I received a book with mold on it, marked the book as RWAP and asked for my credit back because I will not be able to keep this book. Now, if the book had had writing in it, or highlighting or a ripped cover or something else that made it unpostable, I would not have asked my credit back, because I could still read and keep the book.

Anyway, I got a PM back that said this:

That's weird, I didn't notice that. The book is not in great condition, but that is how I received just a short while ago. I wasn't sure if you would mind - it's hard to tell who is just reading the books and who is looking for great copies. I will send you a credit.

Is it just me, or is this person insinuating that I am looking for a "great" copy of this book? All I want from a book is for it to meet PBS' posting guidelines. I don't even have an RC!

I am really irritated by this response. The book has mold on it, for goodness sake! It's not a simple tear or a little worn, it's mold.

Bottom line, should I just say thanks and move on, or should I regurgitate the posting condition guidelines about mold, stains, etc? Or is that a little too passive-agressive?

The passive-agressive seems more on their side.

After you get the credit back I might respond "Not looking for great, just postable.  Thanks for correcting your mistake. Happy swapping!"

I dont see why you couldnt let this member know the rules for posting books....I dont think that is unreasonable.

I think Kayote B. has it right!!

I would just say, "Thank you so much, I really appreciate it."  and let it go :)

Better wait until you get the credit back to say anything-I like koyate's suggestion, but wait

I like Koyate's suggestion. 

What would you be trying to accomplish if you replied?  Do you think you are going to make her be more kind the next time?  That you are going to change her ways? That she might not KNOW the site rules?  When tempted to comment, I try to think what I think I'm going to accomplish by doing so.  Just to make ME feel better isn't enough.

I wouldn't do more than thank her for the credit.

All I'm reading there is her saying that she didn't notice any mold, that she knows the book is worn, and perhaps she wasn't sure if someone who just wants a readble copy would get it & be happy with it, or someone who wants "great" - which I take to mean gently used - books.  Likely she's not even considering or referring the mold at all; rather the condition of the book, minus the mold.  Personally?  I'd just thank her for the credit refund & move on.  What's the point in even opening a can of worms with a sender as long as you get your credit back?  Just MHO.

Thanks for everyone's input! I'm just going to tell her thanks and leave it at that.

Good choice.  Your credit was returned with very little effort on your part, so courtesy seems the best route this time.

I wouldn't thank her for doing what she was supposed to do--refund your credit for a piece of book.  I wouldn't bother telling her to read the either. Waste of time.

 No response or refusing to engage in a pissing match is much more irritating to the snark. Bwahahaha.

I would wait to get the credit back and then copy and paste the rules on mold and stains to let her know that you where not looking for a great copy but you where expecting a postable copy and that you are thankful she did follow the rules this time by returning your credit and you will mark it resolved.

I think I'm with Cozi on this one.  Personally, I wanted to scream and holler for ya.   Tometrader has it right to.  Saying thank you for returning your credit for a garbage book?  Nah.  Sending her the rules - she most likely already knows them just doesn't pay attention to them.  After all that's the way she got the book.  Don't we all love that statement?  "Well, I got it that way."  Bah!

I don't know...it sounds like the sender might have originally thought the only problem was that the book was worn. Some people object when they get a book that's close to its last read and can go either way on reposting.. She did say she didn't notice any problem and I'm all for giving people TBOTD.  Once you've gotten the credit back you could nicely follow kayote's suggestion -- "Thank you so much for returning my credit. I'll be sure to mark the RWAP resolved. I don't mind worn and heavily read books, but books with mold are not postable, so I appreciate your resolving this."

I agree with Kim, the sender seemed sincere and immediately offered the credit back.  It very well could be she didn't notice any problem with it.  No reason to be snarky or start WWIII.  Thank her and let it go.  Enuff said.      D.

When I have received similar responses I sometimes get the feeling the person is trying to avoid looking like they did something wrong (which is probably just human nature).  I do give people the benefit of the doubt, though - especially when they are agreeable to returning a credit for a book they should never have posted in the first place.

I think a thank you is always appropriate - even when someone is doing something they are supposed to do, but I would probably phrase it up something like this:  "Thank you for so promptly correcting the mistake.  As soon as the credit is received, I will mark the problem resolved."  It's not accusatory (because mistakes can be made very honestly), but it also makes a point that she erred and you know it.  To me, however we respond to a problem swap should not be about making ourselves feel better, but about communicating something that will hopefully lessen the chance of that person making a similar mistake with someone else.

I didn't get "snark" from her reply at all.  I also agree with Cozi - why engage her further?  She offerred your credit back - take it and move on.