Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - Questions about PaperBackSwap Questions about PaperBackSwap

Topic: I know there is nothing I can do about it, but....

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
brat1 avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Subject: I know there is nothing I can do about it, but....
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 5:17 PM ET
Member Since: 3/4/2008
Posts: 1,673
Back To Top

it still ticks me off a bit!  I have offered deals on the Book Bazaar and have taken advantage of deals there, also.  But, when someone sends you books that Yes, were free,  But do not meet with pbs requirments!  I mean, 6 for 3 for example, but the book(s)  that wasn't in good condition was still on their bookshelf!  I have never even put a book on my shelf that wasn't in really good condition, let alone offered one up in a deal.  Like I said, I know there is nothing I can do.........but maybe gripe to all of you!  I guess that is the chance you take when doing deals?  It still doesn't seem right.  Thanks for listening!

hugbandit7 avatar
Book Cover Image Group medalBook Data Correction Group medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 5:18 PM ET
Member Since: 5/10/2007
Posts: 5,526
Back To Top

did you let them know that the books should never have been listed because they are not postable?  was it obvious or something that could have been easily missed?  I had a book listed and someone requested it from another site and I happened to flip through it and find stains.  I had never read the book and could have easily have missed these.

brat1 avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 5:27 PM ET
Member Since: 3/4/2008
Posts: 1,673
Back To Top

No, I guess because they were free, it didn't seem "right".   I have received clearly water damaged books and broken spine books, so it should have been obvious to them - maybe?  But at the same time, I have also gotten books that didn't even seem like they had been read......So, I guess that is the good and the bad of the bazaar?  Don't get me wrong, from this site I have had so many great swaps and I am sure glad I have found all these people as crazy as I am about books!  Thank you all!

DuskyRose avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 5:47 PM ET
Member Since: 8/18/2005
Posts: 7,977
Back To Top


Last Edited on: 5/17/10 9:22 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
brat1 avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 5:56 PM ET
Member Since: 3/4/2008
Posts: 1,673
Back To Top

You are right, Cindy.  I probably would have marked the books RWAP, but the ones I am specifically thinking about were the "discounted"  of the six.  I still should have pm-ed a reminder about pbs's requirements, tho.  I do know that sometimes a broken spine can get overlooked by the sender, but you should have seen the other 2 that had the water damage!  I just don't know if you can possibly overlook something like that.  One of the books was twice the size it started out as!

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 6:41 PM ET
Member Since: 10/5/2006
Posts: 34
Back To Top

Were they discounted because they were unpostable?  If that is the case, then what you received was fine.  If you are saying they were posted that is entirely different.  I don't think I would receive with a problem but I would PM the sender. 

brat1 avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 7:14 PM ET
Member Since: 3/4/2008
Posts: 1,673
Back To Top

That's what bothered me the most, they were posted on the their bookshelf.....

RockStarGirl avatar
Standard Member medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 7:42 PM ET
Member Since: 4/20/2006
Posts: 5,806
Back To Top

That has happened to me before too Carol.  I have decided this:  If the book I ordered through the system is damaged, I will mark it RWP.  If the freebies are damaged, I will let it go, although I will sometimes contact the sender, thanking them for the freebies but letting them know they were damaged.  I don't like to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it does bother me to know that these books were on this person's shelf, waiting to be ordered for credits.  I figure, as long as the one book that I actually paid my credit for it repostable, I'm not going to rock the boat too much.  However, they probably won't get another order from me.

Generic Profile avatar
Pat O. (PatinCO) - ,
Standard Member medalFriend of PBS-Diamond medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 7:44 PM ET
Member Since: 8/19/2007
Posts: 6,227
Back To Top

Sometimes when someone is looking for a deal on certain books (series, etc), and I have a few posted, but also have quite a few that I haven't posted, either because they're unpostable, or there are so many of them already posted that it makes it unfeasible for me to add to the already several hundred posted), I'll tell the person about the books I've posted, the ones I have that are postable, but haven't been posted, and also about any unpostables I have and why I feel they're unpostable.  That way the person who's looking for lthe deal can make up their own mind, and can also ask me to post one that I haven't posted in order to sweeten the deal.

I'd never offer an unpostable (at least one I felt was unpostable) in a deal without telling the person that they were unpostable.  Pat

momwith3kids avatar
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 7:49 PM ET
Member Since: 5/27/2006
Posts: 200
Back To Top

I recently ordered a bunch of books off of the bazaar from one person.  I made sure the two that I REALLY wanted were the two that I ordered, the rest being my freebies.   I didn't even receive one of the ones I ordered and MY BAD...she talked me into marking it received with the promise of her sending me the book I really wanted (the one she had already sent me I had on my shelf).  Now it is weeks later and I find out she has closed her PBS account.  I guess I'll have to order THAT book again.  UGH

Don't be detered from ordering from the bazaar.  I can see what you mean by she had them posted so people could order them for credit anyways. 

