I have a question about how requests are handled.  What happens in this situation?

1 - I receive a request for a book

2 - I go and check to make sure I can find the book before accepting the request and notice a problem with the book that I did not see when I posted the book.  For example, I notice some writing on the inside cover.

3 - I could refuse the order, but if this is a book that is hard to get I would rather ask the requestor if they have a problem accepting a book with this issue.

4 - It looks like the only way to identify the requestor is to accept the request which then allows me to PM the requestor.   

5 - If the requestor does note want the book in this condition, I would then hit the button to "Cancel Order for this Book"

Does the requestor move back to the top of the line for the next available book or have they been moved to the bottom of the list because I accepted the request?

Is there another way to communicate with the requestor without accepting the request?

Thanks

There is no way to  PM the person before you accept the request..the way you lined up if correct.  You might also ask if they want another book off your shelf and send the original book as a freebie. I have done that on a couple different occasions.

If you cancel, then they go back to the top of the WL.  If they cancel, they go to the bottom.  Make it clear that if they do not want it, that you will cancel.  And be sure to select the last date to mail by.  That would give you more time for them to respond.

If the writing is only on the inside cover of the book, I would think that it would be postable by the site rules. They do allow inscriptions, bookcrossing info, and those little 'to/from' notes from people. It is writing on text pages that isn't allowed. However if it is scribbling or a nasty commentary by a previous reader(I've gotten books with both)I personally wouldn't send it on without a PM as the others have suggested.

Note that you would be the one to cancel in the situation that you describe.  This would move the requestor back to their previous place in the WishList line for the book.  But realize that this action will remove your book from the system.  And if your problem causes your book to be an unpostable, you would not want to repost it here, but instead offer a deal on it, such as in your signature, or in the Book Bazaar Discussion Forum.

If you notice a flaw that makes the book unpostable, you should honestly cancel the request.  You can then offer it either for credit or as a freebie in the book bazaar. 

You can ask for a credit for unpostable books. But they are supposed to be offered in the Book Bazaar with the damaged stated upfront.  Many people are still willing to pay a credit for a slightly damaged WL books. I wouldn't bother offering a non-WL book like that.  Or anything badly damaged. 

Mary --

She's is asking about (minor) issues noticed after posting a book, but before mailing, not knowingly posting an unpostable book.

Were I the requestor, I would want the option to accept the book (my WL are almost all OOP's that I want to read and don't care about re-posting), IN THE CASE OF A ONE-TIME HONEST ERROR.

If it were serious damage, such as "I got sidetracked from mailing it, and my dog chewed it a bit" I might even want it in that case if she were willing to send it for free (no credits exchanged) to make up for her negligence.

My point is that if the book becomes unpostable (or I suppose is noticed as such later), please don't just cancel and walk away, but tell the other person what happened. It's possible they may actually want to read the book!

Writing inside the cover should not make the book unpostable.  If you feel the book is unpostable, please do not send if FIFO as that violates the terms of your membership agreement with PBS and there are other ways to list and trade unpostables.

OTOH, DD received two books this week that have been underlined & notated (textbooks?) without any notification or approval from DD...grrrr :-(

ETA:  If you choose to accept a request for an unpostable (other than textbooks) then ask permission to send it, be aware that some members will appreciate (accept) the offer and some will get very cranky that you have an unpostable FIFO (this puts them at your mercy to cancel the transaction or loose their FIFO position).

Thanks for the help. 

I will make sure to state that if they have any issues at all with the condition that I will cancel the transaction so they do not lose their place in line.

I know that. I'm just pointing out that if she had to cancel a request because it's damaged-if it's WL it might be worth posting it in the Book Bazaar.