Before the pandemic, the only books I regularly listed on PBS were children's books and any books the used bookstore did not take.  Since the pandemic, though, I've been lazy and have been posting almost all of my books on PBS (except the ones I pass to work friends) instead of trading for credit at the bookstore.  However, it is getting so expensive to ship even via media mail!  Curious to know what others do.  I've searched the forums but could not find this topic already posted.  Sorry if it's already been discussed -- please feel free to point me in that direction if there's already a thread.  

The $3-$4.19 it costs me to mail a book media mail is still cheaper than used bookstore prices here ( for profit ones). The  FoLs sell for $1 or $2 so they are a better option for finding books to post too.

The UBS's in my area are quite expensive ($4 and up for pb's), and I have to spend w-a-a-y too much time searching for something I want.  Plus, many of them were closed - even the FoL ones.  I had just started being able to donate books to FoL, when Omicron appeared and either they closed again or hours are inconvenient for me.  Not that I do a lot of trading here as my wishlist is mostly books that I think I will want to keep, so probably only 1 out of every 4-5 that I don't consider a keeper and re-post. 

If you are mailing wishlisted books, there is a thread where you post your books and then mail a few at a time so your postage is cheaper per book. https://www.paperbackswap.com/November-December-2021-Wishlist-Multiples/topic/325074/

Some members also offer deals on their bookshelves to send multiple books at once.

I live in a relatively book-free place. The library rarely has anything I want to read and ILL comes with a fee and a time limit. There are no proper book shops, new or used, although some of the charity shops and thrift shops have some books as does the local Walmart. Thus PBS is the place where I find the books I want to read. I still receive loads of books each year although maybe a bit fewer than when I joined almost 12yrs ago. I have on occasion ordered a used book on amazon and I do sometimes buy from BetterWorldBooks but the bulk of my reading comes from PBS with much of it getting reposted although I do keep some I think I'll reread.

Just as an example, one good used bookstrore in town puts its 'discounted' books in carts out in front of the store.The books are $3.95 each or $3.50 if you buy two or more. At the thrift store where I volunteer, if you can find a book costing $3, that's one of the most expensive in the store. And we have about 2,000 books on the shelves at all times. So, check out the thrift stores in your home town. Even better, volunteer a few hours per week if you can. I only do four hours a week on sorting and shelving books. This lets me see what goes through my hands. Plus, I let the lady who also does books know what I'm looking for and she is there two or three days a week.

Other than that, I use the county library, but have also been very pleased with PBS, since I've sent out over 2,300 books and received over 2,300 books since I joined. Let's face it, there aren't too many places which you have over one million books---or, as of today 361,380 unique titles--- to choose from, as we do in PBS.

I also buy books from Better Book World, and just bought seven yesterday. I did it with a 20% discount offer and usually just buy ones I think are never going to be posted here. I buy books I'm looking for in series, and the price I pay---before the discount---ranges from $3.95 to $5 with FREE shipping. BWB often has discounts they send you if you have an account with it. And you can earn Rewards. So I get my books from several places and many of them---except the library books---end up getting posted here. Reading is my addiction and it's a better investment than TV---which I don't have. But I still like to get them as cheaply as I can.

All of the used book stores in my area went out of business three or four years ago.  When they were in business, most of them priced the books at 1/2 the cover price plus .30 cents.  Paying postage to get books from this site is cheaper for me, plus it has a much better selection.

Thank you for your replies!  I don't have any problem acquiring books -- I receive many from publishers to review as well as finding used books at yard sales and estate sales for 50 cents to $1.   We have Mr. K's nearby which has a great selection of used books at decent prices; the bargain shelves are usually $2.   I do not keep many books after reading. 

I was really wondering about the best way to unload the ones I read.  One example.... I have been shipping out my BOTM books after I read them, paying $4+ to mail when I could probably get at least $4 in credit at Mr. K's.   However, it does me happy to "grant" someone's wishlist book on here.  I'm just weighing the ups and downs of shipping PBS vs. driving to the bookstore.   Thank you for the link to the WL thread, that is exactly what I needed! 

I went to our UBS and the thrift store back in July. I did find a couple to post, but they didn't really have a great inventory. I usually get my books on PBS and buy some at different online UBS.

Dianna, make sure with the books that you were given to review aren't advanced readers copies. You can't post them.

I also get review copies from publishers, mostly ARCs which can't be listed here. I have a few local readers who are thrilled to receive the ARCs and unpostables. These are folks having difficult times due to job loss, supporting dependents, illness, etc and can't buy used books or join PBS even as a la carte members so are glad for any books I pass along.

Thanks for the reminder, Amber.  I don't post ARCs here.  I give them to friends/coworkers or offer them as giveaways on my blog.