I just recently read that it really helps PBS to donate some credits back to the website.  I really enjoy this site, so I donated some credits.

Now I have been puzzling over why exactly that is helpful to PBS.  Credits are virtual, so why does it help PBS to get donations of credits?? 

Maybe I'm being really dense but can anyone explain how it benefits PBS??  I'm sure it does, I just can't figure out how!! :)

PBS gives credits to members all the time, and this is why this helps.  For example, if someone uses printable postage and delivery confirmation, they get instant credit.  However, if that book also goes lost, the requesting member gets their credit back without that credit being deducted from the sender.  PBS basically gives out an extra credit in this instance.  There is also some logic about how there is a dollar amount tied to each credit, which I don't totally get, so maybe someone else can explain that.

For legal reasons, the credits have to be backed by real money. By reducing the number of credits in the system even a little, PBS needs less money to remain operational.

It also helps cover the free start-up credits that new members get, as well as credits received for referring people. 

And a lot of it is because of what ligytha said - each credit has to backed up with a certain amount of money (for tax/accounting purposes), so giving back helps quite a bit!

Plus you get the cute little icon :-)

Seems as though its donating to a commercial enterprise.  They make money off of a bunch of services here already, and they are a business.

This business is yet to make profits although I'm sure that is the ultimate goal.  Now members do that to keep the site going.  If we want the site to continue then we support it.  

Ruth

Speaking of supporting the business, WHEN will they get the blankets back?  :)

Yes, Brian, it's a 'business' but to use PBS you don't HAVE to pay anything--there's no membership fee, and you do not have to use any of the fee-based services. Thousands of people use the site totally free and contribute nothing, and it does take money to keep a website/organization like this running!

 use the PBS postage with the extra fee to help support the site, others donate credits, some buy Box of Books or other paid services, some folks volunteer for different things to help keep the site running smoothly. They want to keep the site free at point of service if they can--membership would likely drop sharply if they actually charged a $20 annual membership fee or something. So whatever we can do to keep it free, I'm all for.

Cheryl

Cheryl - Well said. As a local chapter leader, I happen to live where pbs was founded. Richard came to our first club meeting. That was one of the things he spoke about in our meeting. Pbs has to employ web developers, etc to keep this site running. In order to keep the site free but well maintained they completely rely on the postage fee, credit donations and Box of Book services. Pbs pays out of pocket for the free two credits at start up. The credit donations help go to that.