SwapTree Not So Hot, Book Swaps Revisited

I have blogged about book swap sites in the past and how much I enjoy them. I use BookMooch and PaperBackSwap on a weekly basis. The premise on both is that you post some books and you get a book or two for posting. If someone wants one of the books you have posted, they request it and you send it to them. You pay the postage and you receive a point for having sent the book. When you see a posted book you want, you request it and it is sent to you and a point is deducted from your account. The sender is responsible for the postage. You can bank your points if there isn’t anything you want at the time someone requests something from you. If there is an issue, the book is lost or they don’t send it, the point is refunded to your account. If you don’t get the book, you are not penalized by losing a point.

SwapTree you list your books (CDs & Movies if you want). If someone wants something you have, there must be something you want to swap for at that specific time and there are many three way or more trades. You do not accumulate any points and the trades must take place simultaneously. I have found the three way trades often fall apart. You have no protection if someone defaults and doesn’t send you your book even when you have upheld your end of the bargain. SwapTree doesn’t seem to have any procedure to protect the person who abides by the rules. With BookMooch and Paperbackswap doing such a superior job, I have to wonder what possesses people to continue to use SwapTree. BTW if you do join PaperBackSwap please do so through the link on this blog and I will get a free point, WhooHoo!