Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - Questions about PaperBackSwap Questions about PaperBackSwap

Topic: Finding Books to Post

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
Arica avatar
Subject: Finding Books to Post
Date Posted: 6/7/2009 5:20 PM ET
Member Since: 8/28/2008
Posts: 3,291
Back To Top
I sometimes go searching for books to buy at libraries and thrift stores. It would be great to be able to know what books people are searching for so that if I find them I could buy them and post them. Is there an easy way to find what books have waiting lists so that if I am out and happen to see the book I could buy it? And by the same token do you know of way I could keep a list of books with me so I can that I can easily access the list. Thanks!
Generic Profile avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/7/2009 6:29 PM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
Back To Top

Well the list is too long and constantly changing so bringing the whole thing with you would be impossible.  I just learned my favorite genres and which authors tend to be heavily posted and which tend to get ordered quickly. 

So I know now that paranormal romances and erotica books go quickly.  Also I find that foreign authors go quickly (Boris Akunin, Cara Black, Steig Larson) etc..,  Avoid the mega authors like Nora Roberts, Stephen King, Danielle Steele, James Patterson etc..,  They tend to only be WL right before their books come out and then they quickly go from being WL to heavily posted.  With the acception of the occasional long out of print title or audio version.  Series romances don't tend to move well. They are small and people don't usually want to pay a credit for them.

Also there is a Club WL and you can see the top 50books that are WL. 

When I knew I was going used book trolling: I would spend some time and search some genres and add WL books to my RL and then print that out. But it creates a lot of paper and then it's cumbersome trying to read that while looking at books.  Now I've just learned what goes and what sits on your shelf.

When Im at the library and see some sale books that look good: I sign on to PBS On the library computer and look them up. I've saved myself from buying heavily posted books a few times doing that. 



Last Edited on: 6/7/09 6:31 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
retiredteacher avatar
Member of the Month medal
Date Posted: 6/7/2009 6:45 PM ET
Member Since: 11/30/2007
Posts: 5,179
Back To Top

Arica,

You can have the PBS daily wish list sent to your email.

EmilyKat avatar
Limited Member medalTour Guide medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/7/2009 7:20 PM ET
Member Since: 7/19/2008
Posts: 15,524
Back To Top

Cookbooks in good shape seem to move fast.   And gay erotica moves fast.  Well, any erotic moves fast.  Lots of YA titles move.

If you can get the internet on your cell phone, then there is a widget to search for book status.

ruthy avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/7/2009 8:41 PM ET
Member Since: 12/9/2007
Posts: 9,601
Back To Top

Connie is right -  the Daily Wish List is a great way to learn what books are wanted.  It becomes clear pretty fast which ones are highly wanted.  You have to pick the genres of the Wish List you want to see, but that isn't hard if you pick some that interest you because you will know more about that genre because of your interest and because you are familiar with the authors and topics.

I find that one genre that I like but don't want books in myself and "sells" well is the crafts books.  They are found in the Home And Garden genre.  the nice thing is that there aren't 500+ wished for every day.  My favorite genre is Sci/fi and Fantasy.  That Wish List commonly has close to 1000 every day.  That takes a while to go through.  I don't do it everyday!  LOL!!

Ruth

Generic Profile avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/7/2009 8:52 PM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
Back To Top

Oh yes craft and cookbooks move well. 

Audiobook CD move pretty quick too if you find cheap ones. 

EmilyKat avatar
Limited Member medalTour Guide medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/7/2009 9:45 PM ET
Member Since: 7/19/2008
Posts: 15,524
Back To Top

But be sure to check craft books for writing on the pages.  Knitting patterns move well.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 6/8/2009 12:12 AM ET
Member Since: 5/18/2007
Posts: 13,223
Back To Top

Paranormal moves quickly too. Anyhthing newly published as well.

My idea would be to familiarize yourself with several genres through the forums. Also, start looking at people's wishlists to see what's on them. I've pretty much got it down to a science now when I find FOL sales, or at my own FOL that I volunteer at, garage sales etc ....  I know what to buy and I'm pretty sure most of that knowledge came from hanging out in the forums.

 

Generic Profile avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/8/2009 8:32 AM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
Back To Top

I've also found that Urban Fantasy moves pretty quickly. 

tomboymom avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/8/2009 10:48 AM ET
Member Since: 7/1/2008
Posts: 7,346
Back To Top

Ditto, anything Romance (Cheyenne McCray, Sarah McCarty, Lauren Dane, HelenKay Dimon), Paranormal (Lora Leigh, Shelly Laurenston, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, MJ Davidson, Dakota Cassidy) Fantasy/SciFi (Mercedes Lackey, Jim Butcher), Erotica (if it says Ellora's Cave or Aphrodisia, pick it up, it'll go fast), Chick Lit (Red Dress), any cookbook by a FoodTV personality (Rachel Ray, Paula Deen, Ina Garten). Happy book hunting. The Paranormal forum contains a thread on highly wanted books, so members can keep an eye out for these books :)

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 6/8/2009 11:32 AM ET
Member Since: 8/8/2007
Posts: 50
Back To Top

Zombies are the new Vampire!

Adult books regarding Zombies have long wish lists and go quickly.