PaperBackSwap: Save Money by Swapping Books

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Looking for an easy way to trade paperback books, hardbacks, audio books, textbooks and more from the comfort of your own home?! Then PaperBackSwap.com may be your answer!

Here’s how it works:

– First, head on over here and register for a free account (note that this is my referral link)
– Post all the books that you want to swap with other members
– Once you list 10 books, you’ll get 2 FREE Book Credits

Use these 2 credits to snag your first 2 books (search for books by author, title etc.); remember, the books that you request from PaperBack Swap are yours to keep! When another member requests one of your listed books, you will receive an email with their shipping info. You are then responsible for mailing the book and paying for shipping costs which are typically around $2-$2.50 (note that books that you request are mailed to you for free!). When your book is received by the other member, you snag one credit which you can then use to order another book for yourself! How awesome is that?!

Check out what Hip2Save reader, Michelle, recently emailed me about PaperBackSwap

I’m a college student pursuing my MBA, and I have collected a lot of books over the years from grade school and college. Some of my books I know will keep for the rest of my life; others I could do without. Although I am able to sell my books on Amazon and Half.com, some books just do not sell. Then one day, I stumbled across this website, www.PaperbackSwap.com. You pay the shipping to deliver a book to a person who has requested it, and you get credit for a book on your wishlist, essentially you’re paying around $2.50 per book. This is a better deal than Amazon and Half.com, where you’re paying at least $3.99 for shipping only or more for the popular books. I’ve been using it for the last several months and really enjoy it. Hope you find this deal as cool as I did!

How about you?! Are you a PaperBackSwap member too? If so, what has been your experience?

* Be sure to check out these other swapping sites: SwapaCD.com and SwapaDVD.com!

Join The Discussion

Comments 40

  1. Cara

    Love PaperBackSwap! Be sure to check out the bargain discussion board too where people do sales like 3 books for 1 credit and such. I have gotten so many books for my daughter with “6 kids’ books for 1 credit” deals!

  2. Leslie

    Have been doing paperback swap for awhile. Only problem I see, is that often the books I really really want are not available. I have 12 credits saved up now.

  3. Maryann

    I love Paperbackswap.com! I’ve been swapping books for a couple of years and I love it. I only ever had one problem with a person, because he expected a brand new collectible book instead of a used one, but it’s been great the rest of the time.

  4. me

    I read the “how to” but I’m still kinda confused. How does this work?

    • Debi

      Me: Enter the ISBN numbers for 10 books that you own that you are willing to give away. Any books. Paperback. Hardcover, Board books, cookbooks….as long as they are in relatively good condition.
      THEN you get 2 credits to start. 1 book that you want = one credit, so search and browse.
      THEN, you get an email if someone wants one of your posted boosk. You mail it them, you get a credit.

  5. Kristi

    I have never used anything like this before but I signed up with your link Collin so we will see how it goes 🙂 I know one thing is for sure I don’t have alot of time to read, but my daughter always does! LOL!! She would read us out of house and home if we would let her. I am hoping we can save some money on books for her! Thanks!

    • Angela

      Megan,
      Could you please explain how this site works. I must be missing something as I couldn’t see how you swap books like paperbackswap.com.

      Thanks!

    • Brittney

      I’ve been using bookmooch.com for years…it’s great!

  6. shellyb1202

    My sister has been doing this for years and she loves it as well.
    You guys should check out listia, it is *somewhat* along the same lines…it’s an auction site that uses credits instead of cash (not one of those scammy penny auction sites, I promise!) You get the credits from selling your own items on the site, completing offers for free credits, or you can purchase credits. I LOVE it. You can find some really unique items, and brand new items. I cannot praise it enough. They also have a rewards store where you can trade your credits in for brand new items or gift cards. I have gotten tons of “free” Amazon gift cards from them. Most of the sellers offer free shipping as well. This is my sign up/referral link if you are interested – https://www.listia.com/signup/2207282 – or you can just go to listia.com and sign up if you want. I *think* you get 500 free credits if you sign up with my link. Try it out, you might just love it. 😀

    • Em

      I did Listia for a long time and enjoyed it until it got very popular. Now there are to many ignorant people. I had a guy claim his item didn’t get there, I had proof that it did via tracking number then miraculously it es there but the envelope was empty. I had several hundred positive reviews and a few neutral on my account (no negative). This guy had less than 10, mostly neutral. Listia ruled in his favor. I was out $20 worth of giftcard. I quit soon after that.

