going to go with the glass half full thing, though, and assume it's cause of something good.

I'm glad I had time to log on and see this!  I was wondering why I was getting all of these emails requesting to be my buddy! lol  I'm going to switch on that auto accept feature myself.

Susan (Greetings from Sunny Orlando!)