*sigh* Alas, after priding myself in my simple RC for so long, I have finally had my no-problem streak squelched by someone.

I went to order a book yesterday evening. Here is my RC:

I am not willing to receive books that are currently in a smoking home. Thank you!

*** Requirement For Hardcovers Only! (excluding cookbooks) ***

I am ordering hardcovers for my Keeper shelf. If I'm requesting a hardcover from you, and if the book originally comes with a bookjacket (I know certain books do not), I would like the book to come with the jacket in GOOD condition. Thank you!

Here is the response I got in turn after the swapper rejected my request.

Book is a softcover.

Grr! I know that! I ordered the paperback version!

I'm just grumpy. And it was the only book in the system, so now I get to wait (I'm not a patient person, can you tell?)  :)

Anyone have any suggestions for how I can make my RC easier to understand? Thanks!

I've seen others in this situation word it this way:

For all books, both hardback and paperback:  I am not willing to receive books that are currently in a smoking home.

For hardbacks only! If your book is paperback or is a cookbook, this condition does not apply to your book:  If If the book originally comes with a bookjacket (I know certain hardback books do not), I would like the book to come with the jacket in GOOD condition. Thank you!

I'd try that.  Regardless, you'll still get the occasional person who just doesn't get it, though!

Thanks Lisa! I think that'll work!

I think you could ask a Swap friend to request the book with your address as the alternate destination.  I've seen people suggest it before, as a solution to the RC rejection issue.  It's a drawback to the RCs, that you can't decide to change and request a book that went against your conditions.  I've requested a hardcover asking that it come with the dust jacket.  If it goes through all four in the system, there's no way I can just say "ok, no dust jacket is fine then".  There's my "Grr!" moment (may it never arise!)   Hopefully you can find a way around it and get your book.

edited because somebody answered while I was typing :)

I've got a similar RC for hardcovers, for the identical reason (they're keepers to me)    I had the same thing happen once - someone turned me down for a paperback although my RC specifically stated the 'condition' applied to hardcovers only.    I got the idea that the person was one of those who is put off by requestor conditions in general, so I didn't let it bother me too much.   (Though, like you, it was the only copy & that's why I'd gone ahead & requested the PB)   Now, I *try* to remember to just turn off my conditions if I request a paperback, just to avoid that happening again.

I think your condition is clear about applying to hardcovers only - but some people might have issue with the part about the DJ being in "good" condition --- since 'good' is a very subjective term & what's "good condition" to one person might not be "good" to another.    That one is a stinker to get around.    You could point out specifically what it & isn't acceptable to you --- i.e. "no tears larger than 1", or so forth.   But then there's always the chance that someone might say you're being "too picky"   LOL!   

   I redid my RC quite a few times trying to clarify it & trying to "work around" any objections/questions I seemed to get to it - then it got ridiculously long, so I chopped most of it back out.   Right now, I've got a statement in there to the effect (about the dustjacket), "I realize these are used books, so I DO NOT expect like-new condition or perfection, just "average good" condition.   Normal wear is OK - but if it's all ripped to pieces & taped back together, that's not OK"       I know, it's still  rather "iffy" but it's been that way for a while now & I haven't been getting turned down anymore lately, so it seems that most people  are getting the idea of  what I want, and the books I've received have all been great, so *so far* (knock on wood), both myself & the folks I've requested from seem content w/ my RC about dustjackets.  

How about this:

These requestor conditions are automatically applied to all books ordered from my wish list, so if your book is a paperback, please ignore the section for hardcovers only.

*** Requirement for ALL Books ***

I am not willing to receive books that are currently in a smoking home. Thank you!

*** Requirement For HARDCOVERS Only! Ignore the next part if your book is a paperback or a cookbook.***

I am ordering hardcovers for my Keeper shelf. If I'm requesting a hardcover from you, and if the book originally comes with a bookjacket (I know certain books do not), I would like the book to come with the jacket in GOOD condition. Thank you!

