I Just Had a Great Experience on BookMooch! Volume Eight!!

per a request from GlendaHam, I present Volume Eight of the Bestest BookMooching thread!!

(after a very full Thanksgiving weekend, I really wanted to call it Volume ATE!! but, I chickened out... I'm such a turkey!)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This is the place to share your fantastic, wonderful, awesome experiences via BookMooch!!

Great Books? let us know!

Happy Mooches? Cheer them here!!

Fantastically wrapped packages of books? Post them here!!

People who go above & beyond the duty of "normal" BookMoochers? Celebrate them here!!

AWESOME MOOCHES? Definitely let us know!!

Let the world know that Bookmooching is Wonderful!!
(and addicting, but that's another thread...)

Thanks skittles!!
With all the problems BM has had, I want this thread to keep going. It gives us all encouragement that this book site is truly a worthy one.
My great experience: I offered to angel book a book nearly three months ago, and unfortunately had to wait almost three months for the book to arrive so I could send it on. It actually arrived last Friday!!! and in my correspondence with the person I mooched it for, I found a new bookmooch friend with very similar reading interests!

I received an email notification of a wishlisted book and, when I logged on to request it, it was still there to be requested. It does happen! It does!

Red Letter Day! I just had my 2001 book successfully received with 2002 positive feedback score. It took quite a while to get the last 100 or so because I am sending way less often the last few months.

Congrats, Carod!

A book I'm angeling arrived today, sent just three days after I'd mooched it and although there were no condition notes, it is clearly a brand new, never even opened to the title page book.

I got a book this week that had "Twilight: New Moon" packing tape on it!!!

Really!!!

I was really surprised to know that there was really "T:NM" printed packing tape!!

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!??!?

and the package was wrapped quite nicely, too!!!

It might be trashy literature (sorry - not going to apologize for this) but it is popular :) So not really surprised

>3 MyriadBooks:
LOL!

>8 AnnieMod:
Nor am I surprised. I don't think we'll be seeing Thomas Pynchon packing tape soon.

I had an LTer notice me gushing over West with the Night and he suggested I mooch another Markham title from him. I got it media mail in oh, 30 nanoseconds. 'Very thoughful mooch all around.

I had a LOT of books to ship to Italy. I didn't think I was going to be able to squeeze them all in a medium flat rate box, but I repacked it three times and sat on it and it worked! 19 MMPs and 1 Dummies book.

I also shipped two padded flat rates to Portugal. All angel mooch books that have been lingering in my house for months. I spent $70 on postage, don't tell my husband!

19 MMPs? Wow, those are some impressive ninja jenga moves you've got there!

That's nothing! (Grin!) I've received flat rate boxes with more, which included paperbacks and hardcovers. The last few boxes had 30 books, 28 books, 35 books and 31 books. Obviously it takes some time to compile them, but it's worth the wait.

It ends up being cheaper per book in postage and per point, though the parcels are expensive, so you don't want to send them very often. Likewise, postage from here is expensive too, but better per point when more are mooched (depends too on thickness and weight, and unfortunately I cannot send as many for the same price).

I was just someone's first international mooch! :D Well worth my three points.

#13: Congrats!!!

I've been working this week-end on two projects: updating the BM angel list and continuing the work on the inactives project. In addition to the slurry of bounced emails, I got a couple of inactive Canadians immediately responding that they were happy to send, or rejecting politely and in a timely fashion. I had an angel who had changed her status to "my county" email me that she loved angeling, would like to continue to be on the list please and that she had changed her status due to family issues (and has already changed it back) and treasures the friends she has made internationally. Oh, and John B. sent me a Christmas present from my wishlist to as thanks for the volunteering;) And I got a couple of "yeses" from some ask first requests. Feeling much more hopeful about Bookmooch today (although Canadian members now down to 608).

ETA no, I was wrong Canada is now down to 598 members

I sent one more Canadian on vacation status earlier today :(

A Canadian moocher has sent me not only my wishlisted book, but three (quite heavy) extras - amazing generosity!

THANK YOU CHELONIONMOBILE!!!

I got a package today with one of my wishlisted books. Out of the blue, I hadn't mooched it or anything like that. So, thank you very VERY much, chelonionmobile!

I mooched my 500th book last week.

>19 Quaisior: Congrats!

