I know this is a used book site but I really wish people would honor the guidelines.  I just received a wish listed book that has obvious water damage (wavy pages, practically a hand mark in half of the book, what my daughter and I call a pool or bathtub book).  Now it does have over 900 wishers so I assume this person thought it was better to send it out than to throw it away, but I was on the fence about even reading it (it is not my usual genre)  and now I won’t be able to repost it, except in the bazaar.  It is “readable” so I feel bad asking for a credit back, but it ticks me off and I will have to say something to them when I record the book received.  They are not a newbie, BTW, I checked and I know that I sent out some questionable books when I first started just because I was so excited and didn’t really read the fine details.  I just wish there was a way to list books, maybe two categories, like Amazon has, “good” versus “acceptable”.  Personally I don’t even like to post hardbacks without the cover except in the Book Bazaar, just because I don’t want someone to get it and be disappointed.  Sorry, I just had to rant before I go in and log it as received.

I don't know why you feel guilty reporting a bsg book correctly. If it is obvious they shouldn't have sent it (and water damage is a clear NO on this site) then you shouldn't feel guilty at all, they sent out a book they shouldn't have and only getting it marked RWAP and informed of the rules will stop that. There is a place for them to list there unpostable books - the Bazaar. So posting it is either ignorance of the rules or laziness so a RWAP will wake them up to whatever the problem is.

I quit feeling guilty about asking for my credit back when I ended up with a stack of unpostable books and very few credits and I realized all those senders had the credits when they shouldn't have and probably knew when they sent the book they shouldn't have been sending it and probably kept on doing it when they were able to get the credit anyway. Take away the benefit and they'll stop doing it.

I'm sorry you got a bad book, Margaret, but please don't feel badly about marking it as RWAP and asking for your credit back.  The system depends on members doing so in order to work properly.  If the sender made an honest mistake, one RWAP and giving up a credit won't hurt her.  If she has a habit of doing this, you'll help weed out a bad sender.

I get what you're saying about different book categories and PBS does have a way to do that -- unpostables can be offered in the Book Bazaar and other places, like your profile and signature.  Being "readable" isn't all that necessary -- otherwise folks could send a moldy, photocopied pile of parts and call it "readable".   

The guidelines for books are the same - long wish list line or NOT! 

I'd mark it RWAP and ask for my credit back, or not depending on what I plan to do with the book.  BUT you have every right to ask for your credit back if that's what you want.  The sender may or may not give the credit back but you have the right to ask.

Definitely mark it rwap and DO NOT feel guilty about it!  People will continue to send unpostable books if they aren't punished for doing so.  It's bad enough to have to deal with books that are damaged in transit.

I know that I sent out some questionable books when I first started just because I was so excited and didn’t really read the fine details.

This was me also when I first started. I know there were books I sent out that were borderline.  I came over to PBS from another swapping site that shall remain nameless where they use condition notes instead of postability rules.  I almost wish someone had given me a RWAP so I became familiar with the rules of the site sooner than I did.  But I never heard a peep from the member I sent those books to, and it wasn't until almost a year down the road when I first looked at the forums that I realized that there postability rules. 

So, like Melanie, I never hestitate to RWAP if I feel it is justified. 

I really hate it when members think giving or receiving a RWAP is considered punishment.  It's not punishment, it's a consequence of their actions.  Just like receiving a credit is the consequence of sending out a postable book, then receiving a RWAP is the consequence of sending out an unpostable book.  Punishment somehow feels more personal and it's not personal or at least, it shouldn't be personal.  It's just following the rules.  And when you joined, you agreed to follow the rules and guidelines established by PBS.

It is “readable” so I feel bad asking for a credit back,

Whether it is readable is not really relevant - what matters is whether it is postable. The way you have described it, this book clearly is not. Either the sender is aware of the rules and chooses to ignore them, in which case they need to be "called out" with a RWAP - or, the sender is unaware of the site rules, and they need to be educated via a RWAP. Don't let yourself feel guilty about marking this RWAP, if you don't do so, the sender will continue the practice.

I just wish there was a way to list books, maybe two categories, like Amazon has, “good” versus “acceptable”.

PBS does have two categories - postable and unpostable. 

I do understand it can be difficult to mark a book RWAO, and request your credit back - particularly if you have a non-confrontational personality, but, IMHO it is up to all members to maintain postability standards - both for books they send and receive.

Thanks for all the responses, and I agree with everyone, and like Alisa F. said, I wish someone had pointed out the rules to me earlier on.  So I did RWAP it and asked for my credit back, BUT good thing I didn't have my heart set on getting my credit back, this was the response I received:

" I know that it rained a lot during the last week, but I can't be held responsible for how the mail in your area is handled. I'm very sorry that the book got wet - I'm sure a day in the sun will dry it out. I will wrap future books in plastic, but it hadn't been raining daily when I mailed it. It wasn't even on my mind."

Oh well, not going it let it ruin my day!

 

Was the wrapper damaged? If you're pretty sure that the damage was done before mailing, you can tell her so and restate that you want your credit back. If you end up having to mark the transaction as "unresolved" that info should at least be archived with it.

The wrapper was not wet and did not look like it had been wet.  It was a good bit torn since it was just the printer sheet wrapper and had minimum tape.  As she stated, there was no plastic. 

Gee Margaret, make your mail delivery person stop reading your books and leaving wet handprints behind (teasing).

Couple weeks ago I received a wishlisted book with water damage on one corner (and a warp like the book had been held by the damp pages so they were indented into the shape of a hand).  Sender insisted USPS did it.  They used a brand new bubble mailer (plastic interior liner).  The package arrived in excellent condition, no visible damage or water damage to the mailer...maybe invisible monkeys slipped into the envelope and damaged the book?

In all fairness tho, the sender was very nice and promptly returned my credit (then stomped off to yell at his PO).