I ve a book that has some black marks on two pages.  No idea what they're from (i bought it used), but the book is otherwise perfect and WLed.  In both case, they're in the margins, and don't effect readability at all.

My inclination is to post it, and then PM the requestor.  What do you think?

The HC says no writing and no staining on the text pages. While the marks arent exactly writing they are more like staining. Id say its not postable.

That's debatable - the black marks could be ink from printing and I wouldn't consider that a stain.  I'd do exactly as you said - post it, and PM the requester.

I'd also say no. The HC says:

Pages:

• No torn or chewed/gnawed pages
  • yes, that does say "chewed/gnawed".  That means no pet-chewed (or human-chewed) books.
• No loose or missing pages
• No writing or highlighting on text pages
  • a signature or note on the flyleaf or inside front or back cover is OKAY
  • an author's signature on the title page is OKAY
  • writing or highlighting on the text pages is NOT OKAY
    • Exception: if it is a textbook or workbook, these are expected to have highlighting/writing
      • if you post a textbook/workbook, the condition must be described to the requestor in a Personal Message
      • AND the described condition MUST BE AGREED TO before the book is sent
      • This is the one of the ONLY two cases in which a PM exchange about a book is required before the book can be sent(the other is for cookbooks--see below).

No staining

*****

It does go on to elaborate on Cookbooks and staining, but no other type of book. 

The question isn't about readablity...it's about postability.  The HC doesn't say "if it's just a little, go ahead and PM the requestor, maybe they want ti anyway".  It says NO staining and NO writing on the pages (exception workbooks/textbooks)

I honestly don't know where we've gotten the idea that it's OK to post unpostable books and then PM the requestor. 

The fact that this is a WL book almost makes it worse, actually.  If the requesting member thinks "no, I don't want that" and cancels, they end up losing their place in line!  Best case scenario they PM the PBS Team, explain and get their place back in line...worst case scenario is they don't now that they can do that and end up at the back of the line.  (or, worse yet, don't even realize they lost their place on the list).

Now, I'm pretty sure someone out there is thinking "it's that members fault for not knowing how the system works".  The thing is, it's not that "other member's" fault that someone who DOES know how the system works decided to post an unpostable book.

Just a head's up here, the guidelines for posting here at PBS are pretty cut and dried, and in my opinion pretty fair. The only books that should require a PM to trade are Text Books w/ writing or highlighting in them. Requiring a member to respond to a PM about a book is not how PBS is set up. Stains, tears, writing, missing pages, water-damaged books can all be traded in the Damaged Book Thread in the Book Bazaar, but should not be posted for a credit trade or a BOB trade.

My other thought is: what if the book is on Auto-Request, and the member does not see the offer and does not respond to your PM, then what  happens to the trade. IMHO this system is set up very simply and works very well. Simple is best.

See now I think if this is a printing defect then it should be ok to post.  Does it look like it's from the printing process or a stain made afterwards?  If it looks like it was made in the printing process you could post it in book bazaar.  Most likely someone will still want it and you can post it directly to someone's WL.  I would do this only if it looks like a printing issue and not a actual stain.  I would say 75% of the books I read have some sort of printing defect-either a page thats lighter than others, type slightly off, ink marks etc..., 

I agree that the poster has to make the decision if this book is postable or not.   IF it's a printing defect, I'd say yes it is.  But NO posted book should require a PM except those pointed out in the helps.

If you decide it isn't postable, you can offer it free with another order off your shelf??!

Thanks folks, consensus seems to be on the unpostable side.  I honestly can't tell what the heck it is, could well be a printing defect, but I've never seen anything quite like it, so who knows.  I wouldn't call it a stain, which is why I think it's a grey area and not cut and dried, so I'm glad there was a consenses one way or the other.

Beth, I would have canceled it myself, of course, not ask the requester to do so!

Beth, I would have canceled it myself, of course, not ask the requester to do so!

I'm sorry, Jeanne, I wasn't doubting that you meant to do that. (and didn't mean to imply otherwise. :-)  I was thinking more along the lines of "requestor sees PM, thinks I don't want this and just cancels".  An experienced member would know to have you cancel, but it could be a real pain for an inexperienced one.