Okay, I posted a wishlisted gift boxed set of 3 books (3 books for 3 credits) that were in GIFTABLE condition.  Gift box was in great shape, books in NEW condition in the box.  Someone wanted it. They buddied me the credits and I shipped the books.

I wrapped the box set in very heavy duty plastic (the type they wrap PALLETS with) and then in heavy duty shipping paper (almost cardboard-the kind amazon ships books in).  

The person just PM'd me that the box arrived smashed and the books reak of mold/mildew and they want thier credits back.  Very nasty in the PM, saying that their idea of giftable is apparently very different from mine. 

First of all, I have severe asthma and am allergic to mold.  There was absolutely ZERO mold/mildew with those books when they left my hands as they were in NEW condition, never been wet, etc. The set came from a library book sale that was indoors and I checked them over very carefully prior to getting them at the sale and again prior to listing them to PBS.  Since I'm allergic to mold, if they had been in the shape she is claiming I would NOT have bought them, nor been able to breath around them in the first place!

Second of all, I wrapped them really well (in my own opinion).  

Since she claims the box was smashed, I can only assume that rough handling by the PO resulted in the box getting smashed and possibly the books getting wet at some point in their journey to her (rain or extreme humidity maybe?).  Either way it sounds like if there is the damage she claims that it is due to Post Office mishandling.  

So I am NOT returning her credits. Per PBS terms, shippers are not responsible for damage in shipping if the books are wrapped  correctly.  Plus her whole additude was extremely nasty.  I may have been more inclined to believe her if she had not been so nasty toward me and might have been willing to return the credits.  In 5 years of being on PBS I've had very few problems with swaps and this is the first time I've had a problem with a deal.  I have returned credits before when people have been nice about the whole thing (books lost in mail or damaged in shipping).  

What do you think?

I think you are right.   Since this was a private deal and the buddies were credited, there is no way she can RWAP the books.

Even WITH a RWAP, it's entirely up to you to return the credit or not.  If you know the books were in good condition then don't return the credit.

I would tell her nicely how it was packaged and then that would be the end of it for me.

There is no need for you to continue going back and forth with her about the issue.

I agree with you.  it was not damaged by you so you should not have to return the credits. You are within your rights to ask for a picture of the books to confirm the damage. 

Wow, the nastiness continues.  I got two more REALLY hostile PM's from this woman.  

First PM: She now contradicts herself.  She originally claimed the box was smashed, now she says the "packaging was fine."  And accuses me of being a liar about the condition of the books. 

Second PM: Accuses me of offering the books on the multiple wishlist book thread in order to bypass the system (?).  Then says she is reporting me to "The Team."

Needless to say, I paraphrased her PM's....as the vitrol is nearly toxic.  

My Reply to her last 2 PM's:  

"1) There was ZERO damage to this set prior to shipping. IF any damage was done, it was done in shipping. Although due to you contradicting yourself by first claiming the box was smashed and now saying the "packaging was fine", I don't believe any of what you have said at this point. 

2) I do NOT appreciate your hostility. I will not be contacting you again, PERIOD, due to the nastiness of your PMs that was completely uncalled for. 
3) I do not tolerate being threatened. I have reported your abusive behavior to PBS.

So as far as I'm concerned, that's the end of it.  

Just discontinue contact with her. There WILL be transactions where the sender and the receiver do not come to an agreement. The site knows that and allows for it.

Keep in mind that when the complaint is investigated, the admin is going to read these emails. Sounds like you have nothing to worry about.

If she continues to contact you at this point, after you've told her that you were done with her, you could also report her for harassment.

It's possible that the plastic packaging was fine, we've had book orders from amazon like that, which were killed by being dropped from a height. The packaged was dented but NOT punctured. Still it's nothing you did.