I was just wondering if there was any way to distinguish between mass market and trade size.  When I am "shopping" here at PBS, the shelves just say paperback.  Often, I am looking for trade size and pass up ordering because I don't know if it will be the book I am truly wanting.  Is there a secret that I don't know about telling the difference or is it really luck of the draw? 

Yes, "paperback" can be either...what I have done is set an RC to say that if this book is a MMPB then I have either ordered it in error or it comes in more than one format and to please decline this order if their book is a MMPB. 

For me that was the only way to ensure that I didn't get MMPB....they are too hard to hold with arthritis.

Vicki--It's not fool proof because sometimes publishers will use the same ISBN for both the trade and mass media paperbacks, but you can click on "more options" and choose "edit book data".  The sizes may be listed there.  I also usually plug the data into Amazon to see what size they show.  These work fairly well for me when trying to determine the size of the book before I order.

You could put an RC on your account requesting only Trade Size paperbacks, but you'd want to be really careful at describing what you want.

Whenever it says paperback, I always click on "order from amazon" button.  That will take you to the page where it gives you the dimensions of the book.   I use that tip ALL the time.   Amazon will give you the true description.  

When it says "paperback" here on PBS, all that means is that it's NOT hard cover.   There's a wide variety of paper back sizes now ranging from tiny mass market PBs to big paperbacks.

I hate to put up an RC because some books I don't mind MMPB.  It's really not a big deal, just thought maybe I had missed a bit of info along the way.  It stinks they can use the same ISBN.....they sure don't use the same prices!!!  HAHA  Thanks for the tips guys.  Too bad it can't be more specific but hey at least I can still get cheap books!!!  LOL

You can use an RC just for those books you want in tradesized format.  Just turn it on for only those books.  You wouldn't be able to have any books on your WL on autorequest that need the RC. But if you put them  on 48hr hold you can then turn the RC on before accepting the WL offer.

If I'm not sure, I always click the "order from Amazon" link that'll take you right to that book's page on Amazon.com.  The book dimensions are listed there so you can see if it's MM or Trade sized.

Just a warning that the Amazon data is not always accurate, particularly for older books.  It seems like sometimes when someone is filling out the data for these books, they just stick a random number in the fields. I've seen ones that had a 8 for everything -- book was supposedly 8" tall, 8" wide, 8" thick and weighed 8 lbs.

Also, it isn't unheard of for publishers to use the same ISBN for a mass market and trade paperback.

So, if you really do not want mass markets, you need to use Requestor Conditions.  As folks have already stated, you need to state clearly what you want, because a lot of folks reading your RCs won't know the difference between trade pb and mass market.

The list price on Amazon is also a good indicator is no sizes are listed.  In general, anything over 7.99 will be trade paperback size  (although I am starting to see new some 8.99 mass market paperbacks ).  You have to go back quite  a few years before trade paperbacks were generally less than 7.99.