NonFiction Junkies Mailing List
[home] - [Selling Books on NFJ]This is the FAQ for the NonFiction Junkies Mailing List. Hopefully it will answer all your questions regarding the mailing list. It is also intended to be used as a policy guide. If this FAQ does not fully answer your questions, please contact Deanna Ramsay
This FAQ is written by Deanna Ramsay and Jennifer Dorner, with much help from Preeti Singh's Bookstore Junkies Mailing List FAQ. It was last updated on October 5, 1999. Its home on the web is at: http://www.ramsaybooks.com/nfj/nfjfaq.html.
Contents:
- INTRODUCTION AND SUBSCRIBING:
- 1.1) What is NFJ?
1.2) What kind of books does NFJ search for?
1.3) How do I subscribe to the list?
1.4) Is there a digest version?
1.5) How do I subscribe to the digest?
1.6) How do I go "nomail"?
1.7) How do I unsubscribe?
- FOR BOOK REQUESTORS:
- 2.1) How do I submit my want list to NFJ?
2.2) What happens when a book is found for me?
2.3) What if two copies of the same book get found for me?
2.4) How much do you charge for books found?
2.5) Which gets sent first, the book or the payment?
2.6) How are packaging and postage handled?
2.7) I haven't received a book that I paid for. What now?
2.8) Do you look for books that are still in print?
2.9) What if someone finds a book for me that I no longer want?
- FOR BOOK SEARCHERS:
- 3.1) How often are the search lists distributed?
3.2) Should we be looking for books that are still in print?
3.3) If I find a wanted book, what do I do and who do I notify?
3.4) What if the requestor hasn't returned any of my e-mail?
3.5) The book I found is being sold at a collectible price/ is tattered/ has a clipped corner/ has writing on it. How do I handle this?
3.6) If there are multiple requests for a book, who gets the first copy found?
3.7) What if a book I find ends up being a duplicate copy?
3.8) Once a book is found, how is payment handled?
3.9) What kind of package do I send the books in?
3.10) How do I deal with postage?
3.11) I haven't received payment for a book I sent. What now?
3.12) Are professional booksearchers/sellers allowed on the list?
3.13) Can I sell my own books on NFJ?
- LEGAL STUFF:
- 4.1) Is there profit in this?
- GENERAL INTEREST:
- 5.1) How did this list begin?
5.2) Who maintains this list and where can I ask questions?
1) INTRODUCTION AND SUBSCRIBING:
- 1.1) What is NFJ?
- NFJ is a listserv set up solely for the purpose of giving subscribers a means to find nonfiction books for each other.
- 1.2) What kind of books does NFJ search for?
- We look for nonfiction books, both in hardcover and paperback, depending on poster's request.
- 1.3) How do I subscribe to the mailing list?
- To subscribe to the list, go to:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/nfj
and follow the directions provided to you at the Web site.
- 1.4) Is there a digest version?
- If you'd prefer to get your email from NFJ as a compilation of posts instead of individual messages, then you can subscribe to the digest version of NFJ.
- 1.5) How do I subscribe to the digest?
- You must first subscribe to the list and then you can change your subscription to receive digests instead of individual messages. Return to:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/nfj
and login using the email address and password provided to you in your NFJ subscription verification message.
You should see a list of all the onelist mailing lists you are currently subscribed to. Each list has a delivery options list. To change your subscription to digest, choose the Daily Digest option from the list. Then click on the Save Changes button.
- 1.6) How do I go "nomail"?
- To stay subscribed to the list, but not get any messages while you'll be on vacation, return to:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/nfj
and login using the email address and password provided to you in your NFJ subscription verification message.
You should see a list of all the onelist mailing lists you are currently subscribed to. Each list has a delivery options list. To change your subscription to No Mail, choose the No Mail/Web Only option from the list. Then click on the Save Changes button.
- 1.7) How do I unsubscribe?
