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Topic: Please give advice to a member who has not yet used the Book Bazaar

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Clarinda avatar
Subject: Please give advice to a member who has not yet used the Book Bazaar
Date Posted: 11/6/2009 1:13 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2005
Posts: 5,201
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I'm going through a major book declutter and have posted a lot of books that I've realized I really don't need to keep anymore.  I've gotten a bunch of requests and wish list holds pending, and I'm excited to be clearing off soem shelf space.

However, a number of these are old books that were published before 1970 and therefore do not have ISBN numbers.  I am just too lazy to go through the process of posting them without the ISBN's and even if I did I'm not certain they would come to the attenion of potential requestors.   So I'd like to offer a deal of batches of them.  Can I post a topic here offering a certain number of books by a certain author for a certain number of credits, without posting said books to my bookshelf?  I could list the titles in my post.  For example, "10 older paperback books by Jane Doe for 5 credits, the titles are ..."  And then if someone wants them, they could buddy me the credits & PM me their address?  Is that how multiple book deals usually go down?

I'd probalby also post some info on the conditions in my offer, because these are old books and some have wear and tear that may be borderline unpostable.

Does that sound like the right way to go about offering up these oldies to potential new owner?  Since I've never particpated here in the Book Bazaar before, I thought I would test the waters, so to speak, before actually plunging in.

flfraidycat avatar
Date Posted: 11/6/2009 1:24 PM ET
Member Since: 2/21/2009
Posts: 2,926
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Many people would feel more comfortable if you listed some of the books for ordering, i.e., say if you were offering 10 books for 3 credits, list three and then put  the 3 listed and the 7 "free" titles in your post. That you gives you both the protection of ordering through the PBS system -  

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Date Posted: 11/6/2009 2:13 PM ET
Member Since: 1/22/2008
Posts: 720
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Hi Peggy,

I've had alot of fun giving deals here in the bazaar.  What you could do is advertise your books like you suggested. Then if someone expresses interest you could post enough to cover the credits. That way you wouldn't waste time needlessly posting but the buyer would be covered. Have fun.

Nancy

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Date Posted: 11/6/2009 2:14 PM ET
Member Since: 4/8/2008
Posts: 72
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If you run a deal, say 3 for 1, or whatever you choose, you can also include a list of unpostables for free in your message and offer however many you want to give with each deal.  If they are in too bad of shape you may not be able to get rid of them, but if someone wants one you can always pm them with the condition.  Good Luck.  Book Bazaar is a great way to clear out books.  I'm currently running a 5 for 1 myself.

Kathy

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Date Posted: 11/6/2009 3:02 PM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
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I personally never do a deal under the table like that. I'd want to order the # of books that I'm spending credits on from the shelf. Then there's a record of them.

Clarinda avatar
Date Posted: 11/6/2009 3:58 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2005
Posts: 5,201
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Thanks for the adivce.  Guess I will have to consider the best option for clearing out these oldies.

flfraidycat avatar
Date Posted: 11/6/2009 4:29 PM ET
Member Since: 2/21/2009
Posts: 2,926
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Peggy - I've been on both sides of more deals than I can count...and haven't had a bad experience.  It's a good way for the sender to save a lot on postage ( I sent 8 books today for approx $4, compared to a minimum of 18.50 had they been single), and a good way for the receiver to get more than one book per credit - makes it easy to try a new genre, or pick up a book that's super "common" and can be picked up at a UBS or thrift for far less than a credit price.  I've been able to send books that I'd probably be 9,999 in the FIFO list for it to move off my shelf. If you post (or respond to) deals in the Bazaar - most people are pretty familiar with how it works and they aren't skeptical as far as 1 for 1 (you have only to look at the # of postings to see how busy the Bazaar is) - everyone I've "met" has been great! :-)