RWAP virgin no longer. This upset me no end, though I know everyone goes through it at one point or another. Said there was water damage, I didn't see it myself otherwise I would never have picked it up at the library sale (HC). At first I thought the USPS had damaged the book but that wasn't the problem. Stuff like this really bothers me because I'm OC about things like this. I won't ever post used stuff again. I'm so upset I'm shaking. I used to sell books at half.com and had a 100% satisfaction rating so this situation bothers me even more.

Try not to let it get to you.  There's every chance the book is perfectly fine.  I had a RWAP a few weeks ago and requested the book back and offered to refund their postage and credit.  Reply?  "Um, no thanks.  I'll just deal with it."  yeah, right.

Thanks, Sherri. I know the 'quality' of a book is very subjective and what one person sees I might not see in the same way. I requested a Deborah Smith HC and was tempted to mark it as a RWAP but I was so thrilled to get a hardcover copy of this particular book I didn't  make any negative comments. When you open the cover it's cracked but the pages are all tight and intact so I was happy enough. If one is trying to repost the book to keep it moving it should be in the best shape possible  to begin with, but I definitely had tagged the book as exlib w/markings, etc., but I didn't see watermarks. It was a HC of a WL book but not an author I read so I refunded the credit but didn't want the book back. I posted some WL books Friday evening and one person had restrictions listed so I declined though I know the book didn't fall into her restrictions; I just didn't want another RWAP for something she might be picky about.  It was Friday the 13th after all......

I got a WL book yesterday with slight water damage to the edges of a few pages. I was tempted to PM the sender, but decided not to, as it doesn't really what bother me. I think sometimes the flaws are hard to spot without careful inspection. I would not send this book out for a credit.

Anne

I know how you feel. The only book I sent that got marked RWAP was a major upset for me too, and I could swear when I sent it, it was fine, but I returned the credit.  Since then I've received a few books with water damage, all in deals so I just kept my mouth shut. But recently I received a WL book with definite water damage - very slight, but not postable and I marked it RWAP. Needless to say, the sender wasn't happy and said I was wrong, especially since it is a new book and she was the first reader. Sorry - the book was wrapped in plastic, there was no water damage to the wrapper, but there are about 15 or more pages with obvious water damage - very slight, maybe someone with wet hands held the book at that spot, but it's still there and not postable per PBS guidelines. I'm basically out a credit for a WL book that is not postable, so I'll be offering it as unpostable with something else from my shelf. I marked the issue unresolved.

I let that one I sent bother me for a few days, but now I'm over it - it happens. Since PBS doesn't allow any water damage at all, no matter how slight, it is possible that you didn't even notice it. It may be readable and still not be postable. Try and let it go - in the overall scheme of things, no one died, so it's ok, really.

I lost my RWAP virginity recently as well. But it was a mistake that was corrected.  It really upset me though. She wanted an audio but ordered a hardback and then complained because I sent-suprise a hardback.  She was convinced it was a PBS mistake. I  said I don't know what happened but you only paid 1 credit and the listing says hardback.  I didn't give her a credit back and she finally corrected the RWP.

I send out a lot of used books that I haven't read either.  I know one of these days I'm goign to miss something and have to refund a credit.  I just hope that day doesn't come.  I mean I check them out thouroughly and don't send out anything borderline. But you never know-I might miss a stain on a page or something.  I wouldn't worry about it-the fact that you refunded the credit and were polite about will counteract the red mark.

Gail, don't let it bother you.  It could be you missed the problem--we all can do that, especially if it's a book we haven't read before sending it out.  Or, it could be the receiver is lying and hoping to recover the credit.

I don't think it's worth arguing much about or getting upset about.  Unless I'd bought the book new and was certain I hadn't damaged it before sending it out, I'd refund the credit and move on.  In a case like Mary's, I'd stand my ground though and not refund.

Thanks for all the support everyone. I feel better about it today. About 95% of what's on my bookshelf is new, some never read, so I'd have definitely questioned the RWAP but this book was from the library sale cart at the library, and though I fanned the book everything looked fine. All a matter of perception I suppose, so since it was a used book I didn't want to wrangle about it.

I mailed out 4 WL books today and replaced 2 of them with my own pristine copies so there'd be no (or hopefully no) problems unless the USPS brutalizes them.  I did recieve another message from the requestor thanking me for resolving the problem so quickly and amicably which maybe leads me to believe she's been through RWAPs before and didn't come through them so easily. Most of my requests are books I want to keep as opposed to books I'm likely to repost so while I want the books to be in good shape, if they aren't postable it doesn't necessarily bother me. I can share them at work or donate somewhere, or put into the recycling. Thanks again, ladies.

Forgot a PS - it's good to be back! It's been a long day without PBS.

Gail - I get ex-library books all the time, and post them here.  I usually fan them a couple of times at the library, and bring them home, and fan them again when I post them.  I again fan them before I send them out.  There have been a couple of times that I've missed a problem.  I usually ask that the book be sent back to me (I do have enough credits to do that).  In that way, I can actually see what I missed and try to learn from that. 

I still get upset when there's a problem with a book I sent, but I know I'm not perfect and that things will slip through.  Take care and don't stop posting used books because of it.  Pat

I marked one book RWAP and the person was pretty distraught about it.  I felt horrible.  She honestly didn't seem to know.  So, I didn't ask for a credit back, but I decided in the future I would PM the person first to discuss the situation before I mark it RWAP. 

I only had one RWAP so far and I hated it. The book had brown stains all over it and I was accused of just wanting my credit back since the book was highly wishlisted. She did give me my credit back but i hated the whole experience since I was made out to be the bad guy.

Some people just can't admit they made a mistake.  It's sad, but true.  Or even that they might have inadvertantly made a mistake.  I never assume someone sent me something unpostable on purpose.  But their response is often telling.  

I think pming people before marking RWAP is a mistake IMHO.  You're going to get in a lot of uncomfortable positions.  I don't always ask for the credit back (esp. if it's a new poster) but the sad fact is that getting RWAPs is often the only way to get some posters to stop and pay attention to the guidelines.  I'm not saying they are bad people trying to screw someone, just that they don't necessarily put out the effort to take the time to check the books like required.   I try to keep communications about problems pleasant, factual, and businesslike.  I always take photos of the damage on my phone and offer to forward them to the sender. 

The way I see it, you  don't really have a choice about marking RWAP or not.  If there was a problem, and you check that there wasn't, now you're the one who fibbed.  If the sender resolves the problem then ultimately it's not going to be a big deal to PBS. 

Yes, some people are unpleasant when they respond.  (And wouldn't you just know they never, ever ask to see  those photos!) I just remain business like and firm and let their insinuations about my character roll of my back.  I think some people just can't admit they might have made a mistake so their defensivenss causes them to lash out.