I'm a newbie here; I've mailed just over a half dozen books, and I've received three books from other members. I was happy with the first two books I received, but the third looked like it had survived a a bombing raid by hiding in a shallow basement. There was also some water damage to first 100 pages or so, and I asked for a credit refund based on the liquid damage. The sender told me that she knew the book was in "rough" condition, but that's how she received it so I shouldn't have a problem posting it again after I was done with it.

Because I'd read many of the posts here (thanks everyone!) I requested my credit back again based on the fact that liquid damaged books are not postable, and the sender returned it. I guess that since I am new, I'm a little hesitant to request more books after this last sender's reaction. I'm considering adding RCs to my account, but should I have to do this just to make sure I receive postable books? This seems to annoy some people who've commented on the Discussion Board.

Is receiving unpostable books a common problem on this site? I love the concept of PBS, but so far, I'm concerned that I'll spend more time dealing with problem books than enjoying the book-swapping community.

Welcome!

I've never received an upostable book, and I don't have any RCs.  Some of the books I've rec'd have been a little worn, but that's normal for used books   I think it just happens once in a while for some people and is not the standard so I wouldn't let it discourage me.  There have been quite a few books that I've rec'd that seem perfectly new too.

I can't say I've never received an unpostable. I think one or two books I noticed some slight water damage after marking them received, so I've never had to deal with an RWAP.

I receive more like new books than I do any others. Even older books that you'd expect to be a bit beat up have come really nice. I think it's pretty rare to get those unpostables.

*knock on wood*

I am fairly new as well, Ive recieved about 7 books, and they have all been postable.  From reading this forum doesnt seem like it happens all the time, but it is a risk.  Just continue doing what you did and and RWAP.

Sherilynn--sounds like you just ran into some bad luck at the start!

I've received quite a few books here, and I've only had to mark two RWAP.  One was a hardcover with the pages totally separated from the spine and the other was water damage.  The hardcover was my first one, and although I did mark it RWAP I didn't ask for my credit back.  In retrospect, I should have, but I was new and trying to be nice.

The one with water damage, I did politely ask for my credit back--and the sender was very nice about it--she refunded my credit without a problem.

Hopefully, you've had your run of bad luck early and your future trades will be problem free!

The trouble with such experiences is that the alternative rarely gets as much attention.  Plenty of people complain about bad experiences, but if everyone posted every time they had a good experience the negatives would pale in comparison.  A caveat about the forums, by the way: it's an excellent reference, but a lousy standard.  If I tried to base my Swap behavior on the forums I'd be frozen in a dozen different ways, stuck between this or that, because you're bound to find people on both sides of nearly every issue.  You were definitely right to reject the "that's the way I got it" argument.  If the member who sent you the book didn't have the good sense to rightfully mark the book Received With a Problem, then that's their issue, not yours.  You did exactly what the rules and guidelines state, and shouldn't be afraid that you're in the minority.  There are a few bad apples here and there, but the vast majority of members (as well as their books) are more than acceptable, if not downright wonderful.  If I had a nickle for every damaged book I got, sure, I'd have a handful of nickles.  But if I had a penny for every satisfying transaction I've had, I could trade the cash in for gold :)

I've received probably 1,000 books here between deals, orders, games and box of books deals.  Out of those maybe 10 were unpostable.  1 was a box of books transaction and she sent me another book.  1 was a game book that had a stain and she sent me another book.  The rest were WL books and I got my credits back on I think all but a couple. So really-it's a small percentage.  It can seem like it's a bigger problem then it is because people are more likely to post about the problem transactions then the good ones.

ANY WATER/LIQUID STAINING RENDERS A BOOK UNPOSTABLE BY PBS GUIDELINES!  PERIOD!!!  You should NEVER mail a book with water damage to another member.

The excuse "that's how I received it" in unacceptable.  If you receive a book that is water/liquid damaged you should mark it RWAP.  Whether or not you decide to ask for your credit back is up to you but marking damaged books RWAP is important. You should NOT turn around and repost a damaged book, even if it is readable.  Put that  book in the Goodwill or yardsale pile.

I've been a member here for more than two years.  In that time I have never sent out a book that was marked RWAP by the receiver.  I have received seven water damaged books.  For the most part, the books that I have received here have been in good to excellent condition.

I agree with the others. Do not give up. I have received hundreds of books from here. Yes, I have had my share of RWAP's but the majority have been from good to pristine condition. Liquid damage is not acceptable and she should not have posted the book. I hate it when people remark back that's the way they received it. When I ever get that remark, I write back that they should have RWAPed it. There's no reason that people should be sending unpostable books on here. They need to read the guidelines and abide by them. Sherilynn, if I were you I would just move one. You will receive many great books on here and this will be forgotten.

Thank you, everyone. It's nice to know that this early problem was just bad luck and atypical of the way things usually work.

I think of this forum as a place to vent.  That said, I have received very few books with problems.   Less than 10 of 332?  That's under 5 %.  And two lost books.   One lost book arrived over 4 months later.  The book was having such fun in Nashville that it just did not want to leave the sorting facility.

Have not yet received a "But I got the book in that condition" reply.  Even had one person try to refund me a credit for post office damage as she was so upset to hear about it.  

379 recieved, only 1 RWAP.  I would say about 75+% looked new or pretty close!  I have recieved a couple end of the road books, but that is only fair. 

I've received 200 books so far and I think two were unpostable. One had pages falling out and one was in two pieces, barely held together by the spine. I got my credit back both times, and even though one refund required a certain amount of conversation beforehand, the experience wasn't ugly. I also had to report one member who refused to refund a credit because I requested a large print book (it was for a visually impaired relative) and the person sent me a regular print book and gave me attitude when I tried to explain that the title of the book says [LARGE PRINT] quite clearly and regular print is useless for my blind relative. (Long story, and I'm still bitter about it, but I got my credit back eventually, YAY!)

Nowadays I have an RC which I turn on whenever I order large print books (I just explain what "large print" means and ask that they double-check to make sure that the book is in fact large print), but other than that, no problems at all!

I should mention that yeah, sometimes I get a book that is "borderline" and I probably wouldn't post it myself, but it is readable and since I intended to either keep the book in my collection (or trade it in to the local USB, which would accept it), there was no need to report it as a problem. Only two books were so bad that NO ONE would want them, and I reported those.

Welcome to PBS Sherrilynn 

Ye old "...but that's how I received it..."  excuse.  Good for you to call her on it!  PBS is a great website.  Unfortunately, we can't guarantee you will not receive any further problem books, the good definately outweighs the bad!