I received from a fellow PBS member in the mail yesterday that was wrapped in newspaper.  It's not really that big of deal - since the actual text of the book is what I care about more than the apperance - but I saw that the black ink of the newspaper significantly rubbed off on the book on the covers and edges, staining the book in some parts.  Also, the book ripped through the newspaper at the edges, due to the paper being so frail.

Is newspaper a recommended "insulation"?  Otherwise, the book was sent in a Tyvek envelope, which is fine.  I just don't know if I'd ever wrap a book in newspaper if it was in direct contact with the newspaper because of the chance it might rub off.

 I hope you let the person who sent it know about the staining effects of the newspapper. I have never heard of anyone mailing that way!

I had the same thing happen and when I pm'd them they told me they wrap all their books that way and never had a problem.  I don't see how as the ink gets on your hands so it would make sense it would get on the book.

I don't get what good newspaper would do, and I agree it could rub some ink onto the book.

It lists newspaper as a poor choice for wrapping in the Help Center. I would mark it RWP.  You don't have to aks for your credit back but I would.  You can't repost the book and common sense says newspaper is a bad choice.  Like Suzanne says if the ink comes off on your hands while reading it then how can they think it's safe to use it for wrapping a book?

RWAP - damaged by sender. Ask for your credit back, you now have an unpostable book due to the sender's actions. Newspaper is specifically listed as not recommended because the ink can rub off and stain the book.

I agree, RWAP. And I can't figure out what the purpose of it would be if they sent it in a Tyvek wrapper for the outer wrap--I mean, what purpose would the newspaper serve?

Cheryl

And I can't figure out what the purpose of it would be if they sent it in a Tyvek wrapper for the outer wrap--I mean, what purpose would the newspaper serve?

Perhaps to "pad" the book because they were not taping the tyvek taut to the book?

Other than the ink transferability issue, it could potentially be a USPS Media Mail violation, since some newspaper pages contain advertising.

In addition, some of us, myself included, are very sensetive to newspaper ink - it causes my fingers to swell and at times the smell of the ink causes problems.

I've received newspaper in boxes before used as packaging, but the books themselves were wrapped so no transfer problem.  I agree with others that it was a poorly thought out choice and while not intentional, I'd definitely PM the sender about it as well as possibly mark it as RWAP (depending on response to PM from sender).

Ah, see, I already marked it as received and told the sender thank you.  I'm thinking I'll just try to clean it with a Clorox disposable cloth and see if any of the markings come out.  Now it's my fault that I didn't think to mark it as RWAP.

Do you think the sender would get mad if I sent her a kind note letting her know what happened?  I just want to make her aware, because, eventually, if she keeps wrapping as she is, someone's going to ask for a credit back and it'll come as a shock to her, and I'd like to imagine I'd be saving some books by it!

I don't know if the sender would get mad, but I wouldn't be mad if the PM was polite and the link to the Help Center where it mentions that newspaper is not recommended was included.  I would find that helpful.

I've received a few books wrapped in newspaper and they looked like they had rolled around in a coal mine by the time they got to me. Blech.  (Yes, that is a technical term).     :)

Same thing happened here........my book was covered in newsink  front and back and down all sides.  I did mark it RWAP, PM'd the sender a polite request for my credit back explaining what had happened.   She messaged me back with instructions to use alcohol to clean it up....said she sent books out like that all the time and had never had anyone complain before.   In fairness, I did try to clean up the newsink, but ended up with a bigger mess.  My subsequent PM was firmer in my request for my credit........she was "dismayed"  but returned it to me.  I found it hard to believe I was the first person that had ever had a problem with the way she had been wrapping her books.....she's been a member for three years.......

Since you marked it rec'd ok w/o a problem, and sent a thank you. Your note now will have to begin with something about you still having trouble getting the ink off and truly hope she will discontinue her practice of using it for padding. Let he know that if she has a local paper printer, they often give away (or sell for $1-$3) the end rolls from their daily paper runs. These are studier paper, since they have not been compromised by the ink and printing process and will not harm the books.

