Last week, I posted a WL book that I had gotten new at a buy-3-get-1-free sale. The book was quickly accepted and I sent it out. This morning, I found that it had been marked RWAP. The problem? The requestor said that this is a used book site and therefore only used books should be posted, and she was angry about receiving a new book. She had no RC about her conditions, and when I PMed her and gently informed her that if she has conditions outside of PBS posting rules, she should include an RC, she PMed me back that it should be obvious that she only wanted used books, because this is a used book site. She also said she wants her credit back (she's not getting it).

I have looked at the PBS posting rules several times when making sure a book was postable, and I could find no indication that brand new books with no flaws were unpostable. Am I missing something here, or is this person just being difficult?

Bizarre is the only word for it. I'm scratching my head over this one. The book condition is too good? Have you suggested she throw it around a little to beat it up?

susan/vt

What the....?  Perhaps she thinks you stole it? But honestly, it sounds nuttier than that. I think this one is worth reporting.

That's one of the oddest things I've ever heard!!  Why on earth would you complain about getting a new/like new book?!!  I would be thrilled! (And I suspect 99.9999% of everyone on PBS would be as well!)

You can't please everybody all the time!  LOL

Wow, I don't get it either. Besides how does she know it is brand new? Maybe you read it without it being obvious. Some people can do that. And I know a lot of people leave the price stickers on books so that couldn't tell her either.

So weird. What does she want from her books? I have plenty of books that look like new even though they've been read. I wonder if she'd want her credit back if I sent a book to her.

the Recipient needs Gratitude Attitude (like Oprah recommends)! How strange!

Erica, ask her to contact a tour guide -- either her own from the top of her Personal Messages page, or through Live Help, under the Help Menu.  Hang on to your credit -- be sure you are PMing her via the transactions archive, or as a continuation of a thread that was started when she marked the book RWAP.  That way all this info will be permanantly attached to the transaction.  Hopefully she'll come to the place where she submits feedback in her transactions archive that she marked it RWAP by mistake, but if not, the Admin Team will have all the info if they ever look at the transaction.

I wonder if she thinks she had to pay more for a new book or something.

LOL - that is bizarre.

I would be inclined to reply with " I was the first owner of the book - you are the second owner - therefore, the book I sent you is secondhand & used."

She has no way of knowing whether you have read the book or not. AS fo her wanting her credit back - this is laughable. You should forward her emails to TPTB - I'm sure they need the laugh too.

Very strange. I can't imagine what she's thinking.

I frequently buy used books that look "like new" or still have price stickers on them.  I don't take off the stickers if they don't peel off easily so I don't damage the cover.  When I buy new discouned books, I read and post and many of them will look like they were never opened, depends on the book paper and cover.

That is really bizarre.  I frequently find books at thrift stores that have never been read. Of course I usually read them before I send them out but there have been times when I've decided I'm no longer intersted in a book that has never been read and just post it and send it on to a new home. 

And technically the book is used: it was no longer new when they boxed it up and mailed it to you. Even though you just posted it and sent it on to her. It was still a used book. 

I'm wondering if she's hoping to get a free book by throwing a tantrum and demanding her credit back.

I've heard a lot of strange things since I became a tour guide but I think this must be at the top of the list. Complaining because you got a book in great condition!!! What is the world coming to!

Please follow Patty's advice, Erica. You should definitely NOT give this person her credit back and if she has any questions, one of us (TGs) could advice her.

That is about the biggest nut I've heard of.

I wouldn't handle this person with kid gloves, I'd be polite, but firm and tell her that she marked the book as a RWAP against the site rules for that and unless she can point out an official problem descibed in the rules for RWAP she better go into the transaction and change the status to marked in error or I would be sending her PMs to the site admin and asking them to change it for her.  That is just plain crap and you shouldn't have to deal with a black mark on your account nor the demands for the credit back. This person needs their ideas of how the site works adjusted quickly.  There is absolutely no reason that someone should be thinking they can do this.

LOL. OMG, this is the BEST thing I've heard since joining this site. I'm sorry you have to put up with it, but it really is hilarious. Please follow the advice the other TGs have given you and direct her to one of us. We'll explain things to her. Melanie is correct as well about how there's no reason you should have to have a black mark on your account due to this. If you have to, you can and should go to the Team on this one. They'll make sure your account is unmarked and the woman understands the rules.

Geesh, now I need to worry when I send out like new books as well. All my books I mail (not originally gotten through PBS) are read but look brand new, because that's how I am. It never occurred to me that someone could possibly have a problem with getting a book that is or looks brand new. And to ask for a credit back because the book isn't used enough for her? Is she nuts? Here, I always worried about making sure I sent books that weren't too worn. This is crazy.

Gee whiz, Erica, maybe you should have driven over it a couple of times with your car first.  What were you thinking?  lol

I mean, really!  Sending a brand new WL book?  hmph.  The least you could do was break the binding.    (ok...just having a little fun with ya.grin)

I need to go check your bookshelf.  I like you already. 

This is the best thing I've heard all day. I'm over the moon when I receive a book in prime condition - the last thing I'd do is complain because a book is in prime shape. The last two trade-size paperbacks I received were in awesome conditon, one looked like new. Yeah, like I complained......more like doing the happy dance in the kitchen.

We have a notary at work and there are times when I'm tempted to have her notarize my mailings. I have unread paperbacks that are 20 years old that look like new, maybe I should tweak the cover a bit, dog-ear a couple of pages just in case I get this requestor.

Gail

Gail, give it to a 2 year old to play with for an hour before you send it.  Just don't leave any drool stains on it.  lol

Reminds me of a commercial where the mom had to replace her daughter's raggedy stuffed animal.  She slammed the car door on it a few times, dragged it in the dirt...you get the picture.  Then when her daughter got it she was so excited because she believed it to be the original.

Hmmmm.............makes you wonder, doesn't it?  lol

all i can say is WTF?????????????????

I'm imagining that after that traumatizing experience with Erica's brand new book (the nerve! Sending a brand new book when PBS is a used book site!), this member will write an RC as follows:

I want to remind you that PBS is a used book site so under no circumstances I will accept a brand new book (if you send me one, I will RWAP it and request my credit back.) Books can be from very good to good condition, but not unpostable! (I'll RWAP those too.) Do not, I repeat, do NOT try to slip in a brand new book in the guise of 'it's like new!' because I am able to detect if the book has ever been read! (That's my superpower.) So no shiny covers, no new book smell, or it will be RWAP with you!

You had some nerve sending a a brand new WL book... what were you thinking?!?  Personally, I think you should be flogged with the Giant PBS Bookmark for the audacity of it all!  

Ummm... please feel free to take a peek at my WL if you'd like.

Wow!  Let me pick my jaw up off the floor!  I am speechless!

My husband's response: "That's a pretty weird fetish."

Freaky. She's just being difficult, and probably wants a bunch of attention. I'd just ignore her and move along.

Cheryl