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Thrift Shop + Media Mail = WooHoo!!! (US ONLY)

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:JP (contact)
Swap categories: Thrift Store  Books  Miscellaneous 
Number of people in swap:8
Location:Regional - United States
Type:Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:June 19, 2009
Date items must be sent by:July 10, 2009
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

For this swap, you will get a rather largish box (with room for at least 15 or so used paperback books), and you will make a trip to whatever venue you prefer for used books (or your own "already read'' bookshelf)......look for books you think your partner would enjoy (please pick books that aren't damaged....water damage, mold, ripped/missing/loose pages, spine damage,etc. Used condition is expected, but let's not send out obviously damaged sub-par books), and then pack up the box and ship to your swap pal by Media Mail. (Swap restricted to US only due to Media Mail availability and postage expense).

Please use Delivery Confirmation on your package. DC provides proof of mailing (date and time) AND the tracking number makes it easier for the postal system to trace and find stray packages. Media Mail does take just a bit longer because MM is only loaded on trucks when there is extra room.....so a DC# will also let your partner know when the box is coming so he/she knows when to start stalking their mail man. :) I have received some MM packages extremely quickly so delivery time can be varied. A DC# is a way to ensure that your partner knows his/her package is on its way, even if the post office takes extra time to actually deliver it.

Have fun picking out some really cool books for your swap pal.....don't just grab a handful of old harlequins out of a 10 cent bin and call it done. Make it fun for yourself.....and your partner! Be discriminating!

PLEASE don't sign up for this swap if you are not absolutely sure you can send out a package on time. PLEASE don't flake out on your partner. PLEASE by all means join us if you LOVE to read, and LOVE finding great books at bargain prices, and if you LOVE to share books with friends!

Swappers who have received any unexplained 1 ratings for no-sends in the past 6 months will be removed from the swap before partners are assigned. If you have some low ratings but can explain....message me and we can talk about it. Please no newbies.....only swappers with ratings. But I might be prompted to allow a newb or two if you are willing to swear on your swap karma and personal library that you will send out a package.

When you sign up, please post a message to the swap thread giving some preferences as to genre, or other general likes/dislikes. BUT, since specific titles or types of books might not be available, your partner is not required to send you any specific books or types of book.

Any questions?? Message me!

Discussion

euphoria 06/ 6/2009 #

Just FYI, Delivery Confirmation does not track packages; it only confirms that the package has been delivered. They can get lost as easily as any other. DC is best used when you don't trust the recipient to let you know it got there - like for Ebay sales or re-sends.

JP 06/ 8/2009 #

DC#s do show when packages have been delivered, and my local post master told me it is easier for them to trace down a lost box when it has a DC# tag on it because then they can see all the places that the box was scanned. So, although DC technically does not track packages, it can be used by the post office when they are tracking a lost package.

JP 06/ 8/2009 #

I changed the wording of the DC portion of the swap guidelines to make it more clear. Using a DC# and providing it to your swap partner, shows that you sent out your package. Since Media Mail can take a few extra days, using DC will prevent anyone getting lower ratings when their packages aren't received by the end of the exchange. On the slim chance that a box goes missing in the post, you have proof that you did mail it. Plus, the postal service can use the DC# to more quickly find a lost/stray/slightly damaged package. :o) Sorry for the confusing wording. Fixed now.

smokeysmom 06/ 8/2009 #

Please see my profile for my likes in books. I'm open to pretty much anything other than horror, harlequin and the likes. Feel free to send me some non-fiction too.

renees 06/ 8/2009 #

this sounds AWESOME! I mostly just read fantasy, check on my profile for authors/books I like and you can look at my amazon wishlist for ideas too. Marion Zimmer Bradley, Piers Anthony, Charlaine Harris, etc etc. Also Any crafting books would be welcome too If you have question feel free to ask! Glad this has a good amount of time to get it together! FUN!

renees 06/ 9/2009 #

Also I want to let everyone know that ONLY media can go in this box and if the PO opens it and there's ANYTHING non media inside they will charge you regular price. I can be something as dumb as a packet of tea. They don't open all the packages but that's part of the stipulation of media mail, they are allowed to open it. My mom (a postal carrier) told me that once a lady was mailing books and packed stuffed animals around them for padding and that disqualified it as media mail and she had to pay regular price! Just words or warning!!

friendshipforever 06/10/2009 #

I love true crime books ONLY

ambermonkey 06/11/2009 #

Currently watching, but plan to join...

