WELL SAID

Totally agree. I mean, it's a book. An unnecessary item. Not an "emergency" or assorted other terms I've heard people use to beg credits off of others. Go to the library - check out the book if it's a must have. Or buy a credit to cover the book.  Make sure you know where you are for books on your wishlist. I've never been caught off guard, never had to beg, borrow, buy or steal a credit. And never missed one due to lack of credits either. If I can do that then I think most people can!

I've never loaned one to random members I don't "know" nor did I think it was appropriate when done and I'm glad someone finally spoke up because, at times, there seems to be an awful lot of threads begging for credits. 

Now, my way of thinking could be because I'm not one who has 50 -100 credits at my disposal. I'm rolling in "dough" when I have 30! lol And I can cruise through 10 credits in a sitting. Credits I've earned by sending out books to people, having deals, posting wishlisted books etc ...

If you need food, your children need clothes, I'm there. But I won't give you a freebie credit I'll never see again unless I "know" who you are.

Thank you, all.  Very well stated.

My husband and I share this account, and we both do our "deals,"  and we enjoy bartering for books.  We tend to have about 50 credits sitting on our account at all times, just in case something really good comes through (like a set of WWII encyclopedias he once got).  We buy those credits from other members or collect them up as we ship books out - either way, they are "earned" credits.

I don't think the panhandling will ever stop, though.  I have a "friend" who has a blog.  The FIRST THING you see on her blog is a link to her paypal ... because she and her family are "struggling" right now, and she'd really appreciate it if anyone could "help" since she has two young children.

This same link has been on her blog for three years, with the same sad story.  The pathetic thing is that she occasionally gets $20, $30, even $50 from complete strangers who really believe they're doing a good deed.

Personally, I'd like to slap her upside the head ...

 / end rant.     :-)

How sad, isn't it? Here is a site in which we feel that we all have something in common - the love of books - and still there are people more than willing to take advantage of others. What's the saying "no good deed goes unpunished"? I have never leant a credit and now I never intend to do so ( unless it is someone I know). Thanks for bringing this up, Carol.

I've borrowed a credit on one occasion, and I did thank the other member, and I did pay her back, less than a week later.  Just because SOME are rude and unappreciative doesn't mean we ALL are.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=145860

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=144268

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=134977

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=122187

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=118423

I agree Rebekah. If I had to borrow a credit, you can guarantee that I would return it and say thank you. Not everyone is ungrateful.

I asked to borrow 4 credits last month with the promise that I would repay by Jaunary 31st. A lady was kind enough to loan me those 4 credits, I did thank her and have every intent on repaying them to her by the date I promised her I would, January 31st. As someone above said, just because some do that to people doesn't mean all of us are that way. I gentelman also offered to lend me 10 credits to order 10 books from him because he was having a 10 for 5 deal and I was buddy him the 5 credits as soon as I get them, I told him I would have those 5 credits back to him by the first week of January. I received the books last week from him and I also have every intent to pay him the 5 credits as I told him I would.

I have to agree that not everyone is like this.  If I ask to borrow a credit, I have every intention of paying it back.  I'm sorry, Carol, that you were treated so badly!!! That's not right!  *Hugs*

I absolutely do NOT agree!  No one has to loan another person a credit, but if you are a person I've seen around the forums, feel FREE to ask.   I have loaned and given away many, many credits on here.   Did I get them all back?  I have no idea - it simply wasn't that big a deal to me.  

If I don't have a credit to spare, then I'm sorry.  If I do, I'm happy to loan you one, if I sorta know you. 

This is an interesting thread.  I'd like to think that if I really needed a credit, I'd be able to "borrow" one from a buddy but I do think it's gone a little too far recently. 

There is one member on here (not going to name names) that is constantly asking to "borrow" sometimes multiple credits at a time. She has certainly posted threads asking for credits, more times than the rules allow, (twice in the same day, on one occasion) but she always seems to have someone lend her the credits. I have no idea if they ever get paid back or not but I've often felt like replying that she needs to buy some as she needs them so often. There are always people selling them and in an "emergency", there's always the PBS kiosk.