Aside from the mooch I just complained about, the rest of the giant stack of books I picked up from my parents were in perfectly good condition and two were Bernice Summerfield books all the way from Australia (!!!! and the person used stamps and they were so pretty!) and one was the Skulduggery Pleasant book that ForeignCircus helped with and I AM SO EXCITED. Although Mortal Coil broke my heart into a million pieces so I am not entirely sure I'm ready for Death Bringer. But the tagline on the cover is "kicking evil very hard in the face" and it's really difficult to resist that.

20> glad the book arrived safe and sound- sorry the mailing took so long! My mom in the meantime is still amused by the whole concept of "mailing books to all your internet friends" :)

I got another random wishlisted book in my mail today! Thank you AnnieMod!!

21: my husband sort of understands BM. He doesn't understand Angeling *at all*. It's quite funny.

What my SO understands about BookMooch is that there is always a stack of books for him and he never has to look for something to read.

We desperately need to revive this thread.

Anyway, just had possibly the fastest angel mooch ever come in! The person sent Sophie the books ASAP and then Sophie kindly used airmail, so the whole thing was less than two weeks start to finish!

Also I'm getting two Eighth Doctor Adventures from a nice new UK user, which makes a nice dent in the number of books I still need in order to have all of Anji Kapoor's Doctor Who appearances. :D (Down to only six or seven now!)

I am reviving this thread (again) because I just reached 1002 books successfully given with 1002 positive feedback!!! Woohoo! I ♥ bookmooch!

Congrats! I reached 1030 given acknowledged received recently, at last! :)

I would like pending receive to arrive though ... most were mooched last year. :(

I got two books today that made me really happy because I originally bought them as e-books and they don't work anymore due to DRM issues, which the publisher refuses to help me with. So now I have the complete series in paperback, woo!

congrats, Belladonna and Quaisior!

I finally made a big dent in my backlog of books to send.

I got very ill in March and did not manage to send any books for a long time, including some requested in January and February. But now I have sent out all books up till May, the only books to send now have all been requested in June. Phew.

Glad you're feeling better, Wester.

I just had 2 books on my wishlist come up. One had been there a really long time.

Just received a beautiful copy of The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco. It took a while for the owner to get it in the mail, but now here it is!

I had an ask first book on my wishilst come up that actually was worthwhile ordering from the states. Asked first. User then set themselves to 'my country only'. Sent them a polite enthusiastic email about how much I would love the book, and how they actually come out ahead still sending to Canada with the 3 points for books that size. They ok'd the mooch! Glad I wrote. :)

I had an ask first request. The (young) member not only said "yes" but said since she lived near the border she would mail the book from Canada to save money;) I thanked her and explained that it would be better for her to mail it to me from the States. Much cheaper.

Heheh.. Apparently this sender is a new member who did not know that you got more than 1 point for sending abroad. I wonder how much of that is going around?

I've had some good luck, lately...both in Mooching and Sending. I put my account On Vacation for a while...money issues and General Frustration...

I'm glad things are looking up for myself...and other folks...I would hate to lose BookMooch...

Carry On!!

I just got my "books to send" down to zero after more than a year because of all the phantom angel mooches I set up for people before the point increase. Such a good feeling to have fulfilled them all! (and sent out 4 mooches this week after reorganising all my books after we moved)

I literally put a book on my wishlist and it was posted just a few hours later. I requested it right away and it got accepted today, so I hope to get the book soon. I've been having such great luck with my wishlist lately that I'm going to have to find some more books to post soon since I'm getting a bit low on points. :-D

I mooched a copy of Nothing to Envy from a Swedish BookMoocher. It arrived within the week.

I mooched a book a month ago from a newbie, who sent it right away. I offered her a book from her wish list and she was so pleased. I need to remember to do that more often.

I received a lovingly packed box of books from BCTeagirl - lots of Margaret Atwood and some tea. Made my day.

And again... a lovingly packed box of books from @canuck_jenni; books, tea, little Canadian things including maple syrup! You Canadians are the best :-)

Whoa.

I have just ticked over my successfully given books to 1001.

1001.

Whoa.

That's a lot of books!

42> I am at 1002 myself, Em! It is a surreal feeling to know that you have given away more than a thousand books, isn't it? It also reminds me that I still have at least 5 times that many in my home. Anyway, Congrats! I am proud to know that I have contributed as much to increasing your number as you have mine. ;)

I know! Thank you both! I'm finding it a little mind-boggling.

Boy, between the books you've sent me and the books infiniteletters has sent me, that's a whole bookcase right there.

I am at 2081 given. Crazy huh?

Ooooo.

Well, now I have a goal.

