The question.

There is likely a handling fee or the cost of packaging. But most books I mail out are at the $3.17 level as my books are over a pound.

We don't get $2.69 when we swap books on here we get a credit. But if I order a book on Amazon or another book buying site that will cost me $3.99.

You always have the option of not purchasing from the Marketplace.

Their sandbox... Their rules.

They use a service, so they have to pay for it somehow.

The PBS Market is not actually PBS. It is bookstores that give PBS a portion back.

Now PBS Credits, that is a different issue.

3.99 is pretty standard in terms of book shipping. But, really, if you want to pay less, dealing in multiples is a good option. If you haven't yet discovered the Book Bazaar, try poking around there. But, the main thing is, if you want the more economical PBS options, you're likely going to have to wait on queues, etc. Also, PBS pays for all the infrastructure here - it's not a charity benefitting the people who post books. They have to make their money back or PBS will cease to exist.

Best deal - use Paypal Shipping if you have a Paypal account, same price as PO plus DC free with First Class and deeply discounted with Media Mail.  I certainly don't begrudge the fee that PBS charges to help run the site but I mail so much I have to keep my costs to a minimum.

Also, PBS pays for all the infrastructure here - it's not a charity benefitting the people who post books.

Yup. PBS is a business. They pay for servers, databases, backups, people to program things, people to maintain the servers and the databases, etc. None of that is free.

The PBS office isn't some huge warehouse filled with books somewhere, and 2 volunteer grandmothers taping up packages and driving them to the Post Office.

We do not get credit for packaging or driving to the post why should they?

Actually, the "value" of a credit in the Kiosk is $3.95, just about the same as that shipping and handling charge.  Members have chosen to devalue the credit in the Book Bazaar for buying and selling, but PBS does value the credit at more than just the average shipping cost.

You just have to decide what is the best option for you is. I wouldn't personally pay 3.95 for a credit here, I know they have to cover costs but then your saving about 5 cents versus amazon and to save 5 cents and have no seller guarantee isn't worth it (once in awhile I get a book that would cost more then $4 on amazon but not often). You just have to look at your costs and check out thrift stores and garage sales, library sales and amazon used and see what your best bet is for your books.

You get a better deal if you purchase multiple books at once from the PBS Marketplace.  I just ordered 17 audio books on CD for $0.00+1 credit each  + $.50 transaction fee + shipping.  My total cost was $21.93 + 17 credits.  Each audio book on CD is normally 2 credits, so that seemed like a pretty good deal to me.