Please let me know if this is an acceptable RC. I have only traded a few books so far but 3 of them have been unreadable for me. I hate to be THAT person, KWIM?

Hi,

I am not able to accept books that are dusty and old smelling. I have asthma and the dust/smell really bothers me.  If the pages have turned yellow, this is a good indicator that is has the dusty smell that will make me ill.

Thank you for understanding.

That seems very polite and I wouldn't have a problem with it. But... I have a nose of a bloodhound so smell RCs don't bother me, but there a many members that feel smell RCs are too subjective and won't accept them. What happens if a book doesn't smell to the sender, but does smell to you? I can't offer any ways to change it, it says what you need it to say, but I would expect you will see a lot of denials due to RCs.

I think it's nicely worded but I'm afraid I might turn it down. Maybe not if it was a book I bought new. I do not have Melanie's bloodhound nose. All books smell musty and old to me.  I think if you are prepared for some turn downs though then it's fine.  You aren't asking for a detailed history of where the book has been or for a PM with a description fo the books smell. You have the asthma issue stated so people know it's a health issue and not you just being picky.  There are some people who turn down any and all RCs.  Some people turn down any smell ones because they are subjective. 

If you order a lot of older books then you will probably get turned down a lot.

I would probably turn that RC down - not because it's not well-written, but my nose and your 'nose might smell things differently.  I can smell things my husband hasn't a clue about .   Think if it were me, I'd probably say I didn't want a book published before XXXX or that smelled musty or moldy (but again some people can't smell must or mold). 

Good luck in whatever words you finally choose.  Pat

I also would probably turn this down, though it is very polite, unles the book was pretty much brand new.  I just don't know what  "dusty" smelling means.  I know that I have allergies and some books set them off, but often these books don't have a detectable smell.  Others with a detectable smell don't bother me at all, so I find my sense of smell supect in making this decision.  If the Rc was "no yellowed pages or yellowing of the cover"  that would be clear, though I suspect it wouldn't go far enough.   All in all, though, if your asthma is really bad, the number of turn downs is probably well worth not having attacks.

Best of Luck!

Thanks, all. I think I will just remove my statement and just be more selective in looking into the year that the book was published. I would hate to be turned down because once I have my mind focused on a book I want to read, I have to read it. Like an addiction LOL

Thanks again!

I wouldn't have any problem working with this RC.  If I had a book that I felt was questionable I'd decline the request and say why.  If I sent one that I believed would be okay, and you had a problem with it when it arrived I'd work with you to make it right, refunding credits as needed.

There was also a thread not so long ago that dealt with getting rid of smells in books.  You may find that helpful, if you wind up receiving a smelly book.

I turn down any RC that mentions asthma. We burn incense and a wood fireplace in our house and I know they leave residue, and even my books that are newer are shelved with older collectible books and may be affected by them. AND I don't dust very often LOL so I'm sure most of my books are dusty.

***Home is pet/smoke free.*** 
**Please send no books with musty smell &/or mold.** [Asthma-am highly sensitive to molds] 
[pets &/or smokers ok-no prob]

If this is the text of your RC, I thought I'd let you know I find it confusing.  It isn't clear to me whether you do or don't accept books from pet-owning or smoking homes.  The first sentence suggests to me that you don't want them, but then the last part suggests you do.  If the first sentence is about YOUR home, I'm not sure why it's in the RC since the state of your home has no impact on anyone sending books to you.

Just thought I'd let you know, because I would have to turn down this RC because I didn't understand it.

Lou, I'm afraid that your RC also confused the heck out of me.  When I first read it, I took it to mean that you don't want books from smokers and pet peeps.  When I got to the part in brackets, I thought 'what?'  Re-reading it, it seems that your home is smoke and pet free, but you're fine with receiving books from smokers and pet people?

Ditto Victoria and Jo! I would leave out the first part about pets and smoke if you are okay with them. I would have declined that, sorry.

That first line about pets and smoke should go on your bookshelf.  Go to My Bookshelf under My Account and go to Edit My Public Header.  That way it shows up to folks looking to order your books.