I got this yesterday in the mail from a site member.  The book is torn into two pieces because of a damaged spine and then lazily taped back together with a nice gap.  The inner spine that remains is cracked in other places too, those hanging on for now.  After I messaged them of the problem, they don't see it as a problem and say they will refund my credit if I pay the cost of shipping it back to them so they can stick it with somebody else.  Do you readers find this book listable?  I am not happy about paying shipping to fix a problem that isn't mine BUT am I being too picky wanting a book in one piece?  Not sure how to proceed but figure I'd get your advice. Thanks for any feedback.

Tape in and of itself doesn't make a book unpostable, but if a book is not postable, taping it doesn't make it postable. So if the book would have been unpostable without the tape, then it's still not postable. The Help doc "Book Condition Criteria for "Swappability" at PBS" has specific binding criteria that should be helpful.

You can provide images to the sender by posting them on a free photo sharing site like Photobucket or Flikr, and sending a PM to the images in a link.

And you don't have to ship it back at your own expense. You can refer the sender to the Help doc "A requestor says there's a problem with a book I sent", which states:

• Remember that the requestor is not required to send a problem book back at his or her expense.   The sender of a problem book does risk losing credit, book and postage; this is the incentive not to send problem books. 
  • If you want a problem book back you can provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the requestor by snail mail (or you can give the requestor an extra Book Credit to compensate for postage, if both of you agree on that).
  • Refund and postage compensation must be completed first - before the requestor returns the book (= it is not OK to wait to refund credit until getting a problem book back in the mail, or to expect the requestor to send the book back before getting postage compensation as described above).

The rules on binding say:

• Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book

So no, this book was not postable in the first place AND you are in the right to ask and expect books in one piece!

Yes, you were right to RWAP it and request your credit back.  It was unpostable.  And no, you're not under ANY obligation to send it back in order to receive a credit refund.    If he/she refuses to refund the credit, it will go as an unresolved problem on their account. 

After I messaged them of the problem, they don't see it as a problem and say they will refund my credit if I pay the cost of shipping it back to them so they can stick it with somebody else. 

If they want the book back, they must offer you an additional credit (besides the book refund) to cover the postage to get the book back.

If they offer, then send it back.

It's not up to you what they do with it after that.

Here is a snippet from the rules. Fell free to quote it back to them. http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=344

Remember that the requestor is not required to send a problem book back at his or her expense.   The sender of a problem book does risk losing credit, book and postage; this is the incentive not to send problem books. 

• If you want a problem book back you can provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the requestor by snail mail (or you can give the requestor an extra Book Credit to compensate for postage, if both of you agree on that).
• Refund and postage compensation must be completed first - before the requestor returns the book (= it is not OK to wait to refund credit until getting a problem book back in the mail, or to expect the requestor to send the book back before getting postage compensation as described above).

Thanks everybody!  I appreciate the links and feedback and will proceed appropriately.