I requested an audiobook which arrived in the mail tonight.  The case is smashed into many pieces.  The actual CD's seem OK.   I don't know if the sender received it in this same condition, or if the damage was from the USPS.  It was only wrapped in brown paper. 

I'm wondering if there will be any problem relisting the audiobook when I'm done.  Are there are rules concerning the case?  Does it have to have the original case or can I replace it?  Is the cracked case that falls into three or four pieces OK?  I couldn't find anything in my quick check of the rules. 

Also, if the case is smashed, would it be considered damaged?  Or is it just damaged if the CD's don't play correctly?

Robin

This is what the site says about the cases

Audiobooks

• Audiobooks must be originals--not copies!
  • Copies are illegal.  Swapping illegal materials here will get you expelled from the club.
  • burned audio downloads are not permitted on the site--these could be legal (being the only copies you made), but since there is no way to verify this, they are not permitted.

• Audiobooks do NOT have to include the box that enclosed the individual cassettes/CDs
  • The audiobooks should be packaged well if the box is missing, to prevent damage by USPS en route
  • Audio CDs must be shipped in a way that will protect them from scratching (CD cases/DVD cases work well), if the original box is missing
• Audiobooks must be playable to be swapped here, without more than three (minor) skips.
• "Playaway" audio books must include the headphones (batteries do NOT have to be included).

The box and/or jewelcase are not required to be included with audio (sort of like the dust jacket with hardcovers), so it isn't damaged or necessary unless someone has a Requestor Condition about it.

Says the Help Center:

"Audiobooks do NOT have to include the box that enclosed the individual cassettes/CDs"

As someone who sometimes swaps audio books, I'd encourage you to test each CD before marking it received, to be sure the disks play properly and aren't damaged -- whatever crushed the jewel case could certainly have scratched the discs.

Amber & Elizabeth - Thanks for the information.  So glad the case doesn't really matter.  But I will take your advice and check out each CD for damage.

Robin

another question- hope OP doesn't mind--

I borrowed an audio book from the  library.  There was something wrong with the 2nd cd as about 3 or 4 tracks had no audio.... what do you do in that case- 

I only deal in Audio CD's and i have found that Freecycle or Craigslist , "Free" category always has CD jewel cases for free. It's a great resource to put CD's in good cases

Adrienne -- try it in your car's CD player.  (The car CD player can often read things that a normal CD player can't.)  If it doesn't work, report it to the library.

It was my car.  Yea, I was going to let them know.

I would wish if everyone who sends audiobooks would use padded mailers. I just had an audiobook sent to me with CD number 2 unplayable because of a crack. They wrapped it in paper not a padded mailer. Bubble mailers I think do make a difference if the book is smashed at the USPS.