Have you ever encountered a member who has such strict requestor conditions that they probably should just go and buy the book new?  I just had someone request from me who had this list:

--no creases of any kind, in cover or pages

--no water damage

--no smells of any kind

--no yellowing or tanning of pages

--no rips or tears

--no missing dustjackets and dustjacket and covers if paperback must be completely smooth.

I mean. sheesh....these are used books, right?  One page in my otherwise like-new book was slightly creased where it won't lie 100% flat when the book is closed, so I rejected the request out of fear she wouldn't be happy!  Are people like this booksellers or are they just completely anal?

RC's like this always make me giggle.   I've been lucky enough to only see one or two like this in my entire 2+ years of membership.    People have the right to ask for whatever they want in their RC's, but this person probably isn't getting many books!

 I know.  I mean, I TOTALLY understand wanting a book that doesn't smell of cigarettes or stink, and is in good shape as far as not falling apart, and it's nice to have a dustjacket on a hardcover, but I don't understand expecting every book you receive to be like you just bought it new, not on a used book site.

They probably aren't getting too many books for sure!!

I just assume they have their own issues and move on.    Their problems certainly don't need to make me feel anxious, upset or shocked.    Good luck to them, but if my book doesn't meet their conditions?  Oh well - their lose.

I really doubt they are book sellers, it just wouldn't be profitable to attempt to get books through PBS. I usually take it that they have gotten burned by a bad sender and if my book meets their RCs, send it; if not, move on with my life. This person is going to get turned down most of the time, but that's their choice. Its not really my business on why their RCs are there.

Leigh,

  As long as the book isnt torn and you can read it , its ok with me . This is after all a Bookswap of used books. If you have Allergies I could see being a little fussy , but if its that bad it maybe would be better for all to go to the store and purchase ,just my opinion .

I have been very fortunate with all books that I requested and received . I like to have mine packaged neatly . I love this PBS .

I want to read a book not enshrine it.  When you go to the book store. People are sitting there reading books & magazines.  90% do not buy the book or magazine.  They are just reading.y

Leigh, I know the perfect web site for a requestor with those conditions:

Amazon.com! 

;)

I think I would have turned that down even if it was a brand new never read book.  The credit would just not be worth the possible headache.  I'd rather wait for the next person. 

I think I had the same person when I first joined. Or at least someone with very similar conditions.  The book was an old OOP/HTF Sherrilyn Kenyon book.  It was 15yrs old and had a WL of over 80 people.  There's no way that book was going to look "like new, near mint, w/no yellowing". I'm mean come on!  So it went to the next person in line.  I wonder if the 1st person ever got a copy.  If the conditions has just said "no severe yellowing" or something like that-I would have sent it but the "like new, near mint" is was got me.

They drive me crazy too. I turned down one recently that again, wanted a "like-new book."  I also turn down the ambiguous ones like another one I got that said "No excessive wear."  What does that mean? Different for different people.

I will admit that I'm guilty of wanting a dustjacket with my hardcovers but I don't have conditions on the dustjacket - just that it be there if it came with one! :)

I haven't had one of those yet (crossing my fingers and my toes that I never get one) - so, where in the requesting process would I, as the sender, see the rc?  Would it be when I receive the e-mail from PBS stating that someone has requested a book from me?

I also turn down the ambiguous ones like another one I got that said "No excessive wear."  What does that mean? Different for different people.

"Not excessively worn" is in the PBS book conditions rules.  The person was actually just restating the guidelines.  I guess you just have to use your best judgment. 

That person really needs to buy his or her books new, IMO.

And what's with "no smells of any kind"? Even a brand-new book smells faintly of paper and ink.

Michael, you won't be able to miss requestor conditions, if the person has them.  As soon as you click that you can mail the book, the RCs will pop up, and you have to say whether or not your book meets the conditions before going any further.

No creases of any kind? She'll be lucky if she can get that in the majority of new books - especially if she buys them online and they have to be shipped to her!

I'd NEVER send a book to someone with this condition, even if it was brand new. What if it got creased in transit? I'm not going to be dinged for not meeting requester conditions because the book gets creased en route to them.

Thanks Patty P.  Now, I'll know one when I see it.

Well, now I've seen one - but it was very reasonable and no problem in complying with it.

I was also very grateful for the upcoming credit.

"No water damage" is a regular rule here, isn't it? Otherwise, I agree.

I generally can mail books to whoever and my books are all up to PBS standards.  The only way I would send a book to that person if i just got it from the bookstore and didn't read it first.  I would turn her down and then get on with life.

Not a lot of action on her bookshelf!!

I can understand some of the conditions...i.e. no smells...no water damage...  However, I had to reject a request on a book because the member was willing to accept former library books...in new condition.  Any former library book would have remainder marks etc...so how could a "new condition" ever exist. It's a puzzlement.

I guess some people are just picky... oh well I send it if it meets the RC and I don't send it if it doesn't.  I will say I do receive a lot of books that appear brand new. I don't really care if they are new but it is always a nice surprise!

Denise

I would be sorely tempted to engage this person in a PM to see what prompted these rather stringent rules. If it's a couple of bad trades, I might suggest that she give it another chance as this wording is seriously hindering her chances at getting many books at all. Period!

2 years old yet. Another one brought back from the dead.

WTH???