Have you used the 'read it swap it' website and if so, would you recommend?

[LolaLadybird]

I've decided I need to get a bit more credit crunch minded and start borrowing or swapping more books rather than buying new. Have looked at the read it swap it website but wondering whether I should just make more of an effort to request things from library (local library is v small so just browsing often not that productive). Would be interested to hear your feedback about the website. I'm thinking it might be something I start with gusto and then get lazy about (rather like dieting!).

I did exactly that - started well and it all petered (?sp) out about 3 months later! The main problem for me was recieving books stinking of smoke, books that were really more tatty than the rating suggested and the postage cost! I can pick up books in our local charity shop for the price of the postage, so it really wasn't all that convenient.

I've used it, and have had some good books. I haven't swapped any for a while though (mainly because my brother gave me a £20 book toekn, then I got some for Christmas.
I like it. I've never had any smoke smelling books though

I use it all the time and never had any problems

I use it loads and only once had a bad experience.
I think it is brilliant.
Have been a member for about a year I think.
have swapped over 50 books.

hope that wasn't me littlerach
Couldn't find a book when we moved

I've used it a bit and not had a bad experience yet. I do tend to find that nobody wants to read my books though.... so a lot of the swaps I request don't go through, which can be frustrating.

BookMooch is another swap site I use a fair bit - the advantage from my perspective being that you get points rather than having to do a straight swap, which you can then 'spend' on other books. The slight downside is that it's not got so many UK members on as US, so again the books I want don't come up as often. But there are some lovely people on there - I just requested a book from someone in New Zealand, who then emailed me to say she'd looked at my wishlist, and would list another book that she hadn't put up yet but had spotted I wanted to read!

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I think I'll give it a go and hope for some positive swaps and not be unlucky like madamy .

Flossie - quite intrigued by your book collection, wondering why nobody wants to read your books?!

By the way, most of my book purchases have been hardback (pre-credit crunch). Do they still get swapped or do they work out too expensive to post?

I had the same problem as Flossie, also I found a lot of people asking to swap with me had long lists of books but nothing I wanted to read.

@LolaLadybird: I have been told I simply don't list enough books for people to choose from... but also I find it really hard to let go of my books, so the ones I list tend to be ones that I know I'll never re-read - and therefore often books that no one else is especially interested in either. Particularly as I read quite a bit of literary fiction.

I tend to list my books on both BookMooch and RISI, and they inevitably get snapped up quicker on the former than the latter. My inventory at the moment on both sites is down to about 6 books!! Need to read and shed some more...

One thing about RISI was that there is a 'books wanted' section in the forums - so if you're having trouble getting a swap agreed, you can post here and people can respond if they're willing to swap with you. Usually it's people who haven't yet listed a book, but might be willing to if prompted. I've got a couple out this way.

It's OK to swap hardbacks, but they are a bit more expensive, inevitably - especially as they always have to be parcels rather than large letters.