I don't really want to cause trouble so if you need to you can close the thread. I'm very aware of the restriction in the rules against setting up buying/trading threads, so just know that in this particular thread I'm not setting up anything of the sort; however, I am trying to explore my options. Let me explain. Buying Japanese books when not in Japan is expensive as all hell and there has to be a way a small community can work together to benefit each other. If it was agreed that 2 members wouldn't trade money but rather strictly the physical books could it ever be allowed? I understand the underlying issue of why trading or buying isn't allowed on the board, because there's always the chance that some guy is going to take the goods and run resulting in consequential action.

What's the general consensus among other members on the board? And if the mods allowed it could we start a thread to set up a private community group outside of Koohii for this purpose? That last part may be censored depending on how the mods feel about the thread in general. Nobody break my legs please, thanks.

I am just so fortunate as to have a Book Off in my city. Nonetheless, I'd be down to participate to help those who are not so lucky, but I tend to keep my books for a while cuz, ya know, like, it's hard to read them...they're in this weird foreign text or something and it reads top to bottom instead of left to right. So unusual.

@TheVinster, please count me in if your idea is approved by the mods or admin here. :-)

I have been thinking about it too. In fact, I had looked into other sites like PaperBackSwap, Bookcrossing, etc... however, most of them don't ship overseas or they don't have the books I am looking for. (sigh)

At times, some close friends might help me to buy the books when they are traveling overseas, but such times are few and hard to come by, and I dread the thought of causing them unnecessary inconveniences.

Likewise, buying foreign books in Japan can be expensive and difficult as hell.

tashippy Wrote:ya know, like, it's hard to read them...they're in this weird foreign text or something and it reads top to bottom instead of left to right. So unusual.

I couldn't help smiling. I remembered there was a friend who read the manga from back-to-front and wondered why the story-line always begin with the ending and the plot worked backward.

I would really like it if you could actually buy/sell books too. No dealers that have multiple copies of books. There really isn't such a forum anywhere where you can sell off the old books you don't need and buy ones that other's don't need. But maybe this would be too hard to moderate?

eslang Wrote:I remembered there was a friend who read the manga from back-to-front and wondered why the story-line always begin with the ending and the plot worked backward.

A few times now (embarrassingly) I've got confused as to what is happening in western-orientated comic panels/books for a few pages before realizing I am reading it in what seems to common sense, Japanese reading orientation.

I think the Twilight series was written in this manner.

@PotbellyPig
Some place like ebay, where the monetary transactions are secure and taken care of nicely, would be nice. The hard part would be creating a system of offering to a specified group of people. I've no idea how that would even work.

However, if such a system where to be found/created, I suppose this thread could be used for people to drop their interest, as so details, etc. could be exchanged via email (since directly discussing such things isn't really what this site is for, and there are personal details you might not want everyone to know).

IRC (I think this forum has one, pretty sure it does/did) could be used to discuss the selling/trading specifics off-site. But the real issue would return to the actual negotiation of monetary transaction, without a dedicated third party to handle the secure passage of and safeguard measures to ensure the item/s arrive.

I think among a small community like this, most people could generally be trusted. On other forums where I have seen buying/selling/trading allowed, I don't generally see any problems coming up.

One site I love which I think does things totally right is http://gametz.com/
It's a site set up for trading games, and basically just works off of a reputation system. When you make a trade, the other guy rates you, and then other people can see that you are establishing a pattern as a trusted trader. People with less reputation always send their goods first. If you try to rip someone off, you end up with bad reputation, and no one will want to trade with you unless you go first.

Among a small group, something so elaborate as that site doesn't have to be created though.



EDIT:
ACTUALLY, it appears that site (gametz.com) permits trading of books and movies and stuff, so if people wanted to, we could just leverage their already existing site. Maybe just have a thread here where people can post what they have, then use that site for the actual trading, so it would have the benefit of their reputation system and rules.

Zarxrax Wrote:ACTUALLY, it appears that site (gametz.com) permits trading of books and movies and stuff, so if people wanted to, we could just leverage their already existing site. Maybe just have a thread here where people can post what they have, then use that site for the actual trading, so it would have the benefit of their reputation system and rules.

That could be a good idea. Or else just a thread where we could link to ebay listings selling the books.

At some point couldn't we just make a thread listing our books for trade/sale and if a buyer finds a seller they can then personally contact them via email and set up a trade/sale? Doesn't Paypal or something have a feature that allows you to insert your payment into the transaction but to not send it through until you've received the product? I see the need for a reputation system but from my perspective I was just going to do business with regulars on this site and avoid the people I don't recognize.

I also understand why you may say ebay but then they take a cut. Not to mention Paypal even if that was used. That's why I initially suggested trading only, because then the only price you pay is to ship your book and you'll receive one in return. There could also be some way for us to have our own reputation system. Though I'm not sure what yet.

It's good to see some support behind the idea so we can keep exploring how to do this.

I think the issue is how to do it so that the moderators and the board doesn't get hit with complaints about bad traders. If you trade off site, then its up to that sites transaction mechanism to deal with it.

A good point. Do you think a private Google+ group would work if combined with something like Paypal? We could tell people from here to join the group if interested in the idea, then we can post our book selections and can contact each other directly via Google+.

I have a lot of manga I'm willing to trade. I really wish I bought some DBZ -_-

Before interest in the idea is lost, for the present time I've decided to make a private Google+ group. If you message me through the forums with your preferred email I'll throw you an invite and we can at least begin organizing something. I'm looking to set up something soon for myself because I'm currently on the last book I own and am hesitant to order more.