I just added RC's after a rash of unpostables & have only requested one book so far, it was denied :(  It's sad because I'm really not asking anything more than PBS guidelines.

I use 2 steps in my RCs, one requesting books meet PBS guidelines, and one politely suggesting (not requiring) that folks use a waterproof wrapper.  I'm not claiming to have the best RCs in the universe, but it has helped, and you're welcome to use em and wordsmith em as you wish (though you'll have to come up with your own weather issues for CO) :-).

"My only other request is that books meet PBS Book Condition Guidelines -- no stains or water damage, no highlighting or underlining, and the binding intact.  I'm not looking for brand new or perfect books, just ones I can repost when I'm finished.

Lastly, though this is not a requestor condition or requirement for sending, I politely urge you to please consider a waterproof layer when sending books to me as protection from the elements.  It can be simple and recycled, such as a plastic newspaper or grocery bag and does not add much weight.  I live in Kansas; if you've seen the Wizard of Oz, you know what the weather here can be like :-)"

Good luck!

Cheers,

Catt

I have also been getting very damage books, i'm so tired of it also.   Yes i was upset when i wrote the last part but i just requested four books and one have been Accepted - Printed the other one Will Mail by: 3/9/2009. So my RC was ok with the senders of those books,  I get upset because i recheck my books before mailing them out and then to get messed up books that is so wrong, right now i have an issue going on about a book i got yesterday that has a broken spine, sender not agreeing with me.

I agree with Elizabeth B.  (I'm not looking for brand new or perfect books, just ones I can repost when I'm finished)

 This is my RC:

 "I am not willing to receive books that are ** currently ** in a smoking home."

Please no highlighting/underlining pages.

Binding must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book (Due to receiving really damage books,Please recheck your books before sending out) 

Thank you

Elizabeth B. can i borrow this part

" though this is not a requestor condition or requirement for sending, I politely urge you to please consider a waterproof layer when sending books to me as protection from the elements.  It can be simple and recycled, such as a plastic newspaper or grocery bag and does not add much weight"

Have received a few water damage,stain books these pass weeks.

I basically restate the PBS guidelines regarding stained, water damaged, loose pages, etc.  I've only been turned down once and the prospective sender said the 'book had issues'.  As my RCs are PBS guidelines, I'm not sure that the book I didn't get should have been posted anyway, but as it was a WL book, I'm sure it went to someone without RCs.  Pat

I just had a RC that said they didn't want water damaged books.  Mine met the conditions but I pm'd the person saying what a shame that she had to have that as a RC.  She wrote back and said that she has had people pn her and say their book is only slightly water damaged would she like it!

Now, usually if I'm reposting a book and someone has a no smoke I'll accept and then pm that I don't know it's background.  That I'm a non-smoker and can't smell smoke on it.  I don't want to make someone ill if they have severe allergies.

Great idea!  I didn't really think about making a waterproof cover for the books I send.  And most, if not all, of my books are in "like-new" condition!

LeeAnne,

I sure can empathize with your plight!  I've received several in the last few months as well.  The last one was so badly water stained that I asked for my credit back. The person refunded it to me but denied that the book was waterstained and said I was "too picky!"  Since the envelope wasn't water stained, it wasn't damaged. in transit. I only wish I could have shown him the damage!

I think part of the problem stems from book dealers who haven't read and/or examined the book carefully. I have NOTHING against book dealers, but they tend to work several swap sites and concentrate more on quantity than quality. 

I always slip the book, along with the cover letter/instruction sheet that PBS prints with the label,  into one of those clear plastic page protectors (some books are too big for them, but most fit).  I scotch tape it closed. Not only does this protect the book from water but it also keeps the person's address with the book just in case something happens to the outer envelope. I get boxes of those page protectors on sale at Staples or Office Depot and they work out to about a penny a piece. Cheap insurance.

<<Elizabeth B. can i borrow this part>>

Anyone may borrow anything they think will help :-)  Living in Boston, surely you can come up some line about a Nor'Easter or something, rather than the Wizard of Oz :-)

Cheers,
Catt

I use a layer of saran wrap....those huge rolls at Costco or other warehouse store can last years.  And then wrap in supermarket brown paper.

I, too have gotten so many damaged books, its just so discouraging.  I make it a point to PM senders of books in beautiful condition, unfortunately, its a rare treat.  My luck with book deals is not good either.  I've purchased many 2 for 1, 3 for 1, and 4 for 1 deals and not one has come through with at least 1 book not postable.  And I never feel right asking for a credit since I'm getting more than 1 book anyhow, but its the point, its not the deal we made.  Heck, the book I'm reading now is going in the garbage when I'm done, its completely cracked in half, cover is scotch taped on, etc, etc.

Lauren

I too have the PBS posting guidelines as my RC, and only one person turned down on of my requests.  I think it's unfortunate that we have to do this at all- you'd think a member of a bookswapping site would be able to read the rules.

Like Lauren, I too make it a point to tell senders when they've sent books in wonderful condition as well as to thank them for adhering to the part of my RC about wrapping in plastic.

Another suggestion for wrapping books to ship: I use the plastic covers that my newspapers are delivered with. The bag is long, but I just cut the end to fit. It keeps the books waterproofed. It's also a way to recycle. Members who recieve my books can reuse the plastic wrap that I reused. :)

I recently added "no water damage" to my rc and I don't think it's caused anyone not to send a book.  I DID get one with the spine torn partway off and she blamed it on the post office, but since I've added the new rc, all the other books have been fine.

I just received my third water damaged book, and I added an RC because of it.

It says something like, "Just a friendly reminder, please do not send books with any kind of water damage.  According to PBS guidelines, these books are unpostable.  Happy swapping!"

I think PBS is getting so large that new members ignore the rules or don't read the rules and/or don't check their books.  I've gotten many water damaged books. When I first joined I found that lots of members who'd been here a while said they didn't use plastic and had never gotten a complaint about books getting wet.  I've noticed I'm not seeing that so much any more.

We had a 10" snow storm last week!  I'm on a rural mail route and couldn't get to the mailbox for 3 days.  The snow started to melt - the mailbox door had apparently been frozen open and melting snow got in - or original snow got in and melted there.  The one book had thankfully been wrapped in plastic.  I PM'd the sender with very grateful thanks.  I'm considering RC's now for water damage and plastic.  I just got a book that has a tiny little stain (looks like oil or grease) in an otherwise pristine book.  It's very sad.  I'm sure the sender didn't see it.  I've learned to check incoming books VERY carefully!  I guess most people would say I'm too picky - but rules are rules.  Sometimes, though I feel like others' think I'm taking extreme advantage of the rules.  I was very sad.

Ruth

Please make sure the damage really is "water damage". I just bought a brand new book and the pages are all wavy. Every copy of the book on the shelf was like that.

If every page is wavy - then all the pages should line up together without any gaps at all.  It should be a smooth wavy line of all the pages together.  It's when a few or a section or sections of pages that won't lie in the same formation of all the other pages that most likely means water damage.

Ruth