I always question possible RWAP because I hate doing it but I got one and I am not sure. The book is in readable condition but the binding on the side is messed up and pulling away from the book on the ouside (pages are still intact). I can pretty much fit my finger in between the side and the book itself. How would you mark this? (I should add that the package was received intact so it wasn't USPS as far as I can tell). Thanks so much! :-)

It should be marked RWAP. Here is the information from the book listing guidelines.

Binding:

• Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book

Gee. have bought brand new hardcover books that do the same thing. Guess I won't be doing that anymore.

Nicole: The book you got was/is unpostable. If the "binding on the side is... pulling away from the book on the outside," that definitely counts as separation. As Margaret says, separation means RWAP.

If y'all don't mind my jumping in here, I have a questionable RWAP of my own. The problem is grease. Starting w/ the very 1st page of the book, and on to numbered page 33, there are grease marks up to 2" x 2/3" in size on the edges of the paper. The marks are both subtle (there's no color difference) and obvious (they're easy to see, and translucent enough, you can read the next page's text through them).

Just for giggles  =grin=  I've been playing Sherlock Holmes about these marks, which are on the outside right-hand edge:
• they were made by a right-handed reader --> 'cause they're more obvious on the odd-number sides of the pages
• they were caused by fingers turning pages quickly OR thumb holding onto book for longer --> 'cause pages that are nearly or completely blank (e.g., title page) have only small marks near top of page, as of quickly turning pages with fingers, whereas pages w/ significant text (e.g., 1st chapter) have much larger, greasier marks, as of holding the book for w/ thumb while reading for a while
• the reader may've been eating french fries or oily donuts, but I think it was potato chips, or other chip that doesn't cause discoloration ---> 'cause the grease isn't as much as french fries etc. would cause

Enough silliness.  The thing is, I feel ambivalent about this book, 'cause what bothers me most, is its having deep, long creases in the front cover, plus serious bending (without creases) in the back cover, such that the book is all splayed open. And the reason why that's a problem? Because it's the third I've gotten so far of a four-book series that I'm collecting for my husband as a present. The other two are in good shape. I know that neither the creases nor the splayed-open state violate posting guidelines. But they do make me wish I had a better copy--which obviously makes me question myself, if I think a book is an RWAP when maybe it's not.
 
So... I need a clear-headed judgment call: Do grease marks like these count as stains? (Have any of y'all encountered a grease-mark issue before?)

                            --thanks in advance,

                                      Fiona

Fiona,

I would definitely say that grease marks count as stains, especially on so many of the pages. Ugh! I'd mark it RWAP.

I'd bet it was lotion on the hands.   It's a stain which is a shame.  I wonder sometimes if we just have enough moisture and oil on our skin to ruin books.   You can put a thumb mark on almost anything just from the oil in your skin.   Maybe we should hold books while reading?

I wonder sometimes if we just have enough moisture and oil on our skin to ruin books.

Yes, we do. The natural oils in our bodies will eventually break down the fibers of the paper. Our natural oils can break down tougher stuff than paper. Years ago I worked in a factory that worked with substrates. (A ceramic chip used in electronic devices) We had to wear gloves (and mask) while working with the pieces because the natural oils in our skin would break down the solder on the pieces.

The book is in readable condition but the binding on the side is messed up and pulling away from the book on the ouside (pages are still intact). I can pretty much fit my finger in between the side and the book itself. How would you mark this?

Are you sure that it isn't a hollow back binding?

http://cool-palimpsest.stanford.edu/don/dt/dt1763.html

There's a picture here:

http://archive.amol.org.au/recollections/1/2/21.htm

If it's a hollow back binding, it's perfectly postable.

Sometimes these oil stains show up and you have no idea where they came from.  It hapened to me with a brand new book I'd just bought.  I was reading it and put it down and when I came back - there were these oil stains!  I don't eat or drink while reading, and I don't use lotions, so I don't know where they came from.  I was really bummed out about it!

Ruth