10 Outstanding Online Swap Meets To Save Money on Books, CDs, DVDs and Video Games

Word consumers have an unquenchable thirst for the written word that flows fluidly off the printed pages of an amazing book. A book is both friend and foe to the reader who loves the story, but hates that the adventure has ended. Now, for the word consumer another book is needed to fill the empty void in the world of words that these consumers are craving.

The Internet is the most comprehensive resource to locate all kinds of books for cheap or free. Online auctions such as eBay and Amazon provides book sellers and book buyers a place to sell and buy most any type of book imaginable and sometimes a bargain can be found. Other Internet companies are providing bartering platforms to where bookworms can exchange and/or trade books for free (shipping costs do apply in most book exchange sites).

BookMooch (http://www.bookmooch.com)

BookMooch was one of the very first books bartering (swapping) websites on the Internet. Members can post the books that they want to trade for new used books that they want to read. BookMooch swap platform is based off of a point system. Members earn points in a variety of different ways on the site, and then exchange the points to get the books that they want. Points are required to open a trade and to complete the swap. Shipping via media mail does apply to the swapper (seller) and membership is free.

Swaptree (http://www.swaptree.com)

Swaptree members can swap books, music, video games and DVD movies with other members. Members simply post the items that they want to swap and other members can offer their own products that they want to trade for what they want to swap for. Sometimes, multiple swap offers can result from a popular product that a member has posted for swapping. Shipping cost via media mail is generally less than $2.50 and this is the only cost associated with the swapping process on this site. The books, music, video games and DVD movies are free (you save, because you are not buying the product), but shipping and handling cost is the responsibility of the seller.

BookIns (http://www.bookins.com)

This website has over 500,000 books and 30,000-plus DVDs that interested members can choose from. The only cost associated with this program is the shipping cost. Members do not need to pay for the actual retail cover price, because these products are free less the shipping and handling cost. BookIns can save avid readers hundreds of dollars in savings over time.

PaperBackSwap (http://www.paperbackswap.com)

Paperback Swap is one website that actually has saved its members over 12 million dollars in swapping savings. Members posts the paperback books that they want to swap, and then the member receives a trading credit for listing the swap item, which can be used to swap for a paperback book that they are interested in reading. Membership is free. Currently there are over 3,000,000 books available for trading and this number continues to increase as more people join the book trading community.

TitleTrader (http://www.titletrader.com)

Title Trader is another bartering website where members can exchange books, cds DVDs and video games on a point system. Members can earn request points three ways; 1) sending an item to another member, 2) refer a new active member, and 3) buy request points. Once a member has banked some request point, and then these points can be use to request books, cds, DVDs and video games that they want for themselves.

WhatsOnMyBookshelf? (http://www.whatsonmybookshelf.com)

Members can exchange their unwanted paperbacks and hardcover books for the books that they want to be sent to them. Users must have earned points to enable them to use the swapping platform. Members can earn points by completing a swap, referring a friend whom list five books for swap, or purchase points, but there is a five-point limit per month. Membership is free, but shipping is not free.

FreeTechBooks.com (http://www.freetechbooks.com)

This is the perfect book exchange site for students seeking hard to find or must have textbooks, lecture notes and books relating to technology, science, math and game development. All books available are legally free on the Internet as they have all are hosted on websites belonging to the original authors and publishers. Membership is free and all books, textbooks and lecture notes can be viewed, downloadable or members can printout a copy for strictly their private use.

ManyBooks.net (http://www.manybooks.net)

Use this website to find eBooks for your PDA, iPhone or eBook reader at no cost to you. ManyBooks.net more than 23,000 free eBooks to choose from and transfer onto your favorite portable electronic device. Membership is free.

Classic Reader (http://www.classicreader.com)

Classic Reader has more than 3000 classic book titles and authors such as: Austen, Dickens, Shakespeare and Maurice Baring collections to offer to the bookworm that demand the finest literature from the most desirable authors who have ever inked a classic story. Membership is free.

Google Book Search (http://books.google.com)

Google Book Search is probably the most comprehensive library of free books on the Internet. Many great genres are represented from literature to poetry and everything in-between. The majority of the books and novels found on Google Book Search is only viewable on a PC, however there are other books offered in the library that can be downloaded or printed out for strictly personal use. Membership is free, but is required to setup your own library of books that you have selected.