I'm still pretty new to the site, and I have to say that I'm really enjoying it so far.  But, I started to wonder what happens when books aren't being requested from you?  That seems like it might be a rock and a hard place if you've run out of credits.  Thankfully, I've had six books requested, but I was wondering if anyone had tips that would help me keep the bookshelf active?  Thanks!

Welcome to the boards!!!  There are a couple of things you can do.  I go to the nearest Goodwill or Thrift Store and pick up books that are in good condition for a cheap price.  I usually pay about 50 cents per book.  If you look at the club wishlists, you will see what kind of books people are looking for.  Super popular authors like Nora Roberts, James Patterson, John Grisham & Danielle Steele are not good books to pick up because there are already so many in the system.

You can also go to the Book Bazaar discussion board and offer a deal....like order one book from my shelf and PM me with the title of another and I'll send it to you with the book you ordered. 

If you run out of credits, you can purchase some from PBS.  Many times people will also be selling their excess credits at a good price.  You'll usually find those deals on the Book Bazaar board too.

Robin

The trick to getting lots of books requested is to post books that folks have on their wish lists or to post books that don't have many copies listed.  I checked one of your posted books (The Haunting) and there are 28 copies available.  You will probably have to wait a white before someone requests this book. So it might be worthwhile to go through your library and see if any books you want to part with are wish listed.  You know these will be requested. 

You could also offer special deals  like two books for one credit at the book bazaar.  If you list mainly  series romances a two for one will  save you money on postage.

And, finally, you could always buy credits at the book bazaar or directly from PBS if you see lots of books you want.  I did this when I first joined and it helped me to get books while I built up my book shelf. 

This is a fun place and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  (And you make some great friends!)

Robin and I offered the same advice, but she beat me by two minutes!  Great minds and all that....

Thanks for the advice.  I just cleaned off my home bookshelf around Thanksgiving and took a whole mess to the half price book store.  This is just what I have.  But checking out the wish list thing is a good idea.  I didn't know you could buy credits.  Might look into that as well.

Being active o the forums is a helper as well.  Those heavily posted books will often time out on a few peopel before being accepted. So a lot of forum regulars order direct from other forum regulars to avoid time outs.  And hanging out on the forums helps you make friends here and many members check their friends shelves first when they have credits to spend.

You can also look into being Boxer where you trade books for books instead of credits. It helps to have a goodsize shelf for that although I did a lot of Boxing trades with only around 50 books posted.

Just looked at your shelf.  Sometimes with those little series romances they only move if you offer a deal of them.  They're so easy to find cheap at thrift stores. Although the Blazes move pretty good if you post them when they first come out.

There's also the Games forum and Ani (Goddessani) hosts Category Romance swaps every so often. Assuming you like to read those and didn't jsut post them because someone gave them to you. 

Welcome to PBS Steffany!

Hi Steffany - like others have posted, books move FIFO (first in, first out) and if your book already has a lot of copies in the system, it'll sit. The best way to see how many copies are in the system is to click on your book title, then click on Reminder List. Books on the reminder list do show the number of copies in the system. Sometimes posting a deal such as 2-l or 3-l on series romances will move the books. It usually costs the same in postage to mail 3 of those little series romance books as it would for 1 thick paperback. You would do that in Book Bazaar - read up on some of the postings there.

Since I send lots of paperback books to deployed soldiers through operation paperback, I seldom have much sitting on my shelf. I usually only post books that are wishlisted, hardback, or in a set containing a hardback & paperback or a trade paperback. (larger than mass market paperback).

You can also purchase credits through the site or from someone selling in Book Bazaar.

Welcome to the site and don't be shy about asking questions. We're all here because we like to read and happy to assist when we can.