resovled

Forrest, there's never harm in asking.  You did nothing wrong and did not deserve snarky/rude responses.  Sorry that happened to you.

I have never had a rude response, confused yes but not rude.  I also don't ask for deals much unless there is something in the profile, signature or bookshelf header of the member I'm ordering from. I also have not been rude to anyone asking me for a deal, though I have definitely turned people down.  While I'm always willing to consider multicredit deals, I decline people who pm and ask for several books for 1 credit unless I've offered that deal in the bazzar or on my shelf.  Multi credit deals make much better financial sense.  I've also declined people who asked for deals on postable heavily wishlisted books. 

I'm sorry you're getting rude responses.  There's no call for rudeness.  Often the idea of PBS deals is very foreign to those who never go to the forums, and you may have run into members who think it's some kind of scam.  Hopefully you have better luck in the future!

If you are getting a lot of rude responses it kind of makes me wonder what kind of deal you are asking for?  If someone PM'd me and asked for say 4 for 1-I might be a little offended at that.  Also are you asking people who ever visit the forums?  The majority of members don't use the forums and know that people do deals regularly and so may be offended when you ask.  Some people are also die-hard 1 credit per book and never give freebies. 

Now if you PM'd me asking for a reasonable deal like 5 for 2 or similar-I would not be offended at that. 

Please remember that most of the members of PBS do not use the forums and so they may not be aware that deals are even allowed, much less that the PBS rules say it's OK to politely ask if someone is interested in doing a deal with you.

When  you request a deal, you are just as likely to get someone who believes that you are trying to cheat them out of something ... as get someone who understands deals.

Just be extra polite when you ask, and ignore rude responses ... there is no call to be rude, but if someone who is responding to you believes that you are trying to do something that is against the rules, I can see why they might respond that way. Not that that makes it right .... but I can see how it happens.

A better bet for asking for deals is to either stick with the Book Bazaar, or with people who post regularly in the forums, as these are the people who at least are familiar with the concept of a deal and are more likely to respond politely, even if they are not interested in making a deal.

I also second the advice given above ... .I am much much more likely to do a deal for 2 or more credits, than I am for a single credit. I would rather do a 6 for 2 credits than a 3 for 1 ... simply because it works out much cheaper (on a per credit basis) to mail the 6 than the 3. So, just a thought.

I have a large bookshelf because I can't seem to stop picking up books at thrift shops, flea markets, FOL sales, etc. and I'm asked to do deals from time to time. If I'm not interested I just say, I'm not currently offering any deals. Personally, what annoys me is the X for 1 requests, after the 1 is already ordered. My thoughts are why send the additional book(s) along and most likely pay additional postage when  you already ordered the 1 you're giving me a credit for. X for at least 2 credits seems beneficial to both parties while X for 1 only benefits the receiver. Just my opinion, although there's never a reason to be rude about it on either end.

I also wonder Forrest...are you ordering a book FIFO and THEN asking for a deal with other books from their bookshelf? As was mentioned, most PBS members don't know that deals are allowed - I've gotten a few Live Help questions asking if those are scams.

My thoughts are that you should never ask for over the top deals (5 for 1 for example) or a deal that includes the book that you already ordered. Any deals you ask should include additional books and let the original order stand even if the person doesn't accept.

If you'd like to continue doing that, you can explain the benefit to the person including savings on postage or how many copies are in the system ...for example:

Hi Member!

I just ordered Book X from you. I noticed that you have Book Y and Book Z in your bookshelf...they both have over 100 copies in the system so I was wondering if you'd accept a 2 for 1 deal for those two extra books - meaning I'll give you 1 credit for both. Then you can mail the 3 books together and as they are paperbacks, you can save money on postage.

Please let me know if you agree so I can order Book Y from your bookshelf...you can then include Book Title Z as the freebie in the package.

Thanks!

If you are going to mention the savings on postage, please make sure you do the calculations on postage on the books to see if it's true. If you are asking for a deal on two hardbacks, most likely there won't be any savings for the sender.

I browse books by my favorite authors, then go to that persons shelf.  I don't order first, then request a deal.  I see what they have and offer a 3 for 2. (before ordering anything) which is what I've been offereing lately.  Sometimes they don't respond, then others they are rude.  Couple have been polite. Two have been great.  I see what you mean about some people never going to the forums, and maybe that's what I'll stick with if I ever try to make a deal.  Thanks!  I never ask for a deal on a WL.

Well it sounds like you are asking for reasonable deals.  Sounds like you just got a batch of either newbies or people who have never investigated PBS beyone sending and ordering books. 

As others have said, a lot of PBS folks don't go to these forums at all and probably think you are trying to "scam" them somehow. I remember a couple of years ago, maybe even longer, one person posting in the forums for the first time talking about a 'scam' and asking how to report the person--all it was was someone offering them a deal. They thought it sounded shady, and I suppose it does if you are used to following the usual PBS rules/routine.

I personally don't do deals, but I have a blue header on my bookshelf stating that, so if someone ignores that note and PMs me about a deal, I ignore the PM since I've already said no. When my bookshelf was bigger, I used to get propositioned for deals all the time (before I added the header) and it bugged the heck out of me. If I were interested in doing a deal, i would go to the book bazaar, where deals belong, and advertise.

Cheryl 

The deal is reasonable and I would have accepted, if you sent me the PM.  I don't advertise I will accept deals, but if someone is ordering multiple books from me, I will offer them another book(s) from my on bookshelf as a freebie.  If someone asks and it is reasonable, I will accept.  I really do not get offended if someone asks, as long as they do not get offended if I say no thanks! 

