I mailed a book out, exactly how i recieved it. I kow there was nothing wrong with it, and it smeeled fine. I just got an email saying it  "Smelled very badly like mold" and the reciever marked it damaged? How does this effect me and how can I change it?

Is that all the other person said?  If so, then I'd leave it alone and not answer the PM.  If the other person wants their credit back, they need to ask you for it.  It's up to you if you want to return the credit even if they did ask for it.  If you're sure the book was in good condition and met the posting guidelines and didn't smell like mold or anything else when you sent it, then I wouldn't return the credit.

One unresolved problem will not hurt you and even if you do return the credit, no guarantee the other person will mark the transaction as resolved.

If you know that there was nothign wrong with the book then you don't have to give a credit back.  Unfortunately they will mark it unresolved. But one RWP against you will not cause them to cancel your account. 

So you have to decide how to handle it: give a credit so the issue is resolved even though you know you sent a postable book or respond that the book was in postable condition when you sent it and therefore you don't owe them a credit.

How old was the book?   To me all books smell funky (like paper and glue) and old books usually have a strong smell.  (it's why I don't accept RCS asking for books that don't smell-they all smell). 

thanks for the help. I guess i will just leave it alone then

If the PM requested a response or their credit back, you need to respond to the PM or they can mark it "Sender did not respond to PM asking to discuss the problem."

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/search.php?terms=follow-up

From the Help Center -

• Sender did not respond to PM means that your PM asked for a response, but the sender did not respond
  • You should not choose this option if the sender responded (even if you don't agree with what the sender said)
  • You should not choose this option if your PM did not ask for a response
  • You should not choose this option if you never sent the sender a PM at all

I know that the underlined section says that you don't have to respond if they didn't ask for a response, but from what you wrote, it seems like the receiver may be confused on that point in addition to misunderstanding the posting rules.   I might reply with a PM saying something like, "I'm sorry that you are not happy with the odor of the book.  Unfortunately, the PBS posting guidelines don't include odor as a condition and the book that I sent is postable per PBS rules.  If you'd like to double check the rules for yourself, please see the following link:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=205

I just received a book that is smelling strongly of mildew but looks fine.  I don't like the smell and I'm hoping it is transitory.  But it is a 25 yr old HC and I'm afraid that it is permanent.  I am going to keep it separate from other books just in case.  Since it doesn't have any visible signs of mold or mildew I'm letting it pass.  Is this the right  thing to do or should I tell the sender about it (I don't want my credit back bercause I'm going to use the book)?

Ruth

Since it doesn't have any visible signs of mold or mildew I'm letting it pass.

I hate when that happens.  I'm sorry to hear that it happened to you, Ruth.  I have a pretty good nose and I'm pretty sure that I can smell stuff on books that others can't.  Smell is so subjective (as we read in the RC threads)  I let it go if the book looks fine for the reasons that I stated above.

I'd store the book with baking soda to see if it helps to dry the book out.  But mildew is a nasty thing.  Will always show up again if the book gets damp with humidity.  You are wise to keep it away from your other books. 

Mildew can spread to your other books too. Yuk.