Hi,

I received a craft book (so 8 1/2" by 11", just over 1/4" thick) that was shipped in what appears to be gift wrap paper.  It is thicker than some gift wrap I've seen, but gift wrap with the design on the inside nonetheless.  The corners of the package were not taped, so the postal machinery ripped the package open (I'm surprised it got to me) and the back cover of the book has been gouged and rubbed off.  It kind of looks like someone took sandpaper to the back corner of the book with a very heavy hand.  The other three corners were also damaged, and there are a few other spots where the machinery damaged the cover.  Definitely not postable at this point.

I will mark it RWAP, but not sure whether to say damaged by sender or by USPS.  I think if it had been wrapped properly it would have been fine, but of course I have no way of absolutely knowing that.

Suggestions?

Thanks for your help!

I would say it was damaged by the USPS but suggest they wrap the book better.

And someone very well could have used sandpaper on a corner of the book as that is  sometimes recommended here to remove unwanted things on books.

edited to add: doesn't mean the person followed directions or did it properly 

The damaged by USPS leaves you the option to request a credit refund if you feel the packing was the cause of the damage.

Yes, those are tricky b/c it's difficult to determine if the book would have traveled safely if packaged better.  USPS is capable of damaging good wrappers also.

I've had this happen before. I marked it RWAP--damaged by USPS, and PMd the sender to suggest that they use packinh tape along all edges going forward.

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions.

also, marking it damaged by USPS helps you avoid a direct accusation.  I had one like that once.  It was handled amicably.  I blamed the PO.