This is hypothetical as it hasn't happened to me but what if - a book is mailed, received and the only thing between the book and the elements is a paper envelope - no bubble-wrap, no plastic, etc.  If the book were left on your doorstep and it were raining  and the book got wet would this book be considered RWAP with a problem caused by the sender for not wrapping it more securely or the postal service for leaving it on your doorstep?  Just curious.  Pat

Pat: check out this topic http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=163528

...and to answer your question I don't think it's RWAP because we are not required to use plastic wrap.  The Help section says "Consider using an inner layer of plastic".

How to Wrap a Book

Im honestly trying to figure out where some of your people live that your mailman just throws your packages on your porch when it is or has recently rained?

Michelle;  I found out where they live.  http://time-less-image.com/images/ebaycomics/swamthing64.jpg

BWAHAHAHAHA!  It would seem so!

RWAP - damaged by sender is for problems that are there when the book leaves the senders hands. A book wrapped to PBS minimum standards can make it to a receiver just fine, the fact that the mailman and mother nature interfere is not the senders fault. And a plain old manila paper envelope does meet PBS minimum standards.

Melanie - thanks for the answer, which means if it rains and the mailman leaves the book on my doorstep (as there's nowhere else to leave it if it won't fit in the slot, I'm SOL if it gets wet and there's no inner protection.  Pat

BTW - I don't live in a swamp, or the south or the northwest or any area that gets a lot of rain, but it does rain in Kansas from time to time.  LOL.

>>BTW - I don't live in a swamp, or the south or the northwest or any area that gets a lot of rain, but it does rain in Kansas from time to time.  LOL.<<

J/K Pat :))

Pat, you can certainly add Requestor Conditions about wrapping in water proof packaging to you account. You may risk not getting some books, but I think most would comply. I usually use a plastic inner wrap on all the books I mail, but it is not a requirement here at PBS. If you feel like you dont want to be SOL, you can take steps to prevent your books from getting wet on your porch. Technically, if the book is already delivered to you, the book damage from being on the porch would happen when it is in your posession.

BTW - I don't live in a swamp, or the south or the northwest or any area that gets a lot of rain, but it does rain in Kansas from time to time.  LOL.

I hear ya.  I know you guys have actually gotten alot of rain lately.  We however in western KS are still pretty dry.  =]

I lived in the Seattle area for the 1st 250 books I received and not a single one got wet.  

(Seattle is the land of sideways rain-incase no one knew). 

Love the replies from those who live in wet areas.  LOL.  Pat

I don't know - it wouldn't be the sender's fault like others have said - but if it were put on your porch I would think it was the USPS fault (for which you are still SOL) since they didn't deliver it correctly.  I'm thinking I have a book sitting out in the rain currently.  I'm not happy thinking about it.  It stinks being on my rural route.

Ruth

Interesting enough I live in southern CA which almost never gets rain.   I've had two book packages get ruined by rain.   Both packages were put over my fence, into my yard, while it was raining.  When  I complained to the postmaster the answer was, "if you don't like where he puts your packages fill out a form and you can come pick up ALL packages at the post office".  B I G SIGH    It may be the carriers fault but here it just doesn't matter.

I'd NEVER blame the sender.  

The woman who delivers my mail absolutely refuses to put anything larger than an envelope in our mailbox. Everything else, including magazines and packages, gets tossed on the ground in front of my door. I have no front yard to speak of, so this means anyone passing by can help themselves to my mail. Once I came home and bent over to pick up a book sent to me when a strong scent of urine wafted up. I don't know who did it (stray cat, dog or passing hobo) but I had to get a dustpan to scoop it up and put in the garbage. 

I learned my lesson and changed my delivery address to my office. I'm 21 floors up from ground level and the mail arrives by truck to the underground mailroom. Everything arrives nice and dry so I don't mind when the books aren't pre-wrapped in plastic. However, I always wrap the books that I send out in plastic first because I'm never sure what they have to go through before they reach their final destination.

I'm new and received my third book today, it was in a plastic bag with a note from the usps saying it was damaged in transit. I had to peel off the paper wrapper which was still damp. the dye from the cover bleed and the corners of the book were wet, but luckily that was all the damage. We haven't even started our rainy season yet. I did thank the sender for the fast shipping and did suggest plastic before paper for shipping.

Yep - it's getting close to hurricane season and tornado season.  That spells trouble for books heading to areas that are prone to those type of weather .  Please keep that in mind when packaging books.

Ruth