Hi.  I'm new.

I am the person in the family/church/area that people give things to and say "do whatever you want with them".  I have been sending the "girl" books to a local retirement center and the "boy" books to military people overseas.

Then Husband discovered Paperback Swap, and wanted me to post some of the books here.  He's very excited about getting more books.

So here is my question:  When I checked out a couple of the books, there were already 700 copies posted.  I know that's not a good book to post.  That one is better donated.  And the book that was on someone's wish list, that is a good book to post. 

What is your general rule of thumb as to how many books are listed before you decide it's not worth it?

Peg

I list everything. If there's a gazillion copies of something, I check periodically to see if the number decreases. If not, and I can't stand looking at it for one more second, I'll donate it, or otherwise pass it along.

Sometimes requests surprise me - someone gave me a brand-new hardcover of Cold Mountain that I posted and it sat for over a year, and then finally someone requested it.

Of course, someone just gave me a trade copy of the same book and that's been sitting and sitting. Too bad it's not something I'd read.

ETA: What up with all the space at the bottom of posts today? Or is it just me?

at the time I am posting this there are 1500 people on PBS.  Even books that have maybe 700 of in the system will probably get asked for eventually.  What you could do is post books with a timeline, if they havent been taken is such amount of time, pull them.  Also, you could go to the book baazar and offer a special on the slow movers.

I post everything.   But I also do Box-o-books, so I'm always hopeful that the books will move faster through that method.  

I don't have much room to store books to post.   So if there are more than 100 or so in the system I usually just pass them on another way.    However - you can never tell what someone might order from you just because they happened to see it on your shelf.    I guess it's a very individual thing.

I post them all.  Someone can "shop" directly from your bookshelf, hence you wouldn't have to wait for the 700th person to order that book.  If you have some unpostables and are willing to put them in a deal, then advertise on the book bazaar and more folks will go to your bookshelf.  If you are anxious to rack up some credits do some 2 for 1 deals (or other deals, whatever you are comfortable with).  Again, more people visiting your shelf. 

Also, and this is just me, I can't speak for anyone else, I periodically peruse the shelves of those that are active here on the forums.  I "know" these people and trust that there books are postable and that they will mail them to me in a timely manner.  I also want to help out my "friends".   So, join in and try some of these ideas and I'll bet you'll be surprised at how quickly your books start movine.

Welcome to PBS!

I have a bookshelf I keep my pbs books on and I only post the number that will fit on there. I don't really have many people giving me books, though,so I don't know what I'd do with that many books. I guess find a spot in your house to store them while you wait for the orders and when that area is full, only post books that are wishlisted until some space opens up?

It also depends on how popular an author is and/or how new the book is.  A newer book by a popular author will eventually go most of the time, even if there are 100 copies in the system already. On the flip side, I have posted things that have only a few copies in the system, and they have sat there for over a year (an no, they aren't Harlequins, lol).   I  wish we could see things like how many copies have been posted in the last 30-90 days and how many copies have been requested in that same amount of time.  It would be useful when you have space limitations.  Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and guess what will go and what won't.

if there were 700 books in the system I'd probably pass that one along...but others, why not?  they might get requested or if you do a special someone might order it that might not have ordered it before because of the special.

I had a bunch more books listed but since they weren't moving and were teen romances I passed most of those on through freecycle but have kept some on my list.  I'll probably cull those out soon and pass those along on freecycle as well.  My husband will probably only let me take up so much space for my book obsession!  LOL

I post everything and frequently offer deals in the Book Bazzaar forum.  The postage isn't much more for the extra books and it gets my shelf cleaned off quickly.  I have had some books go in a "deal" that would have taken years to wait to be the 700th person. 

I list everything that's postable.  You don't always have to wait for FIFO to get orders for your books. You can offer some of the more common books as freebies when someone orders from you.  If you get tired of the books sitting around you can alwasy do a 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 deal or remove them and donate.  It all just depends on whether or not you want them hanging around your house. 

