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Topic: How do I mark this book?

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Subject: How do I mark this book?
Date Posted: 5/19/2008 5:10 PM ET
Member Since: 12/21/2007
Posts: 1,642
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I just received a wish list book today and it's water damaged. The packaging was torn in one spot (not really that big a spot but it was enough) and evidently the book  got wet on its journey to me. I'm thinking this is marked damaged by USPS; however, if plastic had been used, the book wouldn't have been damaged at all. Is there a way to mark that packaging by the sender may have contributed to the book being received in a condition that won't allow reposting. This book is so wet I don't even know if I'll be able to read it. I  know that plastic isn't required but in this case it would have helped prevent a book being damaged. I'm just sad the book is damaged :( It's a newer book and would have had many more reads in it :(

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Date Posted: 5/19/2008 5:20 PM ET
Member Since: 6/20/2007
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I would mark "Damaged by USPS".  Since plastic isn't a requirement, the sender appears to have met PBS wrapping conditions. 

I personally consider wrapping to be a problem in situations where books are loose within a large package (I've had MMPBs damaged after being shipped in a large bubble mailer in which they weren't secured inside the mailer), or if only scotch tape is used to secure a paper wrapper.  IMHO, in neither of these scnarios is the book wrapped properly.  But if your book was otherwise wrapped properly, than I'd consider it damaged by USPS.

You might want to consider sending the receiver a message telling them about the water damage and suggesting--politely--that they consider using plastic in the future.  I know that some members have RCs asking for plastic wrapping, and you might want to consider that as well.  But if the book was not damaged when it left the sender's hands, then it was damaged by USPS. 

I make sure all of my books are waterproofed somehow, whether by plastic bags, Tyvek, or packing tape.  But not everyone does this, and it is not a site requirement.

melanied avatar
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Date Posted: 5/19/2008 7:04 PM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
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The definition of RWP - damaged by USPS includes books damaged because of poor wrapping so that is how you should mark it. I usually note in the PBS info portion that the wrapping contributed to the problem and I also PM the sender to politely let them know that the book was damaged in transit and a layer of some plastic would have saved the book.

Sorry your book got wet. I hate when a book gets damaged.

angelacisco avatar
Date Posted: 5/19/2008 7:25 PM ET
Member Since: 6/15/2006
Posts: 1,691
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Ditto Sheryl's response. 

Plastic is not required when packaging a book to mail.  You shouldn't fault someone who followed the guidelines for wrapping when USPS is the guilty party.

 

ruthy avatar
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Date Posted: 5/19/2008 7:55 PM ET
Member Since: 12/9/2007
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I live in fear of getting a water-logged book.  We are in a rural area with the mailboxes down on  the main rural road.  The mail person rarely closes the boxes all the way so mail does get wet.  Most of our important mail (bills, etc.) goes to a post office box because of this.  Originally I had the PBS books coming to the post office box for that reason.  But it quickly became obvious that going to  the PO everyday wasn't an option and it would really delay books coming in if I had to go during business hours to pick them up.  So now when I get a book that has a plastic inner wrapping I PM the sender thanking them specifically for that and telling them why.  When I get books that do not have a plastic inner wrapping  I PM  them thanking them for the book telling them where we live and asking them to please consider wrapping them in plastic first.  In the lastt 2 weeks we've had flooding rains which have not only gotten everything wet - but also  kept us from going down to the mailboxes every day - so I now tell those who sent the books without plastic about this rain experiment.  Fortunately, the one book that came in wet had been wrapped in plastic first and was 100% okay.  I really thanked that sender!  ;D

Susanaque avatar
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Subject: Water logged books
Date Posted: 5/19/2008 11:53 PM ET
Member Since: 11/18/2005
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Ruth, this is a case of you should  consider putting in a requestor condition that any books you receive be wrapped in some kind of plastic................

Patouie avatar
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Date Posted: 5/20/2008 4:35 AM ET
Member Since: 8/26/2006
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I'd mark it damaged by USPS.  I wrap in plastic first, but it's not a requirement unless the requestor has requestor conditions to that effect. 

I hate it when that happens, though.  Poor, wrinkly book.