So I received a beautiful hardback today, in very good condition, dust jacket and all, but I have a slight issue with the way it was packaged. The sender only used the PBS printout wrapper and the book was too thick for the paper to cover it adequately - i.e. the ends of the book were completely uncovered. She did wrap the book underneath with plastic wrap and covered part of it with packing tape, but corners and such were left unprotected. In short, had this book been dropped, either on a dry surface or wet, it would have been badly damaged. Luckily it wasn't. But I was quite dismayed by the lack of attention to the packaging. I marked it received without problem because it was in good shape, but I sent her a message to let her know that she really should have packaged it better. I was polite about it and told her thank you. I also made a note of it in the comments section to PBS when marking the book received. Do you think I did the right thing? I mean, I would not send a book out wrapped like that. Thoughts? Comments?

No, there wasn't enough wrapping, but you got the book in one piece-just barely, so I don't think you should have marked it received with a problem.  A politely worded PM telling the person that the wrapping was not sufficient would have been better.

Crap, i can't read....you said received without a problem...sorry about that!! You did right.

I think what you did was exactly right.  Welcome to PBS!

Yep, just a polite thank you with a suggestion.  You did get the book ok afterall, but the next person might not be so lucky!

Welcome and I agree that it was the right method. 

Just right!  Hardbacks in particular need some padding on the corners, if dropped in shipping they don't flex like a paperback and fold or scrunch.  It rare I receive a hardback via PBS without damaged corners.

I have received a couple of books without enough tape around the corners and they were delivered with the package totally ripped open. Thankfully, both books were still in good condition. I did exactly what you did. :)

Susanaque, you misread, she said she marked it "received without problem" not with

I am very prone to add a note to someone about the need for more paper or tape or stronger tape when a book "barely" makes it to my house. Most people are very glad to have the tips, since they are new or haven't mailed a lot yet, even tho they aren't real new. Occasionally I get one that tells me I have a "holier than thou attitude, but only occasionally :)

I just happened to come back aand see I answered her question  but I didn't read it correctly....sorry about that!

When I feel there was a problem with the wrapping but the book arrived safe, I always put a note in the comment box.  That way the PBS team has a record of it to see if this is a pattern with the sender.  Patterns of problems are important; we need to record them..  Send me a Scotch tape wrapped book, and you are going to get a comment saved on your record.

You did exactly the right thing. 

Thanks for all the feedback. I feel better knowing I wasn't overreacting to the lack of packaging.

Not at all, Andrea.  When I was a new member, some experienced folks sent me constructive and helpful feedback on my wrapping, and I really appreciated it. 

Cheers,

Catt

Seems to me that if the person wants it to look nice for "display purposes" only, they shouldn't really care what condition the inside pages are in!

If it was me, I'd appreciate the feedback.

I do not use the PBS pages to wrap - I tried them a few times but wasn't happy and got an email saying that the books were OK, but the packaging badly torn. 

As I'm in HI, my books have to travel further than most so I try and pack securely - but you never know what's going to snag a wrapping and start a small tear that grows and grows...............but I always, always plastic wrap first.

USPS actually has rule in print that NO masking tape can be used seal envelopes or packages.  --I think the same should go for scotch tape on packages.

   I just got a flat envelope (CD size) from my daughter. She put a computer CD in it and secured the flap with scotch tape after sealing it by licking it  to make sure it wouldn't fall out. Soooo, Postal Staff rips open corner of envelope and takes the CD--then puts empty envelope in one of their "apology" envelopes (you know the ones that say sorry, your mail was damaged on its way to you), but the reason for the damage listed  on the envelope says "Received open"!    Funny, the envelope was still sealed  and tape still firmly attached!

Dawn said:

"Seems to me that if the person wants it to look nice for "display purposes" only, they shouldn't really care what condition the inside pages are in!"

I'm hard pressed to figure out what this had to do with the subject at hand...

you say the book you recieved was in good shape...now what are you complaining about?

Do you have enough to do?

Kelly - the question was she PM'd the sender to let them know that the package almost didn't make it fully intact. She did the right thing -IMO.  A kindly written message does not hurt the sender.  By sending this message the sender may now know that they may lose a credit in the future due to RWAP because it was damaged by the sender.  For example I received a book w/o plastic wrap, I live on the east coast, we  have had heavy rain all summer and fall.  The book was wet and the printer ink damaged the book as well.  I suggested to the sender to wrap books in plastic when sending to certain states that experience a lot of rain or snow.   She PM'd back and thanked me, she hadn't given that much thouht because she lives in Nevada. 

IMO  the OP did the right thing.

Kelly, if you will re-read my initial post, I was soliciting advice as to whether I did the right thing in advising the sender on the quality of the wrapping job. As I said, the book did (luckily) arrive in one piece, undamaged, but had something even minor have happened in transit, it could have been badly damaged due to inadequate packaging. I didn't ask for credit back and I wasn't rude in telling the sender that the book should have been wrapped better. I was offering advice and in return soliciting it here. No need to be nasty.

I spy with my little eye....A troll!  ...visiting several thread this a.m.