We All Do— But A Swap Website May Make More Sense
Who doesn’t love the feeling of a fresh new book? It’s pretty tempting to pay $8.95 for that shiny new paperback you won’t get around to reading for awhile, isn’t it? Or listening to that new CD at the store makes you want to buy it on the spot, right?
It really can be convincing to buy new media to consume. This weekend while we were shopping, my sister paused at the books in a store. "Do we need any books?" she asked and we all paused before saying "no", even though books were not on our lists.
In addition to temptation for new media, you’ve probably been doing some spring cleaning and have found books, CDs, etc. to get rid of, making it even more ridiculous to buy new. May I suggest the win-win situation of a swap website?
At PaperBackSwap, an email address and valid USPS address will get you registered and when you put ten books on the swap, the website gives you two free credits to order other books. I searched for five books (a few obscure, a few more popular paperbacks) and only one that I wanted were available. Like any used book store, this site may or may not have what you want but at over 2 million books alone (they also have a CD and DVD swap) it’s worth a shot.
Free From Broke posted a review of Swaptree last week, which sounds very similar to PaperBackSwap only you can also trade video games as well. (Use the link off Free From Broke to get free shipping on your first trade!) Swaptree is a smaller site, though I haven’t learned the cultures of either site enough to know what kind of books, CDs, etc. they tend to have. If it’s like any garage sale I’ve been to, there’s probably a bunch of romance novels and a George Michael CD or two at the very least.
Both sites are searchable by multiple fields (title of book or ISBN number for example) and both include printable labels so all you have to do is stick the package in the mailbox.
These sites are free but you do have to pay postage, which is usually a lower rate if you go with the USPS’s media mail rate. (I sent my sister a book awhile back for about $1.50, though Swaptree promises a maximum of $2.50 for anything.) You can buy envelopes or cleverly wrap things in layers of scrap paper and packaging tape. Not that I’ve ever done that of course…
If you’ve used either of these sites before, do comment below. Because there’s nothing I love more then free things I like and a way to get rid of things I don’t without throwing them away. Happy Swapping!
Image from: community.bates.edu
PaperBackSwap!!! Isn’t that a great idea? My sister found it and ever since then she and my boyfriend are completely ADDICTED to it. They are sending and receiving books in the mail all of the time. I was thinking about trying CD Swap as I have so many that I just don’t listen to and I saw a bunch on there that I have been wanting. Anyway…Thanks for visiting my blog 🙂 I had fun in Ellsworth and I just love Maine. We may even think about moving there someday.
I have yet to get over to Target but when I do I’m picking up some packing envelopes to try Swaptree out. Way I figure, postage is much cheaper than a new book and I certainly have lots of books and cd’s laying around to experiment with on the site. Thanks for the link and I’d love to hear what you think of the trades if you use the site.
Oh! On PaperBackSwap they have instructions on how to use the piece of paper you print out with the address on it along with another to wrap the book so that you don’t have to use an envelope. I have done it many times and it works great with smaller books. We have received many like this and as long as they are taped good they hold up great in the mail. Why not save money and the environment by not using so many new envelopes? Although, that is what my sister prefers because she can’t figure out how to wrap the book, duh.
Oh! On PaperBackSwap they have instructions on how to use the piece of paper you print out with the address on it along with another to wrap the book so that you don’t have to use an envelope. I have done it many times and it works great with smaller books. We have received many like this and as long as they are taped good they hold up great in the mail. Why not save money and the environment by not using so many new envelopes? Although, that is what my sister prefers because she can’t figure out how to wrap the book, duh.
I really like paperbackswap. It’s a great way to recycle the books you don’t want anymore and get new-to-you books. I also joined the dvd version of paperbackswap cause we watch tons of movies. I’ll have to check out swaptree cause getting new video games is expensive.
I really think swaptree.com is brilliant. (I’m not to impressed with paperbackswap which seems a little old-fasioned).
If you’re into cutting-edge sites check out swaptree.
I love that you’ve all written back with personal experiences. These online things can seem kind of sketchy without knowing a “real person”‘s experience.
I have tried both and find Swaptree to be much better. Paperbackswap is very 1995 (they also have a point system which I DO NOT like. Swaptree allows you to trade across media (books for DVDs, CDs for games, etc.). It is great – I have done 70 trades in two months. I guess you could say that I am an expert 😉
Enjoy!!!