- To unsubscribe from the list, return to:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/nfj
and login using the email address and password provided to you in your NFJ subscription verification message.
You should see a list of all the onelist mailing lists you are currently subscribed to. Each list has a delivery options list. To unsubscribe, choose the Unsubscribe option from the list. Then click on the Save Changes button.
- 2.1) How do I submit my want list to NFJ?
- You can send a request to the following e-mail:
nfj@onelist.com
Your requests will be added to the list under the appropriate category. We assume all books are requested as paperbacks unless otherwise noted. New requestors should introduce themselves before they make any requests. Dealers are welcome on the list. However, we expect that dealers will not request books for resale, and that any books offered for sale will be at half price, or at least will be reasonably priced reading copies. This is not a forum for collectible books.
It is important that you format your requests in the following way:
Author's last name, Author's firstname/ TITLE- Category <your e-mail address> date of your request.
Any information you can provide, such as hardcover, paperback, maximum amount you want to spend, etc.
- For example:
- Nemecek, Larry/ THE STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION COMPANION
- television <me@abc.com> Dec 97
- paperback, $10.00 max
Formatting your entry in this manner saves Karen valuable time. Please be kind. If you are not sure of the category, just provide some information about what the book is about and Karen will try to categorize it.
- 2.2) What happens when a book is found for me?
- The searcher who found the book will e-mail you with the notification and let you know the details. They will also notify NFJ, so you don't have to.
- 2.3) What if two copies of the same book get found for me?
- Well, it would be great if requestors could buy both copies of the book. But it's up to you whether or not you just want the first copy found.
- 2.4) How much do you charge for books found?
- We charge only what we ourselves paid for these books at used bookstores. It is common that the searcher may ask half the cover price, tax, postage, and packaging costs.
Since nonfiction books are more likely to be found in hardcover form they therefore will be more expensive. If you have a maximum amount you are willing to pay for a book, please indicate that in the third line of your request.
- 2.5) Which gets sent first, the book or the payment?
- This is entirely up to you and the searcher. It should be handled via private e-mail.
- 2.6) How are packaging and postage handled?
- All books are sent at surface mail rates unless the requestor asks differently. Books have been packaged in mailing paper, manila envelopes, and padded envelopes. Unless the requestor specifies the kind of packaging, it is at the discretion of the searcher.
- 2.7) I haven't received a book that I paid for. What now?
- The honor system has worked really nicely for us. But if you have a problem, e-mail Deanna so she can keep a list of offenders and see if there is a pattern that the entire lists needs to know about.
- 2.8) Do you look for books that are still in print?
- Yes, we will include these titles on the search lists. However, some searchers will choose not to look for books that are still in print.
- 2.9) What if someone finds a book for me that I no longer want?
- The searcher is going on trust that your request is still valid if it is on the list. It is the requestor's responsibility to make sure that his or her requests are up-to-date. If you change your mind about a book, post a message to the list indicating that you no longer want it.
It is unfair to the searcher to refuse to purchase a book if you have not indicated to the list that you no longer want it.
- 3.1) How often are the search lists distributed?
- The updated search list will be posted approximately every two weeks. In between updates, searchers should keep track of what books have been found and requested.
- 3.2) Should we be looking for books that are still in print?
- In print books will be included on the search lists. But if you don't agree with the practice of buying still-in-print books used, then feel free to cross those titles off your copy of the search lists. You may also wish to notify the requestor that the book in question can still be obtained new.
- 3.3) If I find a wanted book, what do I do and who do I notify?
- When a book is found, the searcher should immediately e-mail NFJ and the requestor first in line on the list. Prompt notification to NFJ helps to avoid the hassle of duplicate finds for other searchers. Please do not just post the "found" message to the list and expect the requestor to notify you. Some subscribers may not read their list mail regularly. Send a message to both the NFJ list and the requestor.
- 3.4) What if the requestor hasn't returned any of my e-mail?