Glad someone else had the nerve to speak up about it!

i have given some credits away when i post a contest or whatever in the ClubMemberThoughts but i do it just for fun....

i have given some credits when i know it is a persons birthday...

but it is true in some cases of when i send RAOKs ... some people never post a thankyou or even tell me thank you... but that has only happened to me with RAOK items... thru the mail...

I've loaned credits twice and was repaid promptly both times.  It's a shame that people are taking advantage of this.

I've lent out credits on three different occasions now.  On each occasion the borrower was polite and thankful, returned my credit, and in two of those circumstances, even ordered books from my shelf.

When I have extra credits lying around, I am more than happy to lend them out to someone who could really use a credit.  Times are tight, and not everyone can afford to splurge and buy themselves a credit.  I would hope that if a wishlist book came in for me and I was out of credits, someone else would lend one my way

I have never asked for or loaned credits. If you need credits so bad, buy them or post a deal on your bookshelf. Whenever I find I am getting low (below 8-10), I post a deal. If I get no response, I post a better deal. I am able to accumulate credits for those so called "emergencies" and am cleaning my bookshelf at the same time. Of course the same people who do not thank/pay back credits are probably the same ones who post a "deal" and do not follow through.

I agree with Terri. If I'm low on credits or have had a rash of WL books come in, I do run deals to earn credits back.  It's not to say I'd never buddy a credit if I had them to spare, but in most cases I just try to earn my credits back.

I will lend or even give credits to my many buddies I have here on PBS, but will no longer do it for someone I don't know.

both sides have valid points.

I do have a question for those who ask to borrow a credit. Do you also put your bookshelf on hold?  My thought is if you cannot afford to buy credits then can you afford to mail books off your shelf?

To Carol-while I've never lent credits, I have been asked to borrow money by neighbors with supposed emergency situations only to find out that I've been conned and those folks actually went to buy drugs, so I know how it feels to do a good deed to only find out you were scammed.  One female neighbor even came at 2AM and told us mother and daughter were stranded.

While I'm more careful now, I still try to help folks when I feel it's legitimate because you cannot let a few bad apples spoil your goodwill.

I agree with Cozi & Julie. I figure if you don't want to loan one don't. If you do, plan on the fact that you may not get it back. I also tend to give to those I know from the forums. If you know a member is always asking and not paying back then ignore the request. That's what I do.

I have never asked for one, I am fortunate to have a large stockpile of them. I have given back to the site and have given to a few members who have asked or just mentioned how they were going to miss a wl book. I always tell them there's no need to pay it back. I know we all can't do that, but I don't think it's fair to assume all members are going to fail to pay back or say thanks. The last credit I gave I got a thank you right in the thread and a PM with a very nice thank you. Not everyone is out to rip off other members.

Well said, Leslie! :)

I do have a question for those who ask to borrow a credit. Do you also put your bookshelf on hold?  My thought is if you cannot afford to buy credits then can you afford to mail books off your shelf?

They may be able to afford to buy credits, but they may be looking at is this way. Why buy credits when I just mailed out 5 or 6 books and am waiting on the credits when they are marked received?

Rainbowbrite.... Tha't sexactly my case. I asked this morning for 2 credits to get WL books that came up this morning. I have a couple books I'm mailing out this week but knew I wouldn't have the credits in time to order the WL books. So a lady was kind enough to lend me 2 and I thanked her in the topic on here and in a PM and offered to pay her back both credits when I get the credits from the books that I'm mailing out this week but she said that she had plenty and that it made her feel good to share with others so to take it as a gift and for that I thanked her as well and wished her a Merry Christmas. I don't put my shelf on hold cause I usually am waiting on credits to come in from those books that I mail out and usually have the spare change laying around to mail some out, so if I'm waiting on them to come in from books, then why buy some. So you had a very good point about that. But yes, I see where both sides have very good points, some people will do you right while others will do you wrong in every way.

Melissa :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!!

I just hate how one bad apple has to spoil it for all.  Not all of us here are like that but when some take advantage, then it looks bad on everyone and I think that's sad, imo.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone! :)

I have never loaned a credit, nor asked for a loan.  I feel like if I need a credit that badly, I'll just buy it from the Kiosk.  It's still cheaper than going to the store to buy the book!  :)

If I see someone on the forums  that contributes to discussions and I "know" them from their posts, I would help out if I could.   Just wanted to add my 2 cents!

Happy holidays!