I just received this RC and I am not sure if I should accept it or not.  It said to please make sure to protect the corners of the book when shipping.

I have never had any complaints with the books I have shipped but I am afraid this person might be extra picky with books that are shipped.  What do you think?

Is it a hardback, paperback or tradeback? Are you willing to put it in a box instead of just wrapping it in paper? Or maybe put a cardboard layer on the top and bottom to support the book better?

I wouldn't worry so much about it being picky as much as I'd question if you're willing to go to the extra trouble to wrap the book differently if you think your normal routine might not be enough. If I was willing to throw it in a box, I'd send it if the book had nice corners. But I usually don't have boxed lying around like I used to, and that'd be the only way I'd want to ship it.

So I guess it depends on how much extra trouble it would be for you, and if you want to go put in the extra work.

It is for a newer hardcover book.  I usually wrap my books in brown wrapping paper with a generous amount of tape.  I really dont' have a box or any bubble wrap laying around.  It was funny to see an RC like this.  I have never seen one with specifics about how they want the book packaged.

Is that exactly how it's worded?

If you are uncomfortable with the RC, then just decline.

I think the person is asking you to make an effort to protect the corners when shipping. Technically if you make some effort, the sender shouldn't RWAP you, or at least you have reason to not give back the credit.  Maybe document your efforts with a picture? Some people just throw a book in a manila envelope and don't tape down the extra slack. Whenever a book moves around in its container the corners are likely to get damaged.

I personally would accept because I like wrapping challenges. For sending out hardcover books, I make sure the space between the pages and the edges of the hardcover are "filled in" with cardboard or bubble wrap, and wrap the corners in cardboard. This is after the book is wrapped in plastic. I'm pretty sure this works.

ETA: A box is not necessary. If the book moves around in a box the corners will still likely get damaged. For all my books, I create a custom sized box? wrapping? using old manila envelopes. I recently got a trade sized paperback returned to me because it was undeliverable and the wrapping is still intact, the corners were not damaged.

I would accept it and just send in a box, or put bubble wrap on the corners, or reuse a bubble mailer. 

You said you didn't have any boxes or bubble wrap laying around ... I personally wouldn't go out and purchase any so I'd probably end up declining the request.

The only way you can properly protect the corners of a hardback is with some sort of padding. If I didn't have it at the time and it was requested, yep, I'd decline rather than take the chance.

I take used bubble mailers and put them on the corners of hardbacks.  There just seems to be something about the overhang of the cover that rips envelopes.  A chip board box, such as a cereal box, can also work well.  As long as the print is facing away from the book so it does not bleed.

After saying that, I'd have no problem declining if I did not have packing material or time.

Unfortunately, most of the hardcovers I've received have had dinged/rounded corners (to some extent) IMO they are less forgiving of mishandling than the more flexable paperbacks.   I'll agree with the above advice, feel free to decline if you are uncomfortable with the RC or don't want the extra hastle.

If you think you can wrap it the way they want then accept.  If you don't want to bother with that then decline.  I guess it would depend on how badly you need a credit and how much time you have.

I'm not a fan of RCS but I would accept this one. Mostly because I take extra care with hardcovers becuase they aren't as forgiving as soft covers.  I keep boxes around and then cushion them with plastic bags.  I've used cereal boxes before. I wrap in a plastic bag or 2, put it on the box and then cushion with more plastic bags.  I use reuseable grocery bags most of the time but I still seem to have plastic bags around when I need one.

Since I have a lifetime supply of bubble wrap, I think I'd be sure to wrap the corners extra good and ship it out.

If I didn't have the supplies, I'd decline it.

I would probably accept it.....I always wrap in plactic firt, but just for the extra padding, i would use a coupld of plastic gracery sacks as well, then either a brown shopping bag or a couple layers of freezer paper and tape-lots of it!

Thanks for all the advice.  I ended up just declining the request.

I've had books come to me in just brown paper or the usual PBS wrapping and when it's been a hard back, almost always the corners of the book are 'smooshed'.  It's not a major problem for me, but would have been nice if the book had been wrapped in bubble wrap or a bubble wrap envelope to protect those corners.  Pat