- If you've found a book for a requestor and they aren't responding to your notification, it's up to you about how to handle this. You might want to wait for a week just in case the requestor is on vacation or their mail server crashed, both of which have been known to happen. Or you might want to query the list in case someone knows the requestor.
- 3.5) The book I found is being sold at a collectible price/ is tattered/ has a clipped corner/ has writing on it. How do I handle this?
- Under any of these conditions, ask the requestor if she/he is willing to take the book before purchasing it yourself. Perhaps you can have the local bookseller set the book aside for you for a few days while you get confirmation from the requestor. In general, we're looking to match requestors up with intact inexpensive books.
- 3.6) If there are multiple requests for a book, who gets the first copy found?
- It's first come, first served. A found book should be offered to the first requestor listed under that title.
- 3.7) What if a book I find ends up being a duplicate copy?
- This has happened many a time to our searchers. Generally, letting a few days elapse between the initial request for the book and beginning a search for it cuts down on the chances of a searcher ending up with a duplicate copy. Or try to have the bookstore set aside the books for a few days while you check with the requestor to make sure that your copy is needed. Or only look for books that you wouldn't mind owning yourself.
But if you end up with an unwanted duplicate copy, one option is that you contact Deanna Ramsay for information on posting a booksale list. Or visit the FAQ page.
- 3.8) Once a book is found, how is payment handled?
- This is between you and the requestor to decide via private e-mail.
- 3.9) What kind of package do I send the books in?
- It's up to you, unless the requestor indicates a preference.
- 3.10) How do I deal with postage?
- Unless the requestor specifies the postage rates, use these suggestions. If you're sending books from the US to another US address (and this includes Guam), use First Class mail for packages 5 ounces or less (one slim paperback). If they weigh any more, send them Book Rate.
If you're sending books from the US to Canada, Europe, or the Pacific Rim, send books at surface rate. If the package is less than 8#, use "AO-Mail--Books" rate, and if the package weighs any more, add enough padding to get the weight up to the 11# required for the "M-Bag--Books" rate and send it that way.
REMEMBER: Specify both the SURFACE and the BOOKS part, since these rates are also available for other media besides books and for air mail.
If you find a book for someone in another country, please ask them for specific instructions on how they want the book mailed to them.
More detailed information on postal rates can be found on the US Postal Service web page.
- 3.11) I haven't received payment for a book I sent. What now?
- The honor system has worked nicely for us so far. But if you have a problem, e-mail Deanna so she can keep a list of offenders.
- 3.12) Are professional booksearchers/sellers allowed on the list?
- Anyone can join, but offering books to requestors for more than half-cover-price is not welcome. Ideally, NFJ is a second resort for requestors, with their own bookstores being the first and professional searchers being the third.
- 3.13) Can I sell my own books on NFJ?
- Yes, you can sell your own books to fulfill requests on the search lists, provided that you do so at half-cover-price or less. If you wish to sell for more than that amount, or sell non-requested books, then you may post a list no more than once a week (please read the Selling FAQ before posting) or you could try other arenas on the internet like the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.books.marketplace.
- 4.1) Is there profit in this?
- Put as simply as possible -- no. This is a hobby, our members receive no fees or dues. This is NOT a business for us, and none of our members have legal connections with each other. What we are, essentially, is a gathering of friends from mailing lists and word-of-mouth who love to search used bookstores for our other friends. This list was provided as a favor and for fun, and neither of the list owner nor the list moderator make a profit on this.
- 5.1) How did this list begin?
- This list was started in December of 1997 as an offshoot of BSJ (Bookstore Junkies). The traffic on that list prohibited adding another category of Non Fiction books, so this list was set up for that purpose.
- 5.2) Who maintains NFJ and where can I ask questions?
- This list is hosted and administered by Deanna, who can be reached at deanna@ramsaybooks.com. Karen compiles the request list. You can reach her at karendawn@yahoo.com
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