Hello all. I am relatively new to the site and have some concerns about posting books for trade here. I usually either buy books new or from charity sales/ebay/etc. and am sure that anything I would offer would meet the guidelines(no excessive wear, liquid damage,etc.). After scouting through the forums, I see several people that have run across picky traders here, which has created a problem for the posters. Seeing as how I have a little dog (though he doesn't read my books :P) and have a smoker in the home, would it maybe be better to just purchase credits and trade on a more relaxed site? Thanks for your suggestions.

Welcome to PBS! Post the books. People who don't want books that have been around smoke or animals need to set up RC (requester conditions). If you post a book and someone has an RC, a little box will pop up saying something like "I am not willing to accept books that have been around xxx". If your book meets these requirements, just click the little box saying so. If you mail a book you know meets their requirements and they still have an issue, too bad for them. You know you sent an ok book so you wouldn't have to refund their credit. If your book doesn't meet their RC, use the button that says "doesn't meet requirement". A little box will pop up for you to leave a little explanation, just so the requester knows why it was turned down. If you ever feel uncomfortable with an RC, turn it down. People who have RCs know this is a risk (being turned down) and are ok with it. If there is no RC and the book meets PBS guide lines your safe.

You can also put a blurb in your siggy line and in your profile such as "I smoke and I have XX pets"..this way anyone ordering direct from your shelf will know.

Also keep in mind that the people posting on the forums are a really small percentage of PBSers.  Most never come to the fourms at all.  And those that do rarely post about the great transactions-they post about the bad ones for advice and to vent.  So don't go by what you see on the forums as far as thinking there are a lot of bad transactions.  I've requested over 500 books and have only had to complain about maybe 12.  I've sent over 600 books and have had only 1 complaint and turned out to be the requestors mistake not mine.

So just be sure to turn down smoking and pet RCs.

Don't be too afraid! I have only had one time since starting here that I have had to refund a credit and it was a legitimate reason for the receiver (I accidentally posted an ARC and didn't know what it was till they told me). I have received a couple of questionable books but only asked credit back for one. It truthfully is not as awful as it can sound on the forums- you usually are only hearing the down side because someone is coming on to ask what to do. 

Glad you found us J.H. . For the most part everything works wonderfully; we just have to use common sense and patience. I have enjoyed all the books that have come my way. Recently I received a great deal on some audio book sets that another member offerred , because she saw I had an interest. I love going to the mailbox and finding a new read ( or listen) Maybe we should all take the time to put successful trades up where others can see.

Maybe RATT (Richard And The Team) might want to consider a new forum and place it just under this one on the forum listing page.

Perhaps a title such as "Great Trades" where we can tell everyone about the good swappers and the special moments.

wc

I have two (small) dogs, one of which sheds, and I've only had to turn down one request because of my pets.  Never gotten any complaints about pets either and I've sent over 100 books (I'm also new-ish to the site).  I also don't see a lot of no smoking RC's (in my requests, anyway) so I think as long as you turn those down you should be good to go! 

To add to Jolene's clear explanation above, when you receive a request that has a "requestor condition" on it, if you click that your book meets the RC, then it becomes a normal swap. 

If you click that your book doesn't meet the condition, then you keep your spot in the sending line (or if it's a wish list book, your offer is passed on to the next wisher), and the requestor's order is passed on to the next sender (or if it's a wish list book, he's returned to his previous spot in the wish list line.)  So people with allergies and people with pets, for instance, can all share the same site quite smoothly.

And as Mary says, we all tend to vent about our problems.  We seldom post about the huge percentage of great swaps.

Welcome to the site!

I smoke, have three cats, and two dogs. I have never had a complaint about smoke odor or animal hair/allergies.

If someone has a requestor condition stating that they have pet allergies or don't want books from a smoking home, I just don't accept the book request and someone else will eventually come along and order it. If there is no RC, I just send the book. Again, I have never had a problem.

I say go ahead and post your books. Most people are happy to get them. As stated above, people mainly come here to discuss the occasional problem transaction, not gush about every good trade, so it seems like there's a lot of nasty people hanging around here when there really aren't.

Besides, if you ever do happen to have a bad experience, you can come here to talk about it and we'll make you feel better.

Seeing as how I have a little dog...and have a smoker in the home, would it maybe be better to just purchase credits and trade on a more relaxed site? 

You can do that, or you can just turn down RCs 

Thank you all for your help. You have certainly made me feel much less intimidated.Very nice to know that the community here is helpful and quick to respond.

Also keep in mind that the people posting on the forums are a really small percentage of PBSers.

I want to echo this. It is so true.

And when many do come to this forum in particular it's simply to air grievances, vent, so the percentages of happy vs non-happy traders seemss a little skewed. 

Given the choice of someone venting here on the forum versus getting a long wordy angry RC, I really hope folks come and vent here.  I know I personally sent glowing thank yous about how a book was wrapped to positive trades.  And I come and vent on the forums about the problem ones. 

I've swapped over 800 books.  And about 10 had problems.  And half of those were due to the post office.