I am loathe to discard any book that is still readable, but I have some books that I would like to send out that, while still readable, have definitely been loved enough to have reached the ugly (unpostable) stage. I list these books on my profile and in my signature as free with any order, but I seldom get requests for them. I have disposed of a few unpostables by offering them as freebies to people who have requested books in the same or similar genres, but I still wind up with some unpostables that just sit there.

Any ideas on what else I can do to give away my unpostables?

There is a thread in the Book Bazzar where you can ask for a credit for your unpostables.  If they are WL books, someone usually takes them.  You just need to describe the problem with the book.

I will often offer then in large quanities for enough credits to cover postage. The more books you mail at once the cheaper they get per book for postage so its easier to find someone who will pay for them. 100 harlequins cost about $12-$15 to mail so I will offer those at 4-5 credits and usually get takers. 

I break down and give them to FOL to raise money for library books.  They sell the beat up and common ones for a quarter.  All the money goes to getting more library books.  Win Win.

I was just about to post this same topic.

All of my unpostables and their conditions are listed in my profile, but I'm wondering how often someone even checks that. If they are ordering a WL book from me, I'm sure they just order it and are done with me. If it's FIFO, then they might look around to see if I have anything else they want. But I don't have a ton of books on my shelf, so I don't have a lot of traffic.

I post a fair amount in the forums, but who knows how many people actually view my book shelf? I'm not a romance reader, you won't find James Patterson or Nora Roberts or Dan Brown on my shelf, but I think I have some decent books. I think a cool feature would be a ticker that tells us how many views we've had to our bookshelf by day, week, month.

Check this out: this is what I do with most of my unpostables.  Damaged Books Virtual Box- CLOSING
 

This particular box is beign closed out but a new one will start as soon as the last book has been received. It's apparently taking a tour of the US.  But you can read the rules and PM Eileen if you are interested in joining the new box.  It's only being restarted because of some rule changes that have to be made. 

Sometimes I offer my unpostalbe WL books in teh BB or the WL thread for that genre and still get a credit for them. This is allowed as long as the damaged is stated up front.

I just figure if no one takes my unpostable, I'll eventually just throw it away once I decide it's been long enough. It seems such a shame, but what can you do?

Jennifer,

I actually want one of your unpostables, but there aren't any books on your shelf I want. Maybe someday there will be though.

Usually I never read the unpostables in signatures but the other day I happened to read yours. I think I'll start reading them now that I realize someone might have something I want. Actually, two somethings I want since that's the way unpostables work.

I think a cool feature would be a ticker that tells us how many views we've had to our bookshelf by day, week, month.

Sounds like a great idea.  

I've mentioned the same idea before.  I'd love to see it implemented.  But we need to send the idea to the PBS team using the Contact Us link.  They rarely read the forums.  The more members that do this supporting the idea the better the chances they'll do it at some time.

Ruth

There's also the Damaged Books Thread sticky at the top of the Book Bazaar... if your goal is to just pass them on to another reader, and you don't mind paying for the postage (without receiving a credit for them!)... it's a nice way to "pay a kindness forward"...

I've listed a few in there and they tend to get snapped up pretty quickly... a great way to get the non-wishlisted unpostable books off your shelf and know that someone else will enjoy them... with all the "book deals" I've received, I don't mind doing this once in a while. 

Maybe , you can put the list in your profile and say something like "1 free unpostable with every order from my shelf" or how many you want to do.

You could also try give them to a shelter - a homeless or women's shelter. Or maybe a senior center. Someplace where people spend a lot of time sitting. Or maybe a hospital. 

If they are school appropriate I give them to the school library.  Shelters, public libraries and senior centers are all good ideas too. I know there are nursing homes that LOVE to have books donated.  Same is true for most hospitals.

There is also a program that sends books to soldiers.  I have unloaded some that way too. 

There are also bizarre places that take books:  we have a box at the gym that I go to that people contribute to.  There is a little sign that says take one/leave one.