Hi. Also new.

How do you find out how many copies of a book you've listed are available?

I post books here and at Half.com.  I send it to whomever requests it first regardless of the site.  (I mailed a book for a credit here two days ago and then had someone willing to buy it for $11.99 and had to turn that down.)  Once a book is requested I take it off the other website.  I've been pleasantly surprised when I see the books I thought would sit & gather dust go. 

As a girl who was in the military, send some "girl" books to the troops as well.  I know I would have appreciated them if I were in the situation these servicepeople are in.  I'm sure the "girl" books would be read by more girls than boys but don't discount the escape factor in a lot of light romances or romantic comedies.  This is just what a lot of the troops are looking for with the reality they have to face everyday.   

I think the max for me to post a book here is 50 copies posted.  Otherwise, I try Bookmooch or Poshpoints.  I usually manage to unload most stuff on Posh.

Hi. Also new.

How do you find out how many copies of a book you've listed are available?

There may be a better or easier way, but what I usually do is search on the isbn number, then add the book to my reminder list. Looking at the reminder list, I can see  how many copies (if any) are in the system.

Pam

How much space you have may dictate part of this. Personally, I don't want to store more than 100-150 books, so I rarely post any book with more than 10 copies available. 

I read an average one book per day and have a lot of books passing through my hands. But I only order for myself and post only books I've read. Those I don't post on PBS get donated various places and take a tax deduction.

I've been a member for just over 2 years and have sent out 375 books and ordered 328.

Thank you all for your answers.  They all really make sense.  I like the idea of setting a timeline, and donating them after they've sat here for awhile.  I have a couple of places to donate them; I just wanted to give this a try for a while!

Ange -- the reason my "girl" books aren't sent overseas is because I donate through an organizations that asks for adventure, thriller, mystrery-type books.  They are in the Middle East and the troops are very sensitive about book covers.   Occasionally we get requests for books staring females, but on a whole, it's a great way to get rid of my Tom Clancey, John Grisham, and Mary Higgins Clark books!

I'm off to organize my books.  Husband doesn't mind my "hobbies", as long as I don't make a mess.  Yeah, right.

Peg

glad your husband doesn't mind....mine is OCD (even if he won't admit it) and my piles drive him bonkers!

I use the timeline method, also.  If it has been on my shelf for 8-9 months, I usually pull it and offer it on freecycle or donate it to FOL. Also, it depends on what you're comfortable with - quite a few members have hundreds of books posted and some even over 1000.  I've found that I do better with about 100 - 150, so if I have quite a few really nice ones that I want to post, then some of the old ones go...

I also post the books my dad gives me when he's done with them.  They generally run the gamut and seem to be the ones that are requested right away.  He's given me everything from Heloise's Hint to building your own log cabin to psychology texts to volumes of Shakespeare to Jimmy Carter.  I knew his tastes were ecclectic but didn't realize how much he's been reading since he has been retired.  His books seem to be requested before I can get them on my physical bookshelf. 

I 've noticed that my requests seem to come in heavily after I post books.  Someone will see a title was added and then browse my bookshelf.

Peg -- Can you pass along the website of the group who donates books to the troops?  Thanks.  I've only sent stuff to friends I know who are stationed there; none of them ever mentioned any sensitivity to the covers.  A friend just went back for his third tour last week and he's getting his people organized now.  I'll have to ask him about it.

Is there an easier way to find out how many books are in the system other than the reminder list?

I would love to know an easier way.

Thanks,

I just post away, but if something sits for too long, eventually I give it away--eventually, someday:)

Excuse my cluelessness, but how are we able to know how many copies of a book are posted? I've never noticed that we can tell. Where do you look for this?

Jill

If you put the book on your reminder list it will tell you how many are in the system w/that ISBN#.  It will not tell you what place in line you are if it's a book you have posted. And many books are issued in more than one version w/dif ISBN#'s.

I don't even look. I just post things.