I thought the RCs were pretty darn concise as they were.  Seems the other member is the one who isn't really with it.  Sheesh!

A lot of new members don't know that requestor conditions are applied to all requests by default, so they are confused if a paperback is requested and the conditions say "this applies to hardcovers only". They assume that the requestor made a mistake and ordered a paperback when she only wants hardcovers.

While I do think the re-wording might help, (although I, too, found them clear) it's not going to work for everyone no matter what you type..  I used to have an audiobook restriction (that they be unabridged)...but gave it up because people would do the same thing...decline and say "it's a book".  sigh, lol. 

Also, for this book, even though the system won't let you order it again, you could buddy a credit to the sender for the book.

Seems to me that even people who read occasionally don't read WELL. Maybe she was just confused, or new to the site and thought you only wanted a hardcover. It's hard to tell.

I could see someone getting confused and thinking that the HC part is saying your requirement IS FOR hard covers only, not that it APPLIES TO hard covers only. Not saying it is the logical interpretation, just saying I can see it happening.  I would add something indicating that paperbacks orders are OK and they can ignore that condition.

Gee, guess I'm not with the program, cause I thought your RCs were quite plain, and I understood them as they were originally, and if I'd had the book I'd have sent it.  Pat

i have an RC for one type of book only, and i just leave it turned off unless i find one of those books.

but i agree with the others that your request seemed clear cut.

It doesn't matter how you word it.  Eventually someone will be too daft to read it properly and will reply with the same thing. :p

Jen, I'll volunteer to order the book for you, if you send me a PM with the name of the book, your mailing address, and buddy a credit.

Deb

this has happened to me in the past too and I wonder if they really read the RC's......

Deb - thanks for the offer! I've PM'd one of my buddies to see if she can do it for me. If she can't, I'll be contacting you! :)

Thanks for the help everyone!

Is this a WL?  If so, how can you change the RC's? 

I've found in my 58 years that people in general do not read.  They do not read especially when it involves directions.  I wonder sometimes how people get along in life with this kind of half-a$$d kind of behavior.  I know once ina whileI have misunderstood things I read...but I read your RC and it was clear to me.  So I'm thinking that all they had to see was the RC and declined just because it was an RC.  The reason didn't matter to them, and they knew the fact that their book not being a HC would work with PBS as a reason even though it was what you ordered. 

Ruth

H

my RC says to follow club rules regarding condition. and i got a request turned down last week because they said that it looked like i wanted a like-new book. bull%^&#****! i just don't want a book curled and stained with fluid and food damage. is that asking too much??????

Susan, no, that's not asking too much, but the site already asks that .

If someone is insane enough to post a book curled and stained with fluid and food damage they're not reading the site requirements (hello? you have to click My book has no water or other liquid damage when you post the book!), and they're not likely to read your RCs either, so restating the basics probably just puts off the normal sender and makes it sound like you are asking for perfect books to the suspicious-minded (or to the merely cautious).

What is it with people and reading comprehension anyway?  It's crazy.  There seems to be just a certain baseline level of human error/confusion that can't be totally eliminated, short of being able to burst right through the other person's computer screen and explain what is being displayed.  LOL

I don't use RCs at all and the books I receive are fine, most of them excellent, actually.  Me lucky.

edited for grammatical lunacy

Liese wrote: What is it with people and reading comprehension anyway?  It's crazy.  There seems to be just a certain baseline level of human error/confusion that can't be totally eliminated, short of being able to burst right through the other person's computer screen and explain what is being displayed.  LOL

Amen to that!  What gets me is that this is a site for READERS.  You'd think we'd be a tad more intelligent than the average Joe.

I'm not sure how to tell if a hardcover originally came with a dust jacket.  Thanks in advance for the information!

Jen, Lisa and Cathy...All your wordings seem clear to me.  I agree that for a book site, there is a fair amount of mis-reading!  Kinda funny, unless it means you lose out on a book.