I am a faithful user of Paperbackswap.com and I am a writer. This may seem like a conflict of interests since Paperbackswap is a used book trading web site (free) and I want and expect to be paid as a writer. I don’t think there is a conflict. I think Paperbackswap fills a niche market for used books.
There are consumers out there that fit into a few neat categories: only buys top of the line retail, buys middle of the line retail with infrequent purchases in the high and low end of the retail market, those who always buy in the low end of the retail market. Then there are the ‘new economy’ consumers who buy based on some internal gut feeling about what a product or service is worth. I fit into this final group.
By ‘new economy’, I am not referring the the last twelve months of a financial downturn. I mean the concept that the Internet is a global equalizer. I can buy a product new from the factory, from a distribution point after the factory, on an overstock or half-off site, from Ebay (new or used), from Craigslist (usually used), from Goodwill (extremely used), or a yard sale. In the last fifteen years, my concept of economy has changed to reflect my available choices.
I am also an avid reader. Before kids, I could read up to four books a week. That kind of habit can get pricey when shopping the new release hardback market. I looked everywhere for books: bookstores, grocery stores, the library, yard sales, friends, & family. I needed a consistent supply of books without the consistent cost. I turned to Paperbackswap after I read about it in a newspaper article my Mom had sent me about book clubs. I didn’t really care about book clubs but I immediately signed up. I added all the books I wanted to get rid of. I’m not much of a ‘keeper’ of anything so I had no problem putting most of my library on the site.
As an aside, getting rid of books had always been a problem. I read many books but didn’t have any friends that did. After several variations of philanthropic giving, I just wound up taking them to Goodwill. Not bad, but I really wanted to put them back in the hands of other avid readers.
I scan the New York Times for book ideas and PBW has the list available on the site. They also have large print, paperback, and audio books. I earn credits when I ship books to other users of the site (I pay for postage) and I can ask for books. Any book that isn’t currently available (recent releases usually), I can add to a wait list.
Do I ever buy books from Amazon.com or my local bookstore, Village Books? Of course! I use Amazon for all my programming books and a few new releases I just can’t wait for. I go to Village Books for their amazing children’s book section as well as their wonderful and knowledgeable staff. I even look through the books at Goodwill when I stop there on my usual route in that mall.
I think PBS is a great site. I recommend it to anyone.
I noticed this site from one of your tweets – I’m checking it out. I do a lot of paperback swapping with family and friends.
I use the similar site Bookmooch, and I agree with everything you say here. I would just add that I have bought hardcover versions of books that I first acquired as used paperbacks, and then passed the paperbacks along again; and I don’t think I’m alone in this. Great writing will sell more when people are exposed to it, and I think sites like this — as well as used book stores and traditional sharing of books among friends — helps, rather than hurts, sales in the end, at least for books that are of enough depth to read more than once.