This week I received a book that had been on my wish list for a while.  Today I got a PM from the member who sent it to me, wanting me to return it to her as soon as I read it.  She said that she was a new member and did not understand that the books that she sent out would not be returned to her.  She thought she was just loaning them out by mail for others to read and return.  I guess I don't mind returning the book....even tho' it was one I planned to keep for myself.  However, she has now cost me my place in the wish list order plus the book credit and postage to mail it back to her.  What would you do??

Contact the PBS Team using the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page and let them know about this member. They need to make sure she's not still sending out books and asking people to return them.

They should be able to give you advice about what to do when the book arrives.

You don't have to send it back, since she did agree to the terms without reading them.  If I did decide to send it to her, I would at least ask a credit for it by having her WL it and posting it to her WL when I was done with it.  I would hesitate to send it, unless I was sure she wasn't going to continue doing this.

Wow Joyce!

    I can't believe someone didn't read the regulations of the club any better than that!    I would be ticked if that happened to me!   I first heard about this site through People magazine so I visited the site and read all through the conditions and rules before I ever signed up.   At first I was a bit hesitant  and thinking "what's the catch?".  I am so glad now I did it.  It's been alot of fun!

Getting back to your question, I guess I would send it back to her when you were through with it.  However, do you think you could ask her to send you the money for the postage to mail it back?    I have a situation right now on cdswap where I was mailed the wrong cd and the person who sent it is mailing me the postage to get it to the correct person. 

I also understand how you feel about losing your place in the WL order.   Is it a book that is hard to get? 

Hope everything works out for you!

Joyce, you are not required to send the book back.  If you do agree to do that, she needs to send you another credit or postage so that you are not out anything. 

If it was a book that I had been waiting for or that had a long, slow-moving WL, I'd probably just keep the book.  Because you're right -- if you mail it back, even if you get the credit for it (and that would be a definite for me -- she would HAVE to WL it and I'd post to her directly), you're at the bottom of the WL again.

The only thing she can do is to "report" you to TPTB and if she does, she's still wrong because she didn't read the rules.  Personally, I'd be disinclined to send the book back.

Tell her that you are more the happy to return the book if she returns your credit.

I don't normally keep books so I would probably tell her to 1: read the rules before she posts anymore books because clearly she hasn't read them adn 2: to put the book on her WL and when I'm done reading it I'll post it to her. Since you were planning to keep the book: I'd tell her she's out of luck because it's not your fault that she didn't read the rules before joining, that you waited a long time on WL to get the book and she can now do the same.

I personally wouldn't send it back. Not if it was one I had waited for a while to get and planned on keeping (and like others said, would put you at he bottom of the wish list again). She should just take this as a lesson learned and either WL the book or go buy a new copy. If you feel inclined to placate her, I would insist on her returning the credit and an additional credit to cover shipping costs to send it back. It's up to you though. I just couldn't be that nice when the condition is in the name. It's Paperback SWAP, not Paperback LOAN.

I would agree with everyone else. You really owe that member nothing. It's not like the information about how the club works is some deep, dark secret. If you read the "How does PBS work?" in the VERY FIRST LINE it says:

• You have books in good condition that you do not want to keep.

And (after other information about the sending of books, etc.) the very LAST line of that section reads:

• The books you receive from PBS are yours. We hope that you will repost them to share with other members when you have read them, but you can certainly keep them, or give them away. Similarly, the books you send out to others belong to their new owners.

HELLO? What part of that would make someone think she is just loaning books out? If she joined up and started posting and sending books without even reading the basic information, IMO it's her problem. If she wants the book back, let her add it back to her wishlist and send it back to her for a credit, IF you are feeling really generous. Personally, I'd keep it.

*shakes head*

Cheryl

The exact same thing just happen to me! I received a WL book then a message from the sender saying she didn't understand that the book would not be sent back to her. I don't plan on reading this book for a while since it is the first in a new series, and I like to have all the books to read together.

Don't they say possession is 9/10's of the law?? If you do decide to return it, read it first!

When you receive it, it's your book to do with as you wish.  If it were one I'd waited on a slow-moving WL line and planned on keeping, I would not send it back.  If it were one I'd planned on re-posting anyway after I was done with it, I'd tell the other member to put the book on their WL and I would post it directly to them when I was done.  Probably wouldn't ask for postage money since I was going to repost it and send it back out to recoup my credit anyway.

If you truly want to keep the book, tell the other member that and quote the help center where it says the book you receive is yours to do with as you wish.  They made the mistake, if they want another copy of the book then they should purchase one or wait out the WL line to get another copy.

If she doesn't give you a credit first - don't send it back.  You only have leverage as long as you have the book.  And it's things like this (object lesson) that make people decide either to familiarize themselves with the rules and guidelines here or to leave.  Don't take the hit.

Ruth

I wouldn't return the book if it was one you wanted to keep. I'd just tell her to put it on her WL and wait for it. Also, explain to her how long you waited for it and that returning it causes YOU to be bumped at the end of the line - for something she did not do - reading the site's directions. she's got to take self responsibility for her own actions. 

If you do decide to return the book, I'd say you have the option to return it after you are finished with it. since she figured this was a "loaning" site, then you have the right to take your time to read it, however many months it may take to get to that - say, as long as it takes for you to be at the top of the WL and receive another one. Plus, make her still pay for the postage.

Also, I'd make this Received With a Problem and let PBS know this is a problem swap, even if the both of you work it out.

I'm interested to know what you decide.

Joyce: Do not return the book. This is the sender's problem, not yours. If you report this to the site owners they will make sure the other person understands the rules.

Yikes! I've heard some doozies in my day but wow... no way would I send it back.

I've looked at this several times today & haven't had time to comment before now, but I just don't think I'd be inclined to send it back either.  Bottom line is that it's your book now to do as you please with.  Maybe you feel bad about keeping it, maybe I would too were I in that position, but I kind of liken it to messing up & selling something valuable at a yard sale & then realizing as the person is driving away that I messed up.  I'd be kicking myself, but would I be chasing the car down the street, yelling at them to give it back?  Nah.  Those are the breaks.  I'd just say that I'm sorry, but she should put it on her WL, and if you decide not to keep it, you'll post it for her.  I screwed up when I first joined and posted some WL books that I'd like to have back now myself.  My bad, but I just put them on my WL, and I eventually did get replacement copies on some of them.

I would not return it to her. Most of the books on my WL are books that I want for keeps, and don't intend on reposting.

I've only been here a few months, I am feel that if I new people make mistakes and it's passed off as "it's okay! you're new!" then the new member doesn't have incentive to re-read the rules they agreed to, and therefore will continue to make mistakes.

Keep the book & don't feel guilty about it.

I agree with the Don't Return It crowd.  I'd PM her that "I'm sorry you didn't read and/or understand the terms of PBS.  Usually, I would have no problem posting it to your WL when I was done,  however this particular book is one I plan on keeping" and that's all.  You should not feel guilty keeping the book.  The fault entirely lies with her. 

I am amazed she had the nerve to ask for it back in the first place. I mean, if it were me and I realized I goofed because I didn't understand the rules of the site, my first thought would be, "Oops! Guess I'm going to have to go buy a new copy for myself now!"  I wouldn't even think to try to make the other person send it back because of my mistake!  Amazing!  I probably wouldn't return it.

This isn't the first time I've heard about this happening. Maybe there needs to be something right on the PBS sign-up page like "PBS is NOT a lending library! If you send books out, you will NOT get them back."

You know, you'd think if someone is joining a book swapping site that means they are a "reader".  So why didn't they read the guidelines for the site?  I wouldn't send it back either.