I talked pbs up, left notices in doctor's offices and posted on other boards...   so far I've only gotten 1 referral.  sigh

I've never been successful.  Have you tried putting the link in your emails?  The link automatically tells PBS who referred them.  I've told friends and strangers in book stores (I don't go often).  But no one  around me seems to be interested. I find that to be sad.

Ruth

Yes, I have added the link to my email signature.  Alas, no takers.  I just don't understand why though...  My sister reads a lot and I've talked her ear off but she hasn't joined yet.  And I have a few friends who also read a bit, one who listens to audiobooks all the time and still, no go.   I have about 3 people who said they were going to join, but haven't..     grr  lol

I've decided to print the bookmarks and take them to the big FOL sale.  I'll be standing in line with other book addicts. 

I don't actively seek referrals, but have had a few--mostly it's when PBS comes up in conversation (either online in various book groups, or in RL). It probably helps too that I tell people if they put me as their referral source I get a free credit, but since I don't really need the credits, I will buddy the free credit back to them if they do join up. But I suspect if you want referrals, it's because you want to keep that credit, so that tactic probably wouldn't work for you. :-D

Emily, that's a great idea about the FOL sale--I wish I had thought of it, our sale was last weekend! :-\

Cheryl

I've never gotten one.  I have several friends who are big-time readers but they haven't taken me up on PBS.  A classmate actually joined in April because she heard of PBS from me but she didn't list me as her referral. :(

Actually, I think that most people won't join until they start feeling a $$ crunch.  It takes effort to be a member here.  It doesn't take that much effort to buy a new book or borrow one.  Some people just aren't into "social book acquisitioning".  So until they think it's really beneficial to them they won't add it to their lives.

Ruth

It takes effort to be a member here.    No effort!!   FUN

Oh, I have talked it up and sent the link - several friends joined but none of them used the link so I would get a referral credit!! One of them even kept asking me if I'd gotten the credit from her joining, and I couldn't disappoint her by telling her she had not used the right link... So yeah, lots of my friends joined but not one of them figured out how to give me credit. I'm a crusader - it's really great for getting older, out of print books as well as a cheap source of new books.

Melinda,  I gather than you didn't ask yourtfriends to let PBS know that you referred them...  I have 1 person who did the same thing, didn't add my name as the referral, sigh.

It's fun to be a member here for me and maybe you, but I know that's what others who don't really understand it think about being a member here.  There's lots to learn and to remember.  There's having to wrap books for mailing.  And there's having to keep your account updated.  So to those who aren't so inclined - it looks like work.

Ruth

I've mentioned it to a few people who I know love to read, but they haven't joined. For many of them, their reason was that they are very attached to their books and wouldn't give any away. I don't really understand it because I like buying just any old book at Goodwill and getting rid of well over 1/2 of them after reading. Maybe they buy their books new and only buy the ones they're in love with.

Whereas I send credits back to PBS periodically because I get referral credits that aren't mine.  Their last email said if they had to start over, they would never have allowed me to have the generic nickname "teacher" because often people obviously put on their form - who referred you/where did you hear about PBS? From teacher....  

oh my word...  who wudda thunk.  lol

I don't tell anyone to join PBS. I don't want the other people in the USB to know about it so that they quit donating their great books or start buying the ones I want to read and swap :) and I want all my friends and family to give their books to me to read and swap. Yes, I am a book and PBS pig.

I'm with Melanie!  Just learned my DD joined - had to go check my WL to make sure there wasn't anything I'd have to "explain"!  ;D  I thought I'd outgrown this when I moved from living near my parents! LOL!!  Seems that kids poking around is just as bad!

Ruth

Ive gotten several friends to join this site. A few have listed me as a referral but only one has put up ten books so far. Its fine though, I was happy to get the one credit.

I found this high traffic website where you can place your personalized PaperBackSwap link.  Here:  http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww19/pvc_photos/Capture-12.jpg

Hahahaha

Dan (for Marilyn)

My mom told me about this site and I signed up and she wasn't even a member!!!  i have laughed alot about that one.

referrels have not worked for me.  so many of my friends and family read but i guess dont have the time like i do.

Their last email said if they had to start over, they would never have allowed me to have the generic nickname "teacher" because often people obviously put on their form - who referred you/where did you hear about PBS? From teacher....  

That's hilarious. At least you're honest enough to return the credits. I wonder if there are other users out there named mom, dad, a friend, etc.

No effort!! FUN

You obviously haven't had to go buy packing supplies, pack and ship 15 books at once. OR, you're a masochist ;-)

One reason I think people don't join is the cost of shipping. The only reason I was able to ship out all the books I did was because when I got married, my wife bought WAY to many stamps for invites and thankyou letters. So I paid for most of the books I've shipped out with stamps we already had on hand. Those are now gone. I won't be adding ANY more books to my bookshelf, for sure. I can't afford the shipping.