      • Em

        And so many fraudulent sellers are on there now. I can’t stand it.

  7. Heather K

    I love paperbackswap. I have been using it for 3 or 4 years now

  8. Towana

    I have been using paperbackswap for the past three years. I love it! Since Borders went out of business, I mostly get books from paperbackswap that my local libary don’t have or I want to keep. I have my wish list and have been very satisfied.

  9. Rachel

    I love paperbackswap! I’ve used it to get books my daughter needed for her high school english classes and saved a ton of money over buying them new! It can be very difficult to get new releases as there are long waits for those books but your request will be put into a queue and as books become available you will move up the list. I decided the estimated wait was too long for some of what DD needed and bought those from amazon. The good thing is after she is done with them if they are still in good shape I can list them on my paperbackswap bookself and pass them along to someone else. If anyone wants to sign up under my referal it’s joplt @ comcast.net.

  10. Ellen

    This is pretty cool. One thing to mention is that you can transfer your credits to swapadvd.com at a 3-2 ratio. Over time I’ve cleared a dusty shelf of old books and traded them for Disney movies for my kids. I’ve been surprised at what’s been requested from me…it’s not always the newest books. The two free credits is a great way to try it out! My link is below…I’d be so appreciative if anyone wanted to use it!
    https://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?r_by=ellenjenniges@hotmail.com

  11. Shelley

    I love paperbackswap.com! They also have a great selection of audio books. Audios cost 2 credits instead of 1, but it’s a great way to keep your listening library up to date without spending a lot of money. They also have a wish list that notifies you if somebody posts the book you’re looking for. I’ve used this service for at least 3 years and never had a problem. 🙂

  12. Amanda

    I love paperbackswap.com. It sometimes takes a while to get popular books, but it sure is better than paying for them!

  13. Kristi

    I’ve been using this site for about 10 years now. I love that even though I rarely buy an actual “paper” book anymore (love my ereader!) I can transfer my credits to SwapaDVD and get kids movies to take on long trips in the car for my kids. It’s easy, the people are awesome and it’s a great way to make room on your bookshelves. Plus, those odd books you can’t find at the bookstore or the library, you can *WISH* for, autorequest and they magically appear in your mailbox at some point.

  14. Jeanne

    I have used Paperback Swap since 2008 and totally love it. I have received 799 books from them in that time and have mailed out 655. There is so much to see and do on the site that I have to be careful it or I am on it all afternoon! My referral link is: Swap Books for Free – PaperBackSwap.com

  15. Debi

    I’ve been using it for about 6 years. My book club typically picks one or two “older” books a year that I can always get. The I ‘wish list’ other stuff. Recently, I’ve been using it for my kids Jr. Chapter books like “Rainbow Fairies” and “Jigsaw Jones”. Stuff like that. Also those “Required reading’ books are usually there too! LOVE IT!

  16. Michelle

    Yay my recommendation got on Hip2Save! If you all want to use my referral link, msieng07@yahoo.com that would be wonderful. Thanks!

    • adrimom

      Just did! You should get credit since you submitted the review! Thanks!!

      • Michelle

        Thanks!!!!

  17. C.

    I love Paperbackswap! I’ve been using it for almost 3 years and recommend it highly. Here’s some advice – have asthma or allergies? You can add what’s called a “requestor condition” to your account specifying, for example “No books currently in a smoking home (I have asthma),” or “no mildew smells, please.” Then you don’t have to worry about stinky reading!

  18. Angie

    swap.com is good too. they have a guarantee that you will get your book, in case the other person trys to scam you.

  19. Angel

    Or you could use your local library, a fringe benefit of being a tax-paying citizen. It’s another alternative.

