This is my first time posting, but I have been reading a bit in here, and I have read where people are constantly sending out books and receiving new ones.  When I first joined I posted almost 100 books, and I had 3 requests right away, I'm guessing they were on people's wish list.  But since then I haven't had anything.  There are lots of books I want to read, but with no credits coming in, I don't see me getting them anytime soon.  Is there a secret I don't know about or do I just need to give it some more time?  Thank you!

Well, if you add your books to your reminder list (click into the title and then choose RL), you can see how many copies of that book is listed in the system. I always to that because I am nosy lol. Note: It only shows how many copies are in system, not the place your book is in.

And, if you go to the Book Bazaar form a little bit below this one, you can try to get rid of a couple books for one credit. I try to do deals as much as possible to get my shelf down some. Look around at the posts there to see which way might be best for you.

You can also keep an eye out for good deals on books around you, or see if family/friends have any books to get rid of that they can 'donate' to your shelf :-)

Tonya - Welcome to PBS!

I looked through your bookshelf.  You have lots of romance and best sellers.  Books that more people have, so there are more in the system.  This doesn't mean much, just that it's going to take a little longer for it to be your turn to mail.

There are thing you can do to help your books go.  Highlight a book in your signature.  Post more in the forums.  Run a deal.  Buy books at garage sales to post.  Or you can buy credits from PBS or from other members.  Or order from the Book Bazaar, thus making the few credits you have go further.  Or join Box of Books, where you trade books one for one with other members. 

Hope this helps!

Kerry

I know it's hard, but be patient!  Some of your books will work their way through the FIFO (first in, first out) list faster than you think.  Others will take a long time. 

There's a phenomenon at PBS where sometimes it takes awhile to get some momentum going- but then it can get really busy!  I've been a member a little over a year.  Awhile back I noticed that I hit some sort of "critical mass" on the FIFO with the more common books and now I'm constantly mailing- in fact I'm considering putting my account on hold because I'm getting so many requests and my stock of books to read is huge! 

Good luck- and happy trading!

Sara

Thank you all for the replies!  It sounds like I just have to be patient, but I will also check out the book bazaar, and come in here more when I have a little time.  I appreciate everyone taking the time out to answer!

Welcome to PBS, Tonya!

One other thing that can help is to complete the information for books on your bookshelf -- cover images, plot descriptions, etc.  That can help folks get interested, if they're browsing your shelf.

Get active in the Love & Romance forums too -- it makes you, and thus your wishlist, more visible, particularly if you advertise a deal in your signature, and there's lots of great discussion to be had there too.

Cheers,

Catt

Tonya,

Welcome!  I agree with the posters above.  Sometimes if you post books that other people don't want and are different than the categories you already have this helps.  I go to the Library Book Sales, flea markets, and I have one relative who will only read NEW books and then gives them to me.  They are not really my "type" of book so lucky me - I get to post them here.

Another way is to post on these boards.  Sometimes you make a friend on these boards that has similar tastes to you and they can check out what books you have on your shelf.  I have done this a few times myself.  Also, you can refer a friend.  If that friend joins PBS and lists you as a reference you get a credit that way!

Be patient.  I can go a week or two or three without any requests.  Other weeks I have several to mail out. 

Also, if you really find a book you have to have and you don't have credits yet..you can always buy some.

Tonya, your join date in your profile is only over a week ago! The requests can be slow to start, I've had books on my shelf for over a year, but they will eventually come in.

Here's a link to a thread about the BOB membership.  I personally am a huge fan :)

PaperBackSwap :: Discussion Forums - Questions about PaperBackSwap -

You haven't even been a member for 2 wks. Give it some time. 

I also suggest looking into becoming a boxer. The $9/yr helps out PBS.  I've been able to trade some heavily posted books through BOB that might have otherwise sat on my shelf for a long time.

Here what I did.  I went through the wish list search by genre and author.  As it will take weeks, months, years to post every book I own, I figured I might as well start with books that are in demand.  My first week I have sent out 15 books.  I figure that's enough credits to get me going for awhile. 

I find it goes in spurts too.  Some weeks I get several requests and then I'll go a few weeks with none at all.

Definitely spend those precious few credits in the Book Bazaar where you can get several books for one credit.  It helps the credits stretch further until you build some up.

If you already own a lot of books you haven't read, add them to your "TBR pile" list here at PBS. Then you will be able to see which ones are wish listed and if you want you can choose to read those books first and post them for an easy credit.

Thank you everyone for helping out a newbie!!!  What I have done so far:

I did submit some cover images and descriptions for books that didn't have any.  (Of course I'm not finished with that yet, and some covers are hard to find!  I may have to dig out my digital camera, I just wanted to see what searching the internet would bring up first!)

I did take a look around the discussion board and saw a couple of people offering 3 books for 1 credit in their signature, I ended up ordering 3 books from one of my favorite authors from them! 

I did read up on the box of books, I'm very interested in that, and will more than likely join. 

And Julie, thank you for the credits, I will pass on the good deed to a newbie when I have credits to spare.  I'll get to that point someday!

Buy them for cheap at library sales, yard sales, etc. if you're fresh out.  I'm continually adding books to my shelf and always seem to have a healthy amount of orders.  When I hit a lull, I rummage through a bin downstairs and post a whole bunch at once and usually have at least 2-3 orders within a day or so.  The funny thing is, the orders are usually for books that have been on my shelf for 9 months or so!  It takes time and a little patience for your books to cycle through the system but it does happen eventually. 

I thought of something else!  Check out the games forum and join in.  Great way to swap out a book you have for someone else's book.

Games will require a credit deposit but you get your credit back when your book is received by the other person.  Great way to meet people and make some friends.  I think there's a newbie swap just starting up too.

found it, here it is: http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=136862

My mom is also on PBS.  She went about 2 weeks without a request.  This morning when I dropped my youngest off at her house she told me she has 11 (yes 11) books to mail out today! 

Crazy isn't it??!!