I requested and received a hardback copy of "Queen of Babble in the Big City".  The book does not have a jacket cover, I don't think it ever did.  My question is this...is it a postable book?  The title of the book is on the spine written in gold lettering.  It looks like a book someone would receive from a book club.  I don't mean to be whinny, but I don't really like the looks of the book.  It has an ISBN # and a publisher name of HaperColins Publishers. 

There is a statement that reads "HarperCollins books may be purchased for eductional, business, or sales promotional use. For informaton please write: Special Markets Department...."

What type of book is this?

Denise (Vintage Nana)

My question is this...is it a postable book?  

What would make it unpostable? Books don't need to have a dust jacket to be postable so what about the book makes you question the postability? Usually the covers look like what you are explaining on a book missing a DJ, if you don't like the looks you can add an RC that states you require dustjackets.

eta: I looked at all the copies of this book in the PBS system and they have cover art so it sounds to me like you just received one without the dustjacket included..

eta: I know it can be disappointing to get a newer HC without the DJ if you like books that way. Here is the RC I have (taken from someone else who posted in the forums :) ) since I prefer books with cover art, it gets me more interest in reading it.

If I ordered a book listed as a paperback in the system, I have no other conditions. I can't wait to read it :)

If I ordered a 2000 or newer Hardcover, please include dust jacket.  All older hardcovers are okay if there is no dust jacket.

Thanks!

I'm with Melanie...what about the book do you think makes it unpostable?

I googled HarperCollins Special Market and found this: "Special Sales handles non-traditional retailers, such as premium sales to corporations, and sales to specialty catalogs and gift stores like Urban Outfitters and Bed, Bath and Beyond."  It still sounds postable, just not purchased in a traditional bookstore.

I've seen hardcovers before that have the cover art printed directly on the cover, rather than coming with a dust jacket. It doesn't necessarily make it a weird edition.

Even if it is a book club edition, those are postable, according to the Help Center.

Thank you to everyone who answered my question.  I didn't mean to sound critical, the book is fine.  I'm fairly new to PBS (six months) so sometimes I have questions.  Part of the problem is I didn't realize it WAS a hardcover.  I was expecting a PB copy.  The book just looks naked without it's jacket.

"I was expecting a PB copy."     Did you accidentally request the hardcover edition?  The naked look can be modified with those stretchy textbook covers...easily available and cheap this time of year :-)

The book just looks naked without it's jacket.

I agree with that. I don't like HB w/o DJ either.  How about a RC: "no naked looking books".

just kidding!

Hi - I am fairly new myself...it takes awhile to figure this all out.

I guess my first question is did you request a PB or HC?  If your request was for a PB - does the ISBN on the HC match your transaction archive  ISBN?  If it doesn't it should have been marked RWAP.  I know that publishing companies reuse ISBN, that is why members have to be careful when posting...that the book they post matches (ISBN/Binding) what is on the PBS database.  Many times members think they are requesting a HC and receive a PB and in the reverse.

If you made a mistake and requested a HC than there isn't much you can do.

I understand your question if it were postable - making sure you were posting a book that was allowed because it was a "Special Marketed Book". There is nothing wrong with that.  

What I would do first to check if it is a postable book would be to punch in the ISBN and see if it is on the PBS database and does it match the binding, publication dates.  This can tell you if it is postable.  If you are comfortable searching the internet, I would also do what another member did - go to the publishers website and try to find out what "Special Marketing" means. 

Patricia is right - you can put an RC  on  (though I like her RC better - no naked books - I would get a chuckle) just decline if this is a HC book and doesn't have a dust jacket :)

If your request was for a PB - does the ISBN on the HC match your transaction archive  ISBN?  If it doesn't it should have been marked RWAP.  - This would not matter. If a book listed on PBS says paperback and a HC is sent, it should be marked RWP regardless of the ISBN on the book. The HC cannot be posted to its ISBN if the system is using it for the paperback.

Hope we didn't sound like we were yelling at you for being critical about it, just trying to find out what exactly the issue was with the book in order to answer your question. If it had been just the missing DJ, then it was postable as is, if you ordered a book that was listed as a paperback in the system, then yes, the book you received was not posted correctly and you should have been able to mark it RWP and asked for you credit back..

Thank yo again for all your concern and help.  I was the one who made the mistake, I guess I requested and approved a hard copy of the book.  I didn't even look to see if it was a paperback or not.  I was just glad to be getting the book.  I have stated that I would like my HB with their jackets (no Naked Books!  Very funny!)  I appreciate all your help.

Thanks,

I don't care about dust jackets, and don't understand why anyone insists on having them. If you want the book, you want the book!

It is to read; not to look at! And it isn't costing you anything! Someone is spending more money to mail a hard-cover book than they would a paperback, and probably only gets a paperback in return.  Why complain? I can understand not wanting books that have odors, but not books without a dust jacket!

Betty Jean

and don't understand why anyone insists on having them.

It is personal preference.  Some people use HC for keepers and display them in their living room, study, library, office.  I like dust jackets on all my HC and all the HC I post have dust jackets.  I do take them off when I am reading the book, but they are stored with the jackets....it is a personal preference.  I have sent out 5 HCs so far and they did not cost much more than my paperbacks when I send mulitple books.  To date I have not received any HC in return and i won't until my WL books kick on in next year.   I prefer PB and only books I know I am keeping forever I will request or purchase in HC.    I don't have a problem with someone requesting dust jackets with their HC as I don't have a problem if someone doesn't want dust jackets.   Different strokes and all.  

I don't care about dust jackets, and don't understand why anyone insists on having them. If you want the book, you want the book!

It is to read; not to look at! And it isn't costing you anything! Someone is spending more money to mail a hard-cover book than they would a paperback, and probably only gets a paperback in return.  Why complain? I can understand not wanting books that have odors, but not books without a dust jacket!

It doesn't really matter why someone wants what they want or if someone else cares about it or not, it only matters that what is asked for is sent. I order HCs for reasons. Some are meant to be read on my treadmill and need to be HCs to fit the holder on it, I don't want a paperback sent in that case. Books I read in bed or carry with me need to be small and lightweight, I don't want a HC sent. Sometimes I don't care, but I want what I ordered, not something a sender deemed a good enough substitute.

A plain looking book without its DJ doesn't entice me to read it.

Its not a free book, it costs one credit which is earned by paying a book plus the postage to send it.

I can tell you that I order mostly HC books, only because the print seems to be bigger than some of the mass market PBs.  Plus, I don't like fighting to keep the pages open in a new PB.  I just like HCs better.   I don't keep my books so it doesn't bother me if I get a naked book or not.  I guess though if I did keep them I would want the dust cover.  I just love being able to get most of the books I want for so little.  :-)

"...And it isn't costing you anything!"  and that's a whole different can of worms Betty Jean.  It's also untrue.