So I got a WL book in the mail today that is cleaved in a few spots. It's a mass market paperback and it's massive (1400+ pages). I'm guessing there's not much you can do to prevent this from happening with such a large paperback though, correct? I don't know yet if it's a keeper or not (part of a series) which would make my decision easier since I don't care if it's unpostable or not if I'm keeping it. But there's a chance I'll want to repost it at some point and now I'm just torn on whether to mark it RWAP and ask for my credit back or not.

WWYD?

If it's not postable, then it's not postable.  Doesn't matter how large of a book it is, a cleaved spine is not acceptable.

I would RWAP for sure.  Asking for your credit back is up to you but I'd want the problem on record.

Thanks, Sarah. Actually, I should clarify - I'll mark it RWAP no matter what so that it's on file. I guess my question is whether or not it's warranted to ask for my credit back and if others would or wouldn't.

Well, the HC doesn't mention "Cleaved" and "Cracked" anymore..presumably because not everyone views them exactly the same.  However, there IS a rule about separation:

Binding:

• Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book  (My bold)
• If the book tends to open at a particular page, this is OKAY
• Small amount of fraying or denting at top or bottom is OKAY

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So, as Sarah said, it's either postable or it is not..the size of the book doesn't matter.  That said, I have been known to not request my credit back if I was happy enough to get the book.  I figure if I'd have paid a few dollars for it used, should I have found it in that condition, then I'm not asking for my credit back.   I do still mention whatever the problem was to the sender, though, JIC they really did'nt realize.

I would. it is possible to read huge MMPB without cleaving the spine.  Not as easy but is possible if one is careful.

They broke the rules no matter how you look at it.

I probably would not ask for my credit back, especially for a WL book that I wanted. Not so much because it's a WL book, but because I doubt I could read a book of that size in a normal manner (for me) without it happening, and thus its posting would likely end with me anyway. Reading a book of that magnitude "carefully" doesn't really appeal to me...and with my luck, it would slip off my lap any happen anyway - in the last chapter!

The really thick MMPB seem to get their spines cracked by media mail at a very high rate.  One option in sending is to wrap the book in cardboard, such as a cereal box, folded around the spine.