I'm trying to get a general feeling for the amount of requests one is likely to get for regular old paperback novels and mystery type books.

So far I've posted 42 books.  I've processed only two requests, one for a cookbook and one for a book on improving handwriting. 

There's been no interest in the other books, even though a number of them were the same book (but different ISBN) as books on others' wish lists.

I know there are a lot of variables here, but let's say that I had 100 books of the type on my bookshelf posted for one year, how many requests do you think I'd get?

Thanks!

You have a great variety on your bookshelf.   I do see a lot of popular authors and there seems to be a lot of those authors posted in the system.

IF you have books that are wishlisted under a different ISBN, there is a great place to post those in the Book Bazaar.

I am sorry I have no feel for how long it might take to get things requested.   I just post em and forget about em until I get a request.    

Good luck!

Well, because you have a lot of popular books on your shelf, chances are, a lot of other people have those books on their shelf as well.  PBS works on what is called FIFO, meaning first in, first out...so if there are 20 other copies in the system of one of your John Grisham books, those 20 other copies will get requested before yours.  So, the key here is to be patient.  Let those books sit on your shelf.  They'll get requested eventually.  In the meantime, post any other books you would be willing to part with.  It never ceases to amaze me what sorts of books people request here - I had a bunch of really old crafting and quilting books I posted which were snatched up within days.

I have busy weeks and slow weeks.  It ebbs and flows around here. 

I would suggest checking to see if your books are wishlisted, just under different ISBN's, then go to the book bazaar forum and find the thread for "wishlisted books with different isbn's"  and post there.  I have posted the same WL'd book on that thread for about 3 months, and it finally got snatched up this week.  On the other hand, the first time I did it, I had 4 snatched up right away, so it does work.

Another thing I have done when I wanted to earn some credits was to, again in the book bazaar, offer some deals.  There's lots and lots of ways to offer deals.  2 for 1, 3 for 1, 3 for 2, etc.  I also find like books and post them as a deal, like 3 books by the same author for one credit, or 2 romance books for one credit, and such.  Some people do the same and call them "bundles".  Do what you like, keep what works, change what doesn't.  What works this month may not work next month.  And vice versa.

If I'm really desperate for credits, and this is just me, I will find a deal on my shelf, say 3 young adult books for one credit, and then go to that forum and list the deal there as well.  I think I once offered a whole bag of religion books for 3 credits in the religion forum and it got snatched up right away. 

If you're really anxious to trade you may consider joining BOB.  I am not a "bobber", so I can't offer any advice, but it is another option here that I know a lot of people use.

Otherwise I would just say hang tight.  "if you post it, they will come"

There are probably a large number of some of your popular author books in the system.

Since it looks like you've got a lot of paperbacks, you might consider offering a 2-for-1 on the Book Bazaar if you're looking to get some credits more quickly. Remember that a package up to 2 lbs is still cheaper to mail than to buy a credit.

Otherwise, if you don't need credits, then feel free to just wait. There may be 300+ copies of a certain book in the system, but if 10 are ordered per week, that's still less than a year to wait on FIFO.

Also, just keeping active in the forums can get you more "hits" when people go to check out your shelf because they see you there regularly.

I found that that I get hits when I start a 2/1, 3/1, or 5/2 special post in the Book Bazaar forum.    The trick is to get people to look at YOUR shelf.  If someone wants book A, they order it, it goes to person x.  But... if someone sees book A on your shelf, they could order it directly from you along with other books, particularly if you have a special going.  My husband has been giving me books to post and at first was a little skeptical of the "deals" I would offer and I had to explain to him that we would't be getting the credits without the deals.  I would rather let 2 or 3 books go for once credit and get the credit NOW instead of waiting for over 100 people to order a book so that I could be the FIFO seller choice.  Your original question... if you had 100 books.... how many hits... varies too much to really answer.  If you have rare books and someone is looking, they will go immediately.  If you have very popular ones with a differnt ISBN than those wishlisted, you can post to the Different ISBN post in the book bazaar and they generally go quickly.  Happy selling :  )

ditto to what everyone said...I'm fairly stingy with my credits and make sure it is a book I really want that my library doesn't carry.  I will always go look at someone's bookshelf that has a deal going on to see if it is something I might want. 

I also have my books posted on 4 sites and it always amazes me what is requested!  just make sure if you list with more than one site that you remove books from the other sites before accepting the order

Al:

I recently posted a non-wishlisted paperback book with 6 wishlister's for the hardcover version; I also listed it in the Book Bazaar's "other ISBN wishlisted" thread. No one has claimed it. On the other hand ... I posted two other books at that same time that I was not nearly so confident would be claimed - one was taken almost immediately.

Moral:  one really cannot "logically predict" which books will be requested (quickly) and which won't.

John

It totally depends on the books.  When I used to post books frequently, I'd buy unusual titles and HCs in great shape, as much as I could.  These went much more quickly than the run-of-the-mill PBs.  The most I sent was 56 in a week - a few weeks I had none.  It's all supply and demand, and where you are in the FIFO.

One thing you can do to move books is run a 2 for 1 ad in the Book Bazaar forum.

It's hard to say.  When I first joined PBS I got, I think, 2 requests the first month.  But, as I've gone along the requests have gotten more steady.  Sometimes it just takes patience.  I might go 2 weeks without a request and then 4 or 5 within a day.

I agree that doing a 2 for 1 can get some interest in your shelf.

Don't give up.  I've had books requested that were on my shelf for over a year.  It just took that long for FIFO to come around.

You also might "pimp" a book or have a highlighted book, like i do.  And keep active in the forums....it really helps!  My books go in waves as well.  I sent off about 6 of them a week or so ago, right now I have nothing pending....except for a boxer request enroute.

Thanks for the great tips and insight.  I posted another 60 books yesterday, and got two hits today (both nonfiction).

I joined about a month ago.  So far I've earned about 50 credits.  I have 4 more orders to process.  I expect it to taper off soon.  I happened to have a lot of WL books  and a few WL audiobooks (2credits) when I signed up. I still have about 15 WL books in the TBR pile.  After that my shelf will probably slow down alot.  Also I get quite a few people taking me up on my 2 for 1 deal posted in my signature and my unpostable freebies.