So I received a book in the mail and I was flipping through it and the binding is broken - not just a "little" bit broke, but you can see the glue and it seems like the pages could come lose at any moment. I will NOT post this book when I am done - I, personally, don't think that is postable condition. I hate giving up my credit though. What would you do? Report the binding? Ask for a credit back?

Me, I'd not care. 

BUT I find that most people here will point out that it's a violation of PBS rules to have posted it at all and you're in the right to ask for your credit back.  They'll also say make sure you mark it Rcvd w/ Problem.  Oh, and there's - it's really for the good of PBS as a whole, it helps weed out chronic offenders.

So you should listen to them, and not me.  Or you can listen to me when I'm quoting them, but not when I'm quoting me.  Either way.

This has happened to me a lot lately, just state your stance in a pm nicely, and leave the ball in their court.  Sometimes they are upset and say that they received it in that condition, etc.  I usually don't mark it received until I have worked out the issue with the sender.  If it was an honest mistake and they refund a credit, I mark it received.  If they are denying the book's condition or not willing to work things out, then I mark it received with a problem.

If the packaging looked pristine (or fairly so) I'd mark it RWP.  If the packaging looked as if it had been run over 12 times by a USPS truck -- as my packages often do -- I'd mark it damaged by USPS.  Seriously, I would take a look at the packaging, because binding damage is something that can easily happen when a bunch of heavy packages are shifting around in the back of a USPS truck.  It may have been in a "grey area" of postability when it was wrapped, and then cracked on route.  (That may describe my mental state, as well.  I wonder if I'd be considered postable.)

And in either case, I'd let the sender know.

Well, it was receved with some wear to the packaging (that's why I dont like to wrap the books in printer paper to ship.) I PMed the sender, and she said she sent it out because it was like that when she got it.

<<she said she sent it out because it was like that when she got it>>

That don't make it right :-)  You should mark as RWP and, if you want your credit back, explicitly ask for it back in your note to the sender.  I'm sorry this happened to you.

It isn't just "for the good of PBS", it is in the rules: "If you receive a book with an "official" problem ... you should mark it received with a problem to note this on the sender's record".

Cheers,

Catt

I dont always ask for a credit back. I do always mark RWP if it isnt postable though. Say its a newbie that hasnt been around very long and might not know the rules. Then I cut them slack generally unless the book is trashed beyond reading. Then I ask for a credit back and explain that if they want to always get their credit they need to send postable books. I wouldnt spend $3.45 on a book that would fall apart while I was reading it even at a used book sale. So I wont take a book here thats gonna fall apart when Im reading it cause our credits are worth at least $3.45. Ive bought books new for that price.

That is my measuring stick for whether or not I ask for the credit back. Would I pay $3.45 for this book at a used sale? If not then I ask for the credit back. If I would and it doesnt meet guidelines then I just mark it RWP. I understand that people can overlook minor issues Ive done it but not something like you described. That is a major issue.

she said she sent it out because it was like that when she got it.

This is exactly the type of sentiment that royally p*sses me off.  If she knew the book was unpostable before she sent it out, despite the fact it was how she got it, she was wrong to post it and should return your credit.   What is wrong with some people, thinking that it's okay to pass along a book that clearly violates posting rules just because "it was sent to me like that".  IT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT TO THEN SHAFT SOMEONE ELSE.   Is that too difficult to understand, or are some people just that selfish and stupid?  (rhetorical question, btw).