why is it when you post in the book bazaar people just assme you are offering a deal? i post a few times a month that i have tons of books on my shelf and to take a look and see if anything interests you or to pm me if you are looking for some specific author or title as i might have it and just not of posted it yet. then i get tons of pm's asking me for deals. which i realize i don't have to accept. even when i write in my posts that this is not a book deal i still get 10 plus pm's asking for 4 for 1 or better deals. and some members don't even ask.

here is an example of a pm i got a few weeks ago after  i posted about having 9 stephanie plum books that would be a great gift as they are in awesome shape and hardcover.  here is one of the pm's i received.

member's pm:

I don't know those books. I'd like Christmas at Timberwoods, Christmas at Cold creek, The Christmas Thief, and The Christmas that Changed Everything.

the post was clearly about janet evanovich books on which i stated i wanted 9 credits for the books. and i get a pm from a member demanding other books. and a 4 for 1 deal on them at that. and when i refused and said i wasn't doing any deals. i got a pm back telling me that with the amount of books i have posted i should be willing to do deals and that i can afford it since i have so many books. ( iwill admit i do have a lot of books posted (1,262 currently) but that doesn't mean i am made of money and can afford to send out all these free books. sometimes the deal these members want and the books' weight  cost more to mail then they would if i mailed the books separately. my question is why do people make the assumption that a lot of books posted means you have tons of money for postage? i get a lot of my books from family members,library/used book sales, rummage sales etc.

sorry i just needed to vent. thanks for that just lowered the blood pressure. lol

People that frequest the Book Bazzar often do expect deals when someone posts there.  Even if you don't say you're offering a deal, they'll still expect it and ask.

Maybe put in your posts that you are NOT offering deals, it's one book, one credit.  Not that that'll stop people from asking but maybe stop them from assuming.

Maybe because most of the time when people post in the Book Bazaar, they are posting deals. Pat

If I go to the Bazaar, I'm looking for a deal. I think most people are.  You seem to be trying to avoid FIFO.  How's it working for you?

I think most people who go to the Bazaar are expecting some sort of deal.  As for the cost, unless they're heavy hardcover books, there isn't a difference on a two-for-one.  It costs me $2.60 to mail one paperback, and $2.61 to mail two.  So no difference in cost to speak of.  

I think most people who go to the Bazaar are expecting some sort of deal.  As for the cost, unless they're heavy hardcover books, there isn't a difference on a two-for-one.  It costs me $2.60 to mail one paperback, and $2.61 to mail two.  So no difference in cost to speak of.  

I'm someone that has asked if you, in the thread you start, if you make deals. You ignore those posts by me and others. You do say how great it is to order from you and you have lots of books and then you put the day you go to the post office.

I ask because pretty everyone is offering deals in the book bazaar. You oftentimes have some of the same books others have who are offering a deal. 

Also, for me and me only, the "benefit" of getting a couple of books from one seller without a deal is nothing. 1 credit per 1 book, I can just order from anyone then.

If you don't want pm's say so and make it clear that you don't offer deals. If someone pm's and it bothers you, don't answer it.

If you aren't offering deals ( i do get it, you want to save on postage, a deal for you) then let folks search for a book ...you'll get orders that way.

People just aren't going to see your point of saving postage as compared to a ..say 3 for 2 deal..as important.

No harm, no foul..people can ask since it's so prevalent in the book bazaar for deals. If it were me, I'd post a blurb about no pm's, and no deals.

By the way, i have mailed 3 hardcovers and it was cheaper than mailing each one separately. Same with paperbacks..so if you had had a deal of 3 for 2, you wouldn't lose in postage as compared to cost of credit. 

In no way, shape, or form am i saying you should deal..I am pointing out that it isn't,  in terms of credits, going to cost you more if you offered a simple deal. (My ex. Of 3 for 2)

I kind of think it's ironic that in trying to have a good deal for you in terms of postage, posting in forums like standard and limited to post about ordering your books, and by passing FIFO, that it bothers you when someone else wants a deal..on a board where deals are prevalent. 

Yeah, I mean, if I am NOT getting a deal, I would so much rather get 9 packages in the mail. I love getting packages! If I'm going to spend 9 credits for 9 books, I think I'd rather "spread the love" around the site to 9 (or however many are FIFO) traders, and get 9 mailbox surprises. You're not offering any incentive. Even at the rock bottom costs of credits these days ($2 or less, as I recently saw someone selling them for ONE DOLLAR), it will not cost you $18 to mail 9 books. So, if you want orders (and if you want to move books that have hundreds and hundreds of copies in the system), dangle a little bit of a free-book(s) carrot and you'll do better. I also agree with the above posters: the book bazaar is FOR deals. So please don't be offended. People may have actually thought you meant deals and just forgot to type it. Or, gasp, even on a site dedicated to reading, they may have missed your "no deals" statement. But heck yeah, if I'm going to be using 9 credits, I would certainly hope for a deal. I just had someone order 4 books from me off the WL thread and, without her even asking, sent one of her 4 for free. I think 4 for 3 is a great deal. And it cost me nothing extra.

Now, on the other hand, in defense of the OP, in the listing of discussion groups under Book Bazaar it distinctly says "If you want to show off your bookshelf, this is the place for it."  It seems to me the purpose of the Book Bazaar originally was for showing off your shelf not necessarily offering deals.  I have personally offered a lot of deals because I too have a large shelf.  I find sometimes and certainly not the majority of deal getters want all new books for the deal so they can list them all individually and double or quadruple their credits which of course is their business but when I offer deal books I offer older books or books with a lot of copies that I want to move to someone who is looking for many books by the same author or on the same subject. Don't get me wrong, I think they should be in good postable condition but not necessarily new late edition books.   I don't look at getting deals as I can make a deal and then trade for more credits as I get the feeling some people do.

