[biffyclyro27]

Just thought I'd share my discovery of a book swapping website www.readitswapit.co.uk.

You basically just put up a list of the books you have, and then request to swap with another member. There are loads of books on the site, and it's easy to search and find the one you want. If they accept the offer, you just have to pay to post out the book they have requested from your list.

Other people can also request one of your books, and if you like anything from their list, you can accept the offer.

I've only been on the site 2 days, but I've already agreed to 1 swap and had about 6 other requests. There are a lot of times that people won't be interested in any of your books, or you're not interested in any of theirs, but it seems a great way to save money and get to read more books.

enjoy

[jstinson]

You are both a genius and the bane of my weekends, I'm now going to have to compile a list of all the titles i have floating around!

Thanks though I'd never heard of this before, is there some pre-ordained time limit for swapping books, ie do we return them to sender at some point or just swap them on?

it does seem like a good idea, well there goes my weekends for the foreseeable future

[hobnob]

In principle the idea sounds fun, but don't you just end up spending on postage what you could have spent on actual books?

[biffyclyro27]

(Original post by jstinson)
You are both a genius and the bane of my weekends, I'm now going to have to compile a list of all the titles i have floating around!

Thanks though I'd never heard of this before, is there some pre-ordained time limit for swapping books, ie do we return them to sender at some point or just swap them on?

it does seem like a good idea, well there goes my weekends for the foreseeable future

It's not that difficult, you just have to put in the ISBN of each book and it will fill in the details for you.

It's just a straight trade, the book becomes yours once you've swapped. Just like buying a second hand book, but you pay with another book of their choice. The great thing is once you have read it, you can put that book on the list and keep the cycle going!

(Original post by hobnob)
In principle the idea sounds fun, but don't you just end up spending on postage what you could have spent on actual books?

not really. Considering it costs like £2 to post your average book 2nd class, and costs about £8 for your average paperback in the shops... Sure you still have to spend some money, but I'd much rather spend £2 than £8 and you get more choice than most libraries.

[hobnob]

(Original post by biffyclyro27)
not really. Considering it costs like £2 to post your average book 2nd class, and costs about £8 for your average paperback in the shops... Sure you still have to spend some money, but I'd much rather spend £2 than £8 and you get more choice than most libraries.

They're second-hand books, though, so you'd have to compare it to prices in second-hand bookshops, which will be similar (perhaps even lower). Anyway, as I said, I can see why the idea seems kind of appealing, but at the end of the day it's still quite a cumbersome and time-consuming way of avoiding bookshops and libraries.

[biffyclyro27]

(Original post by hobnob)
They're second-hand books, though, so you'd have to compare it to prices in second-hand bookshops, which will be similar (perhaps even lower). Anyway, as I said, I can see why the idea seems kind of appealing, but at the end of the day it's still quite a cumbersome and time-consuming way of avoiding bookshops and libraries.

Yes it would perhaps be on par/ more expensive than using second hand bookshops. but personally, I rarely find the book I'm looking for in those. Buying second hand books online is usually at least £3.50 - £4 also.

Each to their own I guess. But I don't see it as a way of avoiding bookshops or libraries, merely another means of getting books that I want to read. If you're like me and don't like to keep tons of books lying around the house, it's a great way of doing things.

[.Scout.]

If you're a Londoner, you should check out the Carnaby Book Exchange, it seems a similar concept to this online site but obviously, there's no postage. You take along ANY book and swap it for any of the ones they have on their shelves. You are also encouraged to write a little message inside the cover before swapping it.

I've picked up some amazing reads and they have a really great selection. Plus the bonus of getting a little handwritten note from the previous owner inside is an added bonus.

I'm so glad I stumbled across this hidden gem.