International book linker (BookMooch Discussion)

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International book linker

In many countries books are relatively expensive and the choice far more limited then say the UK. However the number of BookMooch members in these countries is relatively small (http://bookmooch.com/m/country).

A limiting factor on international bookmooching is the cost of postage, this causes people in places where books are less expensive not to send books overseas.

Here is an idea that may work:

Say Bob in Australia wants to read "A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini" he could add this book to the International book linker forum saying:
"
Please buy this book in your country and once you have finished reading it I will give you the postage plus 1/4 the cost of the book to send he book to me.
"

Then if the moocher in say the UK accepts this offer they could buy the book from amazon for £2.79 read it then contact the Bob to say that they require £4.26 for airmail or £2.64 for surface mail plus £0.70. Bob could pay this with PayPal and the book is sent to Austrilia.

Is this a good or bad idea? Would you give it a try?

Gar
13 years ago

Comments

I think this is a great idea. You could start your own forum category for this, or post in the Bookmooch angels forum, since it's not angeling exactly but very similar in many respects. I am currently going in on a mooch where the original sender wanted 2 books mooched to send internationally, so I chose another book from her inventory, and the actual moocher, when she receives both books, will relist the one I wanted to read and I will mooch from her. Stuff like this does make it easier to send and receive internationally, and keep shipping costs down.

LauraTS
13 years ago

I am afraid you would have to set the group up elsewhere. Bookmooch rules do not let us offer or request money for mooches. We can offer extra points for books we really want as a way of encouraging people to mail internationally. Try posting the request in the

A book search among friends forum. You might have luck.

Cara
13 years ago

Whoops - thanks, Cara, I didn't read carefully enough. I thought the original poster was just offering extra points (which is kosher if offered, but can't be required), not money. You are correct.

LauraTS
13 years ago

Thanks Cara, I was not aware of that.

Gar
13 years ago

I wouldn't bother! I used to send books overseas no questions asked and expected others to do this for me in return. I no longer feel this way and for that reason Bookmooch has lost its shine for me! The cost of posting to the US is ridiculous because of a 'security' charge of $9.00 supposedly imposed by the US Government and nobody in the US ever wanted to send to me anyway. I remain on here hopeful that we can go back to the 'good old days' of when I joined some four years ago but I am not hopeful!

Alisoun
13 years ago