Today, in Michigan we had pouring rain, enough to fill buckets! LOL I received three books in the mail. Each one of them was wrapped in a different way.

Two books were wrapped in PBS wrapping separately then taped together, and taped  in the right places on the corners,etc.. Nothing done wrong by the sender. The second one was in a regular bubble mailer. The third book was in one of those waterproof bubble mailers. The only one who wrapped her books in plastic was the sender with the PBS wrappers.

Needless to say, two of  the envelopes were soaked. Both the books in the regular bubble mailer and the waterproof bubble mailer were fine. If the sender with the PBS wrapper had not wrapped  the books with plastic, the books would have been ruined. Yes, she did use two sheets, but the rain soaked in, even through the tape and the black ink was wet and spreading.

I will for sure from now on wrap my books with plastic especially when using PBS wrappers!

Connie - always like hearing the plastic works :)    I wrap books in plastic even if I put in the bubble mailers - I always think the envelopes will be torn and water will seep in  -just my OCD :)   Happy Reading

It works!!  I use the waterproff mailers and still pre-wrap in plastic just in case a hole gets torn or punctured in the mailer.  I've had too many sokaing wet books delivered to me to take any chances.  Water is sneaky!!

Ruth

I always double wrap: first in plastic and then in a bubble mailer because I'm a bit OCD. I got several water damaged books when I first joined and didn't want someone to feel the same way I felt. I truly appreciate it when people take the time to make sure the books they send are going to arrive in the best shape possible.

I have been a big fan of plastic-wrapping books INSIDE the outer packaging since years ago, when I sold a leather-bound old state history volume on eBay. I plastic-wrapped that one and later received a thank-you email from the buyer, telling about horrendous rain, postal person leaving book on porch, etc. He said he was so afraid to open the package... and then SO relieved to find the book safe and dry inside.

It takes little extra effort, is a good way to recycle clean plastic bags -- I think it's a great idea.

I'm definitely a firm believer plastic wrapping, too!  I've never gotten any feedback from someone I've sent a book too, but I found out for myself last night how well it works.  I had a book on my coffee table wrapped up and ready to mail, and a glass of water was spilled on it.  The wrapping was completely soaked, but when I opened the package, the book was fine.  I'll definitely keep wrapping in plastic now!

What a great story - and proof positive that our efforts DO pay off!  Because there is rain even in the summer!  Books requested from me are always wrapped in plastic first...  Just don't want to take any chances.       :)    D. 

For the first year or so of PBS membership, I didn't use plastic underwrap for the books I mailed.  But finally received a book in the standard 'two page' PBS wrapper, with the DC barcode and addy protected by clear packing tape.  The entire package had been so wet, the water ran under the tape and smeared the barcode to the point it was unscanable (I thought the sender had forgotten it).  The address was also smeary under the protective tape, to the point I've no idea how USPS read it to deliver!!  Inside, the book had been wrapped in plastic and was in 'like new' condition...no damage whatsoever! 

I'm now a firm believer in plastic underwrap :-)

yep, I always wrap the books I send out in plastic bags.  better safe than sorry!!

Count me as a believer in plastic underwrapping!

I got a book today inside one of those USPS sorry-we-damaged-your-package bags. It had obviously been completely soaked in water at some point on its journey. Thankfully, the sender had used plastic underneath, so the book was undamaged.

You guys continue posting great stories about the advantages of wrapping books with plastic. Since the other day, I have wrapped every book that I've sent out in plastic. They were all then put into their snuggly bubble mailers.

I am a frim believer in plastic wrap also!  I live in WI and it was pouring on Friday and I received an order that was placed in an envelope, not a padded one and needless to say buy the time the mailman got to my house, it was soaked and ripped open and my books were getting rained on.  Sigh.  Thankfully they didn't get to water damaged but still, I can't post them back here.  Oh well.  (I wish the mailman had just noticed that the envelope was wide open and getting poured on.  The other end was all taped up and may have survived the rain better.)

I wrap in bubble wrapper envelopes but usually don't use plastic wrap in addition unless asked to, but I do tape the edges of the flap because I don't think they seal very well.  Pat

A few days ago, I received a book in a bubble wrapper envelope like Pat's.  The book was fine, but there were several rips in the outer paper part of the envelope.  Fortunately, the plastic bubble layer was not pierced.  If it had been a strong enough rip to get through the bubbles, that book might have taken a bath...  Those bubbles are pretty strong, though.    :)    D.

Thanks for the reminder. I live ina very dry climate, and have a post office box for mail, so had never really thought about books getting "rained on". After this thread, from now on all books I send out will have plastic liners :-)

Here's another "testaimonial" for using plastic wrap.  A couple of weeks ago I had a like-new hardback with dust jacket to mail out.  I wrapped it in plastic and then put it in a manilla envelope and tossed it in the back seat of my car to drop at the post office.  It was a typical hot Texas day so I left my back windows down partway in the parking lot at work.  Naturally it came a sudden shower that afternoon and that side of the back seat got soaked.  The enveloped was ruined but the book was perfect.  I rewrapped it and mailed it the next day.

Those who wrap in the brown paper bags from the grocery store should use plastic as well as the ink from the writing seems to transfer to the pages the few times I've received books wrapped that way.

I always not only wrap in plastic I also put cardboard on the top and bottom of my books then wrap them. Everyone I mail a book to has told me what a great wrapping job it was. I am so afraid that the books will get some sort of damage so I try to make sure they are protected.  Just ask  Connie she knows.  LOL

            Bertie

I didn't use plastic wrap for a bit after I first joined but after reading posts about water damaged books from them not being wrapped, I now do it for every single one I send with the PBS wrapper and also ones I mail in manila envelopes.  I don't do it every single time when I use bubble mailers; it depends on their condition.  I recently got sent a trade size PB in just a manila envelope.  The envelope arrived torn across the side and front, so the  book was exposed.  Had it been raining here, it would have gotten water damaged.  I PM'd the sender a friendly suggetion that she might want to consider plastic wrapping books sent in these mailers, as well as taping the sides and flaps well, since a number of people have posted about how flimsy these mailers are.  I got a curt response of "I've never had a problem with how I mail my books before".  Sheesh!  I wanted to reply that she was pretty lucky then, but I didn't. 

What kind of plastic do you use? I usually just use plastic grocery bags, but those are getting fewer and fewer now that I'm using grocery totes.

The other day, i got a really nice brick of books wrapped in plastic food wrap inside of a re-used paper grocery bag mailer.

I love the fact that my newspaper is put in a plastic bag, so I have a supply of plastic to put my books in before I wrap.  Extra bonus is on Sunday when the bag is a bigger size, perfect for HC's.  It is so much easier than plastic wrap.  And when I don't have the newspaper bags, I use plastic bags from the supermarket.  No additional cost involved and takes the worry away.