Cattriona avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Gold medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 10:03 PM ET
Member Since: 7/7/2007
Posts: 4,815
Back To Top

Carol--

That is a really frustrating situation.  You might consider giving the member the benefit of the doubt, in the event they didn't know, or aren't familiar with the rules, and politely let them know about the damage.  I find a lot of members who send damaged books don't seem to be familiar with all the guidelines, or maybe she didn't look over her last batch from the yard sale very closely, or she didn't know there's a water leak in the basement ... etc etc etc.  Just be polite and factual, and tell her you know mistakes happen, we all overlook things accidentally, etc.

Hopefully, they'll be reasonable and understanding.  I know if there were a problem with a book I sent, I'd want to know so I could track down the source and prevent future problems.

Cheers,

Catt

wyomingblonde avatar
Standard Member medalPrintable Postage medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 10:07 PM ET
Member Since: 6/19/2007
Posts: 10,320
Back To Top

I was offering a 3 for 1 deal on star trek books, and I had someone order like 18 books from me.  When they received them, a couple of them were not in good enough condition and should never have been posted, but, I didn't even realize it...the damage was plain, I just wasn't paying attention when I pulled them off the shelf and boxed them.  I gave the person back enough credits to compensate for the damaged books!

dazeerae avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 10:10 PM ET
Member Since: 10/21/2007
Posts: 3,430
Back To Top

Carol, The same thing has happened to me twice. 

rubberducky avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/19/2008 11:17 PM ET
Member Since: 8/9/2007
Posts: 4,058
Back To Top

When you have large orders with a lot of bonus books going out, it's amazing the things you can miss.  A book swollen to twice its original size from water damage though...  I dunno, seems like that'd be hard to miss:P  Even if you're loading a box & not looking at all - which I find hard to imagine - wouldn't it just feel funny?

Generic Profile avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/20/2008 1:49 AM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
Back To Top

Pat it's OK to offer unpostables in a deal as long as you mention they're unpostable and don't actuallly have them posted on your shelf.  People do that all the time especially if they have an unpostable WL book.  They'll offer them free with an order from their shelf.  I have several unpostables right now and as soon as my shelfs back up, I'm going to list them and offer 1 free with an order.  They're still readable they just don't meet PBS guidelines.

gremlin avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/20/2008 12:19 PM ET
Member Since: 1/19/2008
Posts: 15,062
Back To Top

i've had this happen several times as well - order a deal, and some of the books which were posted are not in postable condition when they arrive.  i've been letting it slide as long as the book i actually ordered was repostable.

after reading this thread though, i think perhaps i'll start sending PMs with the info - though i still probably won't mark RWAP.

but then, i've already received with orders books listed as unpostable where i had to look long & hard to figure out why, so i guess maybe it evens out.

someone asked about a book on my shelf the other day - the earliest one i had posted that was still listed - and when i pulled it out to look at it, i discovered the spine was broken and had to remove it from my shelf.  i'm not sure how i missed that - it seems like i should have known better.

leann-28 avatar
Date Posted: 6/20/2008 1:44 PM ET
Member Since: 3/25/2008
Posts: 2,530
Back To Top

I've had this same problem happen to me quite often. I'm so glad you brought it up, so I can hear other members thoughts and options for solving it.

Ilovethemoldypeaches avatar
Date Posted: 6/20/2008 3:44 PM ET
Member Since: 6/16/2008
Posts: 60
Back To Top

this might sound stupid, but im new so forgive me.....what is the bazaar?

brat1 avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/20/2008 4:15 PM ET
Member Since: 3/4/2008
Posts: 1,673
Back To Top

Hi, lovethemoldypeaches!   Under the discussion forum you will find The Book Bazaar.  It is a place to let people look at your bookshelf and for you to let people know what and if you have any special book deals going.  5 books for 3 credits or things like that.  It took me a few weeks to try the bazaar and, as you can see, with mixed results.  But to be honest, I have gotten a lot more good (and some really great) books than dudes....Give it a try!

annalovesbooks avatar
Date Posted: 6/20/2008 4:26 PM ET
Member Since: 3/25/2007
Posts: 369
Back To Top

I have gotten a lot more good (and some really great) books than dudes

Wow, we're swapping men now, too?  Cool...

Sorry, just couldn't resist.  I'd swap mine for a case of Sierra Mist. :-)

brat1 avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/20/2008 4:29 PM ET
Member Since: 3/4/2008
Posts: 1,673
Back To Top

You know, I looked at that sentence and knew something was off, but I couldn't tell what it was!   Thanks, Anna!