Several days ago I recieved a book I had ordered. I opened the package, so which book it was and marked it recieved. The next day I actually took the book out to look at it and realized there was something all over the cover and dripped down the side pages which looked suspiciously like blood. (The cover is very dark; that's why I didn't notice it initially.) I was able to wipe it off the cover, but there isn't anything I can do about the sides.

I PM'd the sender and in her first reply she said it could possibly be blood because she didn't realize until after she had mailed several books that she had gotten a paper cut. It must have been a pretty serious paper cut to generate that much blood. She did not offer to return my credit. In her second PM her story changed and she told me she had tried to wipe all the blood off the covers and said, "I knew I wouldn't be able to get it off of the pages but I thought there was only a couple of small tiny spots".

I PM's a Live Help person, but they told me since I had already marked it recieved I was pretty much out of luck. Since then I've ordered another copy of the book from someone else, but I'm still out my credit for the bloody book. Do I have any recourse at all?

I don't know if you have any recourse but the person who sent that book should be ashamed of themselves. That is absolutely irresponsible and disgusting.  I'm sorry you had to receive something like that in the mail.  I love to earn credits as much as anyone, but how self centered must a person be to send out a bloody book?

Denise

Ewww. That's scary. I wonder what could have transpired to splatter that much blood on a book. And whether it is human blood or animal blood. :( I think you'll just have to remember to check real close next time. What will you do with the bloody book? Donate it to Goodwill?

Probably not since you marked it received already.  I never mark a book received until I've had a chance to look it over.  Once you mark it received w/o a problem you can't go back and check that. 

PBS doesn't usually get involved in problem transactions unless someone is harrassing the other person or someone has a whole bunch of complaints at once.

Oh that is awful - sorry you had to clean that up and didn't see it in time.  What was the sender thinking???

That book should never have been sent.  Ew.  The sender should refund your credit.  If I received a book with blood on it, I'd throw it away.  Ew.

I once received a book damaged by the post office that came with blood all down the front of the package. Luckily it didn't seep through the paper and touch the actual book.

You could sand paper the edges of the book to get the blood off the actual pages.

As far as having any way to get your credit back, I don't think so. Frankly, I wouldn't return your credit because I firmly believe if you mark a book received without a problem, that's it. It's done. The same goes for myself. I never PM with a problem I find after marking it received. It's my fault for not checking the book well enough beforehand.

ETA: I don't mean to say I send unpostables and hope the receiver doesn't notice. If it was a stain I missed in the book or something, I wouldn't return the credit unless it had been marked RWAP instead of PMed about it later in the week.

Maybe medication is involved?  Awhile back I was on blood thinners for a few months (Plavix).  It was surprising how much some tiny little cut would bleed.  Usually, I'm just not a bleeder but on meds even small stuff I didn't used to notice became a problem...like those tiny pokes from the rose bushes when I dead head, or miniscule scratches from playing with the cat.  So happy that was a temporary medication for me.

Ewww!  Sadly, as everyone else has said since you didn't mark it RWP there's not much yu can do other than ask for your credit back, which you've done.  For this person to be aware that she sent out a book with blood on it (liquid damage) she shoukld return your credit.

Yiou don't mention contacting PBS.  I really don't know if they would get involved since you didn't mark the book RWP but I'd contact them anyway.  Basically to let them know they have a member who knows she's sending out damaged books.  Yoiu may not get a credit back but she might be put on hold.

Use Contact US, bottom of any page, right hand side under Company.

Well, that's disgusting.  And pretty tacky of her not to offer to refund your credit.  A lot of people will say that they won't offer the refund because you should have seen the damage, but that really doesn't change the fact that they sent out something that they knew they shouldn't have.  Not taking ownership basically just lumps her in with everyone else who plays the odds that the receiver won't notice the damage until it's too late to get their credit back.  I don't doubt that you're out of luck, unless she suddenly decides to refund your credit, but I don't think there's anything wrong with contacting PBS, if that's what you want to do.

Ew, yuck! This would only be sort of funny if the book were a paranormal about vampires. (Yeah, I'm sick. LOL)

Cheryl

You could ask that the credit be returned. Just because they didn't offer doesn't mean they won't return it if you ask. I would explain that you do not feel comfortable keeping a book that she bled on and that you have already ordered another copy.

Thanks for all the advice. I figured I was pretty much out of luck on the credit. I think I will go ahead and contact PBS--just so they know (especially since she clearly admitted to sending out several books at the same time with the same problem). As for the book, I plan to dispose of it. It's a biohazard. HIV can't live outside the body very long, but hepititis can live outside the body for weeks. I have recieved another copy, so at least I'll get to read it. Hope it will be worth the two credits it cost me!

I agree Kristin, IMO it's worth reporting for the biohazard factor.

Yes, report it. Blood is a biohazard.

OH GROSS!

That's just nasty.  I'd tell the PBS admin about it - even if you already marked it received, they'd at least be warned that there was a member sending out bloody books, and maybe they'd reprimand them for doing so (or at least have a heads up if the next recipient of their books winds up with one of those nasty surprises in it).

First, the book should have never been sent in the first place.  She knew she bled all over the book and really didn't attempt to clean it up since you noticed on the cover.  And secondly she should have returned your credit even though you marked it received.  Not very ethical on her part. 

I would let the team know about this one. She knew she bled all over the book. She should have cancelled it. Not wiped it off and sent it anyway. Gross!