How 'bout a cookbook swap?

[Peeps]

OK, I've been thinking about this idea for awhile now, ever since I heard you all rave about the Moosewood books, which I had and never used. My thinking was that perhaps some of us have cookbooks that we don't use that someone else here would love. Maybe I am way off base and others use ALL their cookbooks or like to have them for reference but I for one have run out of room and won't allow myself to buy any more cookbooks until I offload some of the ones collecting dust.
So here's the idea:
Everyone would post on a thread (not here, I'm just testing the waters...) what sort of cookbooks they would like to receive - could be a specific title (you never know, someone might have it!), or just a type like "pasta," "bread," "Italian" etc. Then everyone who is interested in participating would send a Private Message to the organizer by a certain date listing the books they have that they'd be willing to part with. The organizer would then, by reading the wish list posts, try to match up swap partners who have cookbooks that each other would enjoy. (Or if it made more sense to give to one person but receive from another for everyone to get what they want, it could be done that way, secret-Santa style). Then the organizer would alert people via Private Message who their swap partner was. You could then look at your partner's wish list post and decide what book to send them. Partners would exchange mailing addresses only with each other through Private Messages (so only one person gets your address, for security's sake). There would then be a shipping deadline (reasonable amount of time) by which you send off your unwanted book to its happy new home and meanwhile you get a surprise cookbook in the mail that hopefully you can use and enjoy (or if not there's always half.com, right??) With book rate postage, shipping a book is usually less than $2.00 so everyone will have gained a new book for almost no cost. The organizer could also make an effort to match up books of like value so that you're not sending a $25 book and getting a $5 book in return.
Phew. OK – throw tomatoes, cheer, or do whatever you’re going to do, and let me know if you think this is a good idea or a crazy idea. I thought it would be a fun way for us to help each other out (one man’s trash...theory), get to know one another, etc. and who doesn’t like surprise packages in the mail? I don’t even have to be the organizer I just wanted to throw out the concept.
Of course we could do a non-kitchen like swap with bath products or regular books or whatever but I thought this would be a good place to start as it’s cooking related and wouldn’t involve anyone having to buy anything, other than postage. So let me know what y’all think!

[lisas3575]

I'd be willing to give it a shot...

I'm always looking for a good vegetarian cookbook or two.

[BlueMoose]

Peeps...

I think you're on to something here. But maybe it would make more sense for everyone to list the cookbooks they have that they want to part with (specific titles) . Then others could let them know if they are interested. They could trade directly between the two of them or work out something between 3 people or whatever works. I think its a great idea. I have a bunch of cookbooks in really excellent condition that I never use.

[RobinC]

I think this is a great idea!! I love the idea of a cookbook swap.

I would be willing to participate and help out with the organization. My darling BF and I run a web server out of our home, so I have unlimited web site access to create some web pages for this project. I have also coordinated a couple of on-line secret santa gift exchanges (with over 100 participants!)

If there is enough interest, I would be willing to donate the web space and some html work.

[Peeps]

Originally posted by BlueMoose
Peeps...

I think you're on to something here. But maybe it would make more sense for everyone to list the cookbooks they have that they want to part with (specific titles) . Then others could let them know if they are interested. They could trade directly between the two of them or work out something between 3 people or whatever works. I think its a great idea. I have a bunch of cookbooks in really excellent condition that I never use.

That's a good idea too - less surprise factor there, people would know what they were getting. I like the sort of "secret-Santa" approach just for fun and to mix things up a little bit but your idea is probably more practical!

[BlueMoose]

Either way I would be interested, because it's a shame to have them sitting on the shelf never getting used :( . What does everyone else think?

Anyone? Anyone?

[pmmahan]

Peeps, what a great idea!! I love it.

[goldilocks]

Peeps, this is a good idea...can I be the first to request your Moosewood Cookbook?

[Peeps]

Originally posted by goldilocks
Peeps, this is a good idea...can I be the first to request your Moosewood Cookbook?

Umm, sad news goldilocks...it went the way of half.com awhile back - but let me say that was BEFORE I realized how much you all loved it or I certainly would have rather it went to one of you! Sorry!

