I was just scolded by a member that sent me a wishlisted book with visible water damage. I'm talking about the first 60 pages being all crinkled and warped. It was her opinion that it was still readable therefore I should enjoy it and not expect  collector quality books from this site. I asked for my credit back but after the attitude I got, I said forget it. So I'm very frustrated with the FIFO system because in the short time I have been swapping, I have received two unpostable wishlisted books. However, I'm very happy to say that all books ordered through the forums have been in repostable condition which I am grateful for. So anyway, I do ask in my book conditions that the books meet PBS guidelines so that I can repost the books when finished. How do I insert a link to these guidelines so people can double check before they accept my request? I'm seen the green "link" links in other people's posts but I haven't quite figured out how to link them without C&P'ing the whole URL in my conditions section.

Thanks guys.

Leticia - To add conditions, you go to the "settings" tab in your account.  Scroll down the page and you'll see a box for "requestor conditions" - add your conditions there.  It's the only way people will know you have conditions.  Adding them to your forum signature won't help because many people you will swap with aren't active on the forums.  Make sure after you add your conditions that you hit the "update" button, or the conditions won't be visible to others.

Also, just an FYI - there are some people here who will turn you down just for having conditions of any kind because they think you will be picky about the book once it arrives.  So, when you add conditions, even if you are just reitterating PBS guidelines, expect to be turned down more often.  Try to word it as nicely as you can, that may help.

Cindy, I tried copying and pasting the URL address but what I ended up with was a long URL address link to click on. On forum postings I have seen where people have links that say "link" so I was just trying to keep my link short. Thanks for responding. :)

Lisa, I have my conditions under the requestor condition box and not in my signature. I actually had read on these forums that  setting conditions can set you up to be turned down for a book but so far this hasn't happened.  Considering the quantity of books I've requested to date which hasn't been many, two unpostable WL books in three months seems excessive but maybe that's average. If anything, I hope this incident motivates this member to refresh herself with the posting guidelines so she doesn't swap another unpostable book. Thanks for responding. :)

I just love it how some people think the rules don't apply to them.  Make sure to report it as water damaged.  It will be the only way for R&R to weed these people out.

You also shouldn't have to put in as requestor conditions"books that meet PBS guidelines". That should be a given........

Sue sez:

"You also shouldn't have to put in as requestor conditions"books that meet PBS guidelines". That should be a given........"

No, you should not but, after getting a dozen unpostable books (obvious water damage, stains, heavy underlining, etc) in the last couple of months, I've taken to noting some conditions in my requestor conditions.  Yes, I get more rejections, but I'd rather that than be disappointed by a book I've been wanting to read arriving with coffee-stained pages, greasy orange thumbprints, every other line highlighted, etc.

Cheers, Catt

[sorry, double post]

Oh, sorry, I get what you are asking now!  I am not sure if there is a way to insert a link in requestor conditions.  However, (and this is just my opinion), even if you could do so...most people would click the link, see that it is a link to PBS posting guidelines, not read the guidelines, respond that it does meet your conditions, and send the book.  I have seen people just write a sentence in their conditions like, "Please make sure your book meets the PBS posting requirements."  You could also add something like, "(i.e. - please, no water damaged books)" as that has been your issue lately.

After receiving my first unpostable WL book, I added a book condition reiterating that books requested must meet PBS book condition guidelines. That was a suggestion I saw on this forum ,and it was also the condition listed when I requested the second unpostable WL book. Unfortunately, if a member has it engrained in their head that as long as it's "readable" it's postable, I'd have to agree that extra book conditions or links are probably not going to make a difference. :-(

Leticia, I would encourage you to let your Tour Guide know about the problem.  It is up to you if you want to give her the name of the member who has been giving you a hard time.  The fact that they sent you a damaged book is one thing.  Being given a hard time by a member who should surely know what the posting conditions are is something else.  Send along what the member has told you verbatim as well.  Perhaps she can get a little farther ahead with it.  I'm really very sorry that you have had this bad experience ~ generally everyone is pretty good about water damaged books, but they are usually very good about being pleasant and tactful in responding to a requestors problem.  :(

<sarcasm mode = ON>

"Geez, lady - don't you know this is a USED book site? You're getting this for FREE; whaddya want fer nuthin?"

<sarcasm mode = OFF>

Sadly, a few people's Sarcasm Modality is stuck permanently ON (either that, or they're just jerks/knuckleheads/sociopaths who think rules are fine until it cramps THEIR style).

Fortunately, these lusers really are in the vast minority (so to speak). You may have just had a run of bad luck, but that'll normalize!

Ughh..I got a warped/water damaged wishlisted book today as well! And am very dissapointed!  Yes the book is readable, but I will not be able to post it on PBS!  This is the first for me...should I ask for my credit back ? and if I do get it back do you usually send the book back to the other member?  TIA

Aileen

Aileen, it is hit or miss as to whether you will get the credit back or not.  you can ask and I hope you marked the book Received with a Problem. 

If you do get your credit back you do not have to mail the book back unless the sender wants to reimburse you with either a credit or paypal or something.

What a bad situation! I actually have put "No Water Damage" AS A CONDITION. I figured out that it can't be automatically expected that everybody places the same value in PBS trading I guess.

While I feel for your situation, I think the setting of conditions is getting out of control. The "received with problem" is the right avenue for pursuing this. 

I wouldn't recommend adding the stock PBS requirements to your own conditions. People who participate in this site know the rules. If they are going to ignore them, I don't think that condition will help. But since not everyone is prepared to deal with conditions and may skip your request, then you may not get some books you want.

I try to read and honor condition requests. But to be honest, if I'm in a hurry (or perhaps not the best mood), there are times I just don't want to go to the extra trouble, so I refuse the request rather than figure it out. And when people put trivial stuff in their conditions, like requests to follow the normal rule, I worry that they are extra finicky and may be a hassle to work with. 

Good luck to you with this.

I had someone pm before sending out a book "letting me know'" that there were liquid stains (coffee) on the book.  when I replied that any liquid damaged/stained book was not postabe she got angry and replied "that's what I get for being honest".     rules are rules and why some people think that they don't apply to them is beyond me  :-(