Rec'd a book in the mail today.  The sender wrapped the book in newsprint.  So part of the book is inky (sender wrapped the 2nd label page part of the way around the book - so the whole book isn't inky).  The newsprint didn't hold up thru the mail - so the wrapper was all shredded.  The post office then put the package in a clear plastic wrapper.

The book really isn't damaged - some minor dings on the cover - nothing to make the book unpostable.  With a damp cloth I was able to wipe all the newsprint ink off the cover

So - how do I receive it?  I really don't want to say it was damaged by the post office - since it wasn't wrapped properly.  And it is postable - so technically the sender didn't damage it.  So do I just receive it as normal, and send the sender a nice pm telling them that their packaging could use improvement?

That sounds like what I would do. ... just educate the sender.

I just took a quick browse through the "Help" section to make sure what I'm telling you is right (I think!)

Yes, mark it as received with no problem. When you get to the book survey page, make sure you send the sender a note explaining the above...and make sure you also note it in the "anything else you want to tell us" box at the bottom of the page. That way there's no problem with the sender's credit but you've given R&R notice of the potential for a problem on down the line.

I got one wrapped in newspaper, too. I advised the sender to *at least* first wrap the book in plastic wrap to keep the ink off of it. It was still readable, so I didn't ask for my credit back, but the pages are all ink-stained and I consider it unpostable now. I'm surprised the post office allows newspaper-wrapped packages in the first place.

I would also mark received the normal way but send the member a message. I received 2 books wrapped in newsprint and both had ink all over the page edges.

From the Help Center on how to wrap a book:

• Poor choices for alternate packaging materials:
  • Giftwrapping paper (too thin)
  • Newspaper (can smudge ink onto the books)
  • Priority Mail envelope (this is illegal to use for MediaMail, even if you are reusing it, and even if you turn it inside out!)
    • if you do this, and the package is inspected, it will arrive postage-due at the requestor's, or be returned postage-due to you (the additional postage required will be the difference between postage paid and Priority Mail rate)

So, while it doesn't specifically say do not use newspaper, it discourages it. I would send the person the blurb or direct them to the HC instructions.

Another reason not to wrap in newsprint is that some of  us have allergies to certain inks.  There are certain papers I can't read due to the ink - it causes a headache and/or my hands and fingers swell from touching it.  I'm sure I'm not the only one!

Poor choices for alternate packaging materials:

• Giftwrapping paper (too thin)

That is what I use 90 % of the time.           I use a ton of tape of course.   I think you can use almost anything if YOu use enough packing tape.

Oh, thank goodness I haven't gotten any in newsprint, that would send me over the edge. I'm weird about touching stuff sometimes. Newsprint just creeps me out - I buy the "non inked" kind at UHaul when I need to pack stuff to move because I don't like touching it. It's kind of like me and my saran wrap, hate that stuff, make hubby open those. I don't like the way it feels. Newsprint would have me washing my hands for days... LOL.

Umm... yeah, you didn't ask that... I agree, I would just let the sender know. I've let people know a few times when I got things that weren't wrapped properly and the vast majority appreciate it. Sometimes people just don't think about it.

I use a ton of tape of course.   I think you can use almost anything if YOu use enough packing tape.

LOL!  But sometimes I get books with so much tape that I can't open the d@#8 thing without doing damage to the book.  I hate that!  The first time, it was funny, spending 10 minutes with a razor blade and still nicking the cover... but the amusement wore off.  :-O

I often use gift wrapping paper to mail books however, I use mutliple layers (4-6) so that it is much thicker than usual and I also use lots of tape.

Anna L - I appreciate your comments about not being able to open some packages due to the large amount of tape without damaging the book.  I got an almost new WL book that had so much tape that even with lots of patience and almost an hour of work, I was not able to open without doing damage to the book.  I now own an unpostable book as a result.  The book is readable but I was very sad that it got ruined and will now be out of PBS circulation.