Via various sources I get my books and my only pet annoyance is people leaving things in books.

SO far no one from PBS has sent me books with things inside, and I do mean things like book marks or recipts etc.  I have even been sent a check for several hundreds of dollars that was meant to go to an ebay seller, yes I did send it on its way and I emailed the person explain how easily it could have gone missing. As well I got her bank statement and had to explain how identity theift is an issue these days. I kept the note as friendly as I could because wow the amount of damage I could have done, I knew her bank details, her address, a quick search on the internet would have netted her SSN and I had her birthdate. All just on a few pieces of paper innocently tucked inside the book. I am sure she was just off getting the cashiers check and needed ID or something. Never heard back from her about it but I figured everything was alright.

Best thing I enjoyed was the book of forever stamps, stamps are ever so handy things to have.

I have an assortment of lovely book marks, stickers and photos that people did not want returned.

I mean if you wish the person to have these things then let them know or else I will return them.

SO PLEASE check your books before sending them, even innocent pieces of paper are not wanted by others.

Someone started a similar thread in CMT and it was interesting what folks would leave in books.  I, for one, have not received anything "extra" with my books from PBS, but it is a good reminder!

I buy a lot of books on ebay.  I frequently find receipts with credit card numbers on them.  I usually put them through the shredder.  I guess I should email through ebay when that happens. Usually it's book marks or coupons. I have to admit I am a coupon as bookmark person.  But I always go through my books as a precaution.  My DH is a Naval Officer and his SS is used on so much stuff that shredding has become a way of life. Especially after some idiot posted a list of military officers and their SS on the internet a while back.  Luckily DH wasn't high enough in rank to be on the list but it made us paranoid.

I'm glad you warned me.  I was going to include a pretty bookmark in books I was going to send out in the future.  I have so many Christmas cards from last year that I will be making bookmarks from for my friends and relatives.  I didn't realize that people would be annoyed by it.

I don't think it's so much it's an annoyance but it's more like: Hey, is this a gift for me or did they forget it in the book? I know I have received much appreciated book marks with some of my PBS books but usually get a note saying something about it so I know.

I think the OP was intending to warn people that they could have their ID stolen by leaving personal info in books they send out.  I got a book with a homemade bookmark in it and thought it was nice.  I don't appreciate the coupons, receipts, business cards and such that just makes me more garbage.

Oh Phyllis - most people aren't going to be annoyed by a bookmark!    I recently sent a book someone choose in a swap.   Got a nice PM from the receiver telling me I had left a piece of paper in it with my name and my SSN and the name of my hospital stuck in it.   Oops - I was reading it when I went to get my flu shot.          Yanno - we all make mistakes and thank goodness most of the peeps on here will nicely let us know when that happens.

Pam, I'm confused after reading your post. Did she leave a check AND her bank statement in the book?

I would take any book arkers you want to leave in books or put in books.  When I clean & gather them all up . the pile is almot a quarter inch high.  Why can I never find them when I need a book marker.  They seem to go hide.....

my only pet annoyance is people leaving things in books.

How weird that that bothers you. I couldn't care less if I find anything in a book(as long as it is not food or bodily fluids). It takes all of what, 1 second to toss it in the trash and forget about it?

My pet peeve is mystery STAINS or water damage to a book. That is just disgusting!

THe main time I find 'extras' is when I loan books to friends. My friend Melissa returned one book with her work schedule/hours, and another book with a picture her friend had drawn for her. I loan a few books to my friends NIki and Ronnie, and they returned one book with their Amscot pickup reminder lol. I don' t mind items like bookmarks and cards; actually I always find it a great delight to find these footprints. I'm not sure why but I do. On the check though, that would just be a pain because ytou'd have to send it back to her, etc.

When I borrowed textbooks in grad school I returned them with gift card in them as a thank you to the person who loaned the book to me for a semester with a little thank you note.  Word got around and I had offers of textbooks loans from all over ;) it was much cheaper than spending a couple hundred on a textbook and it made my friends smile.....

Yes the person left the check AND bank statement in the book. I had everything needed to really do damage to this person.

And yes please write alittle note on the PBS papers if a bookmark is a gift. For me, I enjoy the little notes people write on the PBS papers hoping I will enjoy the book. So giving a bookmark and wishing someone well would brighten someones day.

I am not against gifting people with things, but a gift can only be enjoyed if that person knows its a gift.

I am against people leaving stuff inside like they just hadnt bothered. When mentioning this to my fellow worker she told me the other day she found an empty wrapper for a condom..LOL

As for the mystery stains, part of my work is to fix/mend books/ audio casettes and their cases for my library and the stains I find are very questionable.  I also think this is why I have my pet peeve because 1 second per 100 books being returned in a morning just adds up. I should have mentioned its the food wrappers that really get under my skin. food=books dont mix.

I also have issues with lost things, I like to return things to people that lost them. I hardly ever loose things myself and if I do its all I can do to not search until it is found. :)

My suggestion, if you are going to include anything more than a simple note with something like "Hope you enjoy it!", is to mail it first class.  Even a card can mean your package won't make it through the random media mail inspection.

Here's an excerpt from a help doc:

• Media Mail is subject to postal inspection
• If your package is found to be in violation of Media Mail regulations:
  • Your package may be returned to you
  • Your package may be delivered to the requestor postage-due
  • Your package may be destroyed.

• Media, as described above
• A note with a simple accompanying message,
  • such as "Happy Birthday!" or "Hope you enjoy it!"

LOL Laurie, i'm the same way.  I could care less about finding things in books as long as it wasn't digusting.  So far i've had great luck and the most interesting thing has been a boarding pass for a flight to London. =) (they had already gone on the trip)

~Keri

I've gotten some scraps of paper or receipts in my books. It does not bother me. But one time I did get a receipt for a hotel stay and I PMed the person asking if they needed it back. They told me "no, but thanks for reminding me of the great vacation I was on when i read that book!"

Elizabeth, I LOVE your blinkie! I couldn't agree more;)