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Money 911: Trade old books, CDs for new ones on swaptree

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By STACIE SCHAIBLE

sschaible@wfla.com

Published: September 24, 2009

Christy Gordon of South Tampa can easily devour two books a week.

But buying all those books can get expensive.

That's why Gordon was thrilled she when she learned about swaptree.com, a Web site where you can get the books, music, movies or games you want for free by swapping the old ones you don't.

"It works great,'' Gordon said. "I get books I usually can't find at the library. I don't have to buy them online. I get all these books I wouldn't normally read otherwise and I can get rid of books I'm done with."

Here's how it works: You sign up for a swaptree account, which is free. Then you track down all the old books, CDs, movies and video games you want to get rid of and enter them in the "items I have" section of your swaptree account then make a wish list of items you want. Swaptree finds the matching trades for you. The Web site sends you an e-mail and you can accept or reject the trade.

"It doesn't cost anything to trade the books. The only thing you have to pay for is shipping,'' Gordon said.

Shipping on average can cost about $2.50 and you can print the shipping labels off the swaptree Web site.

Gordon has made 95 swaps and says she hasn't run into any problems.

And she has saved money.

"About $534 is how much I would have paid full price for all those books and DVDs and video games,'' she said.

Soon Gordon will be adding some children's books to her wish list.

She's pregnant with her first child and due in the spring.

"Then I won't be reading at all,'' she said, laughing.

To open a free account, go to www.swaptree.com.

Reporter Stacie Schaible can be reached at (813) 225-7679.

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