Hi--Recently I've received a couple of books that clearly didn't meet posting conditions. Both were dirty (lots of stains) and had been water-damaged. One was water-damaged in transit because it was packed loosely in a plain envelope, and the envelope tore, but it was heavily stained too.

In each case, the sender agreed to refund my points, buy only if I returned the books to them. If I do this, I have to pay to ship the book back, which makes it hardly worth it.

What's the usual procedure with this?

If they want the book back, they must send you two credits or one credit and money for postage.

Thanks, Rebecca--Is there a rule somewhere to which I can give a link?

From the help documents:

• 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 link is here:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=344

Send them a PM saying you'll be glad to return the books but they will have to give you the postage first.  I had that happen and the person actually said, stuff it keep the darn thing!  And didn't sy darn, I cleaned it up.  :) 

From the Help Center:

In all cases of problem swaps, you are not obligated to return the problem item - you may do this if the sender provides postage (eg, a self-addressed, stamped envelope sent by snail mail, or postage by PayPal and the mailing address in a Personal Message).

Thank you everyone!  I missed that in my search for help.