Hi all,

I'm still fairly new and learning my way around the site.  I have a situation and need some help.

A member requested one of my books, but she had conditions and said to send her a message if there were any doubts.  I coudn't figure out how to send her a message without accepting her request first (and then clicking the PM button).  I sent her a message and waited over 24 hours, but heard nothing back from her.  So, I canceled the order, but the book didn't return itself to my bookshelf.  Do I have to relist it again?

In the future, is there a way to contact a member before accepting or declining their request?  I just couldn't figure out how to do that.

Thanks for any help!

Amber

Yes, you have to relist it.  You also lost your spot in the FIFO line, if the book wasn't wishlisted.

I never PM about requestor conditions, and I wouldn't do it at all unless the requester had her username in the condition.  It's okay to deny because of conditions, and your reason could always be "I don't PM about requester conditions".  They should be clear enough that you shouldn't have to PM.

There's no way to contact a member before accepting a request unless that person put his/her contact info in the RC.  The only way to contact the person was to do what you did.  You will have to relist the book

Welcome to PBS. :-). 

Pardon my ignorance, but what is FIFO?  Still not clear on the lingo yet :)  Is there a lingo page??

Thanks for responding...in the future, I'll just deny the request if there's any doubt.

First In, First Out

You're right about not being able to contact the member before you accept a request. If the member wants to be contacted before a request is accepted then she should include her addy in her RC. Since you canceled the transaction you will have to relist your book. Hopefully there isn't a large number listed, because yours will start over in the FIFO line.

This is just me personally, but if an RC has to be clarified, I would decline the request.

Amber H.: >>Still not clear on the lingo yet :)  Is there a lingo page??<<

Look Here http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/search.php?terms=pbs+glossary

Welcome to PBS Amber!

It's very common for members to turn down transactions for extensive, confusing, or non compliant RC's (my book doesn't comply with your conditions).  So don't feel like you have to bend over backwards for conditions that are unclear to you.  A few members refuse all RC's on the general principal that PBS already has posting guidelines.

There is no method to contact a requestor without accepting the RC, unless the RC itself contains contact information.  Even then, it's your time and effort to search the Member Directory.  Should you choose to contact the requestor, it can be helpful to give a time deadline..."please clarify point xxx within 24 hours or I will need to cancel the transaction"   Members have found that this method puts the other member in the position of requiring action, and you don't loose your place in line.

FIFO - First in, first out - ie the main computerized PBS book transaction forum.

Well since you only joined  recently you probably won't have to wait long before it's requested again.

I don't PM for RC's.  If I can't understand them then I turn them down.  Also not everyone has computer access everyday. So I would have given her more than 24hrs to respond. If you're going to PM then you need to choose the last possible mail by date.  But really-PMing like that just makes PBS like work.  I just decline and say something like "conditions were unclear and I don't PM regarding conditions.