Excellent reminder!  I have received a couple unpostable books in the past where, when I PMd the member, they said that a friend gave it to them and they didn't look through it.  So, it only takes a minute to just flip through the book and just make sure it meets the guidelines.

Thanks Julie...for the great reminder!  If I thumb thru a book and if it seems even slightly questionable it goes into the Goodwill pile.  I've been very lucky with most of the books I've received on PBS...and even if just a few people read your post, it should make transactions even better :)

OH!  and thanks Lisa for making me crave a big pink doughnut!

For me, I figure there's four times I need to check a book before sending out. 1) When I get it, 2) When I list it on my bookshelf, 3) When I pull it for an order, and 4) before I pack it.

Three and four may happen close together, but that's four times you're likely to have the book right in front ofyou. Things may still slip through, but a lot less often that way.

Thanks for the reminder.  I usually do as Cindy suggested, but also when I pick a book up (whether at FoL, Goodwill, etc.) I will usually thumb through it to see if it's postable.  Sometimes when I get it home and look a little closer I find that it's not, but not often.  Pat

Excellent reminder, Julie!  I have been a victim of the "I never read it , that's the way I got it" mindset.  Very annoying, not to mention against the rules. 

At the very least, if you're going to use that excuse, use some common sense.  I had a lady this past week tell me she didn't know because she'd never read it.  Okay -- maybe she didn't flip through it to see the notes in bright blue ink throughout the book, but that pink stain all down the outside of it?  Um . . .

You can never check too much.  I once had two books with similar titles that looked very much alike.  One was requested and I sent it off.  The receiver was very unhappy because it was highlighted throughout.  I was incredulous because I was sure I had checked it!!  Then I finally realized what had happened and sent her credit back.  Major mistake on my part, and one I never repeated!

For me, I figure there's four times I need to check a book before sending out. 1) When I get it, 2) When I list it on my bookshelf, 3) When I pull it for an order, and 4) before I pack it.

Good advice. I get many books at thrift stores and check them at these four times also.

But may I also suggest something about books received through the PBS system that you send on. That is, when you repost a book received through the PBS system, it's important to make sure the binding is correct. Several times I've ordered trade paperback edtions, and received mass markets. Generally when I complain, I've been told some variation of "It's not my fault. That's the book I received and I just reposted it."  As if that makes it okay. It doesn't.

Pam

Yep, been there done that (as you can tell from my sig line LOL!).  Like others said, flip through before you post, but please check again more carefully before you actually send!! 

You'd be surprised peoples' excuses. It's not book-related, but theme-related. I ordered a "brand new in box" latch hook rug kit from eBay. Even the photo showed the plastic-wrapped box, etc. When it came, it was half-done, dirty, used, and just GROSS. I emailed the seller demanding my money back, and she was like, "Oh, I picked it up at an estate sale, didn't really look at it." Well, yeah right. It was OPEN and USED. She MADE THE EFFORT to use a different photograph for the picture on the site, b/c it wasn't the one I got. Plus, her hands would have had to physically touch the OPEN BOX to package it to mail it to me. My guess is she mailed it out in hopes I was a sucker who'd just take the crappy deal and let it go. Not!

Good post.  I feel awful because I got a BOB order and three of the four books were unpostable due to my kids helping me pull them out of the box to pack the order.  I wrote and explained and she said to send them anyway.  I still feel bad though.  I did tell her that when she gets them she can ask me for credits to make up for it - I do want to be fair.

Thanks,

Michelle

But may I also suggest something about books received through the PBS system that you send on. That is, when you repost a book received through the PBS system, it's important to make sure the binding is correct. Several times I've ordered trade paperback edtions, and received mass markets. Generally when I complain, I've been told some variation of "It's not my fault. That's the book I received and I just reposted it."  As if that makes it okay. It doesn't.

Pam

I've noticed most of the time the paperback listings here don't specify what kind of PB it is. So in that case when the listing states it's a PB & not a Mass Market PB there's not much you can do because it is a PB.

But may I also suggest something about books received through the PBS system that you send on. That is, when you repost a book received through the PBS system, it's important to make sure the binding is correct. Several times I've ordered trade paperback edtions, and received mass markets. Generally when I complain, I've been told some variation of "It's not my fault. That's the book I received and I just reposted it."  As if that makes it okay. It doesn't.  Pam

I've noticed most of the time the paperback listings here don't specify what kind of PB it is. So in that case when the listing states it's a PB & not a Mass Market PB there's not much you can do because it is a PB.

Sorry, you're right. I realize now my comment was incorrect / incomplete. What I meant to say is that on occasion I've received a mass market paperback (one ISBN) when I had ordered a trade paperback (a different ISBN); and when I complained to the sender was told "That's the book I received and I just reposted it."  One person told me she never checks books she reposts into the system, because "it's the job of the person who sent it to me,"  a comment that boggles my mind.

Yeah, thats a different story all together. I can say for myself, each book I post I type the ISBN myself & make sure it's correct. I've caught a few that listed as HC instead of PB & I took them right off.

Yep, I agree with Pamela for sure--check to make sure the ISBN matches AND that it's the right binding. When I first joined here, I didn't always check over the books I received closely and just added them to my TBR. When I went to repost them, directly from the TBR pile, months or years later, I'd notice that it was the totally wrong ISBN when the screen with the ISBN comes up to verify before clicking "I can post this book." Usually it was the same format (paperback or hardcover) but not always.

I check things MUCHO closer these days. LOL

Cheryl

I've been told some variation of "It's not my fault. That's the book I received and I just reposted it."  As if that makes it okay. It doesn't.  Pam

Ooh...this burns me up.  I got this exact excuse too.  The sender never read the book that had several huge sections of pages not in contact with the binding.  Definately not postable.  Sender says, "sorry, did my part, why should "I" be out a credit".  Sheesh...and to top it off, it was a lousy book and I couldn't even get into the storyline.

Lauren

Thanks for the suggestions Julie!!