I received a book I ordered in the mail today, and I am not picky on my books.  However, the book, which is a hardcover, and has a dust jacket, has the cover just starting to separate from the binding in both the front and the back.  It is a book for my kids, so I have taped it back in tact, but should I mark this RWAP?  If I do, do I have to ask for the credit back?  The book is in good condition otherwise, but I feel I shouldn't have to repair a book I received either.  What do you think?

Darcy, not sure if what you describe meets postability guidelines. I'm not sure if what you are describing is a small fraying or rip right where the cover meets the spine. (see excerpt below)

Only you -- who has the book in front of you -- can tell.

If it doesn' t meet conditions, you can (and some would argue should) mark it RWAP. Asking for the credit back is up to you. They are two separate questions.

Cover:

• Must both be present (front and back)
  • note that a paperback missing its front cover is  usually an illegal, unsold copy
  • "cover" does not = dust jacket.  Hardcovers do not need to include their dust jackets to be swapped here.
• Cover not water damaged (there may be no water damage to any part of the book)
• Cover not torn or chewed/gnawed
  • some used book stores cut out a small part of the cover; if the amount missing is less than 1 square inch, this is OKAY
  • a small rip (less than 1 inch) in the cover is OKAY
  • yes, that does say "chewed/gnawed" above.  That means no pet-chewed (or human-chewed) books.
• A bookplate inside the cover or on the flyleaf is OKAY

Binding:

• Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book
• If the book tends to open at a particular page, this is OKAY
• Small amount of fraying or denting at top or bottom is OKAY

I had read this BEFORE I even posted this question.  The problem is that I do not see exactly the problem that I have with the book in this criteria.  The cover is in tact, and so is the binding.  It is just that the cover, on both the front and the back of the book, is starting to separate from the binding.  As stated earlier, I taped it back in place, but is this RWAP?  Should I request a credit back or what?

Obviously I can't see the book, but for me, if it is iffy - if I have difficulty deciding if it is RWAP or not, I don't RWAP. 

If you could post a picture that might help us.

I think the same as Valerie, though, If I am not sure then I don't RWAP.

OK, I will be taking some pics and posting them shortly because I am not sure...thanks.

OK, I took 4 pictures, but can anyone explain to me how to post them on here?

http://s752.photobucket.com/albums/xx166/helensandemilysmommy/

So, if you click on the link, it should show the pictures.

It looks like binding separation to me. I would RWAP that one. I'm usually an advocate of loose interpretation of the gray areas of the rules ... but I wouldn't send that one out.

So, should I ask the member who sent it to me for my credit back?  How should I handle this?

You would mark it "Received with a Problem" and in the area that it gives for a message, you can explain the problem with the book and that you feel it violates the rules, and ask for your credit back.

Look here for the PBS rules: http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=529

If you have already marked it "received" there is not much that can be done, although you could try to contact the sender and see if they are still open to refunding your credit. Unfortunately, though, I think most members might not be inclined to fix an issue on a tranaction where they book has already been marked "received" regularly.

In terms of asking for your credit back ... it is up to you whether or not you want the credit back. (What I do personally is I only request credits back on RWAP books that I am going to reorder or that I wanted to repost. If the RWAP book was something I was going to keep anyway, and I can still use it with whatever damage it came with, I don't ask for my credit back in that case). But that part is up to you.

No, I did not mark it received yet as I was waiting to get advice.  I will do what you said.  Thanks.