Besides headers on a bookshelf, check a members profile.  It may indicate if they are open to deals.

New members are busy figuring out how the site works and may not realize that it is okay or may feel overwhelmed. 

I agree with Mary...your deal sounds reasonable so most likely you got newbies that don't know that's allowed or are still trying to figure out how the site works or people that prefer to get a credit for each book they post. Like Robin, I usually offer a freebie to anybody that orders more than a book from me but I'm happy everytime I can send out a book I already read because I need the space.

Like Robin said, you should check the member's profile...if the member doesn't have one, it's a sign that the person is either new or not very active.

I've had the same problem when I tried asking people for deals. I certainly don't want to short change anyone! I remember once I asked someone for a deal, and they had a bunch of series Regency Romance on their shelf, they were so rude. And another time someone accepted my deal then never sent the book!

I've never had anyone accept a deal (that went through) outside the forum. Since I am happy to deal there I leave the quiet ones alone.

I wish people would ask me for a deal, I need to get this pile out of here.

Good swapping, Forrest!

I'd be tickled to have someone ask me to do a 3/2 deal.

Forrest and Mary, I'm sorry that you've had problems and have had rude replies.   I had a header on my bookshelf advertising that I offered deals, but removed it when it seemed that not many people ever saw it.  I think most of my requests must go through FIFO and the peeps who do know me already know that I'm open to deals. 

I do it quite often and have had fair success.  But I only do it with members who have a profile.  Also. I always offer to reciprocate with the same deal,  so if I ask for 5 for 2, I will do the same for them.  I also explain to them how to do it. 

I just figure if they don't respond, they are not intersted.  Don't think I have ever gotten a rude pm back.

Thanks for the thoughts.  I never thought to reciprocate the offer, like Adrienne suggested.  That's something I will do from now on also.  I think I will just still with the Bazaar and check profiles as most everyone suggested.  Thanks alot!

Reciprocating the offer is interesting. But you should be clear whether or not the order that you want to make is contingent on the other person also making an order.

I avoid any type of deal offer or request where the other person is unclear about whether or not they expect me to also order from them. (I have read widely in my chosen genres already, and as many people here have more widely published books, it is rare that I would find enough books on someones shelf that would cause me to want to reciprocate an order). That is why I am not a Boxer, because although I am willing to make deals on my books and send them out for less than 1 credit, I am much less interested in being solicited to make an order myself.

So if someone words it as clearly just being an offer that is in addition to their request for books ..... that's OK, as I can just say some variation of "no, thanks, but feel free to request a deal from me", where if they are unclear about it or if it sounds somehow like they want me to order from them, too (proposing a for-credit trade of books), that is where I am way less likely to respond.

I hope I would never be rude, but I'm not interested in deals so I would be annoyed at being asked to do so. If I did not know from lurking on the forums that deals are allowed and even part of a subculture here on PBS, I would probably be more than annoyed, I would be offended at being asked to negotiate outside the system's rules. 

Also, since you can't tell where someone is in the FIFO line, it's only marginally informative to know that the book they have has more than 200 copies in the system.  They could be number 5 of the 200.  Or their experience could mirror mine, where I have had books that had hundreds in the system go fairly quickly (The Time Traveler's Wife has 196 copies in the system and is the second most-requested book on the Top 50s list).

Number of copies in the system doesn't tell people how quickly a book will be ordered but as we never know what number we are in the FIFO line, the person can determine whether a deal is worthy based on how long ago they posted a book. For instance, I have a book I posted on 11/28/09 that currently has 125 copies in the system. I may be #5 or I may be #95, who knows, but as it's been posted for more than a year, anybody who offers me a deal on that book will get it.

Also, it depends on the genre. Recently published Historical Romance moves very quickly (I have a book which was released on May of this year that already has 78 copies in the system.) Most likely I won't accept a deal on that book because I know most likely it's still being ordered by the dozens but any book of that same genre from a few years ago will languish on my bookshelf for years if I don't give them away.

I ususally ask for the deal and then add that I would be happy to reciprocate.  Some take the deal without taking advantage of that offer.  Some do the reciprocal deal, bout half and half.

I've asked, successfully, and been asked, also usually successfully. I also have gotten a rude response to the effect of "deal? - you are already getting the book for free!"  I too prefer deals in excess of 1 credit, and usually decline on 4/1 or 5/1 offers, but my shelf is large and 5/2 is great (and the same deal I occasionally run in the Bazaar). I didn't order any book from the rude person, let alone the 5 books I was interested in.   

I've never asked for a deal.  Once someone was interested in 3 children's books on my shelf and asked if she could have the the 3 books for 2 credits.  I granted her that.  And once someone I ordered a book from was offering a 2-for 1 deal, so I received 2 books from her.  Other than that I've been a 1 book/1 credit person.

I have had good luck with getting great deals by watching the Book Bazaar forum.  I was lucky to have someone very kindly go out of their way to PM me when I first joined & direct me to that forum, explaining how it worked.  A lot of people offer some good bargains there & as others have said, many people post in their profiles that they will accept certain deals (such as 2 for 1) or they are open to being asked for reasonable deals.

I think as long as you are being reasonable & polite in asking, that people should be polite in responding to you even if they deny your request.  If it's an unreasonable request, I could see why someone may be a bit less polite but still I think they should at least respond with a "no, thanks" instead of being hateful with you.

All of my dealings with deals so far here have been Great!

People are polite and appreciative.

-RD