I just received a book that has a tear slightly longer than 1 inch on the front cover.  Underneath that, the first page is torn as well.  [They were apparently torn together.] Although the page tear is much smaller.

I've been waffling between RWAP request credit, RWAP no credit, just marking received- letting the member know the book was slightly on the unpostable side of postability... I'm particularly grouchy atm due to the air conditions in my apartment and the fact that I just found out that despite taking my credit card bill out of my hand and saying he'll pay it, DH did not. 

Tough one. I'd probably chicken out.

I agree -- tough.  Was this book going to be a keeper for you, or were you hoping to repost it?  If you were going to keep it, then I'd probably just let the sender know that it was on the border of postability.  If you hadn't planned to add it to your library, I'd ask for your credit back because there's a non-zero chance that the next person you send it to will RWAP it.

... I'd ask for your credit back because there's a non-zero chance that the next person you send it to will RWAP it. - I hope there is a zero chance that you'd send it to the next person since it isn't postable. The odds that you will get nailed for it should not be the determining factor on whether to send an unpostable book.

On those really close to the border ones, if I planned on keeping it, I tell them that is was not postable because of X damage, but since it was minimal and I wasn't going to swap it that I didn't mark it RWP, but they should be very careful to double check their books against the guidelines in the future because if someone asked for the credit back on this book, they would be required to give it back since it does not meet the requirements to be posted on PBS.

I'd mark it RWAP.  The once inch tear allowance isn't subjective, so it's likely the sender is expecting this to come up.  No guarantee you'll get your credit back though.

how much longer is slightly longer?

I don't know if people get out their rulers before they send out books... does it look like an inch or does it look like definitely unmistakably more than an inch?

I'd mark it RWAP but not ask for my credit back.    I would enjoy reading the book, take another look at it and if I thought it meet the PBS guidelines I'd post it - if not I'd give it to someone who'd enjoy it.

I was planning on reposting it - there's very few books that I intend to keep.  I just typically read and repost.

The cover tear is nearly an eighth of an inch longer than an inch.  It's hard to tell b/c it is not directly linear.  I have trouble eyeballing distance, so I rely on pulling out a measure.  [I used to measure an inch by the length of my pinky when I was young... not realizing that my pinky got longer....]  I just actually measured the tear on the inside page and that's closer to an inch, but again, hard to tell b/c it's not a direct line.

I was not intending to repost it like this.  I'll prob offer it as an unpostable and tape the freaking tear down.  I can't believe no one bothered.

Coz said: "I'd mark it RWAP but not ask for my credit back.    I would enjoy reading the book, take another look at it and if I thought it meet the PBS guidelines I'd post it - if not I'd give it to someone who'd enjoy it."

You'd consider re-posting the exact same book you marked RWAP? I found your post quite a contradiction.

I would mark it RWAP since you planned on reposting the book and it is your decision to request the credit returned.  It is a personal preference.  Someone made the point that if you don't ask for the credit back and it happens several times and not once - you start losing money because you can't post and receive the credit in return.   So it really is your decision how you feel about the whole circumstance.   Follow your gut and original thought which is generally the same.  Good Luck

The cover tear is nearly an eighth of an inch longer than an inch.

So, its less than an eighth of an inch longer, and you can't tell without a ruler?

IMO, I would just mark it received. I imagine the sender thought it fell within the rules, else they probably wouldn't have sent it. Just my opinion.

You are right John.   I don't know WHY I said that because I wouldn't.    I hope what I meant was I wouldn't mark it with RWAP and then would take the following action.       I'm not much into measuring something that small.   But would before I reposted it.

Coz --

Thanks for the clarification. I'd probably chalk the book up as "guess I'm the end of the line" and not repost it, rather than dealing with someone unhappy over the "gray area" damage, who wanted to push it.