with RCs?  I usually read the RC a couple of times and sometimes three times, but if I think I can meet the RC I accept and send the book.  I've yet had anyone say I sent a book that didn't meet their RCs.  I'm really just curious and not trying to cause a problem.  Thanks.  Pat

Well, I've seen some people who've been burned by accepting an RC order, and probably decide it's not worth dealing with. (This I can understand.)

But some people just don't want the hassle, period. Especially with a WL book that has 300 people waiting for it. In this case, they'll get a credit no matter what, because SOMEONE in that line is sure to take it.

Me, I'll evaluate and decide. I don't accept "no cat" conditions, because up until just recently I had a cat. And quite a few of my books are BookCrossing registered, so those won't go. I declined one that was asking for a giftable condition book, but my copy had obviously been read (I knew for a fact at LEAST 3 people), and the request was pretty rude, so I declined that one.

I get a good amount of my books from book sales, friends, yard sales, flea markets, etc.  I don't always know the environment the book has been in. 

If the person makes too many conditions/demands about the book then I decline.  It is not worth it to me to send the book and chance that they are unhappy with it.  This is all up to someone elses interpretation so what someone thinks is acceptable someone else may not.

I don't decline just because RC's but I take them very seriously, and don't send to those not wanting books from smoking homes of pet homes.  I have two cats, and a husband who likes a cigar on occasion.  I also don't send to those wanting new, or giftable books, because mine aren't.  Mind you they are in excellent conditon, especially the ones I buy new since I am the only reader, but definitely not going to chance on that interpertation.

I don't know if I've ever accepted RCs or not.  I don't automatically decline them, but I am *very* careful and do decline most of them.  Usually, they're just allergy RCs and if I don't know the history of the book, I'm just not going to send it.  I posted a WL book last week that went through four people with RCs before it finally went out.  I do remember that one of them was for allergies but three of them were so demanding, I was afraid to accept, and I'll admit that the long wishlist did factor into my decision.  It was a nice hardcover I bought new for my husband -- rare that he would ask me for a book!  But it had been riding around in the truck for several months.  *I* thought it was good enough, but didn't want to take the chance that the recipient didn't agree. 

I have no problem with RCs. I did turn one down because of the excessive list of things that couldn't be wrong with the book. The tone was very snarky and I basically didn't want that person to have my book.

I will accept an order with RC as long as I can meet them and they aren't too confusing.

I've had people decline and they put in some lame excuse....it is their perogative to decline but don't put something lame in the box!

I have RC's but only for HB's cause they go in my personal collection, and I am glad when somone declines if they don't think they won't meet my RC.  Mine are not that strick...I just ask that they have a dust cover and that they are not ex-library and they are in decent condtion because I am keeping them for my personal collection.  I get 90% of the ones I request.  I think thats good.  Paper backs are just for reading...as long as they are repostable I am happy :)  I will always read a RC...if I think my book meets the RC I will send it.  I have yet to be burt though...

I don't understand it either. I know people with RCs probably get fewer books because some books won't meet their conditions, so if my books meet the conditions, I always send them. Most of the ones I've gotten ask for no books from a smoking home, and since I don't smoke, I can always send those books out. I did have to decline once, because the person asked for no books with an odor; I had gotten the book at a library book sale, and it smelled funny.

Some people seem to be offended by anybody having RCs at all, which I don't understand. Why would we want to send books to people who wouldn't be able to enjoy them?

RCs don't bother me in the least.  I've only had to turn down one due to a no cats request and another due to the smoking request.  I don't smoke and no one in my household does, but a book I picked up from a thrift store had such a strong smoke smell to it when you opened it up (oddly enough, it didn't smell when the book was closed) that I wasn't about to risk sending it out. 

Zoe, love your Cthulhu icon.  LOL

I don't auto-decline RCS. But I won't send to anyone with RCS that are confusing or too subjective. And if a novel lenght RC comes up-I hit decline because that just screams "picky person" to me.  I'd rather wait for the next order or donate the book than deal with a picky person.  I also decline any that say they want a PM about the book's condition. Either mine means yours or it doesn't I"m not PMing you.  As far as the like new/giftable conditon-I take it on a book by book basis and how it's worded. I turned one down that asked for a "near mint, brand new conditon" book-well it was for a 16yr old mmp romance novel that 80+ people on WL for it-I declined that one. THe book was in excellent condition for it's age but not "near mint".  I decline the no-smoking ones now because my husband has started smoking the occassional cigar in the house. He smokes 1 or 2 a week and I'd rather decline than get dinged for a smokey book.  I can't smell smoke on them but then I live in the house.

If it is a RC with one condition like "non-smoking home" or "no pets", I will read that one and take it into consideration. No one in my house smokes, so that isn't an issue but I do have a dog. But I do have a problem with people who have a "laundry list" of conditions.  I feel like they have unreasonable expectations, and whatever I send them (a book in good condition) will not make them happy. It's a used book website! If you want books in new or giftable condition, go to Amazon.com or the local bookstore!! 

I don't autodecline requester conditions.  But there are people who have conditions that are either worded very badly or they need to be buying their books new.  When I get offended reading a condition, get that "I'm going to be asked for their credit back" feeling or get a headache because the condition is so long or so wordy, I know it's time to decline.

People with conditions need to remember that trying to be funny can come off as rude and that less is more.  It never hurts to use the forums to help refine your conditions.

Kerry

Thanks - sounds like most of you do like I do - evaluate the request before declining.  Pat

I never automatically decline a request that has conditions attached to it.  I smoke and have 2 cats, I appreciate requests and wouldn't want to send a 'smokey'  or 'pet' book to someone who has allergies or other problems with those books.

I try to work with RCs.  I think the only few I have declined (other than those with smoking or pets RCs)  are those which are just too subjective.  'No Smelly Books'... to me, all books smell.  They smell like paper and ink or they have that well-loved, older book smell.  Not musty and moldy smelling, just that 'I've been around the corner a few times, hence I'm a smelly book'.  Ok, once I declined a request that just came off as snarky and lecturing.  Maybe it was just me and I was having a bad day, but maybe not.  That request really hit me as snarky and lecturing.

I asked for help earlier today in another forum because I had a few refusals based on confusion of my RC. I got some great suggestions and this is what I ended up with for my RC:

For hardcovers only:  If the book I am requesting from you is a hardcover and it originally came with a dust jacket, I would like the book to come with the dust jacket in good condition please because it's for my keeper shelf.

For all other requests:  PBS postable guidelines are good enough for me. Thanks!

It's not a laundry list. Basically I just want the dustjacket if it's a hardcover, but I've had to make it longer to make it clear enough. Does anyone think that this would come across as picky or insulting because I may be implying that members would post unpostables? I guess people that are going to automatically refuse RCs will do so, but for others is this clear enough without sounding too picky?

I was thinking about this thread a little while ago when I had to decline a request that books not come from a smoky home or that had a moldy, musty smell. No problem on the first requirement, but the second was iffy in that the book requested is 30 years old, and it smells like a 30 year-old book. I think it met the person's RC, but I did feel slightly uneasy about it because it's acceptable to ME. After all, one person's stinkiness is another person's perfume! :) I decided not to take the risk of the requestor being unhappy and asking for her credit back.

I think that people who have RCs have to expect that their pool of eligible books become smaller and smaller with every limitation. I have an RC that states that books need to be wrapped in plastic first and must comply with PBS posting guidelines. I find it ironic that I even have to reiterate the posting guidelines on a book-swapping site whose members are presumably literate and love to read. I don't think my RC is very demanding, and I have not yet experienced any denials because of them, but the year is still young!