I always use printable postage unless the book is so small that I can send it First Class for less. If I choose the a la carte membership option, will my existing credits, which were earned before Feb. 15 (using printable postage), be exempt from the 49-cent fee when I request a book?

Thanks in advance for answers.

No. The features of the new system do not take effect until after Feb 15. Its not that credits are "exempt". When you use printed postage after Feb 15th you will receive a one free swap fee on your account that you can you use on future requests. 

BTW, Printed Postage has discounts for First Class rate mail that often make it worthwhile to still use printed postage.

1 - 3 ounces..............................$2.32....  $1.93 with Printable Postage
Between 3 and 4 ounces..............................2.50.....$2.01 with Printable Postage
Between 4 and 5 ounces..............................2.68.. $2.09 with Printable Postage
Between 5 and 6 ounces............................2.86 .. $2.25 with Printable Postage
Between 6 and 7 ounces.............................3.04....$2.42 with Printable Postage
Between 7 and 8 ounces............................3.22...$2.59 with Printable Postage

So it sounds like I would be better off spending all but two of my existing credits before the changes take effect on the 15th.

If you do not plan on getting an annual membership, then after 2/15 you would need to pay the 0.49 to use them until you earned some free swap credits from more shipments. If you get an annual membership then you don't need to worry about it.

This new policy really sucks for me. I have already swapped all of my books - using PBS Printed Postage, of course - but I have not used very many of my resulting credits. I have a total of 38 credits that I will now have to pay to redeem, so my best option is to go on a book shopping spree and use them all up before the 15th. I better get busy, lol, since there are probably a lot of other people doing the same thing. Will there be any books left in the pool???

Josh

I'm disappointed that the printable postage 1-swap allowance doesn't apply for the swaps that are happening right now. In the last few days I've seen a rush of requests, which usually I'll be happy with. But if I send them now (I usually use printable postage), I don't get the allowance. Makes me want to freeze everything until after 2/15 to capture that allowance.

I am annoyed as well.  The vast majority of my books were sent with printable postage.  Despite paying for future swaps via PBS' future guidelines, it does not count and I will have to pay again should I wish to use my existing credits after 2/15.  So, I've used up all my credits and will hopefully receive books for all of them.  I do not know if I will swap in the future.  At this point, my goal was to simply use my credits without having to spend extra just to use what I already have, and re-assess later. 

Funny thing: Since printable postage right now doesn't give me that 1-swap credit, today I decided not to use it and go down to the local post office to send. There I discovered (to my amazement) that the post office now include electronic delivery confirmation for free. I used to be a frequent users of the post office some years ago, and I knew they used to tack on $0.55 extra to add DC. That's why up until today I've always thought the PBS fee of $0.55 to use printable postage is what I have to pay anyway. But now I know it's not so.

Doesn't help me much post 2/15 since the $0.49 credit will roughly equal the fee, but it's good to learn something new.