I posted a book that had several people wanting it. One person has RC that says no mass market paperbacks but says 5x8 are ok. The book she requested has dimensions of 5.2 x 0.9 x 8.  If she has put this book on her WL, doesn't she know what she wants? The book meets her conditions (she requested non smoking home with no smoke smells) and the measurements. Should I send it? I looked up the dimensions on amazon.

Also, where do all of you get your books?  Mine come from thrift stores and the half price bookstore mostly. I do sometimes buy brand new . I've reced a few RC's that are looking for brand new books. Those RC's make me nervous because often, even my new ones, have been read by me a couple of times avnd most likely lent to someone before I post it here. I thought most books on here would be used.

Thanks!

Just as other members are free to have RCs, you are also free to decline them for whatever reason (even if you just do not want to send to people with ANY RCs).  If you are not 100% sure your book meets the RC, then decline it and just state that it does not meet the RC. No need to stress over it. It will not count against you if you decline a RC request. If a member has a RC for a new book, I just automatically decline it. Not worth losing sleep over.

One place to find books is library book sales. To find one in your area, go to www.booksalefinder.com   You will see a map of the USA.  Click on the area where you live to see upcoming book sales. The prices are very cheap (each sale sets its own prices).

She says 5 x 8 are okay.  Your book is 5 x 8.  Your book meets the RC so there is no reason you should not send it.  If you don't want to that's fine, but it does not violate her request.

(As an aside, I don't pay any attention for RCs that specify type of book such as hardcover or large print - it's not my responsibility to pick a book for someone else.) 

If there is even the slightest chance that someone with an RC might have an issue with my book, I don't send it.  However, since she stated 5 x 8 are OK, you could send it and if she complains, note that her RC said it was acceptable.  

I get my books from various sources: here and other trading sites, gifts, bookstores and the occasional purchase of a brand new book.  Usually the brand new ones are keepers, tho.

I thought most books on here would be used.

And you are right, they are. As others have stated, while members are free to have whatever RC they want, you are free to decline a RC for any reason whatsoever.

What can tend to happen  on Wishlisted books is that these "new condition only" RC's tend to linger an accumulate at the top of the queue. Meaning, someone has this RC on their request. The book is posted, the RC is declined, and the book gets offered to the next wisher. The next time the book is posted, the same thing happens. Eventually, their might be two request with this RC sitting at the top of the WL line. 

Personally, unless the person is specific why they want this particular book in as new condition, I tend to decline these RC's. Sure, I like to receive books in as new condition, but, I'm willing to receive any postable condition, and, IMHO, people who are requesting as new only for everything, are leaving "the rest' for those without RC's.

 If she has put this book on her WL, doesn't she know what she wants?

The problem is that an ISBN can be used for more than one printing of the book. In PBS the "paperback" designation can be used for any size of soft covered books so mass market and the larger trade sized books get posted to the same ISBN. People add the RC to let posters know what size they want.

The book meets her conditions (she requested non smoking home with no smoke smells) and the measurements. Should I send it? I looked up the dimensions on amazon.

Please actually measure the book you have. Just because Amazon says the ISBN is used for that sized book doesn't mean that is the size you have. ISBNs can be reused on different editions sometimes.

I never worry about RCs. I read them and take them at face value. There is no way to know if the RC you are receiving is one they use on every book they ever request, or it is the one and only time they've ever used an RC. If my books meets the RC, I sent. If it doesn't, I don't. I've never had a Problem swap. I don't try to send creased spines or bent covers as "like new" books, I do only send books that do look new to those kind of RCs. But I've never had problems with RCs and am glad I have a book that can grant their wish.

I also send to all RCs that my book actually meets. Never had any problem at all. In fact, people who have RCs are usually the ones sending long thank you notes to you for sending them books.

And, Melanie is right, you need to measure the copy of the book that you have to make sure it meets the RC, if you want to send it.

"I also send to all RCs that my book actually meets." Me too.  And I second Melanie's suggestion that you measure your copy of the book, rather than going by the measurements you find online.   Or decline if you don't want to measure.  Either is fine.

What she is saying in her RC is that she wants the large Trade size paperbacks.  They are easier to read for a lot of people who don't actually need large print.  I think she just wants to be sure a small mass market paperback is not sent either by mistake or because it might as Melanie says, happen to have the same ISBN as the Trade size.  Definitely send.  In my experience what you have is the size she wants.  If you are unsure, accept it and PM her with the actual dimensions.

I recently got an order for a hardcover book and saw the person's RC definitely said and repeated that he didn't want any hardcovers.  I thought that was strange but he could have just seen the title and didn't look at the binding.  I declined it.

Theresa, recently here there was a discussion where the ISBNs for several hardcovers were re-used to do a reprint of of books in paperback like 15-20 years later.  The publishers' re-use of the ISBNs causes PBS members heartaches!

Just to update: I did measure the book and it is 5 x a hair off 8. I accepted the request and I hope she enjoys her book :-)

Thanks everyone for the help!

Michele (and others), you are nicer than me. Generally speaking I have no problem with RCs, and will send the book so long as my book complies. I find that the vast majority of RCs I get are requesting books be from a non-smoking home, which is fine and I meet that RC. However, I personally would not spend the time to measure a book, especially one that has many wishers. If an RC said that they don't want MMPBs (size in parentheses) or only want Trade size PBs (size in parentheses) I'd be ok with that, but I don't want to have to dig out a ruler and measure my book to see if it meets an RC. For me perosnally, I should be able to look only at my book to see if it meets the RCs. I shouldn't need any other tools.

 If an RC said that they don't want MMPBs (size in parentheses) or only want Trade size PBs (size in parentheses) I'd be ok with that, but I don't want to have to dig out a ruler and measure my book to see if it meets an RC. For me perosnally, I should be able to look only at my book to see if it meets the RCs. I shouldn't need any other tools.

People use measurements because there are lots of people who do not know what "mass market paperback" is, or "trade paperback".

At least using measurements means that anyone can easily tell if the book is the right one ... where using terminology that people may or may not be familiar with will likely just lead to more confusion on the part of members who have no idea what those terms mean.

For example, lots of people think that a "Book Club Edition" ... is a copy of the book printed with "Oprah's book club" on the cover. Not only do they not know what the term means, they actually think they DO know but they are wrong.

Sara--I know that. That's why I included (size in parentheses). Ask me what size a MMPB is or a Trade PB is, and I couldn't tell you. But I understand the terms and wouldn't need to measure. For those that don't understand the terms, the measurements are there for them to use should they choose to do so.

Ehhh, I just don't worry too much about exactly how RCs are worded. If I can figure it out, I'm willing to check my book. So far, it's never actually taken me longer than an extra 30 seconds to check my book against an RC, no matter how it's worded.

I did get the one about not having bed bugs once. I didn't even have to check that one out special. Pretty sure there's no bed bugs in my house.

"Just to update: I did measure the book and it is 5 x a hair off 8. I accepted the request and I hope she enjoys her book :-)"

For your sake, I sure hope so, too.  It's that 'a hair off of 8' that would have me decline that RC (though I decline most of them, anyway).  She could RWAP on that, if she wants to be a nitpicker, since not a full 8".  Good luck!

It's actually pretty rare for me to turn down RCs. When my sweet kitty was still alive I had to turn down RCs for no pets. I recently had to turn one down because they asked for no yellowing of book pages--and the book was over 30 years old. I've also never had a RWAP for failure to meet RCs. So I'm not quick to turn down RCs, but I couldn't tell you where there is a ruler in my house. I'm sure we have several, as well as tape measures. I just have no clue where they are. LOL.