Let her know that in your opinion, now that you have seen how much trouble it is to get the ink off, and in some of the areas impossible, that should you ever receive another wrapped in paper, from her or anyone else, you will make sure the ink comes off before marking it without a problem.

Definitely be as polite as possible, since it could easily inflame her, but someone needs to take the bat and tell her that if she continually does this and isn't getting complaints, it's probably do to people like yourself, that didn't realize until later that the ink doesn't come off, and many now wish they could remark it.

Just my thoughts on this.

I would definitely send a PM. I'm allergic to newsprint, it makes me my hands and face itchy. Wrapping in plastic wrap would serve the same purpose.

If a person can go into their transaction archive in order to mark a lost book received, or a RWAP resolved, why can't you go into that same archive and change "received" to RWAP????   Many people discover a problem after marking a book received, and this ink problem is a serious one.  Shouldn't that be an option for members?  And why isn't it now?           D.

I don't think it should be an option to go back later and mark RWAP, gardengal. Would you like to receive a request for a credit back from a book you sent six months or a year ago--because the receiver says they didn't really look at the book when they got it, but now notice some writing on page 302? Personally, I would tell that member to go jump in a lake. How do they know that their 3-year-old didn't mark the book up at some point in the months that it was in their home? (That's just one example.)

I think it is the receiver's responsibility to thoroughly examine each book WHEN THEY GET IT, and before they mark it received so that it can be categorized appropriately at that time. Before I was so diligent about doing that myself, I have found a few books that, had I checked more closely at the time, I probably would have marked RWAP. But there's no way I'm going to ask for my credit back for a problem book that I got weeks, months (or years!) ago.

Cheryl

Glad to see this topic being discussed as I received a book a week or so ago from someone that I had waited a good while on a WL for... and it came wrapped in nothing but newsaper and then the address portion was cut out from the printed paper here....  the book had ripped through the newspaper of course, but was still in tact... but had newspaper ink all over the edges of the pages...  I did not mark it RWAP, but now I'm thinking I should have maybe....  I guess I was thinking I'd just try to clean it off....  but I did leave the sender a note stating that I had almost RWAP'd it because of the newspaper staining but that the book is read-able so I didn't....  and would just let the book's life end with me...  which is unfortunate since it still has quite a WL....  the person told me that they had never had anyone complain before about it that they always sent this way....  I just can't see how anyone would think just wrapping in newspaper (one or two layers only, I might add) would be sufficient.... 

I received a book wrapped with newspaper as padding once.  It was a large, but not very thick paperback, so the many layers of newspaper both padded and gave the package rigidity for surviving the mailing.  The book I received was in excellent shape, and none of the newsprint rubbed off.  Maybe that was because the sender had a colored comic page, instead of the basic black&white) next to the book :-)

Even though it worked for the book I received, I don't think it is a good idea, unless there is plastic or some other protection between the book and the newsprint.

I recently mailed a book enclosed in a gallon size ziploc bag and then wrapped in news print. I also completly covered the package in clear tape. I hope it reaches it destination safely.

I just mailed a child's hardcover book.  It is a book in absolutely new condition.  I would have normally used a bubble envelope, but It is an odd shape and wouldn't fit.  I wrapped the book in a plastic bag, taped it up securely, then covered it with newspaper, and then wrapped it in a plastic envelope.

I made sure the the newspring did not touch the book and it is covered with a sturdy cover on top.  I never thought of an allergy issue.  I just didn't want to wrap the book in only plastic as padding because it really is a new book.

Colleen

I received a book that was wrapped in newspaper-w/o plastic under it.  The newspaper had ripped a bit but it held togther and there wasn't any damage. I did send a PM telling the person that newspaer isn't the best choice as wrapping material.

Using a piece of sandpaper can help get the newsprint off the edges.  I had a children's book arrive just last month in newsprint.  I marked it as RWAP.  Didn't ask for my credit, but I really wanted the sender to know that newsprint is a problem as it does stain the books.