I got a request for a book with the RC - Book Must Be Complete".  As far as I know the book is complete, but ---  I went to several sites (including PBS) to check the number of pages which should be in the book - I used the ISBN in the book I have and then checked other ISBNs with the same title and author and here's what I came up with.   Any suggestions?  Thanks.  I'm leaning toward declining.   Pat

My ISBN (PB) -  my copy has 369 numbered pages; PBS has 400 pages; my ISBN on EBAY shows 400 pages; Amazon with my ISBN 419 pages

Other ISBNs - Paperback - 320 pages;  Hardcover - 307 pages.  School binding 306 pages; Large Print 419 pages (other than the PB I really don't count these other books.

Since different binding types can have a different number of pages due to type size, I would not interpret this as having a specific number of pages.  It could mean having all pages of the book intact or dust cover with hardcovers.

If you choose to interpret it as having all pages of the book intact, and yours does, you could send it.

Myself, I'd say too vague and not send it.  

I'd decline also and let the person know their RC is too vague and you're not sure what they mean by "book must be complete".

If your book is not missing any pages, it's complete. There is no need to check any further, IMO. Unless there is something in the description or on the cover of the book that leads you to believe that it has something besides pages that is supposed to come with it.

If it is a book (like a computer book) that has a CD or DVD that goes with it, or a travel book that should have a map but it's missing, and it's missing, then decline.

I would accept the RC. It's very clear to me. And, in the case where someone presents me with an ambiguous RC and asks me to interpret it because it isn't clear ... OK, that's what I will do.

If you accept it, and someone says your book isn't complete, but it had all it's pages, then simply decline to return the credit. End of story.

Thanks everyone.  Appreciate the help.  Think I'll send it, as it looks like the book is complete.  Pat

I think this is someone's badly worded attempt to avoid abridged editions. 

PBS's page count can often include extra pages, not just story pages because the mailing weight calculates off of page # if there isn't one entered so that may account for a difference. I would go ahead and send it, but I'd probably also send a PM to the requester letting them know that the word "complete" is confusing as to what they mean - do they mean not missing pages? Unabridged? Not an Advanced Reader Copy? and they may want to add something to it to clarify what exactly they are looking for.

I hardly ever decline transactions due to RCs (unless they involve smoking or pets/cats) but I really do think I'd decline this one. It's just overly vague. And I wouldn't be willing to spend the time that you did in trying to figure it out. Give me a clear, concise RC to work with and we're good to go. Give me a muddled one and we're done and moving on.

This sounds like someone who recently posted in the forums about getting a book that was missing a few pages (not issue of an abridged version, though that too has recently come up as someone's complaint about the book they received).  One of the convos was talking about bad print jobs where the publisher actually leaves out a few pages........or duplicates a few pages while leaving out a few others.

So if you haven't read the book yourself, guess you would have to go page by page and see if all numbered pages are there in order!

IIRC there can be a difference between 'story' pages and total pages. A librarian I once volunteered with counted any pages after the story, such as footnotes, references, answer keys, etc. Other book sources (even publishers) might not count those additional pages (often numbered separately or in Roman Numberals). 

I recently got around to a book that was on my TBR list. When I got to page 133, the next page was 169. Turns out I had two sets of 169 to 190 but no 134-168. I contacted the prublisher and supposedly they are sending me a new copy. Fortunately, it was published in 2009 and is not out of print.

Maybe this was what was meant as 'complete.'

LATER: I received a new copy from the publisher, all the way from England.