I'm not sure what to do.  I think this might be the first RWAP I've gotten.  I've had bad packaging but the books arrive okay, but not this time.

The package was sent taped only with scotch tape and got ripped down the side during transit, a side where no tape was and probably wouldn't have been even if packing tape was used.

The book has stains and a tear.  I think that the tear on the back cover that is 1/2 inch long was caused due to the packaging ripping in transit.  I am assuming that there were no tears in packaging before it was mailed.

The stain most certainly had to have happened while a person was reading it due to the direction of the stain spread.  The stain line does line up with the tear side, but had someone spilled tea along that side it wouldn't have seeped only into the book and only starting on one particular page, then getting less on the following pages.. would it?  Plus the upper corner of that page and following pages show more staining/liquid damage.  Page 137 is where it starts and goes beyond past that but page 136 has no stains at all.

So which do I put down.. damaged by sender or damaged by USPS.   Or do I just do nothing, because the book is readable.. just not re-postable unfortunately.  I don't think this is a case of someone having to be the book's last stop, this book would be in great shape had it not been stained and back cover torn.  I'm tired and I don't know what to do.  Do I need to get pictures or what do I do please?  

I would pick "damaged by sender" due to the stain. Yes, it was also damaged by USPS, but I believe that option is more for scenarios when all damage occurred after leaving the sender's possession.

ETA I see now that you're not 100% sure about the stain. Without seeing the book, it's difficult to assess what you've described. Was the packaging stained at all?

Which came first - the chicken or the egg?  From what I'm reading the 'tea' stains were there before the book was shipped, therefore that's ''water' damage, which made the book unpostable, and would warrant a RWAP and you to ask for your credit back if you wanted to.  The fact that there was damage to the book possibly caused by USPS would have no bearing in this case.  If there was only damage by the USPS (tear on cover), then it would be a 'damaged by USPS" and you wouldn't be able to ask for your credit back. 

Regardless of whether you ask for your credit back or not, you need to mark the book RWAP if the stan/water damage was done by the sender.  Pat

Oh man, you know what I didn't even consider that.  I just looked it over really good.  Definitely zero staining on the packaging.   hehe that's what I get for looking over it when I'm tired hehehe

I'll do the RWAP damaged by sender, then if she wants photos I can get her some to send off.  This book was a hassle, timed out three or four times before finding someone who would send it.  Thanks very  much :)

Thanks so much Pat!  I just saw your reply after I hit submit :)

You guys are great, thanks again!

I think you should mark it damaged by USPS. If the wrapping is ripped and there is clearly other damage caused by the open/ripped packaging, then I think you should just assume all the damage came from that. Especially, if you can't really tell, like you have said. You also said the damage lines up with the rip. And, water in transit may very well have caused the wrapping to rip in the first place.

Now, usually for books that are damaged in transit, you would be stuck eating the credit ... but if your book was only packaged in scotch tape, then I think you could make a case that the book was not packaged adequately, and thus, ask for your credit back on that basis.

To echo what others have said, you have to go with your best judgement.  If you think it was stained before being wrapped, mark it "damaged by sender."  I also wanted to add this to the mix, about books that are damaged by USPS:

If you feel that the wrapping of the book contributed to its damage en route:

• You can tell the sender this in a Personal Message
  • Please be gentle!  The sender may be new to bookswapping.
  • You can ask for your credit to be refunded if you believe it is warranted.
• You can share your own tips on wrapping technique, and/or refer the sender to the Help items on wrapping a book.
• You can also comment on the wrapping in the Comments box at the bottom of the survey portion of the Book Received page, so these details are recorded on the transaction in our records.

Thanks everyone :) 

I am really quite shocked at the response I received from the sender.  I am stunned at it being hinted in the PM that I am pulling a scam.  Flabbergasted is a good way to describe how I feel.

I am really quite shocked at the response I received from the sender.  I am stunned at it being hinted in the PM that I am pulling a scam.  Flabbergasted is a good way to describe how I feel.

I'm sorry that you received a less than nice response.  Considering that it's coming from a member that uses Scotch tape for mailing should make you feel a bit better.

I'd guess that the sender is feeling a bit defensive.  I would continue to ask for the credit back.  You could offer to send the book back for a 2nd credit to cover shipping. 

If you are able to, sometimes taking a picture or 2 and posting it can help. I've had to do this a time or 2 when I received the "I know the book I sent didn't have any damage" response.