Comments on: Survey Two

By: Dena

Dena — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:51:25 +0000

I must agree that the wishlist needs some work. I NEVER see the wishlist books come my way, but I sure send a LOT out…

By: torque

torque — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:48:13 +0000

hahah irish chick lit – cheers to that! i’m having difficulty at times mooching ahern and am curious as to the type of books in your wishlist, KiwiGirlUK

By: KiwigirlUK

KiwigirlUK — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:01:17 +0000

I think that Bookmooch should adopt a ‘tit for tat’ policy; if you won’t send abroad, then you can’t request from abroad. If you won’t share the love, you can’t expect to take it.
Come on Bookmooch, level the playing field and make it fair for everyone, rather than heavily weighted in favour of the US users.

By: Materialgirl (UK)

Materialgirl (UK) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:48:14 +0000

I am forced to agree with the final paragraph. I send a big proportion of my books to the USA but am frequently frustrated that I cannot mooch books from there because the owner will not send out of the US. It is not a level playing field.

We are not allowed to help to level it by sending only to those who are prpared to send abroad. Hence a proportion of the desirable books in the UK are being sucked across the pond, unlikely to return.

I do reserve art and craft books for 3 of my friends as they are so difficult to get hold of on this side of the Atlantic. It doesn’t mean they will necessarily mooch them, it probably just delays general availability for a week.

By: KiwiGirlUK

KiwiGirlUK — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:27:50 +0000

I do notice that I’m sending more than what I receive too… whether it means that my preference for British / Irish chick lit is the downfall… I’ve got probably another 40/50 books sitting aside to be logged on Bookmooch, but until I’ve managed to use some points and received some of the Bookmooch love, I’ll be holding off.

By: KiwiGirlUK

KiwiGirlUK — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:26:05 +0000

When I send books, I include a small piece of paper, no more than 4 x 6 (approx 10cms x 15cms), which has the following printed on it (straight from the computer)
* an image (usually a NZ flag, a cartoon Kiwi, a kiwifruit image etc)
* message saying ‘Thanks for Mooching’
* message saying ‘Enjoy the book’

And then I hand write the title and the author’s name on it, and pop it inside the cover.

I have my profile set to ‘Ask me’ regarding sending books abroad. I do usually send abroad, but often send surface mail. Postage IS expensive but I try to work on if I went to a booksellers, I’d pay around £4 £7 per book (depending if I brought from a supermarket or a High Street book shop) or £2.50 from a charity shop, so if I pay £2.50 to post a book, and use the point to request a book, then I’m usually even.
However, I do think its hypocritical if you won’t send abroad but you will request books from abroad. Everyone is struggling in the recession, so while it may not be against the rules to request from abroad when you won’t send abroad, I feel its morally wrong.

By: tennantfamily

tennantfamily — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:45:14 +0000

I simply don’t understand where Magda’s mail costs come from.
Printed paper rate for surface mail is the same to anywhere outside the UK (from the UK that is).
I send by 2nd class mail internally and printed paper rate surface mail to everywhere else.
Unlike Magda I have noticed books from the USA costing substantially more in postal rates than I have to pay per weight.
I applaud those Americans who will send abroad, and only feel perhaps an additional option “will send to any country with less than 100 members might be useful in expanding BookMooch across new territories.
Gill

By: tennantfamily

tennantfamily — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:38:17 +0000

It might be a good idea if the wishlist emails were not sent until one had finished listing all the details of a book.
I listed one today that was on 32 wishlists, so perhaps those people will be cursing because it is reserved.
I had offered and agreed to reserve it for a charity before listing it, but there is no way (as far as I know) of preventing people with it on their wishlists being notified, although I reserved it even before listing its condition.
If I see a book is on a charity wishlist (I browse for books before listing) then I will offer it to them first.
Gill

By: MagdaDH (MDDH)

MagdaDH (MDDH) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:21:39 +0000

I started to send more books internationally recently – but I would like to see a separation between Europe and outside Europe in options and possibly points given. UK postal charges to Europe are reasonable, but to the US rather high!

In fact, it usually costs me MORE to send a book surface mail printed papers to the US than it seems (from postal charges printed on envelopes) to cost US members to send airmail to me. I do wish more American members used “ask first” option as I have seen many light (eg children’s picture books) listed as “only to my country” that would probably cost less to post to the UK than a standard book to post internally.

I agree with the 6 weeks internally. if something doesn’t arrive within UK after 2-3 weeks, it will not arrive.

By: Sarah Wrightson

Sarah Wrightson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:33:49 +0000

More media, more hype, fewer books. I actually had a few recommendations today…cunnilingus and more first year of baby (too much of the former, might lessen the latter…at 58 I’ve perfected both to my taste and don’t need books). Where is Jane Austen, Dickens, the great American authors, Russian classics, literatue in translation, the great “mid brow” authors. Feminist. History. Biography. I’ve mooched all these…