Tonight I had a BOB swap with someone. I have requestor conditions that are really specific. We were going to swap 2 books. They accepted the offer and I printed out the postage ($2.31) and packed the books. Then they email me and tell me one of the books is basically a mess and the other one they can't find because they recently moved and have boxes everywhere. I told them they should have told me before they accepted the swap as I've already printed out the postage. At this point I would like to decline the swap. Is there anyway to get my postage back?

I don't think there is any way to get your postage back. It goes directly to the USPS when you buy it so R & R have no control over refunding it. I'm sorry that happened to you :(

Tammy

I don't think so. But, you could ask them for a credit to make up for the cost of postage since it is already all packaged up. That's what I would do if I couldn't find any other books from thier shelf or was in a situation like yours. I can't believe they didn't put thier account on hold until they had things back on track.

If there's no books on their shelf you'd like instead, I'd also ask for a credit.  Easy to say they shouldn't have accepted the box, but I've done that before, and then couldn't find the book - I felt awful!

Thanks for the response ladies.

I can understand not having one of the books. Sometimes you forget to remove something from your bookshelf, so it does happen, but to have 2 out of 2 screwed up and still accept isn't right. I've learned (from experience) to always check the books and make sure I have them before I approve any transactions now. I always feel bad if someone requests something and I don't have it. I'll always make up for it though, either by offering them a deal (2 for 1 or something) or resolve it however they'd like to.

I think I will ask her for a credit. There's nothing else I really want on her shelf and at this point, she probably can't find that or the book is also messed up so I really don't trust the person anymore. I'd just like to end the transaction at this point.

Update: Last night I decided to cancel the BOB since it was worthless and I PM'd her and told her why and told her I would send her two books out for a credit or two. I still haven't heard from her. I don't expect I will. I guess I lost the money and will chalk it up to experience. Now I'd like to leave negative feedback (I hate to do that to anyone) but I'm afraid I'll end up with negative feedback as well. Dilemma's dilemma's.

I'm not sure you can leave feedback, since you cancelled the BOB, unfortunately. But, it might take her a day or two to respond. Some people just are not on everyday :)

She did respond today a few times. First she claims she didn't approve the BOB, which is ridiculous since I wouldn't have been able to print out the postage and wrapper. Then she claims she's new at this (She has 20 BOBs under her belt). Then she says I should be able to get my postage back from PBS. Then she tells me that her one book that she has (she miraculously found the other one overnight) is in good condition by Amazon.com standards. HUH? She told me yesterday the covers were torn and the spine was broken. Good condition? Unreal. Then a little while ago she told me she'll mail me the two books...no thanks. I told her I'm not interested in trading with her. I'll take the money loss and chalk it up to experience. I was able to leave negative feedback (I really hate to do this but this transaction was ridiculous and I wouldn't want anyone else to go through this) but I'm betting I'll get some in return. Steer clear of this one!!  [[name edited by PBS]]

**We would like to remind our members that while it is fine to vent in the Discussion forums, it is not all right to name names.  Only one side of the story is given here.  The proper place for Boxer feedback is in Box-O-Books, where the other Boxer will have a chance to respond.**

I use Endicia to do my postage and I can request a refund if the postage is not used.  There has to be a way to get a refund for postage on PBS since tracking and delivery confirmation are used here as well.  I came here to ask this very question and saw that it had already been posted.  I am surprised to see myself made out as such a bad person here!

I did not know I accepted this BOB because when I hit the accept button I got a message asking if the books meet the requestor conditions (I had not noticed them before that) and I hit "cancel" at that point to check with the person.  I described the one book that was on my swap shelf (already unpacked from the move) since it does have some cover wear, edge wear, and the spine is creased.  It is not what I would call a "mess" - it meets Amazon.com standards for "good" and it certainly meets PBS standards.  The second book is one I had two copies of and one copy was mooched on Book Mooch.  Instead of removing it here, I left it in my inventory while it is in my TBR pile.  I unpacked the second book but then the transaction was canceled before I could even describe the book.  I offered to send both books and throw in a freebie but I don't have an address to send to since the transaction was canceled.  The books I requested are not ones I would want to spend points on (I did not initiate the request) but I was willing to trade for them.  Am I being unfair somehow?

Ivy, you posted as I was typing a message here.  The description you posted above was not the description I gave you for the book.  Here are my exact words:

"I want to be sure the books meet your expectations. Fatal Dosage has cover wear, including a crease to the back cover corner, and edge wear. The spine is somewhat heavily creased. I have to find Careless Whispers since I had two copies and I am not sure the condition of the copy I still have since it is on my TBR pile. We just moved so many of my books are still boxed up as I am working on unpacking. Let me look for it later tonight when I have time and I will describe the book for you."

It clearly states in my requestor conditions the types of books I"m looking for. You didn't read that and send me that message until AFTER you accepted the BOB and postage was printed out from PBS. I also sent you the following message below:

"I don't see anything else on your shelf that I want and since you can't find the other book that leaves me with 2 books that you want that are already paid for and packed. At this point I'd like to cancel the BOB transaction because there's no point in keeping it going, but I think it would be fair if I sent you the two books you requested and you can send me a credit or two to make up for the postage that's already paid for. Let me know what you want to do please. Thank you- Ivy "

We both know what the coversation was after that which included you saying you never accepted the BOB (which you did) and that I can get my postage back (which I can't).

At this point I'm not interested in going any further with this. It's a waste of everyone's time. Chalk it up to bad experience.

Live and learn. From now on before I swap I BOB I'm asking if the other person has all the books and has read my requestor conditions BEFORE I print out the postage.

And...as predicted, they left me negative feedback just because I left them negative feedback. Lovely huh?

How could I possibly leave anything but negative feedback for this transaction when you have been so rude?!  I was trying to work with you when you went and left negative feedback for me.  You can't treat people this way and expect them to find much positive to say about it.

How was I rude? I came onto the discussion forum to find a positive solution to this. I received responses from several members and followed their suggestions? How was I rude? Rude is calling someone a name or making a derogatory or abusive comment towards someone, neither of which I did.

BTW, the Forum Policy states that "We are now asking that this site be ISSUE FREE". I suggest we end this discussion and as I mentioned chalk it up to bad experience and move on.