this is my rc

If I am requesting a Hardcover, please include the book/dust  jacket if the book was orginally published with one.  If this is not possible, please turn down this RC.

If I am requesting a Paperback book, then this Requestor Conditions does not apply

Please No EX Library or Bookcrossing books

Thank you.

does it make sense any impovements?

thanks in advanced for the help

I might change:  "If this is not possible, please turn down this R."  to "If the book is missing its jacket, please turn down this request".

I have a similar RC on my account.  Here's what I'd say:

No former Library books OR BookCrossing books.

If I am requesting a Hardcover, it must include the dust jacket if the book was orginally published with one.

In my opinion, it should be short, simple, and to the point.  If you want your hardcovers with dustjackets, then you want to say they MUST come with them, or else it sounds like a suggestion.  "Please" is nice, but it makes it sound optional sometimes depending on the wording.  Also, I wouldn't put that bit in about the paperback books--if it doesn't apply, you don't need a RC for it.  Also, I'm assuming that you don't want ex-library paperbacks, so that needs to be first and would apply to all of your requests.  Hope this doesn't sound harsh--I just find that the more you put in a RC and the more complicated you make it, the more likely someone is to turn it down on general principles.

Hope this helps!

I would put the second line in the same paragraph as the first if it is meant to refer to that request. The way it is written I can't tell what you mean doesn't apply to paperbacks - the preceeding line? The following line? Both?

The goal is very short and polite.  Make the choice yes or no, no grey areas.  Please is dangerous in a RC as folks take it as being okay to not follow.  I use Thank you at the end rather than please. 

Here is a very old thread that talks about RCs for 5 pages.   How To Write a Good RC

I would go with Shelia's suggestion. You say it doesn't apply to paperbacks but then you put another RC after that could apply to both HC and PB. I don't really get why people put that RCs don't apply to PBs in the RC. I think it only creates more confusion.

Regardless of what people think, RCs are not optional UNLESS you state that it is optional in your message. Make your RC as polite as possible. I have a similiar RC and the wording about paperbacks IS needed. I also thought it was unnecessary ... until I got turned down a few times with the message "this book is paperback". (Yes, it had the exact same wording except that I did not have the line about paperbacks previously).  My RC this way is almost always accepted, and I have never received a book that did not follow it.

Here is mine:

If the book is hardcover, I would like it to have the dustjacket. If the dustjacket is old, worn, or torn, this is OK.

If the book is a hardcover and has an illustrated cover but not a dustjacket, this is OK.

If the book is paperback, I have no special conditions.

Thanks very much!

For you, instead of the line about "If the book is paperback, I have no special conditions." ... I would instead put:

For all book requests (hardcover OR paperback), Please, no ex-library books or BookCrossing books.

To tell you the truth, if I read that really fast I might have figured that all RC's don't apply to paperback and might send you an ex-library book that is paperback thinking it's ok with you.

I'd probably add something similar to what Sara said "For all book requests (hardcover OR paperback), Please, no ex-library books or BookCrossing books."

The above seems clear to me.

I do have a question.  I have several non-fiction books that have neither an illustrated cover, and I believe they never came with a dust-jacket (old books circa 1920-1940).  I also have a few newer ones that I'm pretty sure originally did have a dustjacket.  Is there a location that tells me when they did or don't.

Excellent suggestions.  I have no writing talent (you ladies are wonderful), but as a sender I like short and easily understandable. 

On a bad hair day, I've been known to turn down RC's for length alone...if you're rambling on for several paragraphs, my 'decline' finger starts to itch.  I would happily accept Shelia and Sara's conditions.

If the book requested is a paperback, I'd have not problem with your original RC.  But if it's a hardcover without a dustjacket, I would decline because I wouldn't bother to try to figure out if it was originally published with a dustjacket or not.