Most of my books have a little bit of pencil underlining or highlighting, usually no more than 5-10 pages (books read in high school/college).
I sent 2 books w/o knowing th Golden Rule before hand and got a complaint-that's how I learned about the rule.
Should I take all my books off of PBS then? I'm afraid to send anymore books. Is there a way to contact a buyer before confirming shipping to them about the condition?

Any feedback appreciated.

If you used them as textbooks, they can be posted per the textbook waiver (see help documents).  Basically you must pm the requester before sending, state the exact condition of book, and receive permission from requester that the book meets their requirements before sending. 

Thanks for your reply.

How do I post it as a textbook if it really isn't one and how do I contact the member (I can't see their username/name at all before confirming that I can mail)?

Actually, the way the system and rules are designed, it does not matter what the "objective definition" of a textbook is.  The club members decide this - as long as the rules in the Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PBS are followed.  See the explanation and examples below.

If a member considers her book a textbook she may Post it with underlining/highlighting/writing on text pages, according to the "textbook exception" in the Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PBS; BUT since the textbook exception in the Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PBS require her to contact the requestor and obtain PM consent to the book's condition, she won't be in the position of sending a "stealth textbook" to someone who doesn't expect to receive one.

Examples/further explanation:

• Member A posts an Economics 101 textbook - something that most people would clearly consider a textbook.   

• Following the Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PBS textbook exception rules, she sends a Personal Message to the requestor when she gets a request, describing the book's condition.
• Chances are good that she will get PM consent from the requestor to send the book with highlighting/etc. 

• Member B posts a novel (fiction) that she used in a class - something that most people would NOT consider a textbook.
  • Following the Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PBS textbook exception rules, she sends a Personal Message to the requestor when she gets a request, describing the book's condition.
  • Chances are good that she will NOT get PM consent from the requestor to send the book with highlighting/etc.
  • If the requestor declines the book in its condition, Member B will have to cancel the request and repost her book.  It will go to the 'back of the line' for requests.  (If it is a Wish Listed book, it will be offered to the same wisher and the sender will again have to cancel.  She will have to wait for the wishing member to get a copy of this book from someone else before Member B can post her copy again.)

So, the farther the book is from a 'textbook' in common perception, the more likely it will be difficult to get consent to its condition.  Members in Member B's situation may encounter several declines, and will eventually realize that the book is not likely to be acceptable to the club in its condition.  Member B will stop trying to offer it as a "textbook"  and will consider it instead an unpostable/damaged book.

In this way, the club defines "textbook" on a case-by-case basis, and no one who is following the rules will be able to "surprise" another person with a highlighted/written-in/underlined book.

No writing or highlighting or underlining on text pages a signature or note on the flyleaf or inside front or back cover is OKAY an author's signature on the title page is OKAY writing or highlighting or underlining on the text pages is NOT OKAY Exception: if it is a textbook or workbook, these are expected to have highlighting/underlining/writing if you post a textbook/workbook, the condition must be described to the requestor in a Personal Message AND the described condition MUST BE AGREED TO in a reply PM before the book is sent This is the one of the ONLY three cases in which a PM exchange about a book is required before the book can be sent (the others are for travel guidebooks and cookbooks--see below). Exception: if it is a travel guide (not a picture book but a guide, such as Fodor's or Lonely Planet), some writing on text pages could be expected.  All maps must be present and included with the book - if detachable it is OK if they are detached, but they must not be missing. if you post a travel guide that has writing in it, the condition must be described to the requestor in a Personal Message AND the described condition MUST BE AGREED TO in a reply PM before the book is sent This is the one of the ONLY three cases in which a PM exchange about a book is required before the book can be sent (the others are for textbooks/workbooks and cookbooks--see above and below).

ALL of the above and more can be found in the HELP CENTER.