i  just saw one of these messages when i wanted to check out the bookshelf of a member who posted one of wishlisted books.  since when are we allowed to do this? and how do they expect people to order books from them if we can see their bookshelves?

You've always been able to not have a profile.

They get their orders through FIFO.   They may not get as many, but privacy is worth that to a lot of people.

Funny, I just asked this question in a different form!  I think if I didn't want people to know my profile I'd just have my name and the date I joined public.  Is that possible?  It would still allow a link to my bookshelf.  Maybe I just have an indifference to having people see me.  I figure if they want to "get" me so badly then I can't really stop them with a private profile.

ruth

Also, this person may not have other books on their bookshelf and people tend to freak out when they see that...they perhaps only post WL books so have nothing there for you to see.

since when are we allowed to do this?

It's been an available option for a while now, although I don't know exactly how long. More than a year?

and how do they expect people to order books from them if we can see their bookshelves?

You can still do the "More More From Member" once you order a book. At least, I haven't had any problem with that when I want to do bulk orders.

I think if I didn't want people to know my profile I'd just have my name and the date I joined public.  Is that possible?

There's all kinds of settings in the Privacy Controls. {Main Account --> Settings --> Privacy Controls} You'll have to check to see how yours is set up.

Also, this person may not have other books on their bookshelf and people tend to freak out when they see that...they perhaps only post WL books so have nothing there for you to see.

I could have anywhere from 350 to 0 posted at any time, depending on what books I remove for trade-ins at my UBS, and this summer I took 'time off' from constant postal runs so had no books listed at all. I just posted WL'd books, in bunches, when I wanted to rack up more credits. (This last time I posted about 19 WL'd book at once, because I scored a big paranormal-romance batch at my local thrift store. I was very lucky for once! Most looked like they'd never been opened.)

Otherwise, I only have a few on there now. And probably won't have any listed over Christmas vacation, when Media Mail has to compete with packages. Unless I strike it big again with a find.

Also, there's more concern over privacy issues, now that the forums can be read from Google.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=140300

So a lot of people are re-thinking how much info they're showing, and are going to private.