I'm brand new here.  The first orders I got list so many conditions that I suspect the people requesting the book are really dealers.  The requested books are all pretty new on the market and could be sold for $8.00 or so each.  I thought it would be more fun to try this.

If someone refuses ex-library books or books with book crossing stickers, should that raise a red flag?  I really don't want to just give away a book to a second hand bookseller.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks

There has been many threads on this and the opinion that I have formed is that it would take a bookseller a long time to turn this profitable.  I think that most people are looking for "keepers" , at least that is what I am doing. I do not have conditions but hope that the books I get are in good enough shape to go on my book shelf.

Welcome to PBS!

Betsy

I don't think those are necessarily red-flags for re-sellers or dealers.  I believe some people really do care about those things. :-)

(But really, if someone doesn't want a BookCrossing book, you know they won't journal it anyway... an I've heard of people from here ripping them out and such.)

On another note, I don't think it is against the rules to re-sell a book you receive through this site (is it?)... If, however, you feel uncomfortable with the conditions, you don't have to send the book to that person - you can click the "Book DOES NOT Meet Requestor's Conditions" button or the "I CANNOT Mail This Book for Other Reasons" button.

(Oh -- an are you a BookCrosser?  I'm bflybabe there.)

Jamie asked : On another note, I don't think it is against the rules to re-sell a book you receive through this site (is it?)From the help center:

ETA: Missed part of the info

Can members resell books received from PBS?

• PBS may not be used to obtain books for the purpose of resale.  Commercial use of the site is prohibited.

• When you receive a book you requested, it does belong to you, and you can do whatever you would like with it after you have read it.   An occasional resale of an item obtained here for personal use is OK.
  • Of course we would like to see you repost your books on this site when you are finished with them, because it makes more books available for our many members to choose from.
  • Again, the occasional PBS book that is obtained for personal use, and then ends up being sold elsewhere, is perfectly okay. However, any systematic attempt to obtain books for resale (instead of personal use) will jeopardize your membership, and may lead to criminal prosecution.
  • That means: if you obtain books to read, and sell an occasional one, that is fine. If you request a book not to read, but in order to re-sell it, that is NOT fine.
  • We do have some booksellers who belong to the club.
  • They contribute a lot of books here, and booksellers are usually avid readers too!
  • Booksellers per se are not prohibited from membership.
  • But if there is a pattern to a bookseller's (or any member's account) of systematically obtaining books for resale, or if it becomes clear that a bookseller is attempting to use PBS to stock his or her (online or brick-and-mortar) bookstore, we will close his or her membership permanently, and legal prosecution may ensue. Again, commercial activity is prohibited at PB

Welcome to PBS, James! 

Simple conditions are fairly common here.  Everyone has personal preferences about their books and many members choose to express those preferences in the form of conditions.  :)

Quite a lot of members don't want bookcrossing books because of the stickers - others are happy to have them. 

Some members don't want ex-library books for various reasons - the card pocket, the stamps, the plastic cover...  I'm perfectly happy to have them.  :)

You'll also see conditions regarding pets, smoking, dust jackets, etc, usually straightforward and easy to interpret.  I would venture to say that virtually none of the people with these types of conditions are book dealers - they're just members who have allergies.  Or like dust jackets on their books.  Or don't like stickers.   LOL. 

I don't have a smoking condition but I'm wondering if I need to add one.  After a year of trading here, I just received the first book that was so smokey, it almost knocked me out when I opened the package.  Now my whole room smells like this book.  I'm going to have to throw it away wrapped in a plastic bag without reading it.

There are a few over the top conditions, and it looks like you got them all at the beginning!

I think the number of members with conditions is really small, and most conditions are pretty straightforward (No smoke or No cats).  Very very few of the books I've sent out have had conditions.

Ann....there are things youcan try before tossing it. I have pulled all these from other threads.

1. Try placing the book in a lidded plastic container with clean kitty litter for a couple of days.
2. Letting it sit outside for a day or two to air out
3. Putting it in a bag with crumpled newspaper
4. Put in a plastic bag after  spraying it with Lysol.  Leave for like a month and no more smokey smell.
5. put it in a bag and stick it in the freezer.
6. put in a freezer bag with a bar of soap for a week.
7. Baking soda works

Hope that saves the book.

Betsy

I am a member who has conditions, especially about smell/smoke. I am not a dealer. But I have volunteered at the local library book sale and after seeing/smelling what people bring to be sold there perhaps I'm overly cautious. So far every book I've gotten thru PBS has been fine. On a few occasions people have either told me up front about markings or declined to send a book that did not meet my conditions. Everyone has their own comfort level.

I like James' attitude! I've been watching the conditions debate, and all I can think of is, "I just want to read a book...." Allergies, of course, are a separate matter. But if I want one for a gift, or to keep as a collector item, then I'll get a new or "gently used" copy I can see for myself.  This is, after all, a used book site, where books are basically free. The number of complaints astounds me..

Welcome James!

I have those conditions on my books, no ex library and such, for a couple of reasons.  Most of the books I get are for my son and he has allergies and sesitivities to cats and smoke.  And not taking ex library books cuts down on those possibilities since the current owner can't, and shouldn't have to, guarantee that the book has been in a cat and smoke free home. 

