It happens.  I got one with a big boot print on it and a huge chunk taken out of the book and the wrapper.  Only a cardboard box would have saved that book.  It was a swap book so I didn't mark it anything.  I would mark it damaged by post office.  I wouldn't ask for my credit back as it doesn't sound like the sender's fault.

It really isn't that the Post Office doesn't care.  We all hate to have to deliver any package that appears to be damaged, whether the problem occured in transit or not.  Since the PO handles so many thousands of packages every day - they cannot afford to insure each and every package against damage in handling.  That is why they give the shipper the option of purchasing insurance for their package.  The vast majority of packages the PO handles are delivered with absolutely no problems.  Unfortunately, the PO seems to get more than it's fair share of bad press - I hardly ever hear or see anything bad about the other delivery companies in the press.

The one reason and the only reason the post office recieves so much bad press is because of it assocation with the government and alot of people just want another reason to complain about the government or how the man is sticking it to them.