Hi all

Because I'm not in many of the VBBs I'd kind of missed out on the discussions about how to address the problems of non - senders and people dropping out leaving books in the box.

So I thought I would start a nice new shiny thread to discuss it!

catsalive mentioned something about credits for books not received - I admit it was early in the day so I am easily confused then, but I thought that sounded a bit complicated..... also at what point do we decide that someone is not going to receive a book? And at what point do we say that someone can't take out any more books?

So all your thoughts would be very gratefully received!

Hang them by their toes till the books fall out of their pockets? :lol:

It's too early for me right now. :P

I just think that trying to credit people will become a nightmare. Sadly there are always going to be those who do not honor their commitments for whatever reason. I think we are going to have to chalk it up to experience and move on, as much as I hate to say that.


But I do really like Cheesy's suggestion. :rofl:

:lol: yeah we could try that.

Someone suggested a time limit might be an idea.... a certain number of months allowed to mail books. If you havent mailed within this time, you cant take any more out until you have met your exisiting commitments.

Also the books out of play thread works brilliantly I think. It's very easy to see who already owes alot of books, and how long they have owed them.

Of course, people can always say they mailed when they didnt, but again the out of play thread should catch this. If the same name keeps "mailing" books which never arrive, it will soon be obvious. Nobody should be penalised for the post office fouling up... but if it keeps happening to books sent by the same person I personally might find that a little suspicious.

I like Cheesy's suggestion

Personally I try to mail books in a timely fashion but because I now wait to go to the US to mail any North American books sometimes it takes a while. Unfortunately there are always 'takers' and we all know if we have been 'stiffed'. I chalk it up to a learning experience and don't request their books.

If a person hasn't mailed any books in 6 months then maybe they should wait until they mail them

Lauren says that if a certain nameless person requests any more of her books she will wait until she receives the books owed before mailing hers along

I can't even figure this out for my own VBB!! :thinking: :o :erm: :shrug: :( :unsure: :blush: :dunce: :wtf:

I agree with Ace in that sometimes I dont mail books immediately. If I know I'm heading over to the US I will often hang onto books, take them with me, and mail them there to save money.

I dont think it's unreasonable to expect people to have mailed within, say, 4 months. That's no pressure for most people, and allows those of us who mail in odd ways to save cash the time to do so.

As yet I havent started to look at whose book it is before choosing, I just pick the ones I like the sound of. I do still have a couple of books people owe me from a long way back, some from people who are not even in the box any more. I guess it's just a risk we take with these VBBs. Wish I knew what the answer was.

OK I think everyone who owes books from 2006 should revisit them and see if they can't be sent now. And if they can't be sent, maybe put something in the books out of play thread as well as contacting the person concerned? How does that sound. And also I'd like to suggest that we implement a rule like other boxes giving a time limit - books need to be sent out in 6 months or whatever - thoughts?

I think mailing the books within 6 months is a good rule. Since 2007 is almost over with then your suggestion Giz is a good idea. :)

I'm new to this site (although I used to play frequently at the old BookRelay site) so I don't yet have experience with having to wait for books to get to me.

When I offer a book, it is either immediately available or I move it to the top of my TBR stack. If it has not been read within 2 weeks of the end of the swap, then I send it any way.

I certainly recognize that there are times when life events take over and you have to be away from the Internet and perhaps even prevent you from mailing stuff out. If someone has been good about swapping in a timely manner and suddenly drops out I'd think you would want to give her some slack. If a new person joins and receives lots of books without sending the ones she owe,s then it's time to hold her back from swaps and book boxes until she catches up.