I got a book in the mail today and this may need to be the first time I mark RWAP... the whole of the front cover is bent in half and the spine is a brittle, flaky mess. It still holds the pages, and I don't mind the yellowness of age, although there is a small stain on the bottom. Overall I would NOT post this book. But I am not sure if I am being unreasonable. I took pictures...

The spine creases are not a RWAP issue by themselves.  I'm not sure the folded cover would be an issue either, but  I wonder about the peeling near the top of the spine. 

I think this is one of those cases where you've gotten a book that is technically postable but at the end of its reading life. I wouldn't mark it RWAP if it were me, but I wouldn't try to post it again, either.

At this point in a book's life, my question becomes how available is this book?  I'd be much more willing to get a rare and out of print book like that.  I'd be furious if a Dan Brown showed up like that.

This is the 1986 version of the book, and it was originally from 1980, though it has been republished all through the 1990's.

I know the book picture isn't always true, but I had hoped for a newer version.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/book/details/9780515087567-A+Regency+Match

This was going to be a book for my collection, but I won't hold onto one in such bad condition. ;__;

Postable, but definitely deserving some venting.  Sorry you got such a book.  I wouldn't have posted it. 

And on my beat up OOP ones, I usually PM a warning of the books condition, offering to either cancel or add a freebie.

Does the ISBN of the book you received match what you requested? Amazon shows a book with the cover that you received as 0425045145 and the book you requested as 0515087564.

Edited to add - I've received older editions of books I requested and often (but not always) they were listed under the wrong ISBN, which would be a RWAP swap.

I can't tell for sure but is the cover taped together at the spine?  If so that would be a rwap.  Staining  would be a rwap.  But I can see where this will be a difficult decision.  I personally would not ever send a book in that condition without prior communication.

The ISBN on the book is the same as the 10 from here, and the book is not taped, the cover was just bent back at the middle and near the spine, so it looks like a white line from wear.

I appreciate everybody's opinion. I ended up RWAP the book, but not requesting not to have my credit back. I decided that since it had X, Y, Z wrong with it teetering near the issue line it = a problem. But I don't want to cost anyone money since I do have a book in my possession. Still, they should feel like a heel for sending a book in such ragtag condition. o__x;

I think if it has a stain, that would make it a RWAP.

I would accept the book with out an RWAP but I would not repost it. Someone has to be the last person to get a book. I would donate it if you didn't want to keep it.  I just posted a bunch of books and a few of them are from the 70's. They are still in decent shape only becasue the person I got them from read them once and they have been on the shelf in her basement ever since.

I've received a couple books like that. I didn't RWAP them, though. One of them definitly ends with me even though I feel it could be read a couple more times, which I probably will! The other I haven't read yet so I'm not sure about it. It's an out of print book so if I don't feel a strong desire to keep it, I would probably swap it again since I'm sure someone else will be happy to receive and read it in its well read condition.

I'm not really sure why you marked it RWAP. Be sure to mark it resolved since you aren't asking your credit back. They didn't really send an unpostable according to PBS guidlines (unless there are rips or stains we can't see in the pictures that you didn't mention) so it would suck if they had to have a double black mark on their account.

I'd have to see it in person and look through it.  You said there is a stain?  NO STAINS ALLOWED!!  That would be a RWAP to me.  If you don't want to ask for the credit to be returned that's your call.  But I would answer in the survey PM to them about the stain and that the book will obviously end with you because of its condition.  Maybe the sender will get a clue.

Ruth

The first sentence of the Book Criteria for Swappability says,

"When you Post a book, you are asked to confirm that the book is "in good condition, and not excessively worn".

It would be hard to argue that this book was in good condition, IMHO.  I like your solution -- mark it RWAP, but not ask for your credit back.

Stain = RWAP.  No doubt about that.  Can cause mold-growth issues through an entire book shelf.  I would RWAP it!