This may be a dumb question, but I don't want to get screwed either way.

I received a request for a FIFO book (as of now, I have the only copy in the system) with conditions, but the conditions were blank. Seriously:

The member that has requested this book has put the following conditions in their account:

I don't know which is the best step to take.

If I accept the request, then PM the requesting member, and end up having to cancel it (I live with three smoking roommates), I'll get a black mark on my account (I've had to do this a few times when I asked requestors to clarify conditions), and when I post the book again, I'll have to go through the steps again.

However, if I deny the request, the book may be acceptable after all, and I don't know when the next time someone might accept the request.

I also don't know if this person just put in conditions to later mark "did not meet conditions" (most likely not true -- can't you tell I'm paranoid? lol!)

Aaah! All of this confusion and tomorrow's my only Post Office day for the week!

So, accept or deny?

Considering that you have the only copy in the system, I would deny, with an explanation - the person needs to know about this because it's going to come up on every single one of their requests, likely with the same result you're experiencing...confusion.  Then they can just re-request from you.  Just my two cents....those requestor conditions scare me!  =)

I thought that when you deny because of conditions, the requestor can no longer request that book from you (another concern I had).

Oh!  I didn't know that!  I'll let someone who knows more about conditions take that one......

You don't get a black mark against your account if you cancel a transaction.  As long as you aren't letting multiple requests time out or chronically sending out bad books. I personally would probably decline this one.  When it asks why just say the conditions were blank and your roommates smoke so you were afraid to say yet. 

This is why I really wish there was a PM button on a pending request.  There's a PM button when a WL book is on hold. But not when a request is pending. 

When conditions are unclear or highly subjective-I hit decline.  I'd rather have the book sit on myshelf longer than have to deal with a problem transaction. 

I just declined a request with conditions.  I didn't decline because of the conditions, but because I didn't have money to mail this large book until Friday.

After declining I rethought my decision and went to the transaction archive and PM'd the person explaining why I had declined.  She said she was still interested and would reorder and I would mail on Friday.  Well, the book had been removed from my bookshelf when I declined, so I had to repost it.  She then requested it again, because apparently she was still first in line on the wishlist.

I suppose you could decline "For Other Reasons" and then PM from the transaction archive and make private arrangements? 

Edit: Oh wait.  I suppose if you have the only copy and a line of people waiting it would automatically go to the next person in line.  Can you accept and then PM her and cancel if she doesn't want it?  I'm just confusing things, aren't I?  I'll stop talking now... =0)

It sounds like they simply accidentally/unknowingly, clicked to turn on RCs but don't have any. You could always cancel after you accecpted if they really did have intentions of putting RCs in there. It wouldn't hurt your account if there were PMs indicating the reason for doing so. They do take reasons into consideration when they look at tally's of cancellations from an account.

Also Lisa: you have 5 days to accept a book request and then 7 days after in which to mark it mailed.  I would have waited a few days to accept and then selected the last possible mail by date.  Then you would have had 2 days after in which to mark it mailed.  I woudl have then PM'd the person and said I can't mail it until payday on Friday just to let them know you're not intending to let it time out. 

Ding ding ding ding ding. Sherry guessed correctly and wins the grand prize. The rest of you get lovely parting gifts. That was fun...I always wanted to be a game show host, unfortunately I don't have the right hair.

Yea...I must have accidentally hit "yes" on "requestor conditions" while exploring the site a few months back. But I don't have any additional requests beyond PBS's standard conditions. I fixed the error on my profile. Thanks, Nicole,  for checking with me rather than denying. Smokey homes are ok with me. Sorry for the inconvenience.

hahaha this is funny! Twice in a week or so we've had accidental RCs be the topic of discussion!

Hope you haven't missed to many books because of your NONE RCs, Mike! hahaha I'm glad Nicole PM'd you :)