I thought I had seen it all, but yesterday some one requested a book from me with conditions for smoke, pets, etc, etc, which was not a problem, but at the end they indicated they would only accept books in "excellent or like new condition". For some reason that really rubbed me the wrong way - this is a USED book site! Is this just the exception or are people starting to get out of hand with the condition requests????

HC

I've had a few that were over the top and I declined them even though the book was good. I've had a couple that wanted "like new or mint condition books only".  I had to laugh when one was an OOP/HTF 15yr old paperback with 80+ people on WL. The 1st one had that condition.  Now the book was in excellent condition for it's age but I hit decline.  I put in the comments section that I thought it was unreasonable to expect a 15yr old paperback to be in mint condition.  Even if it had never been read and just sat on a shelf it would be yellowing.

That does seem quite unreasonable to me too.    Sounds almost as if they plan to resell them.

I finally did put conditions on my profile, but I tried to be as clear as possible that I didn't expect perfection either!   I mostly get hardcovers as keepers, so when possible, I'd *prefer* they have their dustjacket in *reasonably good* condition, but normal minor wear-and-tear is to be expected.   I only added the conditions after getting a few books w/ no dustjackets that looked really shabby & weren't fit to keep in our library.  They were "postable" and "readable" but looked really bad.   

So, I very hesitantly added my conditions - but I'm super-easy going about it & do NOT expect books to be in perfect mint condition by any means!    (Although on the flip side, in the past I've also been very lucky & have gotten quite a few books that were in like-new condition - thank you to the generous members who posted them!)

I would guess that they get declined an awful lot, but I wouldn't presume that they are selling (see my profile for why).  But, I also wouldn't worry about it too much myself.  I figure people have the right to ask for anything they want, and if I'm not willing or able to give them what they want I can just decline and my book will be taken by the next person to request that particular title or the next one on the wishlist.

Just because a requestor wants a book to be thoroughly decontaminated, wrapped in fresh eider down cushioning, sent express mail, and sent with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies  (still warm from the oven, only!) doesn't mean they will get it.  But I think they have the right to ask if that's what it will take to make them happy.

<<commentary about the right to ask for freshly baked chocolate chip cookies>>

Oo! I think I'll be using special RCs just for Kari -- does that make you the Midwest Express of PBS? :-)

Cheers,

Catt

Heather i think I had a request from the same person. I denied because the book was almost 10 years old.

They have the right to ask for whatever they want - and you have the right to refuse. :)

I suspect they won't get many wishes fulfilled.

Heather, I got a request with similar conditions. I also declined because the conditions are so subjective. I wasn't willing to lose a credit because of it.

This is a little off the subject ... I had a woman request a book who didn't have any conditions at all. I PMed her because the dust jacket was a little ragged and I wanted to make sure that was ok with her. She PMed back with all kinds of questions about the book. She was collecting a series for her daughter. I answered all of her questions and she said she definitely wanted the book. But when she got it she wrote me a scathing PM. The picture on the cover didn't match what she wanted. That was a question she hadn't asked. My copy of the book was one I'd gotten from a book club I'd been a member of when it first came out. I guess it ended well because she did tell me that she reposted it and it was requested immediately. I hope she had good luck finding the ones she wanted. I also had a book I sent out to a person who didn't have any conditions and when she received the book she said it was received with a problem. She PMed me and said it smelled like Lysol and refused to read it and demanded her credit back, but she did send the book back to me without my asking.

But usually when someone has a lot of conditions I just decline them. Why take the chance? (sorry about the edits but sometimes I type too fast and hit post before I read it over and I'm absolutely anal about typos)

Oo! I think I'll be using special RCs just for Kari -- does that make you the Midwest Express of PBS? :-)

Only if I actually agreed to provide the cookies.  :)

Kari, I'd like peanut-butter cookie scent with mine, please!  LOL!!!!

Seriously - can I ask y'all your opinion?  It still worries me a tiny bit, having conditions at all on my profile - but I didn't want to get any more shabby-looking books.  