This also is copied from the guidelines from using the Book Bazaar.

• Bookshelf advertisement/"Order From Me" threads. Because of the FIFO rule that governs swapping at PBS, the earliest-posted copy of a book is the first to be requested. However, any member can easily request a specific book directly from another member, "bypassing" FIFO. That is why advertising your bookshelf is useful to get your books moving. Posting topics with vague titles like "Look at my bookshelf" or "I posted new books today" isn't as helpful to requestors as if your topic title is specific and enticing. Good topic titles are "I have just posted 20 new cozy mysteries!" or "Horror books--come and get 'em!" Including a "teaser" (sample passage from book(s), synopsis of book(s)) in the first post in your topic is a good tactic to get members interested.

thank you Teresa. i saw that written under the book bazaar heading as well. i offered 1 unpostable from the list on my profile as a freebie with every 2 books ordered from me WITH CREDITS. only one person pmed me and asked for a free book that was on my shelf (Not from the list on my profile) which means that that book is postable. i too think that some of these deal searchers are trying to fill their bookshelves here on PBS by asking for 4 for 1 deals or better for newer titles ( i am not saying all members but there are some that seem that way.) 

i had a pm from a member a few months ago asking me for 4 books for 1 credit deal or better. and they wanted all hardcovers from my shelf. and then they went on to tell me how in the area they live in (i believe it was in florida) they don't have a lot of places that sell used books they don't have library sales and very few people in their area have rummages/garage sales. so i should feel bad for them because they live in a place where there are no used bookstores and people don't have garage/yard sales.

in the small town i live in we have no used bookstores either.  We had one years ago 10+ or more and when the owner an older lady 70+ years died her kids and family decided it wasn't profitable so they closed it and donated the used books to libraries,womens' prisons and a few other places.  so now i go to used book sales in other towns.

when you live in a small area/town and you like to read sometimes you have to travel to find sales for used books.

Sure it shows off a bookshelf. .but you can't deny that deals dominate the board. It isn't unreasonable for someone to ask if for a deal. 

While it's fine to show off your bookshelf and want deals for yourself (avoid fifo, save postage etc) why is it so offensive for someone else to want a deal?

While it's fine to show off your bookshelf and want deals for yourself (avoid fifo, save postage etc) why is it so offensive for someone else to want a deal?

Exactly! And you can always say "no thank you"

People want a deal to save credits and the sender saves shipping if they get 2+ credits for x amount of books.  It's all about incentive and making attractive offers.  I do not want to pay shipping for 9 individual packages at 1CR each, I want to send out multicredit packages so I have to make a deal.  That way both parties get a deal!  I use the postage cost as part of my decision on how may credits would be fair. 

True, but if a person declines deals at that time I think that should be respected.  I think an answer like the OP said she got  "when i refused and said i wasn't doing any deals. i got a pm back telling me that with the amount of books i have posted i should be willing to do deals and that i can afford it since i have so many books."  was inappropriate.

Theresa, I agree with you.  

People should not get pushy and tell people what they should do. 

I make deals but I don't make tightwad deals.  

I agree Theresa..no means no but one lousy pm from someone doesn't negate the fact the op is upset because people want deals from her. Heck, I have received mean pms..usually from someone annoyed with a comment so it's okay to pm me to tell me off..that doesn't negate anything else said in threads.

It seems odd that if op wants a deal and a story, great..someone else does and boo! And a pm that someone told her she should do deals just doesn't mean well okay, then I complain about others wanting deals when I want some too.

You can agree 100% with the op..I find it odd.

Added..inappropriate is the pm i received for saying I was happy I got a WL book, I like it here..I was pmed to be told i was a "thoughtless insensitive jerk" then went on to say how her and her friends get nothing and she has to be harsh with me so I understand...that is inappropriate. .imo. I recognize someone else wouldn't think so.

I agree Michele that one PM shouldn't overshadow anyone else but even though I've read over the OP's posts I can't seem to find (it might just be me) where she says she wants or gets deals but is not open to giving deals.

Personally I avoid getting deals, prefer giving them,  as I have so many books on my shelf I really don't want anymore.

The deal is saving postage, bypassing fifo..it's still a deal. 

I've offered deals for years and I've found that my cost for postage is about $1.20 per credit when I offer deals. I've mailed as many as 40 books in one package before (got 10 credits for it, and postage was somewhere in the $10 to $12 dollar range for it. 

I also have tons of books, everything I post to my bookshelf is a book I don't want anymore. So it's no biggie to me to let them go in deals.

And when you mail multiple books you can sell credits for $2 and make money on the postage ... at least enough to make it cost neutral to mail books out.

I can understand not wanting to offer deals but I don't honestly see how that saves on postage at all. Just make sure not to offer 1 credit deals and you can always save on the postage. I usually start my deal offers at 5 for 2, and go from there.

Dreaded double post

I know it says "Show off your Bookshelf" But the general consensus is the bazarr is the place to deal. You might be less frustrated if you were to post this batch of books in this thread

http://www.paperbackswap.com/JULY-2016-MULTIPLE-BOOKS-SAME/topic/299256/

I look for deals in the bazarr .and maybe because you have asked for deals yourself ,they think you'd would return the favor...?  I think you shouldnt ask if your not willing to give.