Is it just so you can talk to others? Do you get first pick of their books or something like that? I don't get it....

Hi, Sarah.  Welcome to PBS Forums!

Oh ppl use the Buddy LIst for a lot of reasons.  Mainly it is just a quick way to get to your Buddies so you can send a PM or give a credit or check Wish List. books or Bookshelf.    Basically a short cut.  And you can write tags for them and sort by tag too so it is useful for that reason--you can't "tag" a member any other way.

Help center sez:

• What is the Buddy List?

which has stuff about why and how to use it in there.

:)

A few reasons.  One important reason is because if you want to send someone a credit, you "buddy" them the credits.  They have to be on your buddy list first.  This could be for a game, for a deal of some sort, or because you are giving a gift.  It could also be because of a bad transaction.  Another reason would be if you are a boxer and you are looking at the available books from other boxers you are dealing with.

Another reason would be the games.

There are probably a million other reasons, but that's what I'm coming up with off the bat!  And welcome to PBS!

Why would I want to give someone else my credits?

I have lots of people on my buddy list and a lot of different list.   I have FRIENDS that I like to talk to on my buddy list and I can check and if their light is green, they can meet me in a chatroom.   I also have people who have similar taste as mine and I check their wish list when posting a book or their bookshelf when wanting to order a book.   I have swap games people on my buddy list - people I've played several games with and really enjoy, so I often look to see if they've joined a swap I'm thinking of joining.  Then there are people who have been extremely nice to me - some time ago about 20 people sent me cards when a friend died.   I put each one of them on my buddy list and made a tag that said "card".   If I see they are needing something in the forums, I try to help them out.   Just a few ways I use the buddy list.

I often give credits to friends of mine if they are running short.   I have plenty right now and I know they'll pay me back when they have a few credits come in.   It makes ME happy to help out a friend.

Lots of reasons you would send someone credits. 

Some people play games in the forum, where they deposit credits with the game host. 

Some people are generous, and they gift credits to friends, or people that ask for help.

Sometimes transactions go bad and someone asks for their credit back.  If you agree to give it, you send it through the "buddy" system - you have add the person to your buddy list first.

And, sadly, some people keep a "do not trade" list on their buddy list for people they've had problems with.  Personally I can't be bothered with that!

I use my buddy list to see if a friend is online and to buddy credits so I can play in a swap on the games forum.

My mother uses her buddy list to send me any extra credits she has so I can order books for her grandkids!

You don't have to have anyone on your BL.  I don't as of yet.  Although I did just offer to sell some credits to someone. I'll have to add them to transfer the credits if they choose to buy them.  They had a request in Book Bazaar looking to buy credits and I have a lot.

One thing I did was go to the member directory and type in some cities and towns near my own.  I added those folks (only works for people who have profiles and who list their city) to my buddy list, and tagged them "local."  A couple of times I've needed a book FAST and have checked their bookshelves first.

I've found people with great bookshelves and tagged them "good sci fi" or "extensive non-fiction."

I've added a group of experienced members who can help me with questions I have.  I can see if they are "green" (logged in) and PM them & get a quick response.

The other person doesn't necessary know you've added him to your BL unless you tell him, so it doesn't have to be a personal thing.

I have "local" tags on my buddy list too Patty. I check their wish lists when posting because I know I can drop the book off and save a couple bucks on postage.

If I have a really good experience with someone, or if someone has the same reading interests as I do, I will sometimes add them to my buddy list.  Then I can check their shelves if I am going to order something and see if they have it before I use the FIFO system.  I also like to add people that live close by to me.

I have people on my buddy list so I can see when they are online. There is a little circle next to the names on the list. Green means online read means not.

I have three people on my buddy list so far:

The tour guide that was assigned to me when I became a member.  She can help me if I have a question that needs to be answered.

My mother....I borrow books from her and post them after I read them.  I send her the credits when those books are requested.

Robert, one of the PBS founders.  I have given him back the three credits that were given to me for joining PBS and posting books.  PBS must keep a cash reserve for each credit that is outstanding, so giving back credits to PBS by way of Robert helps support the site.  This is completely voluntary on my part, by the way.

Most of the people on my buddy list are people I have been involved in a swpa of one kind or another in the game section.  Like someone else said, if you see that  a particular person has alot of the books that you like, you are going to want to keep an eye on their shelf.  The buddy list makes it a whole lot easier to do that.

I add people who like the same genre books I do so I can check their lists for new books.