For a long time I got almost no RCs at all. Now I'm getting lots of them, mostly for non-smoking environment [check! - I can do that] plus no musty or moldy smell. I always decline them as too subjective if they have the no smell condition unless I know that I bought the book new, and never lent it to anyone. Is anyone else suddenly getting a lot of these?

no, rarely ever get an RC. I do have a no smoky smell RC myself due to allergies but have only had 3 turndowns in over 2 years.

For me it runs in streaks--I'll go a couple weeks without any RCs and then I will get a half-dozen with various RCs all at once. I also always decline the ones that mention "smell" or "odor" as it is a subjective call. I usually type in "I'm not able to accept requests with RCs asking me to make a subjective judgement about whether a book smells." I turned one down just yesterday like that.

Cheryl

I've been getting alot of RC's lately too. I can't speak on if the book comes from a smoker or not as I rec'd them from a PBS person. so, I just decline the offer and let the next person have the book. (that doesn't have an RC)

If I see an RC even hinting at the scent of a book, I decline without hesitation. I live with a smoker, and most of the books on my PBS Shelf have been in storage boxes for a while so I know they've gathered some kind of dust.

I haven't seen one of those RCs recently but now that I've announced my presence to them, I bet they'll come and find me ;)

I have an excellent sense of smell, so I will accept those RCs if I think the book meets them.

I have never had a probem with an RC transaction so far.

I have not recently seen any more RCs than usual, though.

I think the only "reasonable" smell condition is "will not accept books CURRENTLY in a smoking home."  Otherwise, it's too subjective & I decline.  I can't guarrantee where the book was before me & the person might have a more sensitive nose.  These are stupid, subjective conditions, IMO.

I am the same as Sara - I accept smell RCs as I have a pretty strong sense of smell and have never once had an a problem with sending to an RC.

Another example that all RCs will have someone to meet them so those who don't want to, decline and move on someone else will be just fine accepting it.

I haven't seen an increase in RCs and haven't seen any smell RCs, but I do post a lot less these days too.

 I have a big issue with smoke smell and so have an RC that says "Please do not accept this request if this book is coming from a currantly smoking enviornment."

 Reading this though I just had to comment. Smoke is so sickening! My little sister and girl friend are staying with us for a while and while they smoke outside I am shocked at how much the smell clings....  specially in small areas they spend time in. DH even mentioned he smelled smoke in MY hair. Now I don't even feel comfortable accepting a no smoking RC and it might well be a year before I feel I can. Not that my guest read books... still the smell clings in ways I never ever deeply understood till now.

  I have never RWAPed for a smokey book but one more smelly thing might send me over the deep end at this point. Just makes me choke and gag and yup, I get sick. I feel like I am pregnant with a super sniffer these days and can't excape!

  In closing, thank you to all those who decline such RCs, best not to risk making someone feel yucky.

Any RC that is a matter of opinion, I just turn down and move along.

I get lots of the "no smoking" books (which I always turn down because most of my books are used and I'm not taking the chance of paying the postage and losing credit), but today I received my first "please do not send books that have bad odors." I really don't know what that means. Musty?  I live in a 200 year old house and musty is a normal odor to me. Is it bad to someone else? Do you know there are some places (Bed and Breakfasts, e.g.)  that use a scent called "Old House" (or something like that) to give their places that authentic smell?

I'll be turning down the "no bad odors" request because I have no idea what that means.

I haven't noticed and increase but I'd say maybe 10 to 15% of the books requested from me have some type of odor RC.

I always though I was pretty cautious by only accept no smoke or odor type RCs when I purchased the book new. I have seasonal allergies and sinus problems that diminish my sense of smell certain times of the year. But after reading Kim's post, maybe I'm not being as cautious as I think. If she's concerned about her books smelling of smoke just being in the same vicinity as a smoker, how do I know if the books I purchased new are handled only by non-smokers. Who's to say the Amazon employee packing my book or the shopper at B&N who just paged through the book before I bought it didn't just have a cigarette? Or that maybe I'm putting my bought new, read once books next to a used book that has a lingering smoke odor.

What about other odors? Sauerkraut, fish and onions all make my house smell when I cook them, even with a good ventilating fan. I imagine books can absorb those odors as well.

I guesss if it's really that easy for a book to pick up odors, then I can't say that any of my books don't smell.

Yeah, in the last month 40-50% of my requests have had RCs, and many of them odor things I have to decline.  We are a nonsmoking house, so that is easy but "no musty smells" and so forth I'm just iffy on.  I personally think most books have some type of smell, whether new ink or just age.  I don't know but I those odors things are just too subjective for me other than the no smoking thing.