What Does Swapping Really Mean?
Swapping takes three simple steps --
1. When you become a member of the Bookswap service, you have to upload five
books you own on your bookshelf, which you are willing to exchange with books from our extensive Library.
2. Browse our library, and you’ll find a Swap this Book tab on the pages of books present in our Library. If you’d like to swap that book with one of yours, click on this tab and it will take you to the swap form. Remember, the book you want and the book you want to give in return must be similar – so expect to trade lots of children’s books if the books on your shelf are Enid Blytons and Roald Dahls. And if you have a Sydney Sheldon to trade, expect to be able to read lot's of bestsellers!
3. Once you request a swap, we will send our book to you by courier at our expense in under two working days, and you send your book back with the same courier.
How can I swap books?
Here’s what you need to keep in mind for a successful book swap. Ensure that the book you want from the library and the book on your Bookshelf that you s/he want to swap it with, have –
1. The approximate price range the book falls in (each book can be swapped with a book of the same approximate price range).
2. At least three tags in common (for example, given that a Gerald Durrell and a collected works of Kushwant Singh both cost roughly between Rs 200-300, they should have three tags, maybe ‘Memoir’, `Holiday Read’ or `Funny’ in common).
How long can I keep the swapped book?
Once you swap a book with us, you can keep it as long as you want, it's yours. Or after reading it, you could choose to swap it once again with another book from our library.
How many books can I swap in a month?
You can swap as many as 8 books in a month, multiple books at a time.
Who pays for the courier each time a book is swapped?
The website bears the courier costs -- members pay nothing!
What do I pay for swapping books?
You pay a registration fee of Rs 300 for one month, Rs 800 for three months and Rs 1500 for six months. This includes all courier charges and processing fees.
What is the importance of Tags?
Tags are important as they make books more `swappable’. For example, if you only tag a John Grisham as a `Bestseller’, it can only be swapped with bestsellers. But if you also tag it as `Holiday Read’, `Easy Afternoon Reading’, `Weekend Pick’ or even `Americana’ – it will instantly become swappable with more books. So it is very important to tag your books as extensively and as accurately as possible!
How often should I circulate the books on my Bookshelf?
Every member should try to ensure that all the books on his/her bookshelf are evenly circulated, which means that they should enter the Library at least once in four months. This is because there might be other members who are simply dying to get their teeth into your book, but can't, as you haven’t circulated it. If a book stays on your Bookshelf for more than four months, you’ll get a system-generated reminder that it needs to move on.
If two members ask for the same book on the same day, who will get it first?
If two members ask for the same book on the same day, the member who has asked for it first, will get the book. It will automatically go on MyWatchList of the member who had asked for it later. If the book is not available in the Library, the Request Swap tab will be replaced by another tab, Add to my Watchlist. Once a book is on a member's Watchlist, s/he will be notified as soon as it enters the Library.
Can two members swap books directly with each other?
Of course they can! If people become friends on this community, we’ll be ecstatic…just remember not to swap books that are on your Bookshelf, as our system will not be able to keep tabs then.
How can I make friends with members on Wordbuffs?
You can connect with fellow Wordbuffs through the Forums. Also, you can check out member profiles by clicking on reviewer names.
How can I be sure my personal data will be kept private? How can I prevent unwanted friend requests?
We understand the concerns that you may have about your privacy, and respect your right to protect your personal information while online. Wordbuffs will never, ever, disclose private data about individual members for commercial purposes. All members may choose whether they are open to Friend requests from other members. Please study the Privacy options in Settings carefully for this.
What if I’m not at home when the courier arrives with my book?
Oh no…that’s a tough one. See, it’s not fair on us or the courier, if this happens. In such an event, we will consider the book swap as complete, and you will be able to swap one book less that month.
What if the webmaster receives a book that is damaged?
Oh ho…another bad one…we get really mad when we see a book that has been torn or defaced. In case a torn book arrives in a BookSwap, there are two things we’d do –
1. Reduce the concerned member’s membership term by one month in punishment
2. Upload the damaged book’s photograph on the concerned member’s public profile for everyone to see
What if I want to change one/more books on my BookShelf?
If at any point, the member wishes to add or change any books on his Bookshelf (except when he swaps with the Library), s/he should:
a. Write to the webmaster giving very good reasons why the book needs to be changed. (Hint: we will only accept reasons like torn book, lost book, book destroyed in fire and other such excuses). Remember, when a member changes a book on his/her Bookshelf, it affects other members too…
b. The webmaster will reserve the right to ask the member to replace the same title, or get another one with at least SIX tags in common (these tags will be decided upon by the Webmaster…Hint: we’ll probably be happiest with another title by the same author in the same genre).
What is the Wordbuffs Reading Circle?
The Reading Circle is for children in the age groups of 6-9 and 9-14, four days a month every Saturday. The charges are Rs 500 per month.
Each session will be an hour long. Members will receive a Bookswap membership as part of the package. They can borrow books in every session, read them during the week, and discuss them with the group on Saturday. For further details, contact us
