Frequently Asked Questions
How do credits work?
Every account starts with 5 free credits. You earn 1 credit for every book you put on the platform, and 5 credits each time one of your books is borrowed. Borrowing a book takes 5 credits. If you delete a book you shared, the 1 credit it earned is taken back. You can see your balance and full history under Settings > Credits.
Can I buy credits?
Yes. Go to Settings > Credits (or tap your credit balance at the top of the page) and pick a pack: 5 credits for $5, 15 credits for $12, or 30 credits for $20.
What is book protection?
Book protection keeps lenders covered if a book isn't returned. When sharing a book, the lender sets a book value ($0 to $50) and chooses the level of protection they'd like from: every borrower, only borrowers who aren't 5-star members (a perfect 5.0 rating from at least 3 reviews), or no one.
What if a book isn't returned?
If the book has protection and isn't returned by the deadline, the borrower is charged the book value set by the lender (up to $50), and that amount is paid to the lender. Without protection, the lender isn't compensated, so please return books on time!
How should I set the book value?
Set it close to what it would cost to replace the book, between $0 and $50. This is what the borrower is charged if the book isn't returned or comes back badly damaged.
What's the timeline for a borrow?
Request sent: 5 credits are set aside and the lender has 7 days to accept or decline. Lender accepts: if protection applies, the borrower has 5 days to place the hold, otherwise the request expires and the book stays listed. Then you have 7 days to meet. Exchange confirmed: the 5 credits go to the lender. Book returned: any protection hold is released.
Is self publishing encouraged?
Yes, NYC Book Project is built with self publishing in mind. You can share your manuscript as long as it is in book shape.
How do I set up payouts?
A payout account is only needed to receive book protection money if a borrower doesn't return your book. Set it up through Stripe. Go to Settings > Lender Payouts and click "Set Up Payouts". It takes about 5 minutes to complete. You only need to do this once.
Payout Setup Cheatsheet
Here's what you'll need when setting up your payout account:
- Business type:Individual
- Industry:Retail > Other Retail (or similar)
- Your website:sfbookproject.com
- Statement descriptor:SF Book Project (this appears on bank statements)
- Personal info:Name, address, date of birth, last 4 of SSN
- Bank account:Routing number and account number for payouts