I love chick lit but have most Sophia Kinsella and Jennifer Weiner books. I would love to try books by other chick lit novelists. Check out this link for examples link

I also like murder mystery who done it novels such as Jeffery Deaver and patricia cornwall. I would love other similar authors.

I am not a fan of sci-fi or harlequin romance novels.

I also move Maeve Binchy, cookbooks, books about kids crafts, scrapbooking idea books, jodi picoult, augusten bouroughs, anne patchet.

I really like most fiction that isn't fantasy or romance.

JP 06/11/2009 #

renees is absolutely correct -- the boxes cannot contain anything other than books. No letters, no tea, no extras of any kind. The post office does spot check media mail packages, and if anything else is found in the package, it is either returned undelivered for additional postage, or the receiver is asked to pay the postage difference. So, just pack the box with books and send it on -- no notes or other extras added!!

Just to make sure the guidelines are clear --- listing preferences is awesome because it gives your partner an idea of what genres you enjoy reading. But, due to availability of books and the fact that this is a multiple book swap requiring a minimum of 15 books in the package -- your partner is not limited to sending the types of books you have listed. Please don't give a poor rating to your partner because you asked for mystery and sci-fi and one of the books was classic literature. But....on the other hand.....if you ask for mystery/sci-fi/cookbooks/contemporary literature/classics and specifically ask for no romance novels and you receive a box filled with 20 year old Harlequin romance novels.....then that's a case where a lower rating would be justified.

shelley 06/12/2009 #

I am really excited about this swap. I always find awesome books at thrift stores that I want to get, but already have or have already read!

I'm interested in reading books that other people have read and liked. I like reading both fiction and non-fiction. I am not into romance novels or religious books. I like books with interesting pictures. I like young adult novels, and sort of like trashy young adult novels, but generally don't like trashy adult novels. In terms of fiction, I generally prefer books written by women, but not exactly "chick-lit" -- like Dorothy Allison, Zadie Smith, Octavia Butler, Myla Goldberg, Emma Donoghue, Isabel Allende. I also really like John Irving.

eyeskater 06/14/2009 #

I've never sent that many by media mail before...wouldn't it still be kind of pricey?

ambermonkey 06/14/2009 #

I weighed a few paper back books that I own and all of them are under 10 ounces. For 15 books, that would be 150 ounces, which is 9.37 pounds. I figured a 10 pound box and the postage was only 5.89 for media mail.

Media Mail®
Restrictions Apply 6 days 5.89

JP 06/15/2009 #

ambermonkey is right.....you can send a 10 pound box by media mail for $5.89, plus the small fee for sending it with Delivery Confirmation. So no.....sending a box by media mail is not pricey.

BUT, you do have to remember to include NOTHING extra in the box. Only books. Otherwise, if the package is inspected, it will either be returned to the sender for extra postage, or the receiver will be asked to pay the extra postage to pick up the box.

eyeskater 06/16/2009 #

Thanks...watching for now.

raesha 06/16/2009 #

This sounds like a really fun swap! I love to read and I love to get "new to me" books.... I've open to all types of books - except anything overtly religious or romance:) I love fiction and non-fiction, biographies, mystery, true crime, crafting books, historical fiction....but I really do love almost anything:)

crispy 06/18/2009 #

At the moment, the only books I'm not really interested in are romance novels, religious books, and science fiction. I would like to receive some classics, best sellers, memiors (interesting ones of people with really messed up lives ...kinda like Augusten Burroughs... ), books about California (I love my state! Would be thrilled to receive a book of photos of California), Queer lit (ones with gay characters as opposed to books discussing what it means to be gay), the ethical slut, only really interested in crafting books about beading with patterns.

open to receive things not listed here, of course. questions? feel free to ask!

renees 07/ 5/2009 #

i got everything ready today and will be shipping on Monday! love this!!!!

renees 07/ 6/2009 #

Just wanted to say I just mailed off my box and for delivery confirmation and an almost 14 lbs box of books it was $8.25!

shelley 07/10/2009 #

This was a fun swap! I would love to do it again!

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