I see a lot of folks  who list their unpostables in there sig line.  One free with any order, that kind of thing, That makes sense, if you only have a few unpostables.  But, I have more unpostables than I have on my actual bookshelf.  All of these "unpostables" are in completely readable condition, I just didn't think they'd make the cut for the picky folk, and I don't get to choose who I send to.  I know I'd be happy with any of them, just not sure if the rest of the club would.  I've also refunded a credit for a book that I considered completely postable, but the reciever didn't.  (I refunded the credit because I am new, and didn't want to rock the boat, but I think the book was fine.  Since then, I'm pretty gun shy about what I post.)  I also just recieved a WL book that I'd love to move on, but don't want the ding for sending a book  that I recieved damaged, so I guess I'll keep it.

Here's my problem.  I'd offer unpostables with every order except that I can't realistically get to a post office very often.  It's the same reason I'm not posting HB's right now.  I can mail one PB at the blue box near my work (less than 13 oz.), but it's a big deal to get to a post office to mail multiple books or HC's.

So, that's my issue.  What do the rest of you do with your unpostables, if you have lots of them?  What might I do with mine?  Any ideas?

I take unpostables on trips, and give them away when I finish them so I don't have to lug them back home.

If getting to the post office is a problem for HC's and multiple books, using PBS printable postage is an option.  It does cost a little more, but less than 50 cents.  

I wouldn't be shy about posting books that meet PBS guidelines. I've sent out a few that were perhaps close to unpostable (missing a small corner from the cover, for example) and have not gotten complaints.  I've received books that were definitely borderline and have not complained.  One book was so marginal that I may not repost it.  The only one I've marked RWAP was an ARC.  Maybe you just had one picky requestor (or maybe I've just been lucky so far.)   

With the printable postage can I still just drop it in a mailbox?  I haven't actually tried it yet, because along with my car dying (which is why I can't get to the PO), so has my printer.  Not surt when I'm replacing the car, but I should have a new printer in the next couple weeks. 

I use my unpostables to read in the bathtub or take to the beach. Once I finish them I usually leave them down at the local laundromat. The owner has a table set up where people can leave and take books. Some I also give to friends or goodwill. It just depends.

Some of my unpostables were found at the FOL sale snd I have them all in a big paper shopping bag. I grab one now and then to read myself and then either put them in the recycle bin (our ciry takes paperbacks but not HCs), or if they aren't in really bad shape I donate them to the local shelters. I've also brought iffy books on trips with me and leave them behind. Or in the kitchen at the office, I've even brought some back to the library sale cart if they weren't too shabby.

All my bookshelf books are in excellent/new condition - the unpostables are those I see at the library sale and can't resist, especially authors I've never read before, and every once in a while I find a gem - like Nancy Bush's CANDY APPLE RED in very good shape at the FOL sale. I loved that series and was thrilled to find one of the books. If I can find a PBS home for the unpostables that's fine; if not, there are options.   Gail

What's FOL?  Is that the Library? 

Shelters are a good idea, and now that you mention that, maybe the local jail would take them.  I hadn't thought of it before, but just remembered one of my friends spent some time in the county jail* and said he read more than ever  before.  In fact, I just ordered a book for him by an author he discovered in jail.  Makes sense, what else would you do in lock up, if weights and tattoos aren't enough?

I don't go to laundrymats, but that's a nice idea too.

Anyone do the Bookcrossing thing?  I've looked into it, but it kind of feels like littering (even though it's not trash).

*for a murder he didn't commit ;) 

Lots of people go to Bookcrossing. Many don't like to get those in a trade, though.  Yes, you can use the printed PBS label with postage from a blue box.  And you can also send HC's with printed postage through the blue box.  It's the stamped labels that are limited.  Definitely offer the unpostables.  And do look at them in light of the PBS guidelines.  If they meet it and you wouldn't mind getting them then post them.  Water damage of any amount and writing in them (text pages) as well as bad spines or torn pages and covers aren't allowed.  And if you still feel worried about it- then put them on the Book Bazaar and see if anyone is willing to give you a credit as an "unpostable".