My "condition" started off as brief as possible, simply stating that I'd like HC's to have an intact dustjacket in good condition.   Then I was questioned about it, in regards to some books I requested - crafting type books that were hardcover but never had a DJ at all.   So, I added in a bit about that.   Then someone declined a request with the comment that the DJ had a single 1/2" tear on it.   That would still certainly qualify as "good condition" in my book, but I guess she/he wasn't sure.   So, I expanded my condition once again, to try to make it as clear as possible that minor wear-and-tear like that was OK.  Oh, and I was questioned about DJ's on an oversize softcover, so I had to clarify that too!

At any rate, so my single condition is somewhat verbose at this point, simply to try to clarify exactly what I mean.   Would that in itself "turn you off" and cause you to reject a request from me?  

Here's what my request box says now - how would you feel if I was to request a book from you & you saw this?  Would it be clear what I wanted, would I sound "too picky", would you reject me simply because it's too long or what???

--------------------------------

The following applies only to *hardcovers* that I request -- if I am requesting a softcover or paperback from you, please ignore this!

On *most* hardcovers, I would like the dustjacket to be there in reasonably good shape -- it doesn't have to be *perfect* - PLEASE read on for exceptions/details though!  

I realize that some books, such as the crafts, sewing, woodworking books that I sometimes request - they might not have had a dustjacket to start with, so I totally understand that!!!    If ANY book I might request was not published with a dustjacket, then of course I don't expect one to be there.

Also, older 'vintage' books might likely be missing their dustjacket - again, I totally understand! 

What I am talking about  --- is a relatively recent fiction book -- such as a Stephen King or John Grisham novel - something that was published with a dust jacket to start with and was published in somewhat recent years.   Since we keep almost all of our books, and enjoy displaying them in our home library, I would like *this* kind of book to have an intact dust jacket in good shape please.  I don't mind some reasonable minor wear or tiny insignificant tears - just nothing really shabby please!    A small 1/2" tear or something like that is OK, a huge slash that makes the dustjacket almost fall in two isn't (grin)   Just "reasonably good condition w/ a reasonably nice-appearance" is all I ask - I don't want something that looks like the dustjacket should be removed & tossed in the garbage - but I realize these are used books so I don't expect *perfection* either - just good condition.

I hope this is clear, and doesn't sound too picky.  I hope it comes across in the spirit I intend - as a strong personal preference, and not as a demand!   Thanks for reading!

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Sheesh, that is awfully long isn't it?  But it seemed I kept getting questioned about different aspects of it when I had just a brief statement or two...    I am NOT super picky or finicky, honest I'm not.   On those particular books that end up being "home library keepers", I just want them to look decent - not perfect - but simply *decent*

So, what would you think if you received a request from me?  So far, since I expanded it, no one has questioned me further & I haven't had anyone decline my requests- yet, thankfully.......   but I don't want to sound picky or choosy either....   Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Nickie,

One possibility would be to write an RC for books that have dust jackets, leave it off in general, but then turn it on when you're about to make a request for a book where you care about the DJ.  :-) 

Oh, and then turn it off when you've made the request!

Hey, that's a great idea - I didn't know it could be done that way!    Thanks so much, Patty, that's a super idea!

Whew... now, back to re-writing the thing AGAIN, trying to shorten it back up some!!!  LOL!   

Does being concerned about appearance at all seem "too picky" though?  

I know, many people just want to read their books then that's it - it's swapped again, thrown away, donated... whatever.  

Me, I've been a book collector  (i.e. hoarder - LOL)  since I was a small child - I just never could bear to part with a book that I truly enjoyed reading.     I've got books that I  bought 35 years ago & I still treasure them & reread them periodically .... I love reading new books, but I get every bit as much enjoyment out of re-reading "an old friend" for the 20th time over....

Nickie,

I think I would probably groan when I first saw how long your RC was, but after reading the first sentence, I would have no problem with your conditions. I understand about dust jackets and will usually PM the person who requests a hardback from me with a less than stellar dust jacket to see if they want me to include it with the book. I know  dustcovers are not required , but I know (as I am one of them) that some people really prefer to get a hardback with its dustcover. Even though your conditions are long, they are very well worded.

Nickie --

I personally read all conditions regardless of length, so I wouldn't have any problem with it, but a lot of other people might be intimidated by the length. For me, I'm more bothered by requester conditions that are either ambiguous or nitpicky to the point where I'm afraid of my book being rejected.

If you're looking for a keeper for your shelf, it's natural to be concerned about appearance.