I've been quite firm lately with requiring that my books requested by overseas recipients go via an Angel intermediary, but today I got a request with the kindest message blurb attached to it including a, "Please, please, could you send this book?" -- I just can't bring myself to say no to that.

My mooches are finally up to date again.

It's been a real mess. I have been very ill in March, and when I came out of the hospital there were a load of "ask first" e-mails. I contacted those people to say that I would send when I was healthy again, and went on vacation. Then I moved house, so I put some books in my inventory, planning to add condition notes etc. when I was fully settled again. I took myself off vacation to mooch a book, and forgot to put myself back on immediately, so people asked for some of the books. I wrote to them explaining the situation, but I could not let them mooch, as I had to put myself vacation again to make sure I would not get even more "ask firsts" before I was ready to deal with them. Then I thought I was healthy enough to handle the mooches again, so I took myself off vacation. And then I couldn't find the box with moochable books. Someone asked for, and then requested, a book I had already promised to someone else. A mess, as I've said.

But it has all been settled again, now. I've e-mailed everybody who has asked for books since March to ask if they still wanted them, and sent off the ones that were requested. And everybody has been very understanding. You BookMoochers are a great bunch of people!

*hugs wester* Glad you are better!

I'm glad you're on the mend, and happy that no one was a jerk. I think everyone is understanding of life happening and will cut a lot of slack, especially to someone with a great record.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I just checked my wishlist.

Two new books on it. And BOTH users send to my country.

I think I am in shock.

Woah, this thread seriously needs to be bumped back up!!

Over in the "book search for friends" thread I had sent out feelers for a book that was available on Amazon, offering extra points. The wonderful joannasephine got it for me. It arrived today (I just happened to check the mail this morning before work, right after the postman left), and YAY! The book was for a co-worker and dear friend who has been looking for it for a long time. I wanted to surprise her. I don't think I've ever offered extra points for something not actually on my wishlist before, but the look on her face when I gave it to her... Priceless!!

>53 Heather19: That's wonderful! Nothing like the thoughtful gift of a book to brighten someone's day.

I've been off of BM for awhile because I didn't need more books (really!!). I had my account on vacation with a note that I was on vacation due to too many books....

Then a book popped up on my wishlist that I wanted.... a textbooky like tome that doesn't show up much at all in any edition.

So, with trepidation, I mooched it with my last full point.

It was accepted and sent out fairly quickly.

And it arrived quickly despite being marked media mail (very faintly).

I'm happy!!

(and this thread needed bumping with some good news.)

It sure did need a bump-up,
skittles. So glad to hear some positive info on bookmooch transactions, I've been so discouraged lately.

Ooooo. I just received a smooch for one of my given transactions. How lovely!!

Although my volume is down from a couple of years ago, I continue to have good transactions with great moochers.

Just received a book mooched just a few days ago -- a hardcover, autographed, first edition copy of The Song of Achilles.

To follow up on .59; I also received a PBS book today. Despite clear requestor conditions (for PBS, it's the moocher who establishes the condition they want the book in), I got a book club edition, reeking of cigarette smoke and with the inner paper binding coming away from the boards.

Ugh that sucks, I hope they aren't a jerk about giving your credit back!

She was a jerk about it. She said it wasn't a book club edition and she wasn't refunding me any points, plus she wanted me to send the book back if I didn't want it, and she'd send me stamps once she'd received it. It took quite a few messages and all the diplomacy I possess, but she did send me two points. One as a refund and one to pay to mail the book back to her.

Oh bummer! Glad you got it sorted in the end.

I received my first RWAP right before I moved. I sent a hardback without a DJ, and it had a scratch/cut on the papery part where the cover connects to the spine. It didn't affect anything, it was just cosmetic. The guy RWAPd it and basically said the book was falling apart. I asked for pictures, maybe it got worse in the mail? He got SUPER offended, said I was accusing him of lying by asking for a picture, he already donated it to Goodwill, blah blah blah. He was super irrational about the whole thing, and accused me of threatening him or something (which couldn't be farther from the truth, I was very calm and rational and polite in my emails) and he said not to write him back anymore. So I didn't.

I showed it to a friend on the site and they agreed that I was fine and he was crazy. haha. I did not refund his credit, I can afford one black mark on my record at PBS. I think really he wanted a book in giftable condition (he mentioned wanting to give it as a gift) and was mad it didn't have a DJ.

