I received a book that was wrapped in 2 sheets of normal printer paper. The paper didn't quite make it, and so a corner of the book was taped.

I can't figure out if the wrapping is the cause of the problem, or if media maul is the culprit, but there are 2 spots where something took a bit out of the cover. One is a semi-circle the size of my pinky nail, the other is bite & a slit in the top corner, on a diagonal, the span of my thumb nail (not quite an inch, but more than half an inch.)

Should I just mark it received, then in the survey note the problems?  Or mark it RWAP, but not ask for my credit back?  (I don't want my credit back, I'm really okay with not getting a credit for this, there are almost a dozen other wishers, and I'm fine with it being a freebie from my shelf.)

I absolutely do not think that the sender had any mal intent on sending a RWAP. I think it's a combo of risky wrapping and the lovely USPS.

What do you think is the best way to take care of this?  IIRC, PBS says to use the paper as a label, but by doing it the way they suggest, someone/something took a few bites out of my book?!

It sounds like the USPS was indeed a big contributor to the problem. I probably wouldn't mark it RWAP, but I would PM the sender. In a friendly way describe the injury to the book and suggest ways that they might improve their wrapping technique to prevent a similar problem in the future. Is the sender fairly new? They would probably appreciate book-sending advice. Let them know that while you are okay with this copy, the book is no longer postable and other members might be more likely to RWAP in such a case.

If the sender was new, I would probably what Anissa suggests - give them a break by marking it received, and PM the sender with friendly packing advice. If it's a long time member, I would mark RWAP. The wrapping must cover the entire book, and there's no excuse not to know that if you've been here a while. The very first bullet under "General Guidelines for Wrapping" says "Your book(s) must be completely enclosed in the wrapping."

It's a member circa june 2008.

It's one of the situations where it took both sides for it to arrive as it had.

Slightly better wrapping, and there'd be no problem.

Slightly more careful USPS, and there'd be no problem.

I think I'll RWAP-USPS, noting that more careful packaging might've avoided this, and that I do not want a credit back.

Thanks.

I think I'll RWAP-USPS, noting that more careful packaging might've avoided this, and that I do not want a credit back.

That's what I would do.

I absolutely do not think that the sender had any mal intent on sending a RWAP.

I think it's a combo of risky wrapping and the lovely USPS

I hate how PBS recommends wrapping a book with only printing paper. Printing paper is not a protective shipping material. Nevertheless, this is what they recommend and therefore the sender isn't really in the wrong for following PBS guidelines (as lame as the guidelines are).

I think your solution is best.

therefore the sender isn't really in the wrong for following PBS guidelines (as lame as the guidelines are).

I'm not sure I agree, if I'm interpreting the OP correctly. She said "I received a book that was wrapped in 2 sheets of normal printer paper. The paper didn't quite make it, and so a corner of the book was taped." 2 sheets of paper is fine, but it has to go all the way around to follow the guidelines! And tape cannot be applied directly to the book. If that's where the book was damaged, then the sender was probably at fault.

I do agree with the solution though!

To clarify:

There was tape on the book in several places along the edges. (As though the tape made up the differnce in space where the paper didn't touch.)

Presumably, during it's route through USPS, something took a few bites out of book, tearing off the wrapper & tape.  ETA: But hey, maybe the sender was hungry?

One bite had been completely covered in paper, and is a minor bite of paper torn off the cover.

Another bite occured where it appears was only tape, and whatever bite the book, torn off the tape that was attached to the book, tearing the cover to almost an inch (ergo, unpostable.)

If the book had been completely covered in paper, (or brown paper bag, or wrapped in plastic prior to paper, or a bubble wrap) the USPS book biter would've only gotten wrapper, and not some attached cover.

I guess this just annoyed me because I've gotten nothing but pristine books from here, but the last couple days, I've gotten 2 other books with what appeared to be teeth marks on them (could've been human, probably canine, but I wouldn't rule out feline or ferret.)  But, since they are only teeth impressions, I didn't think twice about marking them received 100% okay. 

This one was something's snack.

torn off the tape that was attached to the book, tearing the cover to almost an inch

Yeah... definitely the sender's fault if tape was directly applied to the book causing it to tear. Hopefully they'll know not to do that again. If you haven't emailed the sender yet, you could include some info from the guidelines (relevant parts bolded):

General Guidelines for Wrapping:

• Your book(s) must be completely enclosed in the wrapping

• Use plenty of tape (2" shipping tape, not Scotch)
  • especially at the corners and seams.
  • You can get shipping tape at any store that sells stationery or shipping supplies.
  • Do not apply tape directly to the book! This can damage the book when the package is opened.
    • If you apply tape directly to the book and it is then damaged when the package is opened, you will not receive a credit.
  • Do not tape over the postage (USPS does not accept this)
  • Do not apply postage to tape (it can fall off)
  • It is okay to apply clear tape over the DC barcode if you are sending a package with PBS-DC or Printable Postage
    • If you do this, avoid wrinkles in the tape that can interfere with barcode scanning
• Make sure that all flaps and folds, on whatever type of wrapping you use, are secured tightly to your package.
  • It is easy for flaps or folds that are not secured to get snagged by sorting machines in the USPS system, and this can cause damage to (or loss of) your book.
• Consider using an inner layer of plastic
  • You can use Saran Wrap, or clean plastic grocery bags, or any kind of clean plastic material
  • please do not use "Press and Seal". This product contains some type of glue that sticks to the books.
    • If you wrap your book in this and it is then damaged when the package is opened, you will not receive a credit.
    • If you get a book that was wrapped using Press-and-Seal, a little rubbing alcohol will remove the residue from the book cover.

Teeth marks and chewing marks aren't allowed either by the postability guidelines.

Ruth

That item in the help center is very misleading, unless there has been a recent change. As far as I know, there is no way to withhold credit (other than not marking it received).

Last Edited on: 5/28/09 4:04 PM ET - Total times edited: 1

Eek! Thanks, Ruth! I guess my "freebie" pile is growing.

Now, I'm just annoyed. I read the help docs, and it doesn't help. I RWAP-usps, sent a polite PM but I neglected to specifically state that I wanted the sender to acknowledge me.  Help docs say that I have to, but they also say that when a sender receives a PM re: a RWAP, the sender must acknowledge it.

I Pm'd the sender on 5/28. I know it hasn't been a week, yet. But I had expected the sender to at least aknowledge me. 

As I understand the help docs, since I did not specifically request that the PM reply to me, all I can do is mark the situation as "resovled."

Any suggestions? Ugh. If not, at least I feel a bitty bit better by venting.

Dear TPTB: why, oh why, must ye contradict yourselves?

Most of the books I receive are wrapped in the two sheets of printing paper and if taped correctly (all seams and edges) they come through the mail fine.   I got several this week wrapped that way and was impressed at how nicely they still looked when they arrived.

Cozi: Yes, I would say about half the books I receive are wrapped in 2 sheets of letter sized paper, but they completely cover the book.  Not the situation here.  The paper didn't make it around the books, and tape made up the difference and therefore tape was applied to the book. When the USPS machine pulled off a part of the wrapper, it pulled off the tape which was attached to the cover, which ripped the cover.