There are 97 members desiring Freakonomics in paperback, while the hardcover from the same year has no takers.

Why? If I have to chose I always go for a hardcover.

I'd choose a paperback if I wasn't meaning to keep it forever. Easier to carry around and hold.

Hard to say exactly why it's like this for some books. It could be that the paperback version was just recently released, while the HC has been out for a while.

People have different reading preferences.  I'd rather carry around a big chunky paperback, while the husband would rather carry a large hardback.

Me?  I'll generally wishlist all version of a book, unless I'm looking for a keeper copy.

I also will WL every copy of a book.  Sometimes, the book that has the fewest WLers is one that doesn't move (don't know why), and one where you've a high number in the WL line, will move along and you'll get the one with the higher number of wishers before you will the one that has only a few.  When I get the book, then I delete all other copies of the book.  Pat

If someone posts the non-wishlisted hardcover, a notice will go out to those who have other editions of the book on their wish list telling them that a book "similar to" one they have on their wish list has been posted, and giving them a  link to the listing.  (Members have the option of turning these e-mails off either for a particular book or for all books.)

If I just want to read the book, I don't care if it's PB or HC.  If I want a keeper copy, I want paperback so it'll fit on my bookshelf.  My shelves aren't big enough for many hardcovers.

I usually want the PB, as they're easier to handle while reading and then easier to package and lighter to ship. That's especially true for "rentals" that I'm just going to try to reswap. I usually request PBs, and if a HC becomes available and I'm notified, I'll consider if it's one I wouldn't mind reading/having in HC. I just got a HC I'd had WLed as a PB, and I decided to get  the HC. But I've turned down others, figuring someone else might want it more.

I'm actually reading a HC right now that I'd wanted in PB but decided I could read the HC. Since I got it a month or so ago, I see that both versions now are available, and I think I'd rather have had the PB, especially since my HC will take longer to get rid of, given more people request PBs and there's at least one other HC available.

I like paperback better. I only order a hard cover if its a book I've been waiting a long time for.

I also prefer paperbacks.  But I'll take a hardcover if that's what I can get first.  I will usually wait for hte paperback release of a book before I acquire it unless it's one I'm desperate to read. 

Sometimes as far the system goes: the books might not be connected for some reason.  If the listing info isn't exacly the same as far as how the title and author are put in than it might not know they're the same book just different bindings.

If it's a hard to find edition (foreign release or limited edition) and the other versions are posted regularly: the never posted one is the one people are more likely to drop from their WL when they need more room.

I sort of usually assume that the HB won't be posted as often and mass market paperbacks would post and turn faster on PBS especially for a best seller.   I will WL an HB if the line isn't past 20 people or if I really can't wait for a favorite series to be issued in pb in a few months.

I enjoy reading hardcovers more and I have a large TBR pile, so I'll usually wait for a hardcover to be posted, even if there are paperbacks available.  But, sometimes I decide I just have to have a book, and I'll order the paperback.

We're alll different!

Sometimes, when I want to WL a book, I don't have enough room on my list.  (Boo hoo!)  So, I just WL the first one.

I prefer HC and usually only WL hard covers. Don't know why, I just prefer them to paperbacks. It's just a matter of preference.

For a lot of books, I wouldn't want a hardcover--for example, quick and easy series mysteries that take me just a few hours to read that I'm going to just unload right away....to me a big heavy hardcover for something like that is just pointless. Paperbacks are easier to carry with me, easier to hold (if you have arthritic hands or any sort of muscle weakness that makes holding up a hardcover difficult), and cheaper to send out, too.

The only hardcovers I want are a very few series that I keep up to date with and want that new release as soon as it comes out, or something I've read and decided to add to my Keeper shelf...then I like the HC for better wear and longevity if it's something I'll be reading again and again.

Cheryl

Hard cover cost more to ship, and that can be an issue if your trying to save money.

Sometimes if your waiting for a title to become available, a shotgun approach (all versions of a title) works better. For example I got a hardcover of a book, thinking that the paperback would WL first! 

i also WL every copy, including large print which tend to have many fewer wishers. i think a lot of folks here plan to read and then swap so they go for the lighter weight Pb which will cost less to mail. doesn't matter to me.

I used to WL every version, but I ran out of slots on my WL. Now if I'm 1 of 1 or 1 of a few, I only WL what looks to be the most popular version and figure I'll be notified if another version shows up. I've lost a couple times when someone else got to it first, but usually it was a HC version that I wasn't interested in anyway. It can be a risk, but I can't afford to give five or six slots to one book. And getting to those books first adds a little spice to getting a book!

A lot of times I'll wishlist the trade paperback over the mass market paperback because it's easier for me to read without destroying the spine (I have ruined a few MMPs that were very thick). I tend to avoid hardbacks because they are WAY too heavy and I usually take books with me in my bag.

I don't mind reading HC's but I just don't have any room on my TBR shelves for them. Plus, the first edition copies can be so heavy to mail and to hold. I usually get the newer HC's from the library and save my credits for pbs.

I'm not a book keeper so I tend to prefer paperbacks. They're cheaper and easier to mail out when I'm done with them.

I had the hardcover version of Freakonomics on my WL last year.  I wanted that specific binding because the book was going on my keeper shelf. 

I noticed Emily (?) earlier in this thread talking about marking whether a book was a UK edition.  I have posted a UK edition before but did not notice any difference in the ISBN although I know the US edition was published later, because it was not available when I got the UK version.  Are the same ISBNs used?

Lizzeee--Not sure if this is true in all cases, but I do know that UK and Canadian editions of books have different ISBNs than the same book issued in the US.