So what do you do if you have things on your wish list and you have no credits and a book comes available.  I just used my last credit.  Suppose something on my wish list becomes available and I have no credits with which to get it.  Since I really don't want to have to purchase credits, do I just turn down the offer if the book becomes available.  If so does it drop off my wish list.  Or should I move my wish books to the reminder list.  This is the first time I've been without credits.  Boo Hoo!

Ann

you can buy credits from the kiosk or offer deals in the book bazaar (2 for 1) to try and move some off of your bookshelf

if a book comes available and you have no credits and do not want to buy any and decide to turn down the offer for the book it will be removed from your wishlist.

If you turn down the offer of a wishlisted book, you will be dropped off the wishlist.  You can add yourself back to the wishlist for that book, but you'll be at the end of the line.

If you move a wishlisted book to your reminder list, you are essentially taking it off your wishlist.  You can move it back to your wishlist again later, but again you'll be at the end of the line for that book.

Bottom  line - If you really want a book, you should be prepared to buy credits in order to get it because you don't know when it will become available again.

If you don't want to buy any credits, try offering a deal in the book bazaar. Then don't spend them unless a WL book comes through for you.  Do you have a big TBR pile?  Have you logged them into the TBR here because you might have some WL books.  Read them, post them and get credits.   But like the others said if you decline a WL offer you start again at the back of the line. 

If you choose to use the printable postage from PBS, you will get an immediate credit when you mail your book.  That has really come in handy for me. 

If you have books that you've mailed but they've not been received yet and you don't want to get a wish list offer, then you can put your account on hold until your credits come through. You won't lose your places on the wish list, and even your auto-request books will be skipped over if you have no credits.

Of course, this is not useful if you are hoping to send out more books to get more credits, because it holds your bookshelf as well. 

Well.. this is convoluted.. buy maybe you could have the person with the wishlist book buddy you a credit (if you know you will be getting credits soon) and then buddy them back two credits when you credits arrive?  You could also see if the sender might be interested in some book from your shelf as well and do a trade sort of transaction?

Well that wouldn't be paying 2 credits for the book.  The sender would only gain 1 credit because one of the credits would be to cover the buddied one.  But you'd have to accept the book in order to find out who the sender was and you'd need a credit to do that. The best thing is to always keep a few credits on hand for your WL books.  If you only have a few credits don't order an books incase a WL offer comes through.  If you are out of credits run a deal, buy some or post some WL books.  I post a lot of WL books.  It's really aggravating when you post a WL book and it times out a time or two before it gets accepted.  Don't WL books if you don't want them. Put them on RL until you know for sure you want them or not.

I posted something similar in a thread once, and someone pointed out that you're only spending roughly a dollar more to buy a credit.  Meaning, if you spend $2.13 to send a book for one credit versus whatever they're charging for one credit here ($3.45).  Many people in the Book Bazaar section sell credits for around $3 apeice.  Oh I'm tired, does that even make sense?  Ever since that was pointed out to me, I have no problems buying a credit here and there for WL books.  I also weeded out my WL to absolutely make sure that I really want those books.

I always keep a couple credits if I'm close to being offered a wishlisted book. I was only out of credits once when a wishlisted book became available but I had my daughter buddy me a credit! :) I never let myself get to zero again.

I agree with offering deals and changing your inventory around frequently on your shelf. I'm lucky in that I volunteer weekly at our large FOL store.  I also live close to another FOL group that does huge (HUGE) book sales every month. I stock up regularly and always have new books on my shelf. I send out several books a week and attribute it to a constantly changing shelf.

Heidi, it makes perfect sense, and that's why I can't understand when people say they can't afford to buy credits...well, I mean I DO understand, but really it's only about a dollar more per credit, especially if you can get them at a discounted rate from another member. When you take into account the postage, paper/ink for labels, wrapping materials, plus time and hassle for getting the books mailed out to get a credit, buying a credit is a GREAT bargain if you ask me! When I was new and hadn't learned to save my credits, I bought them all the time and wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to.

Yeah, you can go out to UBS and thrift shops and hunt down books for cheaper than buying a credit, but obviously if the book is one that's on your wishlist, you either haven't had the time or the success doing that.

Cheryl

Thanks for the great ideas.

There were 2 request from my shelf yesterday so those book will be going in the mail today.  Once they are received I'll have 2 credits.  None of my wish list books have become available yet so I'll get a couple credits on my account.