[Julia1Pin]

What a great idea. I have a ton of books, and old CL magazines to, that I would mind swapping for.

[valeriek]

Count me in! Where should we start posting our lists? I know for a fact that I have the Moosewood Daily Specials book that I could throw into the pot. I somehow ended up with two copies and everyone I would have given it to had already bought it! Can we find a place to post our lists?

[Peeps]

Originally posted by valeriek
Count me in! Where should we start posting our lists? I know for a fact that I have the Moosewood Daily Specials book that I could throw into the pot. I somehow ended up with two copies and everyone I would have given it to had already bought it! Can we find a place to post our lists?

Valerie- if we get enough interest and actually wanted to do it, I would (or whoever organizes it) start a new thread for everyone to list their wants (and if we did it secret-Santa style) you'd keep your giveaways list to yourself and give it to the organizer who'd match you up with someone - so the recipient is surprised (if we did it that way).
When I said "not here" I just meant not this thread, but yes, still on the BB. I just wanted people to post to this thread whether they were interested or not. Looks like a few are so far and no one's thrown any tomatoes yet!

[DmOrtega]

Good idea. How will we be able to maintain our lists?

[Janet K]

There's an exercise video swap board on videofitness.com that I've used before with great results that is similar to this idea.

Everyone who wants to posts both their videos for exchange and their wish lists - then you email people directly if you want to initiate an exchange - it works very very well. That way the individuals can iron out the details and exchange addresses etc.

The woman who runs the website handles the lists and updates them for everyone. But she doesn't have to deal with the actual exchanges.

Doing the same sort of thing with cookbooks sounds like a great idea!

[Svadhisthana]

There is a trading website (can't remember the addy) that allows you to list your items (cookbooks) and then trade others for one equal or a few others. It was in last months issue of Yahoo! magazine. Does anyone know what I'm talking about. I think it's a great idea.

[Peeps]

Originally posted by DmOrtega
Good idea. How will we be able to maintain our lists?

If it is done as a secret Santa-style swap there really wouldn't be any lists to maintain - everyone would just post on a thread what they'd like to get and then PM the organizer with what they have - the organizer would assign the partners and give everyone a deadline to ship their books off by. You can check your partner's post on the wish list to see what they wanted. It is a one time event and then it is done.
However, the idea of everybody posting what they have to offer is beneficial because people can choose what they want or contact each other directly but that does present the problem of how do you keep things up to date, to keep from getting asked for a book you already gave away, etc. Not sure how that would work.
I was thinking more a one time event, more for fun than anything else, it might be cool to get a surprise package of a cookbook that you maybe have never even heard of. But it depends on what people would like, I love hearing everyone's suggestions - keep them coming!

[Jasmine-Rose]

What a good idea! I've got a number of cookbooks that aren't being used and are in great condition (I'm one of the kitchen "neat freaks"). And I've had my eye on a couple of others that I won't buy at bookstore prices.

Count me in! If this works as well as I think it might, we'll be showering Peeps with flowers instead of tomatoes!!!

[BlueMoose]

Personally, I would rather know what we are swapping rather than doing a surprise thing, but it depends on what everyone else thinks.

Maybe RobinC can work something up for us, if she is still willing :) .

[keeganm]

As my title illustrates...i am a cookbook addict and have collected WAY too many cookbooks, in fact, i'll have to move to a bigger house if i keep them all. This is a great idea!!

[rpysher]

Count me in. I would definitely love to swap some books.....
Robin

[Sara Emily]

SHOWERS OF FLOWERS upon Peeps for such a practical and fun idea!!! :D

I'm in!!

[ClaireM]

Sounds good to me. But I, too, would want to know what I'm getting. Just so the organizer wouldn't have to take heat if there were some really bad trades.

[RobinC]

As fun as secret santa exchanges are, they can be a real headache. While many people are thrilled with what they receive, others are not so thrilled...and are pretty vocal about it.

Let me noodle over it a bit, I will post some suggestions in the next day or two.

Meanwhile.....dust off your cookbook collection and make a list of which of your cookbooks are looking for loving homes. There just might be a Moosewood out needing a home. ;)