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Topic: Marking a book a problem swap

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Subject: Marking a book a problem swap
Date Posted: 5/22/2009 10:38 PM ET
Member Since: 6/4/2007
Posts: 243
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Okay, I try to be pretty lenient when marking books a problem that I receive. BEFORE I mark anything a problem, I go back and re-read the posting guidelines to make sure I'm not being too picky.

But, a handful of times I've marked a book a problem because it had highlighting/writing/underlining/etc. on more than a few pages and I received no message from the member telling me this was the case.

This has happened twice (with wishlisted books seldom posted) with one member. After marking the book a problem, and receiving the same reply slightly altered that I'd gotten a few months ago from them. I kindly reminded the member I'd had this same problem with them before.

I then get a rather harsh message telling me my credit has been refunded, please don't request from them anymore, and a comment about me being unkind, unappreciative, without an ounce of compassion; and a few sentences telling me that I didn't "buy" the book and I'm complaining just to gain credits.

I'm not embracing standards above the ordinary, so why the all out attack? These are NOT even "textbook" books, but since they aren't fiction either I would've been satisfied with a PM letting me know the conditions of the book(s), so I would've been able to choose whether or not I wanted a copy that was all marked up.

Am I being too picky and/or too much of a legalist here?

Last Edited on: 5/22/09 10:41 PM ET - Total times edited: 2
royaltech avatar
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Date Posted: 5/22/2009 11:05 PM ET
Member Since: 11/14/2005
Posts: 6,421
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There are always those type of people in the world that cannot take responsibility for their own actions, and since someone must bear the blame, they will dish it out on you in any form they can. I personally wouldn't hesitate to tell them that you wouldn't have to be so "unkind, unappreciative, and without an ounce of compassion" if they would simply be a good member and follow the rules and send books that meet PBS standards. That it's not your fault they can't follow the rules, and you'd now rather not receive books from them anyway, since you've already received 2 books that do not meet standards.

I don't know why some people have to be that way, but I've met my share of them in my lifetime.

ETA: No you are not being too picky, the rules are there for reasons, and for everybody, not just those who chose to follow them.



Last Edited on: 5/22/09 11:06 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
gingerkitty avatar
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Date Posted: 5/22/2009 11:07 PM ET
Member Since: 4/25/2007
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If the books are not textbooks, then any writing or highlighting in them makes them unpostable.  Even if they're a textbook, the rules clearly say the other member must PM you before they send the book and make sure it's okay.

NO, you're not being too picky by expecting another member to follow the posting guidelines.  My guess is the other member attacked because they know they're in the wrong here and don't like being called on it.  Especially since it's been twice from the same person, they don't like being reminded they're not following the guidelines are are probably hoping the recipeint doesn't call them on it and ask for the credit back.

You certainly did "buy" the book with your credit.  The other member needs to be reminded of the posting guidelines or else they'll continue to have problems.

Spuddie avatar
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Date Posted: 5/22/2009 11:21 PM ET
Member Since: 8/10/2005
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As the others already said--the problem lies with the sender, not with you. If you have received two problem books from this same member, chances are she's sent other problem books too--hopefully the others are also marking RWAP and she'll come to the notice of the powers that be.

I love it when I hear of people saying "if you don't like my books, don't trade with me, then." So....if that nasty member posts another book from your wishlist, does she expect YOU to cancel the request when you notice it's a book from her and go to the back of the wishlist line because SHE can't be bothered to post books that meet PBS guidelines? I think not!

Cheryl

ruthy avatar
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Date Posted: 5/22/2009 11:32 PM ET
Member Since: 12/9/2007
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I've had this come up with some books I've gotten.  Highlighting with the flourescent ink gives me a migraine.  So I'm not happy when I get a book like this and in the past have been okay with the guidelines, but a lot of people are choosing to ignore the guidelines.  I've had some books told to me they were textbooks, and in college I know that textbooks can mean books the teacher wants you to use.  A couple of people have PM'd me to ask first, but others haven't.  It's getting worse.  What's with the "Rules don't apply to me" attitude all of a sudden?

Ruth

rubberducky avatar
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Date Posted: 5/22/2009 11:54 PM ET
Member Since: 8/9/2007
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If you've marked both of these transactions you've had with this person RWAP, unfortunate as it may be to have gotten these books, it's a good thing for the club overall because she's apparently well on her way to establishing a pattern of sending out unpostable books, and her transaction record will reflect that.  Given the circumstances, odds are that you aren't the only person she's sent unpostable books to.  It's been a while since I've had an RWAP, so I can't remember if you have the option to add notes for the PBS team when you mark one resolved or not.  If you have that option and you haven't yet marked it resolved, I'd make a note in there for them that this is the second time you've received a problem book from this member.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 5/23/2009 8:47 PM ET
Member Since: 6/4/2007
Posts: 243
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Thank you all, I was just making sure I wasn't being unfair regarding the highlighting/writing/underlining/marking thing. It's just too distracting to read when a book is all marked up by someone else (then I sit there thinking, "why did they mark this/write this/etc").