I just got a wish listed book. Good. However, there was a second book with it. I didn't order the second book and the sender didn't say anything about sending it. I'm not even sure there's a protocol for this, but I feel like I should do something. If someone sends another book with the one you ordered and doesn't say anything about it, is it against policy to keep it or swap it?

It is yours to do what you want with it. Having said that, a few times I have received an extra book that I knew nothing about...I've PMed the sender to ask about it and it's always been a case of "I'm trying to clean out my bookshelf and thought you might like it." If they indeed sent it to you in error, then they would need to send you a credit or mail you the postage so that you could send it on to the person who should gave received it.

That's pretty cool that you got an extra book! I once had someone send me a couple of bookmarks with a book which I thought was really nice. 

A few times I have seen people here mention that they sometimes send an extra book with an order. Personally, I think it's kind of odd that they don't mention it at all, but if I received an extra book I would simply ask the sender about it.

On occasion I have sent an extra book with an order. Usually it's either someone who ordered a lot of children's books and I'll include a few extras. Once I had someone order books 2 and 3 in a series, and I included book 1 (unpostable), with a note. Usually I include a note but I think last time I forgot. The person was ordering books for a school for a mission trip they were going on; most were in the 9-12 year old age range, so I included a few in the 4-8 age bracket figuring some of those school children would have younger siblings that might like books too.

That was so sweet of you Sheryl! You've got a good heart 

A word of caution:  While the comments so far have been positive, not everyone is happy to receive a book they didn't order.  Some view it as the Sender foisting an unwanted item on the Receiver who may not want it either and now has to do something with it.  Children's books and probably more likely to be received favorably than an unordered full-length novel.

Valerie, you are right! I have rarely been happy about getting an unordered book...it's either of no interest to me, already read it or its in disgusting condition. It's now not a gift, but something I have to dispose of, either donating or throwing out. I am trying hard to declutter my life, choosing carefully what I want to bring into my house and unrequested books are not something I welcome. Sorry if I sound like a curmudgeon...it's that old "one man's treasure is another man's trash" thing. I don't mind people offering me a free book, but I want the option to say "no thanks"!

I guess it just wouldn't bother me personally to get another book or bookmarks etc. Considering that some people would be upset by it, it really shouldn't be done. In my case, nothing much bothers me but lack of communication and books that are really (no question to it) unpostable. I've had so many people not send books that it does become frustrating (no communication and they never come so back on the list)  and I've had a few that the covers were ripped (front and back 1 1/2 in. to 2 in.) glued and taped pages, one had a cocoon in the broken spine, big rust colored splotches, and my favorite was one that had notes in a mystery book about the characters and their connections, backstories, and guesses as to who did it throughout the book. 

Those are the only things that get to me. 

It IS the lack of communication that frustrates me about someone including an unexpected book. I have to PM the sender to find out if the book was to go to someone else and keep track of the book until I hear back from the sender. The sender sometimes does not respond and I don't know what to do with the book for fear if I give it away, then I will hear from them that it was included in my package by mistake. Oh, it's a gift? Why didn't you say so? Or more to the point, why didn't you ask first if I was interested in receiving it? I know the gesture is kindly meant but I see it, as Valerie said, "Sender foisting an unwanted item on the Receiver who may not want it either and now has to do something with it. " As I said before, I don't mind people offering me a free book, but I want the option to say "no thanks"!

Honestly, it is the lack of communication that drives me bonkers!!!! I don't care if you mail late, want to include something, want to add something about the book (like it does have a tear etc), etc but just PM!! I don't get why that's so hard and someone on here once said to me, it's none of your business, try having empathy.  Ok, but don't expect me to have empathy or not be frustrated or anything else if you don't mail the book, mail it a week before it goes lost, add something to it,  etc You can't feel for someone if you don't know..

I'm fixing to send out a pile of extras. Somebody ordered 10 books from me and I couldn't find 3 of them. I know where 2 of them are (Carried off by a friend of mine who forgot to mention from which shelf she got them.) but that third is in the wind. Anyway, I notified her and I'm making her a super good deal on freebies because it took me forever on the hunt for her original order, and between the delay and not having my ducks in a row, I wanna make nice. Plus, 7 credits allows for lots of room to be generous.

I receive Live Help questions from time to time from members who just made a mistake.  Last night I had a member who mailed 2 books to one member, then realized they should have gone to two different members.  He was asking how to fix the error.  He wasn't sending a freebie or intending to upset the receiver.   It was just a simple mistake on his part and wanted to fix it.

I usually mark them as bonus book.

In your place the appropriate thing to do would be to say thank you.

When I listed children's books, I always included one or two extra because I thought the book were worth less than the cost of a credit.  I always put a note on the book that it was a bonus for that reason.

Once or twice, I put an extra book in the package, usually because of the size/weight of the ordered book, but ONLY if it was same author or same series.  And I always put a note on the book.

I've had quite a few "freebies" come to me and only once did the sender put a note on the extra book.  

I don't get why that's so hard and someone on here once said to me, it's none of your business, try having empathy.

This was actually me, though it wasn't directed at you but (IIRC) at Charles who was frustrated that people take the entire time allowed to mail books. I saw no reason why anyone should be required to explain personal circumstances if what they are doing is within site rules. I suggested that the people who were impatient have empathy for club members who were sending during the allotted time, but maybe not as quickly as the requestors would like, as we do not know other site members' individual circumstances.

Just to clarify.

i thought that was directed to me when I said just pm me, if you're going to mail late etc...then I said it's hard to have empathy when you don't know..since no one ever cam eback then to clarify, it looked like it was for me.

Thanks for clarifying now though!

I second the request for communication!  I just had another book come to me that was mailed almost 3 weeks after the posted mail date-- funny that when I marked it received with late postmark, sender said it was accidentally left in hubby's car, he was supposed to mail it and forgot! That's the exact same excuse I got in April from another sender!  But neither let me know til PBS started 'harassing' me with the emails that say "have your received?" and I sent a PM to each sender in response........so, if I hadn't been proactive by sending a PM, both books would have gone 'lost' and I would possibly have been mailed a copy by the next person  in the FIFO line.

And FYI to those with forgetful hubbies........I always request the PO receipt when hubby has offered to go for me so I have documentation if/when it got mailed!