But back to Bookmooch... not much activity there, but I met RidgewayGirl there/here and she's the best! She sent us some German DVDs, with more on the way, those puppies are expensive/hard to find. Last time I went to Germany, I searched every shop in the tiny town my relatives are from and couldn't find _any_, not even in the WK, and we didn't go to any other towns.

I just got not one but TWO really excellent, campy 1990s books on running. Thanks for tossing in the extra book!

The condition notes accurately mentioned that these books smelled of cigarette smoke. In addition to the irony of that considering the subjects, all I can say is, "well whoopdy-doo."

So, I get exposed to a couple picograms per cubic meter of benzo-alpha-pyrene.

I'll be sure to hold the books a couple inches further from my nose...

Some people are highly allergic to tobacco smoke.

So sad. That is, these people can't even spend entire evenings getting smashed on cheap Whiskey in seedy, smokey bars.

Ok, enough of me trying to be funny about a serious subject.

I just received a book from a BMer (perhaps you know of her) whose presentation resembled that of a wedding gift. Beautiful wrapping, all tissue paper with ribbons and wrapping paper, custom bookmark(s) as an added token, and gorgeous penmanship.

What care, what thought! I was extremely moved and impressed by this effort.

Wow, I have had books wrapped in "gift paper" and some wonderful post cards from various countries inserted to be used as bookmarks, and even some beautiful gilded "prayer" cards of Greek/Russian Orthodox saints but nothing quite so elaborate.
When the serious bookmoochers go all out.. it is always such a wonderful surprise!! makes up for the grouches anytime.

So I have a bad cold, and everything is kind of blah lately, and I hadn't checked my BookMooch-related email in a while. It turns out I missed out on about half a dozen wishlisted books.

BUT! I also had two emails out of the blue alerting me to the fact that there were books reserved for me, which makes the day much better. :)

I got a bunch of Little Red Tractor books in mint condition from the UK, my son loves those videos :)

I know all about The Little Red Tractor. My son adored those videos. I thought they were fine the first four dozen times.

Haha yes we are now enjoying those videos, though Cars and Thomas are preferred at the moment. I find Little Red Tractor easier to watch than the other two.

Whoa, for the first time ever I have less points in my BM bank than I do in my PBS bank. I don't think I ever thought that would happen.

>72 MyriadBooks:
I think PBS and BM points are equal. PBS has been pretty dead lately, while BM is its usual erratic self.

>72 MyriadBooks: & 73, me too. Partly it's due to the fact that I've deliberately been getting rid of books to post on PBS and not so many for BM, but also PBS has been pretty dead for me lately too. I have a Gold Key membership, so I have the 300 wishlisted books cap. I have 291 books on my wishlist and haven't had a hit in almost two months, despite being number one on the wishlist for 56 books!

Interesting. I have tons of mildly interesting titles to choose from, over at PBS. As for BM? Puh-leeze. I just spent a few minutes culling titles from the "RECOMMENDATIONS" browse feature. It was as usual, chock full of Magic School Bus and Jodi Picoult. Ugh!

As for PBS, my wishlist is equally dormant. If you want quality, I 'spose you have to wait...

(Sorry, this was supposed to be a discussion about great experiences!)

PBS had been quiet for me for ages, but I just got the notice I'm being mailed one that has been on my wishlist for years. So that's a great thing!

I just received a copy of Zazie dans le metro (first English ed., but publ'd in France), plus I have three more on the way and five to be sent. Things are looking up. (Of course, we all know that a certain percentage of BM members will never send the book.)

PBS, on the other hand, is still in the doldrums.

My wishlist has suddenly gotten HOT! Got a bunch of hits in the last week or so after a slow period. Also, my inventory has been moving--and not just the couple of books that were on lots of wishlists.

I joined BookMooch less than a month ago, have successfully send 5 books, have 4 in transit and 3 to send on Friday. When an item on my wishlist became available, I was able to log on in time to request it and it just arrived in the mail yesterday. The condition hadn't been listed so I was pleasantly surprised to find it in near perfect condition!

#79 by johanna414> It's great to see someone in the midsts of a flurry of book trades :)

I needed to get some mysteries to help my Mom on an upcoming sermon she is giving on the theology of mysteries (looking forward to it). I found one of the titles she needs from a U.S. moocher who sends worldwide. I mooched it, it was accepted and mailed within a couple of days and arrived safely and well packaged yesterday. so nice when things go as planned!

>81 carod: :) That's great (and your mom's sermon sounds interesting too).

Last week, I got two books from a newbie moocher and they were both books I had tried at least once or twice to get in the past with no responses. They were shipped quickly and in great condition.