I know it would probly be a lot of trouble to do international swapping, but have the founders considered that Canadians would like a good swapping site too? I just referred someone who was going to join, only to find out that they live in Canada and couldn't.

Just an idea

It is too expensive to mail books to Canada so that is probably why the site is limited to the U.S. 

Rory, it's defnitely something I've seen asked in the Forums before.  Also, the Help Center does address it, so I'm guessing it's something RR have heard about before, too, lol.

We've had requests for international membership from all around the world.

• Eventually, we hope to expand.
• We have had a LOT of requests from Canada!
  • We have been working on shipping issues regarding the Canadian postal system. Until we work these out, we will not be able to trade across borders with our system.

I have never actually shipped to Canada before, but I have heard that it's quite expensive?

Point them to www.bookmooch.com - it's international. They don't have as many books posted, but they do have a lot of books that are hard to find in the US.

I'm not really interested in swapping across borders. I was just thinking it would be nice to have a PBS site just for canadians to swap among themselves.

(I'm a member of Titletrader, so I directed them over there)

Some Canadians who live close to the border can rent a PO box in the US and use that as their address.  I've had some who did this with Ebay shipments. 

It is quite expensive to mail a book to Canada, and I for one, will not.   Bookmooch gives you the option to state that you only want to ship to your own country.  They have members from all over the world, but not many members are willing to ship to them, nor them to us.

That's a great idea, Winston. I'll have to find out if they live close to the border

I wouldn't want to mail to Canada. I have a Canadian penpal and the stuff I send her costs so much more than anything I send in country.

I've sent to canada a few times through bookmooch, the books were all trade paperbacks or MMP and I think the most I spent on shipping was $3.50.  The difference is that bookmooch gives you extra points for shipping out of your country.

Also, bear in mind you must stand in line every time to submit a customs declaration! I was told ALL cross-border surface packages go via ONE point (in Ontario), whereas First Class ($$$) get flown to several Canadian entry points.

Melissa;  did you ship after the U.S. rate hike??   I heard a ppb is almost $10.00!!

.

No more surface mail.  Though to Canada air was often closer, but I'm sure it's gone up!

I'd rather see a PBS Canada site for the Canadians rather than anything from PBS directly. 

i have friends in the UK who would love to join..but alas they cant. so we swap umonst ourselves

I've sent lots books to Canada - just mailed one to a friend, in fact, and it cost about $4.50 and was a softcover oversized book, for first class international.

And several books (depending on size, of course) can be shipped in a flat rate envelope to Canada for $9.00.

I would hope that if they do expand to international that you would be given the choice whether you want to mail there or not. It's pretty expensive to mail to other countries and in some instances, cost way more than you would pay for a used book. I like it here because it is all within the U.S. No offense to those in other countries intended.

Yep, I shipped after the rate hike.  I have sent to Canada and to a few APO addresses and they were all about the same postage.