Also, my son keeps all his books and he doesn't like the way they look on his bookshelf covered with stickers.

So while it is a common and reasonable guess to think books are being re-sold, it's not always the case.  If I am ordering a book for myself or someone other than my son I will send a PM telling them to disregard my conditions.  So far it's worked just fine.

I've only gotten a couple of no smoking conditions from people which is fine since I don't smoke. I might have to put that as a condition myself. I would NOT want to get a book that REEKS of smoke. A little smokey is fine since all my friends smoke and I can deal with being in their houses, cars, etc. But if the smell knocks you out, then yeah, they shouldn't be traded then.

I'm also one of those members who has conditions of no bookcrossing books and no ex-library books.  That's just my personal preference.  I'm not a dealer and don't resell books; it's all I can do to keep up with my PBS transactions!  That said, I have been "accused" of being a book seller, but luckily the sender PM'd me asking and I was able to reassure her that the book was just for me.  I've been turned down for books occasionally due to conditions, but that happens infrequently enough that it doesn't bother me.  If I were you, I'd give the requestor the benefit of the doubt.  If your book(s) meet the conditions, send it and gather up your credit!

Ya Learn Something New Every Day!  I had never heard of Book Crossing, so I googled the term when I came across it in this discussion. 

So, what does a Book Crossing book look like?  what stickers are in them?  From the website, I read that Book Crossing members put a tracking number and a note to visit the Book Crossing website inside the book.  What else is typical/how does one know they've gotten a Book Crossing book?

I added conditions after I received about 10 books with water damage/mold.  I have received over 650 books - they are all for me; and I have received a total of about 35 that were damaged beyond meeting guidelines - mostly  water damaged and/or moldy.  I have only asked for credits back on maybe 7 or 8 of them...the others I just ate.  So don't assume that people with a list of conditions are selling the books.  They may have just been burned too many times, like I was.

Hi. I'm new here too.  Last week I submitted 63 books but unfortunately no one seems to want them.  That's OK, because I am very disappointed in this site.

When I began listing, according to the listing instructions I must list books that are in very good condition.  I believe that it even specifies no tears, no stains, yadda yadda.

The first book I recieved from here is torn and almost falling apart.  I didn't list one of my books because it has a one-inch tear on the cover, yet I receive a book that even I, someone who would never throw a book away, would...well...throw it away.

The other book is mildewy and caused an asthma attach when I took it out of the package.  Surprisingly, I can live with that since I think I can get rid of the musty smell.

But for a first-timer, this is very disenheartening.  (Oh, and on the listings page it also states no ex-library books, so I didn't list any of those either.)

File me under Team I Just Want to Feel Comfortable Reposting This Book When I'm Done With It.   :)

And Laurel, I'm very sorry to hear that your first books received were in such poor condition.  While bad swaps happen, they certainly aren't the norm here, though you may get that impression if you spend enough time in the forums.  I've received over 250 books since I've been a member here and 4 of them were in genuinely bad, unpostable condition. 

And from the Help Center:

I received a library book! Is this allowed?

LOL Nancy

File me under Team Thinking You're Very Funny.

If my book meets conditions I send and don't care who it is, it's a credit I get regardless. I don't have any conditions but today I got yet another book that reeks of smoke. This book is for my husband and a WL book so if I had a condition of no smoke he wouldn't have the book. I have it in a freezer bag with a bar of soap. I'm thinking I might have to add no smoke books. I sent out a book today to someone with no smoke environment books and it was a WL book. I say if someone wants your book and it meets their conditions send it, it's a credit.

Laurel, sorry about your bad book. I hope you marked it with a problem and asked the sender for you credit back. My very first book did not meet PBS guidelines either. Go look to see how many books you posted are in the system, it's a first in first out thing. If there is 100 of that book it will be a while before you send it out. Unless someone goes to your shelf and orders directly from there. If you have a lot of books and want them to move quicker you can offer a deal in the book bazaar forum.

Here's a second LOL, Nancy!  I think you hit the nail on the head.  People can have very different attitudes concerning their books, and this is a place where sometimes those attitudes collide.  I think that the site founders have done a good job of articulating posting requirements that are a middle ground and allow people with both attitudes to trade and have fun, as long as they're willing to compromise a little.

I'm on the TEAM - I-want-to-read-but-don't-want-to-be-made-sick-by-reeking-books.  So, call me weird.

I don't resell books.  I don't collect books.  I just want to *always* have books to read.  But if the book arrives REEKING, I have to throw it out.  The issue is not that somebody else will miss out on the book because it's now out of circulation, although it is a consideration.  The issue is not that I've lost a credit.  I bank a few credits and can afford to lose one if necessary. The issue is that the reeking book has made my eyes water, my nose run, and triggered an asthma attack.  Since asthma is usually not a problem for me, the book has to be really bad if it makes me that sick.

How fortunate that not everybody has this reaction and can stay on the I-just-want-to-read team.  I'm jealous!  I know!  {{{idea!}}}  Perhaps we can have a special folder for that team and can send them the reeking books that were sent to us.  LOL   :)