For shipping labels (US), use Pirate Ship! It's so much easier than going to the post office.
DiscussionsBookMooching
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1meat
I've recently gotten into book swapping because used books are getting just a bit more expensive on Amazon. A lot of used books now have $3.99 shipping when it was usually free shipping with prime membership back then.
I use Pirate Ship to print labels and then either leave my package in the mailbox for pick up, or put them in the blue bins when they aren't too heavy (don't want to drop a heavy hardback in the bin in case it gets damaged). No need to even visit the post office. You just need a digital scale to weigh you package and then print your label.
Since keeping cost low is the goal, Bookmooch is still more economical compare to Amazon. Each BM point costs me about $1.5 - $2.5 and it's still cheaper than buying books online. Main downside being the book choices are quite limited on BM, and some moochers don't really tell you anything about book condition.
It's still pretty fun though. I found books I wouldn't have thought of looking for online by looking at other moocher's inventory. It's almost like going to a used bookshop!
I use Pirate Ship to print labels and then either leave my package in the mailbox for pick up, or put them in the blue bins when they aren't too heavy (don't want to drop a heavy hardback in the bin in case it gets damaged). No need to even visit the post office. You just need a digital scale to weigh you package and then print your label.
Since keeping cost low is the goal, Bookmooch is still more economical compare to Amazon. Each BM point costs me about $1.5 - $2.5 and it's still cheaper than buying books online. Main downside being the book choices are quite limited on BM, and some moochers don't really tell you anything about book condition.
It's still pretty fun though. I found books I wouldn't have thought of looking for online by looking at other moocher's inventory. It's almost like going to a used bookshop!
2mirigall
>1 meat: Can you really bypass the Post Office? For books that weigh less than 10 ounces, I can put stamps on the package and my mailpeople pick it up from my house, but I have been avoiding listing anything that weighs more than that because of the hassle with going to the Post Office all the time. I looked at Pirate Ship and I'm trying to figure out how they make enough money to keep the service going, if there's really no extra charge.
As to condition, that's a problem. I specify that I don't want books with underlining, and all in all I've been pretty lucky.
As to condition, that's a problem. I specify that I don't want books with underlining, and all in all I've been pretty lucky.
3meat
>2 mirigall: Yes. I can't say definitely, since it is really up to how nice your local mail carrier is. I've had many books, bundles and what not, picked up from my mail box with no issue.
Officially you are supposed to use the USPS "pick-up request" service on their website to notify them about a pick-up. But my mail carrier seems to know what's up so I didn't need to go through that process.
I think Pirate Ship pre-purchased a bulk label deal from USPS, then resell them at commercial rates that usually only businesses are qualified for. There are other websites that offer a similar service, but I think Pirateship is the most user friendly. Their customer service is excellent as well, and they speak pirate haha
For media mail though, you pay the same price from USPS's website or Pirateship. So it doesn't matter a whole lot. I just prefer Pirateship's website, and sometimes I mail things that aren't media mail and PS has much better priority mail rate.
It's definitely a hit of miss thing for me on bookmooch, but it's mostly hits and I'm pretty happy with it.
Officially you are supposed to use the USPS "pick-up request" service on their website to notify them about a pick-up. But my mail carrier seems to know what's up so I didn't need to go through that process.
I think Pirate Ship pre-purchased a bulk label deal from USPS, then resell them at commercial rates that usually only businesses are qualified for. There are other websites that offer a similar service, but I think Pirateship is the most user friendly. Their customer service is excellent as well, and they speak pirate haha
For media mail though, you pay the same price from USPS's website or Pirateship. So it doesn't matter a whole lot. I just prefer Pirateship's website, and sometimes I mail things that aren't media mail and PS has much better priority mail rate.
It's definitely a hit of miss thing for me on bookmooch, but it's mostly hits and I'm pretty happy with it.
4mirigall
>3 meat: meat, thank you for the suggestion!! I've been using PirateShip for several weeks now and it has worked fine. So far my mail carrier hasn't objected, the books I've sent have arrived promptly, and I've even used their international shipping (don't know if those books have arrived yet). I was never able to figure out how to send Media Mail from the USPS website, but it's irrelevant now.