    • Rachel

      I love the library too but sometimes (like for school) we need to own the books. Or I know I will want to pass the book on to my mom and then it wont get back to the library before it’s overdue.

  20. Jess G.

    I use swap.com and love it. Check that one out too- its a direct trade, so no dealing with credits…

  21. Angela

    I love paperbackswap.com and swapadvd.com as well. I am a book junkie and I have saved so much money by trading books, not to mention it’s environmentally friendly and I love that I don’t have to worry about late library fines!

    Both paperbackswap.com and swapadvd.com are the cheapest way I have found to purchase my favorite books and movies. Everyone I have traded with is very prompt on shipping and just overall very nice to deal with 🙂

  22. Layla

    I love paperbackswap! I’ve been using it for several years and have recommended it to tons of people. The sister site, Swapadvd.com is equally as great. And you can transfer credits between sites too.

  23. Debi

    I work in a library, and a librarian friend got me involved with this. It’s a good deal, however, you have to be able to mail your book within days of getting a request. If you frequently go out of town, this may become an issue as you never know when you are going to get a request. If you can deal with that kind of thing, then it’s great. It helps to have Stamps.com or another mailing company because you do need to mail your books. They do trade hard cover AND audiobooks as well as paperbacks, so if you have a stash of books you want to get rid of, have fun! (One thing I do is to post the books, and then post those books in a safe spot so they don’t get mixed up with books I haven’t posted, and so I know where they are to send them off.

    • Rachel

      If you know you are going to be out of town you can put your bookshelf on vacation hold. Then you won’t get any requests but when you return your books are in the same order they were in before. If you put your wishlist books on auto request you might even come home to a surprise book in your mailbox!

  24. Tonia

    I’ve been doing PaperbackSwap for about 4 years and I love it. Just a heads up though, they also do hardcover AND audiobooks. I got a ton of Adventure In Odyssey for my kids on CD, for instance.

    They have a partner site for CDs and another one for DVDs as well.

    I put the items I’m hoping for Christmas on the list right about this time of year and collect them as the year goes on. I always have a huge pile of books that my kids have personally picked out for them to unwrap every Christmas morning!

  25. Diana

    I have been a member for years at PBS and I love it! You can put all the books you want on your Wish List and then when it’s your turn in line, you will automatically be offered the book! Yes, it’s a little tougher to get current titles, but I’ve found so many authors I didn’t know about on recommendation from other members that I’ve had no lack of books to read! I have an entire bookshelf at home filled with books that have been mailed to me that I haven’t read yet…it’s like having my own mini-library! 🙂 I haven’t spent full price on a book in a store in probably 10 years. And finding a book in your mailbox totally makes your day!

    It’s a great website. I’ve made many “virtual friends” by joining discussion forums about my favorite genre, and even met some of them on a PBS-sponsored cruise last year!!!

  26. ginger

    I too have been a PBS’er for over 2 years & love it. All my famiy knows to give me books they no longer want & I list them on PBS. Sometimes I run sales on my shelf like many other sellers (2 books or more for 1 credit) – you can find all these specials in the discussion forums – then book bazaar. Also if you are like me & regularly end up with more credits than you can use, you can sell the credits in the book bazaar to make some amazon credit or paypal cash. I have several friends on the site that I regularly sell credits to. My nickname on the site is SugDreamer if you would like to be friends or use it when signing up! 🙂

  27. sierra

    I just put 10 books up, and instantly 2 were requested (and not the two I thought would be requested.) I’m a little sad they don’t have the books I’m looking for, but I’m on a mission to get rid of stuff this year, so this was a great way to get something back! Thanks!

    • Hannah

      Give it time. 🙂 If you put books on your wish list, they’ll let you know when it becomes available.

  28. Hannah

    I love paperbackswap! I’ve been a member for a couple of years now and have received countless books through their system. It’s especially great for those extra books that you get for free or very little at garage sales or library book sales. Also, sometimes people gives me books that I already have, so I just give away the copy that wasn’t a gift and get something I didn’t have before!

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