Ruth

I don't really have a lot of unpostables--six or seven maybe?--as I have only had a very few problem swaps over my almost 4 years here--most of my unpostables came from FOL sales where I didn't have a chance to check the books over real carefully at the sale,  or else a book I got here in good shape but slopped some coffee on it or something while I was reading it. I just offer mine as freebies with an order since there aren't that many--they are in a separate drawer of my PBS bookshelf. (I have my "shelf" stashed in two of those three-tiered Rubbermaid drawer thingys next to the computer here, with my wrapping supplies on top so everything's handy.)

Cheryl

What's FOL?  Is that the Library?

FOL = Friends Of the Library - a generic term for groups that do fundraising for libraries, often by holding booksales of books that the library has discarded or that have been donated that the library doesn't want to put into the collection

I have a lot of unpostables.  I joined the Damaged Books Virtual Box in the games forum.  I also joined Bookmooch.  You can post a books condnition over there. PBS is a much better site. But BM is nice because they have no posting guidelines. So I get a lot of unpostables from there but then that's mostly what I send out there.

I keep up to a dozen unpostables that have titles or authors that might interest someone browsing my shelf. The rest either go to the used book store or friend of library cart (if the damage is very minimal) or out in a garage sale if it's more iffy but still sturdy. 

Well if you don't have time to go to the post office then just donate them somewhere. 

Jeri you should have received your credit back without having to send the book.  I read about that in the Help Docs.  If you receive an unpostable, report a problem, then contact the sender for your credit back.  If the sender wants the book back then they can give you an additional credit to cover expenses (2 credits total).  i just went through this recently with a water damaged book AND an ARC I received in the same week.  Neither sender wanted the book back, but I got my credit back for each of them.

I too use that other site for unpostables that I own or receive through PBS on occasion.  If the book is unpostable here, has seen much better days and there are a ton of copies out there, I will just recycle it. 

As far as shipping goes, I now use PayPal shipping and it's free!  I read about it in another forum a few weeks ago.  You are required to buy DC for $0.18, but it's worth it for not having to wait in line at the PO or paying an additional $0.43 per book to use PBS shipping.  You can then bypass the line at the P.O. (according to the employees there) and drop the books on the counter if they are over 13 ozs. and say "prepaid" or "dropping off" to not frustrate the people waiting in line.  I had one lady verbally attack me for dropping off and I just said "Prepaid Lady, relax!" 

I don't have a lot of unpostables but on the bottom of every post I make in the forum there's a link to them. I put the name of the book, the author, what the book is about and what's wrong with it. They usually go pretty quickly but not always. I also offer them without anyone having to request a book from me for credit.

Sometimes I offer free unpostables with book orders, but a lot of the ones I've gotten had multiple copies in the system so there wasn't a big demand for them anyway.  Rare or WL books, I'd offer for a credit in the BB - depending on what's wrong with them.  Bad water damage, mold, tattered & missing pages, icky stains and foodstuffs on them, I just toss outright.  Cleaved spines and damage that don't make it gross or unreadable, I can see passing along to someone who really wants them, but I won't send out anything funky.  If there are lots of copies in the system and nobody is likely to want them, I put in my donation box and drop them off at my local thrift store.  They donate half of their sales proceeds to disabled veterans, so my ratty old books are going to a good cause.  You could also check your local phone book for a hospice facility to donate used books to.  My mom was in one for a short while before she passed away and they gratefully accepted book & magazine donations.

My unpostables (listed below) aren't really moving, so I'll probably just leave them out on my stoop.  They always disappear really quickly.

Jeri that's annoying!  Unpostable is unpostable!   Even if there are 3 or 4 pages with water stains I KNOW I can't post it back into the system and it frustrates me to receive those types of books.

I give all my unpostables to Goodwill...at least the ones that are still readable. I'm at Goodwill shopping a lot anyway, so it's not out of the way at all.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions.  I'll definetly check out that other site when time permits.  I like the hospice idea a lot, too.

The pure amount of books in my apartment is slightly getting out of hand, but it was worse before I joined here.  I probably have more books now, but they're more books that I want and/or haven't yet read and less that I'm done with anyway.    So this is certainly not a new problem.  Now I have an outlet to move some clutter, and lots of suggestions for the rest.  Thanks again, all.

www.operationpaperback.org Is a wonder organization that provides addresses of soldiers for volunteers to send books.  They always welcome new volunteers. Nothing really tatty or gross, but just on the over side of PBS postable would be very appreciated.

My unpostable or heavily listed books go to my mom.  If its something she's already read, it will go to the thrift store most likely.