what do I do now?!  I posted some hard backs and have already had requests, what is the easiest way to mail them?  I hate acrobat, it seems to freeze up my computer.  Not sure about firefox, either!  Can I just wrap a book and take it to the post office?  I think I should have done more research!  I have hundreds of hardback books and need to free up some room around here!  Thanks for any info you can give me, Brat1

You're going to need to have Adobe Acrobat reader on your computer.  Otherwise, you won't be able to view the address to send the book to.  I use Firefox and it works perfectly fine on this site, I've not had a problem at all.

Click on the "print wrapper" button to get the address to send that book to.  You don't have to acutally print the wrapper out, you can wrap the book up and write the address on the package.  Then, you take the books to your PO counter and tell them they're books, you want to send them Media Mail.

Then, you come home and log in again and click the button that says you've mailed the book and that's it.  When the other person gets the book, they'll mark it received and you'll get a credit.

Thanks for your help!  Am I the only one who has Acrobat issues?

Sending a book involves:

• Responding to a Request
• Getting the address/Printing the wrapper
• Wrapping the book
• Applying postage to the package (if you have not chosen to print PBS Postage)
  
• Mailing the package
  
• Marking it Mailed before the deadline to do so
•  

There is a whole section in the Help center that takes you step by step to send the book...that would be a great place to start out.

If you don't have a box that'll work then just wrap them up in something.  Some people use paperbags, wrapping paper, old envelopes, cereal boxes-whatever they have on hand that works. I had all these rolls of kids fingerpaint paper and used that.  Just make sure you tape it up good and wrap it so it's not bouncing around in a box. Do not put tape directly on the book.   I got some books from a box deal in an orange juice box.  I've use a cereal box before.  I put the books in a plastic bag and put them in the box, then put a couple more plastic bags on top to keep them from bouncing around.  Then I covered it in a solid color wrapping paper I had and taped the label on top.  I don't post many hardbacks.  But when I have, I've just used a bubble mailer.  You can probably find some fairly cheap at a dollar store.  I save the ones that I get books in for reuse.  Do NOT use a recycled priority box or envelope.  If they catch it, the requestor could be charged for priority postage.  You don't have to use the PBS pre-printed postage.  Anything over 13oz has to be handed to a postal clerk unless you use the printed postage. If you use stamps, than just hand it to a postal clerk. 

Not sure what you're talking about with the acrobat and firefox.  I have adobe acrobat.  I have no problem printing the labels or the postage.  You can even just access the address and hand write it if you want.  That's what I did at first because I had all these big, blank address labels I wanted to use up. 

Make sure you mark the books mailed before the deadline.  Or you might not get a credit for the books you send.  If you don't mark a book mailed then the system can sometimes reorder the book for the requestor.  So this is very important.

Welcome to PBS it's a lot of fun.

Carol,

First Welcome To PBS! I find the easiest way to mail books here is to use bubble mailers with lots of tape. But you can wrap in mostly anything as long as it is strong enought to withstand the rough handling the USPS will give it. Lots of packing tape, not scotch tape, on brown paper bag, heavy wrapping paper, multiple sheets of copy paper. You will have to at least open the Adobe file to get the address where to mail the book. If you choose not to print the wrapper that is fine but to change the status of the book to "printed" and "mailed" you have to open the Adobe file.

A tour of the Help Center will be very helpful, especially the documents that address Sending and Receiving Books.

I hope you get lots of orders and enjoy PBS as much as I do.

do you have the latest version of acrobat?  maybe that is the problem?  I don't have any problems with it on my computer

Thanks you guys!  I guess I thought it would take a week or so before anyone even noticed my books, guess not!  I have tons of hardcovers and for some reason decided that I wanted to start getting paperbacks and reading series, so I had to make some room around here!

I was having Acrobat problems at one time and just clicked on "having a hard time printing wrapper click here" and then I clicked on "print alternate wrapper".  It pulls up without that Acrobat square popping up so don't know if that means it's not using Acrobat?  I'm not a computer whiz by any means but it solved my Acrobat problems.

silliness5~ I will be trying that!

If you have Vista, there are some compatibility issues with Adobe Acrobat. I have problems allll the time. Usually, if I click the print button as soon as it comes up, I manage to get it printed before it freezes

Welcome Carol!

You do not need Adobe Acrobat to get the addresses.  If you click "cannot get wrapper to print" and then the "hand write the label" link, it will pull up all the information you need.

Carol, spend some time reading the Help Center.  It covers everything you will ever want to know about sending and receiving books, and then some. :)

" I guess I thought it would take a week or so before anyone even noticed my books, guess not!"

Carol, I thought the same thing! LOL!  Then I got about 5 requests right away and wondered what I had gotten myself into.  Once you get one or two mailed you'll have it down.  It's slowed down considerably since that first week.

Same thing happened to me.  I posted my books and was startled to see 3 requests the same night.  I already had packing material since I sometimes sell on eBay, but I was still a little nervous! :-)

Welcome!!  Suzanne

I learned a terrific hint from reading these forums:  cereal boxes are wonderful for mailing hardbacks. 

I usually wrap the book in plastic wrap and stuff the boxes with wadded-up newspaper.  (The plastic is to keep the newspaper print from smearing the book.)

Deb

And you can re-use what comes in.  I have seen some bubble wrappers that have been used 4 or 5 times and are still in great shape!

It all worked perfectly!  Thanks for your help everyone, it seems I went into a panic for no reason!  I truly can't believe that adobe acrobat did not freeze up my computer this time!  It always does, and I had 9 wrappers to print!  Mine are all hardbacks, so to the post office tomorrow and my first paperbackswap experience will be complete!  Thanks again, y'all!   Brat1

If Adobe usually freezes your computer try upgrading it, it doesn't have to be the latest upgrade, just one that may correct the problem. Or you can uninstall Adobe & reload it. If your computer is an older model, you might actually do better with an older version of Adobe. It uses less MB than the newer versions & is easier on computers. You only need the Reader portion. They load on all this other junk that we never use.  

If Acrobat gives you trouble, try FoxIt  it's a great alternative.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php