I have been a member for almost a year and I have never had a problem until just recently.  I had recieved my first damaged book, there was clear water damage on the bottom of the entire book and the binding was not intact.  I cannot re-post this book.  I pm'd the sender explaining all this which this person resonded a week and a half later saying the book was just fine and it must have happened during shipping, no I highly doubt that she packaged it pretty darn good and it arrived to me bone dry.  So I'm pretty bummed and just wanted to get this off of my chest.

Sorry to hear you rec'd a damaged book.    Did you report it as RWAP?

I know how frustrating that can be. I had two water damaged/dirty books in a two week period. One was like you. I had to wait and wait for a reply. She claimed she sent it in good condition. The package was sealed nice and tight so I know it was sent that way. I never got my credit, plus I had to spend another one to order another copy. The second book turned out totally different. No questions asked an apology and prompt return of my credit. So please don't let the one bad apple spoil it for you. Most members here do the right thing.

As others have pointed out above. Please do mark problem books RWAP. It's the only way for PBS to root out those who send unpostable books. Also, be sure to follow up the transaction by marking it as unresolved/resolved.

Did you ask for your credit back?  It's best to come right out and ask because, if you don't tell the other person what you want them to do to make it right, they probably won't offer the credit return.  How are they supposed to know that you want your credit back?

I always PM and explain exactly why the book is unpostable and then request return of my credit.  That way the other person knows exactly what the problem is and what I expect them to do to resolve it.

I did mark it RWAP and asked for my credit back and all that jazz and I went by the guidelines, and I was very nice, she just flat out said it wasn't her responsibility and I wasn't getting my credit back.  You win some you lose some and I just wanted to get that off my chest earlier.  I feel much better.  I still Love PBS!

Make sure to let her know that since you did not receive your credit back that you will be marking the transaction as unresolved.  A lot of people seem to change their minds about not refunding credits when they hear that.

Thats truly unfortunate. I think I've only had that happen to me once I wrapped the book in regular paper and dropped it in the mailbox and it rained that weekend. The person that got the book said it got a little wet. I felt bad and would have given back the credit but they were cool about it. I now wrap all my books in saran wrap or just make sure I tape them heavily.

I know if feels lousy when you get a crappy book in the mail. Please don't let it affect your overall opinion of the site. I have received SO MANY wonderful books here. Some are hard-to-find ones, others are just released books. I have even received 2 books autographed from the author. One was autographed by the late illustrator and author Edward Gorey. It was so exciting! Your luck will improve!

Luckily I haven't had a lot of RWAP's but I've had some.  In addition to describing the damage and requesting my credit back in the orignal e-mail, I also explain that the packaging had no damage (heads off that response) and lastly and most important I snap a few photos of the damage and offer to send those to the sender.  I do this all in the first e-mail. 

Not that anybody ever asks to see them- but I've noticed I get a much better credit return response rate since I started doing that.  (Though it's sometimes still a pretty catty response- but funny, they don't want to see the photos.) 

Of course you can't get everyone to do the right thing, but since I streamlined it into this formula I get a better response.

Good ideas, Sara N.!!  I just don't do the digitalcamera/computer internet thing!  I currently hate that Microsoft commercial with the 4 1/2 year old that can do all that - I can't.  Why can't my brain be more "plastic"??  Oh, well,  still being able to offer pictures so they have to face their results is good ammunition!

Ruth

I just joined and have been very happy with almost all of my transactions but recently I received an older copy of a book that seemed to be in ok shape when it came, but with pages yellowed from age, and I marked it as having arrived in acceptable shape.  When I started to read it, the front cover broke off.  Is there any recourse, after you've already accepted it?

Michelle, every book has its last trade.  The book where it is fine when sent out but not good to send out when we are done with it.  Books wear out.  And sometimes we are the unfortunate person where the book arrives on its last legs and have to be the one to retire the book.  It sounds like your situation here.  It was sent in postable condition,  but in the course of your reading it, it "expired" into non-postable condition.

There is no recourse; these thing happen.  Your sender sent it in postable condition and thus should not be penalized.  The book simply wore out during your watch...

Michelle, once you mark a book received, you can't go back and change it.  That's why it is important to check every received book extremely thoroughly before marking it in the system.  You can always try PMing the sender and explaining the situation, but just understand that they are not obligated to return your credit to you.

That said, I'm not sure you could/should technically mark a book like that RWAP.  If the cover was intact when the sender posted and mailed it, as well as when you received it, then it was technically postable.  It is unfortunate that the cover broke off when you read it, but we all have to realize that every book will eventually have its "last read", and that sometimes, that  will be with us.  Then again, there are times you will receive books that look brand new and never read.  It evens out eventually.  If you're looking for keeper books in better condition than PBS guidelines state, you might want to put on a requester condition stating that, especially if you are looking for older books.