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Paper Back Book Swap

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Starstate Realty

Do you have any used paperback books lying around? I did, and I finally found a great way to share them with other people.   

It seems that a few guys were sitting around one night talking about all the paperback books that they purchased over the years when they traveled on business. Each of them had a stack of books that they had read. So they decided to set up a web site  www. PaperBackSwap .com  that allows all of us to swap paperback books with each other. Now it's grown to include ALL books--hardcovers and audio too!  

Let me tell you how it works because it is so easy. I listed a bunch of books on the site (you have to list at least 10 books to get in the club) and I got 2 free book credits to get me started. So you can order 2 books right away - free of charge and have them mailed directly to you. No strings attached.  No gimmicks. No spam mail. Nothing! You just have to love reading.

Then when another member selects one of my books that I have listed, I mail it to them. Yes, I pay for the postage. But then I get a book credit and I can select a book that I want. So another Club Member returns the favor and mails me one of their books free of charge. For every book I mail out, I get another book in return - a true shared system!

And when someone requests one of your books, all you have to do is print a two page document on regular paper from your printer, and use them to wrap the book. The wrapper includes the mailing address and the amount of postage. Then drop the package in the outbound mail. Hey, most of the time you don't even need to go to the post office! 

Right now the annual club membership is FREE! Eventually the founders will ask everyone to help contribute to pay for the upkeep of the web site, but for now the annual club membership is free. The annual dues will probably be between $10 and $20 based on the number of people in the club. But again, right now you don't even have to pay any dues for one year if you become a Charter Member.  

You really need to check this out! And if you do sign up, please list my email in the referral section because then I get another free book. This is a great club  www. PaperBackSwap .com

Best Regards

Neal Barnes, Broker, REALTOR, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRS, Email: Homes@NealBarnes.com

NEAL BARNES, INC.  Phone: 254-338-7318 or 512-773-7744

Website: www.CentralTexasRealEstateSource.net

Comments (25)

The Somers Team
The Somers Team at KW Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
Delivering Real Estate Happiness

Neil,

That is very cool - had no idea !  Will check out that site as we have a ton of old paperbacks - actually I think we just had a lot of them recycled.  Is a great idea !

Philadelphia Real Estate

Aug 02, 2008 01:48 AM
Jimmy McCall
JimmyMcCall.com - Cunningham, TN
The Ex-Mortgage Consultant

Neal,

Thanks for the link.  I have a bunch of paperback books.  I will check out the site today.  Only problem is I have a problem departing with books.

Aug 07, 2008 01:43 AM
Liz Carter
Liz Carter & Team Realty-Your Real Estate Resource For Life! - Katy, TX
Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston)

Neal...

Have you used the Google spell check yet?  Please come back and let me know what you think?

I left the below comment for you on that post, but was not sure you would be back and wanted to make sure and tell you to join my group Texas Real Estate , just click on the link

Glad to be of help, and welcome to the rain.  You should check out my group, - Texas Real Estate , it's awesome, I have 375 great members and it's really growing and very active.

We are having a AR get together this coming Sat. the 16th in Austin, and there is a post on my group about it.  We had a gathering in May that was a total blast.

Hope you can make it, Liz

Aug 08, 2008 06:43 PM
Griselda Tealdo-Perez, REALTOR®, e-Pro, GRI, TRC
Coldwell Banker Real Estate - Miami Lakes, FL

Neal, what a great idea! I'm going to join this weekend. Thank you so much for this information.

Aug 22, 2008 02:27 AM
Kristin Moran
Owner - RE/MAX Access - KristinMoran@Remax.net - San Antonio, TX
San Antonio,TX - Real Estate - 210-313-7397

How cool is that?  Completely spectacular.  Sign me up!! Oh, I just did & gave your email.  Spectacular idea, I just wish I had thought of it!!

Happy Reading!  Kristin Moran 

Aug 22, 2008 07:29 AM
Griselda Tealdo-Perez, REALTOR®, e-Pro, GRI, TRC
Coldwell Banker Real Estate - Miami Lakes, FL

Neal, I registered a few hours ago requested 2 books with the immediate credit they gave me. Then within a question of minutes I got a request for 6 of my books! A lot of activity in a very short period of time. I wish real estate was moving fast like that! ;-)

BTW, you should get one credit out of referring me because I entered your name. Thank you again for mentioning PBS.

Aug 22, 2008 10:29 AM
abka defg
Fountain Hills, AZ

Sounds like an interesting resource Neal. Thanks for sharing!

Aug 26, 2008 12:19 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I had read about this afew months back. I will bookmark this so I will not forget to look for books to swap.

Aug 31, 2008 10:03 PM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369

Neal, thanks for the heads up on the site. We love to read in my family and I know the girls would love to take advantage of the swap. Thanks for sharing.

Sep 09, 2008 01:07 PM
Paddy (Patricia) Pizappi
Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty - Pine Bush, NY
Real Estate Associate Broker Hudson Valley NY

Neat idea Neal.  I will check it out. unfortunately right now I just donated the books I had here forever to the library and the ones left are my keepers.  Will have to wait until I have another buying spree to join. 

Sep 12, 2008 10:51 PM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Hi Neal - what a great idea.  How much does postage typically run?  Thanks for the info.

Sep 14, 2008 12:07 AM
Jen Bowman
Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL
Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

What a great idea Neal! Thanks for sharing.  It's just like recycling books.

 

signature

Sep 28, 2008 08:23 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I will share this site with some of my friends and relatives, but I very rarely part with a book.  Once I've read it... those people on the pages are my friends and I might want to revisit, so on the shelf it goes.  I'll look and see if I have ten I am willing to part with.

Sep 28, 2008 08:54 AM
Neal Barnes
Starstate Realty - Killeen, TX
Broker, REALTOR, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, SRS.

*** Griselda ***    I just sent you the book credit that PBS sent me for referring you.  Happy Reading.

Oct 03, 2008 03:56 PM
Nancy Pav
Century 21 Redwood Realty - Ashburn, VA
Nancy Pav, Your "GottaHave" Realtor

Great tip!!  It's like an online library.  I'm going to check it out for sure.  I've got plenty of books!

Oct 06, 2008 01:42 AM
Kathy Kooyman
Home Realty - Pella, IA

Congrats on making 50,000!   Thanks for making me feel welcom

Nov 26, 2008 02:08 AM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

What a great idea! My book club was talking about what to do with the books that you've read and don't feel compelled to keep.  I will pass this on to them, too.

Dec 10, 2008 07:30 AM
Nancy Pav
Century 21 Redwood Realty - Ashburn, VA
Nancy Pav, Your "GottaHave" Realtor

Neal,

I love, love, love it.

I just joined about a month ago.  I've sent out 5 and am waiting on my 4th.  The other great thing about it is the wish list.  You can put a book on there that you'd like to read and when it becomes available, it's yours.  And as you mentioned, it's quite convenient....and environmentally friendly.

Have you guessed that I'm a fan??  LOL!

 

Dec 28, 2008 01:47 PM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Neal, I am am going to re-blog your post (maybe you will get some more credit on Paperback Swap, too).  I am adding information about www.bookcrossing.com in my new post.  I have been using Paperback Swap and am just about to send off a book. This time it will have a BookCrossing.com sticker in it. If you have never seen this site, it is a way to track books as they travel around the world. It is endorsed by Paperback Swap.

Feb 05, 2009 01:03 AM
Nancy Pav
Century 21 Redwood Realty - Ashburn, VA
Nancy Pav, Your "GottaHave" Realtor

I just love Paperbackswap.com  It's a great way to recycle.

Nov 07, 2009 02:15 AM