Maybe I'm just have a very long run of bad luck with it!?!

I've received at least 4 books that I've had to mark RWAP since the first of the year. It's not just minor unpostable conditions. It's major water damage, pages falling out, & writing, circling, & underlining (non-text book) in the books. Not things that can easily be over looked by the senders. Are members just getting careless?

The other thing I've noticed too are my request not being accepted for days/weeks. I've never had to wait longer then 3 or 4 days for a request to be accepted. Recently though they're going to 2 to 4 people, rather it times out or is declined, before finally being accepted. It's gotten to where I just ask in the BB forum if anyone has it on their shelf. I just don't have the patience to wait so long. Anyone else noticing these changes on PBS or am I just cursed?

I personally have not had any problems but as a tour guide I have been dealing with other members who seem to be having a few more problems lately.

PBS has had more and more "press" lately which brings more and more members. New members do seem to have a learning curve of what is postable and how to swap. Most are great right off the bat but some learn after making a few mistakes.

I agree with Margaret - as the economy goes downhill people want to know how to cut costs and PBS fits the bill.  So the media knowing that "saving" is a big deal and huge draw will be looking for things like PBS.  Huge influx of people - many not such good material for members since they don't seem interested in checking out the entire site before starting to trade.  That's always a pet peeve of mine.

Ruth

I guess I must just be one of the lucky ones; as I haven't noticed any change. It's been months since I've had a RWAP and the total number I've had in my 3 1/2 years here still numbers in the single digits. (I want to say, I think a total of six problem swaps out of 1,220 received, and most of those actually happened before they even had the RWAP system.)

I rarely order a book out of the system, as my WL does most of my PBS shopping for me these days, but on the occasion when I have ordered a next-in-series book that was available already, the order is usually picked up within a couple of days--with the odd exception of course. My understanding is that there was a new policy that was put into place a few months ago now regarding weeding out inactive members so that if a person has a couple of book requests from their shelf that aren't responded to, the shelf goes on hold so no one else can order books from it until that person logs in and asks for it to be reinstated, and that was supposed to be helping with the long waits when requesting a book by now. But it sounds like there are still a few inactive members to be weeded out, I guess.

Cheryl

Leann, I just mailed you out some nice books and I hope they bring you some better cheer! I am sorry it is happening and I hope it doesn't discourage you from staying on here. I agree with the member who said how with more people coming into PBS, there will always be those that bring the penchant for cutting corners (or those with true intentions but who just don't read the rules). I hope the tide turns really soon! I also like how Bernhard said his WL does his shopping for him. I need to borrow that line!

Thanks Heather! The book you sent me actually just arrived & are all in GREAT shape! Thank you so much!!

I've been here about 3 weeks, and I've received about 15 books so far and have not had any problems.  I received my first RWAP book the other day (about 15 pages in the middle were water damaged).  I messaged the sender, letting her know what the problem was.  As I had no intention of reposting this boook, and I could see how someone could have missed the water damage, I didn't ask for my credit back.  I heard back from her and she apologized profusely and offered to return my credit.  So, there are still nice, reasonable (new) senders.

Leanne - I love your avatar!

I have received more unpostables lately, but most have come from people that have been at PBS for a while. I've ordered from a couple of newbies and they have been wonderful. PMed me to say my conditions were fine (I know unnessesary PMs annoy some people, but these were just polite, all is well PMs). The books came in perfect condition. I have also received a few large orders from active members that gave me a bunch of wonderful books so my goodies outway my junkers by quite a bit lately.

Brand new and still don't get it. i mailed 3 hardcover very new books and have yet to get one. Are there no new books on here or relatively new, sorry to bother you but am frustrated spent $10 in postage and have seen notheng. Thanks, jackie

Jackie, new books tend to have long wish lists so it takes a while for them to work their way into the system. I have found that most highly wish listed new releases tend to take between 18-24 months to get to the point where they can be posted and actually be available in the system to anyone who wants them. Some books, like the Harry Potters in hardcover, are still wish listed years after they were released.

Sorry to hear your having such bad luck. I think Margaret is right.

On another note, one thing PBS has helped me with is my patience! :)

Jackie, 

I have mailed out new books almost every month, so I think you just haven't been selecting from those of us who read and release new books yet.  I buy books on purpose to make sure that some of the books I send out are contributing to the pool of good, like-new used books on the web site.  Thank you for doing the same thing for PBS.   When I listed over 70 cookbooks one weekend more than half of them had never been used at all, but I think cookbooks don't get relisted very quickly.  I have only relisted 3 of the 12 I have received.  Keep at it.  It took me about three months of really spending some time here to move up on wish lists and learn how to use the site.  I still don't seem to get any of those books that get posted in discussions and snapped up, but I won't give up. 

I usually wait the full 15 to 20 days to receive a book.  It takes forever for books from CA, NY and FL to get to me.  I, too, have had to learn to be patient.  Now I have so many on my TBR that it doesn't matter how long it takes!

Pamela

Jackie - it will happen once you get into the swing of things. One thing I would recommend is beefing up that Wish List. The new books are always going to have some WL so get in as many lines as possible and eventually you will be getting a steady stream of books coming in.

Hi Jackie - Getting your wishlisted books is highly variable.  For some I am not moving at all on the list.  But here is a fun story.  For The Shack, I went from 645th place on the list to actually receiving the book in a little over 2 months!  And the book I received was in great shape.  Our book club is discussing it for the March meeting.  Also I received 3 hardback Harry Potter books for my son's keeper shelf pretty quickly.  I went from 57th place to 1st place in a month or less for the coveted 7th book.

On the other hand, I have been 1 of 1 on an out-of-print book since 9/3/2008.  I have stayed in 58th place on a wish-listed cookbook since 9/3, and for another cook-book I am in 383^rd place and have there or around there since 9/3.  (I think I am going to see if the cook books are available in the library and check them out to see if I like them enough to have on my wish list.)

So basically some WL books you might get very quickly, others you may have to wait a long time.  It’s like being in the right place at the right time.  Good luck and have fun with PBS.

Ha! I can beat Valerie... I've been 1 out of 1 for two versions of "Would you rather be boring or weird?" since I joined, which I believe is 5/2008! I actually moved it out of my WL to make room for other books (which I know knocks me out of the running for it, but I figured if it got posted, I may be the only one wanting it anyway). Plus I can always move it back when I'm not maxed out.

I try to think of WL offers as little unexpected treats. When I see them in my inbox, I am so, so excited and happy!