I just received a book that has a tear in the cover that is 2-1/2" long.  I received it "with a problem" and requested my credit back.  The individual said she was sorry that "I FOUND HER BOOK UNACCEPTABLE".  She returned my credit and told me not to order from her again.

She also said she would put the book on her wishlist, so I could send it back to her when I'm done.  

I copied the guidelines for her to let her know it was unacceptable per the guidelines.  She has a long wait for this particular copy, because it will not be posted again.

I would also be hesitant if I was going to send her the copy back that she would get it and never mark it received and then you would be out the credit.

Second, does she not realize that you don't have a choice on whether you order from her again...she needs to remember FIFO

I wouldn't send it back to her, you're not obligated to and you already got your credit returned.  Sounds like she'll just go and repost it again.

Besides, if you were to post it directly to her WL, you'd then be violating the posting guidelines since the book is unpostable to start with.

Thanks for your support.  This is the first time I have actually asked for a credit back for an unpostable book.  But, I realize that if I just let it slide like I have in other instances, these people are never going to learn that they should have followed the rules in the first place.

I did tell her that we have no choice who we order from and that if I should, by chance, order from her again she should feel free to cancel if she doesn't wish to continue with the transaction.

I'll tape up the book and after reading it, offer as an unpostable with an order from my shelf (which I have done with other bad books I received).

and see if we ordered from the same person :)

Your scenario sounds a lot like one of my RWP's from a month ago.

Kevin

I got a book from a person that was actually gnawed on by some kind of animal and had damage to several pages also. The person couldn't believe I wanted my credit back (the very first time I have ever asked). She said she got it that way and read it like that made it okay. I think she actually got it from a Library sale since it was withdrawn from a libray. It was a hardbound book published this year so you know it was in bad shape to be withdrawn so soon. She eventually gave me my credit back after I sent her the guidelines and she got the notice from PBS.

I have a similar situation in limbo.  I received a book that clearly didn't meet the guidelines.  I'm pretty forgiving on what I receive and know that I'll get books that have reached the end of the line with me.  No problem.  This book was just, well, bad on several levels. I marked it RWAP and asked for my credit back. 

Cool... the sender refunded my credit and asked that I return the book.  I explained that according to the Help Center, she'd have to either buddy me another credit, or cover the cost of the postage for the reurn of the book.  Haven't  heard from her since.  I have a book that she wants back ( and I feel bad about that) and it's absolutely of no use to me.  I requested it for a soldier and it isn't a genre I'm interested in reading.  I'd like to get it back to her, but I'm not willing to eat the postage costs.

Jo, definitely do NOT send the book back unless the other person sends you the postage or buddies you a credit up front.  You let them know that, the ball's in their court now and they know what they need to do to get their book back.

I'd give them ample time to respond to you, a good week or so.  Then, I'd pass the book along to the soldier if it's in good enough condition to send to them.  Should the sender contact you again after that, just let them know you gave them a week to either send you the credit or ask for your address to send you postage money.  Since they didn't respond in a timely manner, you've donated the book and no longer have it.

IMO, people often say that they want the book back, but when push comes to shove they won't fork out the credit to have you send it.  I think it's a knee-jerk defensive response for some people when they get a RWAP.  Maybe they're testing you somehow because they think you are lying about the book condition?  This is the feeling I got from my last two RWAPs.  But when I happily agreed to send back their book if they send me a credit (along with volunteering to e-mail photos of the damage) funny how no one took me up on it.  Both transactions were resolved amicabily, but I think the "send me the book back" thing is just a first impulse of many people. 

Sara

I think you're probably right.  I marked one as not resolved by the sender this morning.  It was a wrong book RWAP, but the same response of "send back the book and I'll refund your credit".  No response when I quoted the help docs where they state I am not obligated to do that but can if she reimburses me for the postage or gives me an additional credit.  My thinking on this is ALWAYS mark the transactions RWAP regardless of what the senders does or does not do to resolve the problem.  Correspondence with the sender should be initiated from the RWAP process, and not an inbox sent before marking the book received.  If they resolve it, the transaction record is going to show that, and I'm sure the PBS PTB are going to take into account when reviewing problem transactions that people do make honest mistakes.  What's important is that they are willing to follow the site rules and follow the guidelines for resolving them.