Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - Questions about PaperBackSwap Questions about PaperBackSwap

Topic: Requests Gone Down?

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
angelacisco avatar
Subject: Requests Gone Down?
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 12:45 AM ET
Member Since: 6/15/2006
Posts: 1,691
Back To Top

Has anyone else noticed that the number of requests has gone down since the upgrade?

I know that requests vary over time.  And my bookshelf isn't the same day-to-day.  

What I am noticing is that I used to get A LOT of requests for the odd or unusual books I have / had.  I think that was directly related to the cover of the book showing up on the PBS homepage.  Now that the covers are smaller, the number of requests for these kinds of books are also smaller.

I have quit looking at the covers anymore when they are so tiny (like on the homepage).

I also wonder if the number of requests I get is affected by the delay from me posting a book to the site delay I've seen mentioned here (about 15 minutes).  I used to post most of my books very early in the morning (1-2am) and they would be snapped up before most people have their first cup of coffee.

Thoughts?

Leeankh avatar
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 1:09 AM ET
Member Since: 2/10/2006
Posts: 424
Back To Top

Well, I haven't really noticed a decrease myself. I haven't posted any new books in months and I'm still getting regular requests. In fact, I've been waiting for a lull before posting the next batch and it just hasn't come. I consider myself lucky though. Hopefully things will pick up for you soon! :)

CrystalRose avatar
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 2:06 AM ET
Member Since: 3/1/2007
Posts: 1,883
Back To Top

I've actually been having more requests lately than I ever have before. I think it just comes and goes in waves.

rxrcds avatar
Friend of PBS-Gold medal
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 3:53 AM ET
Member Since: 12/3/2005
Posts: 3,434
Back To Top

I really haven't noticed any delay or lull in requests.  I've actually had more requests in the last month or so than previously (both wishlisted and non-wishlisted books).  Whle the images are smaller, you can hover your mouse over the image and the book details will come up.  I've actually ordered several based on the neat litte photos on the home page.  Books I wouldn't have known about except for seeing it there.  Posting so early in the day will help your listings be near the top of the page for the "books listed today" so it might be seen by more people.

 

Generic Profile avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 4:01 AM ET
Member Since: 8/9/2005
Posts: 20,024
Back To Top

I got three today so no I havent noticed a decrease. It does go in spurts though. Sometimes I'll go for weeks without an order and then get a bunch all at once when books I posted get to the top of the FIFO.

Spuddie avatar
Friend of PBS-Gold medalPBS Blog Contributor medal
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 6:36 AM ET
Member Since: 8/10/2005
Posts: 4,607
Back To Top

I haven't noticed a change--it always seems to go in cycles a bit for me. I'll go a few days with no requests and then suddenly will get three within a few hours, things like that. But overall the amount requested has been pretty steady over the past few months. Of course I only have 60-some books on my shelf now, so I do get less requests than when my bookshelf had 150 books on it at a time, but no decline that I've noticed in recent weeks/months.

Cheryl

mistysmere avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 10:40 AM ET
Member Since: 1/1/2006
Posts: 547
Back To Top

Through out the year, there are natural lulls that only seem to affect some bookshelfs.  School breaks, August, school being in or out of session, December.  All these things do cause some people to read more or less.  It really just depends on the type of books on your bookshelf.

All I know is that with the new school year, my reading has decreased some, partially due to stress about all the books I have to read.  I just can't seem to focus.  However, that hasn't changed my ordering, as I typically let my wishlist order for me.  Which isn't helping me much right now, as everyone keeps posting books to my wishlist.  AAAAAA!

I will say that aside from the wishlist books that I post, regular orders from my bookshelf are actually up right now.

Kerry

bookaddict avatar
Standard Member medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 9/14/2007 1:13 PM ET
Member Since: 8/30/2005
Posts: 829
Back To Top

The number of books swapped per week is going up, actually. Pulse of PBS says Books Mailed in last 7 days: 34,025.  I think that it was 25,000 just a month ago...I haven't been checking it lately.  Seems like it just keeps rising.