I hope this topic is okay. If not, moderators please do what you need to! I was wondering if most PBSers would stay if the site started charging a flat or per-transaction fee, as has been rumored.

I for one would not stay. The whole reason I'm on here is to save money! And there are other swap sites that are free, that I use as much or more than PBS. But that's just me; it might be worth it to you. At what point though would it *not* be worth it to you? How much are you willing to pay for this "valuable service"?

It would be worth it to me as long as the fee was fairly small.  The only other way I get new (to me) books is to get them from Amazon.  I haven't been impressed by the looks of the other swap sites.

Ruth

I would not stay. I'm fairly new to the site & have been buying alot of books new rather than wait 2 years on a wait list. I thought i would get books much quicker but so far no go.

Yes

Definitely yes!!!

Fees would definitely suck, but now I am hooked so I would probably pay the fees.  I do think it would make it more difficult for PBS to get new members though.  I would not have joined if there were fees involved.

Yes, I'd stick around. 

I've been on this site for 4 years.  There have always been rumors of charging.  It still has not been brought up by the admins other than in the verbage that there "might" be a fee later.  Were it a low per item fee like at SwapaCD $.49 or an annual of let's say $10.  Then, yes, I would gladly pay that to help the site as I've gotten a considerable number of fabulous books.  However, if they institute a charge, I would also like them to handle problems the same way they do on SACD & SADVD by reviewing the account and returning credits for bad items.

I will absolutely stay. I've been very happy and obtaining books here is much much cheaper than the used book stores where I live. Not to mention, the selection is larger than almost any library branch in the country.

I would stay if the fee was reasonable.  I've used another book trading site and it sucks compaired to this one.

Pam-you've been on PBS for 3yrs-you aren't new to the site.  I get a steady supply of WL books here. It costs a lot of money to run this site.

My guess is instead of charging everyone a yearly fee-they will probably come up with some optional features that people can pay extra for to help them earn money-like Box of Books, Printed Postage and DC. 

I would not like a per transaction fee. I already spend probably more than I should as although I post my own books some, I also buy books specifically to post here, prefer to mail in tyvek or bubble mailers, etc. If a .49/item charge was added to what I'm spending and postage and often d/c, that would make most of the local UBS a better buy for much of my reading material. I would certainly post and purchase less. When I don't have extra money for the money making features here...I try to "earn my keep" by uploading pictures, correcting book data, etc. I do that because I like it here, and want it to look nice as well. I'd prefer a flat rate, but think a charge would deter new members, and I'm all for -- the more members, the more books! Some other sites I looked at before becoming a member here had what I considered to be a poor selection in the genres I am interested in.

I would stay--as long as I felt the fee was reasonable.  I'm hoping that they don't have to do this, but I would be willing to pay.

Just to stir the pot a bit.  I would gladly pay a fee to be able to have a larger than 200 book wishlist.  Kind of like a premium feature, you want it, pay for it.  Doubt that would ever happen, but it's nice to dream.

YES

Yes, I would stay. I have received numerous excellent books here to read.

Yes. Absolutely, so long as we aren't talking about a huge amount.

$.49 per transaction here would be a HUGE amount to most people in a year in extra expense. Get just twenty books in an entire year (less than two a month), and you will have already paid $10 in extra fees on top of the shipping costs for books you mail. There are a good majority of people on this site whose book transactions in a year number at well over a hundred, or even several hundred. Instituting that kind of fee would grind this site nearly to a halt. Given my nearly one year here, and the fact I've had only one unresolved RWAP so far, it'd be a waste of money even were the SwapACD review method implemented.

I'm thinking a small yearly fee, or extra for-fee services, would be the only ways it would possibly be acceptable. If there were a per-transaction fee, I would no longer be able to use this site as my main book source. It would get way too expensive. And if I were only getting like a couple books a month, there'd be no point sticking around.

Yes, if it was a reasonable amount.  I would prefer a small annual fee over a per-book fee.

PBS is overall the cheapest way for me to get books.  I mostly read books on mathematics, science, history, and religion--usually hardbacks or trade paperbacks.  I've yet to see a UBS that has more than a book or two that I'm interested in.  My next cheapest choice is Amazon or other sites like it, but on average I end up paying $8-$10 for a used book on Amazon (including shipping).  My average cost for a credit on PBS is $3.00, since I send out mostly hardbacks and trade paperbacks.  So I'm still saving about $5 per book.

Of course, the library would be the cheapest way to go, but I prefer to collect a pile of interesting books and read them at my leisure, as the fancy strikes me.  The library also quickly discards the less popular books, so if I'm wanting an obscure book more than a couple of years old, they probably don't have it anyway.

I would not stay with a per transaction fee.  I have 800 books here. I mail out 200 books a year easily.  That would be $100/yr in fees for me.  But I would pay $10 or $20 yr.  Maybe that could come with 10 free DCs a year or something. 

It can't be cheap to run a site like this.  If the printed postage, Bob memberships and kiosk sales aren't paying for it then they'll have to charge something or close it down-at some point.  I have no idea how the finances are.  They haven't had to implement a yearly fee yet. 

I also wouldn't mind some discreetly placed ads.  Not big crazy banners or those annoying ones that pop up into the middle of the screen. But some along the sides that maybe PBS gets paid when people click on the ad or for it just being there. 

Yes, absolutely I would stay! I figure charging a fee would at least keep out some of the riff raff--those who want something for nothing kind of crowd who would just use their 2 free credits and never intend to really "trade" or follow through.

I would hesitate more if they brought in ads. I would stay, but I would prefer a choice of either seeing ads or paying a yearly fee not to--I would go for the fee every time! If there were ads, I would stay but would not spend much time here--just do my transaction business and go, probably. I hate ads with a passion and am so pleased that PBS is an ad-free zone!

Cheryl

I could do $10 a year if I had to, but a per book transaction fee...  no way.  That's one of the reasons I don't use the CD site.

I'm pretty sure they're doing the click through thing with Amazon.com to generate revenue, too.

I'm involved with that program through the blog I write book reviews for.

We've all seen that little button that states 'buy new' and know it brings us to the Amazon.com page, if you go through with that purchase, PBS gets a part of it. 

Yes, I'd definitely pay a yearly fee to help support the site.

I would probably stay if you could "pay" with credits.  If it had to be a monetary fee, probably not.

I'd stay even if a reasonable yearly fee was implemented now.  I'd don't think I would have joined initially, though, if I'd had to pay before joining.  This site has been much more fun than I thought it would be, so now I'm hooked! 

I do get plenty of WL books also, sometimes more than I need & I've purchased credits to cover those.  For those with languishing Wishlists, join a game or two!  That's where you'll meet like-minded readers... 

In the year since I've joined, I've sent out around 350 books & received more than that, so I definitely wouldn't like a per-transaction fee; I already support the site with every transaction 'cause I use PBS postage & DC almost always.