Well, it's rare that I get a book I'd even think about marking RWAP, mostly because I don't often repost books I get, so if it shows up readable but obviously at the end of its lifespan that isn't a big deal for me.

Today though I got one from a member who has been here long enough (mid-2006) and made enough swaps (more than 80) to know the rules on book condition.  I'd like to think they simply missed the damage to this book, but find it unlikely.  On the very last page of the book, inside the back cover, there's a stain about 2 inches by 3/4 inch where some dark silvery-grey powder substance got pressed between the page and the cover.  It's actually a small lump, slightly greasy, similar to powdered graphite, but without the smearing you'd get from graphite.  For those of you who, like me, ever took apart fireworks as a kid, it's similar to the flash powder you find in a firecracker, but darker.  I'll have to try exposing a small pinch to a flame and see if it's something of that nature.

Now, this is not a book I was going to repost.  It'll probably get read, sit on my shelf for a year or two, get read again, and possibly be passed along to my g/f to read, so the stain is really "no biggie"... except for my RC's, which explain that I, and my books, often have to pass through security checkpoints with dogs.  If this is any type of explosive or flammable mixture it might be enough to set off the dogs, so I won't be taking this one to work in my truck.

By all rights I should mark this RWAP, and probably will (I really don't care about getting the credit back) so that it's "on record", but I feel bad doing that.  While I think it unlikely that the sender could have missed this damage if they checked the book before sending it, I also feel it is at least possible that they didn't look inside the cover at the very last page.  The stain only partially bled through the preceeding page (almost looks like a slight smudge from a sweaty fingertip on the backside of the page) so I guess a fast flip though the book might have missed it.

Yeah, that's probably what I'll do... RWAP it, contact the sender, explain the problem, explain I'm not overly upset about it or looking for my credit back, then mark it resolved if they respond in a reasonable manner.  (By "reasonable" I'm thinking... "Oh!  I'm sorry that I missed that damage.  Thanks for letting me know and I'll check books more carefully in the future." or something of that nature)

Opinions?

Definitely mark it RWAP.  Have to keep up the standards.  The standards don't mean anything if members can get away with sending unpostables.  If you do mark it RWAP - it will help make sure that the sender at least checks more carefully and saves some other member from getting an unpostable for a credit they didn't agree to.  The consequences are there to help enforce the lesson.  If we let everybody get away with it, then what are doing saying we have guidelines?  I guess I've just had too many unpostables come in and I'm tired of it.  I want people to know that if they come here hoping to get quality used books that's what they'll get.  We wait for books and hope to repost them or keep them.  I don't want books that have unidentified substances in them.  I doubt that anyone else does either.  I do my very best to make sure that books I repost are postable.  I would appreciate the same from other members.
Ruth

Bernhard,

I just did the RWAP and feel bad about it too.  It was my first time.  Wording the PM is a challenge!   Just sending my support as you navigate the written word and hoping you get a "Thanks.  I will pay more attention next time." kind of response.

Susan 

I thank you both for doing your "PBS duty".  You have my full support!

Ruth

It is a good thing to mark unpostables as RWAP -- don't feel guilty!   You aren't doing anything wrong!  You are the member who received a book that didn't meet expectations, and who spent a credit on that book!  The other member is the one who made the mistake, and a RWAP points out that mistake to them.  While I hope that no one finds themself in the situation where they need to mark a book as RWAP, it is to the club's benefit when you mark a book that doesn't meet PBS guidelines as RWAP.  It won't hurt the members who just have the single RWAP on their record, and it will encourage them to be more careful when sending out books.  And it will help weed out the problem members who insist on ignoring PBS rules and sending out damaged/incorrectly posted books.

RWAP process is the method that PBS uses to monitor transactions here.  You are not accusing fellow members of anything, nor are you tattling on them.  You are simply reporting the result of the transaction.  You ordered a book, spent a credit, and did not receive the book you ordered that meets PBS criteria.  That's all.  Nothing at all to feel guilty about!!!

Yup, definitely a good idea to mark a book RWAP even if you don't ask for the credit back. Even if the person didn't read the book themselves, a lot of folks buy books at FOL sales and UBSs strictly for posting here--so it's their responsibility to check the books over and ensure that they meet guidelines before posting them. People notifying PBS that books received do NOT meet posting guidelines is the only way they know the person's posting history. It may be only one book you got from them that's a problem, but for all you know, that person has sent a whole bunch of unpostable books to others. If no one reports it, they'll keep on doing it and think it's just fine to do so.

Cheryl