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Hey, just wanted to throw it out there that I'm working on something slightly related https://swapiverse.com/ https://swapiverse.com/ I'm making a decentraliz

by vuciv1 6y ago

Hey, just wanted to throw it out there that I'm working on something slightly related https://swapiverse.com/ https://swapiverse.com/ I'm making a decentralized book swapping platform. You give a book away and get the right to access any book that anyone has listed. Reduces waste, and saves everyone money Not sure if we will add in reviews for the MVP, but it's definitely looking like a cleaner version of goodreads. Here are some screenshots: https://twitter.com/_joshuafonseca/status/1380289469144784899?s=19 https://twitter.com/_joshuafonseca/status/138028946914478489...

miloszkowal 6y ago
Curious, how is this different from paperbackswap.com, which has been in operation for over a decade, and has hundreds of users online at any given time? The UI of swapiverse is good, but you might have to overcome the same network effects that Goodreads has.
- vuciv1 6y ago
  I personally found paperbackswap was outdated, does not have a constantly updated supply, and charges a large surcharge per book. So, I believe the answer here is a better user experience, cheaper prices, and a modern approach.
- vuciv1 6y ago
  Oh, and worth considering I'm working very hard to make this expandable to any consumable. Want to also swap video games? Pc parts? I just have to fill the database and add a filter option
the_lonely_road 6y ago
This feels like one of those things that will be ruined by bad actors. Finding cheap worthless books for free or next to free is quite easy. I could get my hands on 10K "books" right now for the cost of picking them up and storing them. If there is anything valuable on your site it will likely be quickly swapped out for garbage by some "entrepreneur" flipping them to a for sale site. The project looks cool and I wish you the best of luck in designing solutions to avoid bad actors.
- grok22 6y ago
  But the swap is for free (+cost of shipping). So of no value to one of those kinds of entrepreneurs (unless maybe they find a way to arbitrage shipping costs).
- vuciv1 6y ago
  I hear you. I've thought about this. I believe the cost of shipping will be paid for by the person shipping it out. I am not an economist, but my idea is that even if someone is doing this, the economy works itself out because they still gave away a book that someone wanted. And if the books are that garbage, nobody will request them. Of course, this is all theory and I'll have to see/adjust as it happens.

by vuciv1 6y ago

miloszkowal 6y ago

Curious, how is this different from paperbackswap.com, which has been in operation for over a decade, and has hundreds of users online at any given time? The UI of swapiverse is good, but you might have to overcome the same network effects that Goodreads has.

vuciv1 6y ago
I personally found paperbackswap was outdated, does not have a constantly updated supply, and charges a large surcharge per book. So, I believe the answer here is a better user experience, cheaper prices, and a modern approach.
vuciv1 6y ago
Oh, and worth considering I'm working very hard to make this expandable to any consumable. Want to also swap video games? Pc parts? I just have to fill the database and add a filter option

the_lonely_road 6y ago

This feels like one of those things that will be ruined by bad actors. Finding cheap worthless books for free or next to free is quite easy. I could get my hands on 10K "books" right now for the cost of picking them up and storing them. If there is anything valuable on your site it will likely be quickly swapped out for garbage by some "entrepreneur" flipping them to a for sale site. The project looks cool and I wish you the best of luck in designing solutions to avoid bad actors.

grok22 6y ago
But the swap is for free (+cost of shipping). So of no value to one of those kinds of entrepreneurs (unless maybe they find a way to arbitrage shipping costs).
vuciv1 6y ago
I hear you. I've thought about this. I believe the cost of shipping will be paid for by the person shipping it out. I am not an economist, but my idea is that even if someone is doing this, the economy works itself out because they still gave away a book that someone wanted. And if the books are that garbage, nobody will request them. Of course, this is all theory and I'll have to see/adjust as it happens.