<rant>

I received a book yesterday that I marked RWP.  It had yellow highlighing on one page.  I don't know if I will keep it or not, but I certainly can't repost it.  This is the second time I've received a "barely" unpostable book, and both times I marked them RWP and thanked the sender for an otherwise wonderful (and useful -- for us) book and/or wrapping job.  I'm convinced they were honest mistakes and did not ask for my credit back.  (I did ask for my credit back on one that was heavily marked up -- just in case anyone's keeping track.  <g>) 

Apparently I offended the sender anyway, despite my best intentions, and got a PM back telling me that this is the first RWP they've had.  I'm really sorry about that, but I'm thinking that if it's the first time that's happened, then it's not like their account will be cancelled because of it. 

"I consider your RWP mark a loss."

However, he went on to "educate" me, noting that I am new (he's been here two months longer than I have), about The Way Things Are Here. 

"Most books traded on this site are zero sum items (by which I mean they have essentially no market value). The "Book Sent" published by "Publisher" carries a market value; enough that I hesitated sending it."

Is he saying he sent me a valuable book?  I don't really know.  It's a paperback with a $7.55 sticker on it, which I know doesn't tell the whole story, but if it *is* that valuable, why post it?  I've sent out some $50.00 books -- but they are of no use to me any more.  And while I admit I had some second thoughts about practically giving them away, surely someone else will have more fun dusting them?

I have to heartily disagree that most books traded here have no value.  I have requested several "keepers" to finish up a collection or two, and just in the past two days have received some beautiful books -- they look like they are almost new -- and I appreciate them very much. While I could probably only get $5.00 for them at a UBS, they have tremendous value to me. 

I noticed you have been a member for a month or so; so I would like to share my experience with a slightly longer stretch. I have recieved beautiful copies of some fantastic books. I have recieved horrible, pulpy, worn, smelly(stale smoke) books that I have to quarantine for fear of silverfish, mildew etc. I have never marked a book as "recieved but with a problem" : nor have I ever had someone recieve a book and mark it as such. I figure you win some you lose some.

Personally, I wish this person *would* mark them so, if it is warranted.  I don't think he's doing himself or anyone else any favors. 

So I wrote back and told him once again that I considered it an honest mistake and was sorry he was offended, and added why I *do* mark them RWP -- not only because people shouldn't be sending out moldy books, but also to remind *me* down the line -- like next week -- that the book is unpostable! 

</rant>

Kris,

I had an experience similar to yours.  I guess no one likes receiving a "demerit", but you did the right thing.  The funny thing is that from what you repeated he doesn't tell you that he didn't know it was unpostable and posted it anyway, he just figured that since he's gotten bad books so should you. 

That's why we need to mark RWAP

Just because he chooses not to report unacceptable books, is no reason for him to expect that others will follow suit.  The rules for posting are very clear and if a book that is not a text book has highlighting, it's not postable, period.  If he's not reporting bad book as RWP, then all he's doing is perpetuating the problem.  Let him be offended, he's in the wrong.

You did the right thing!  I wouldn't even worry about it, although I can certainly understand your frustration.  I would be so tempted to PM him back with a piece of my mind, but it's best just to let it go.

The funny thing is that from what you repeated he doesn't tell you that he didn't know it was unpostable and posted it anyway, he just figured that since he's gotten bad books so should you.

Hi, Karen --

I'm sorry I didn't include that tidbit in my "rant" -- he did mention that he hadn't noticed the highlighting.  I didn't post the entire message -- just the "ranting" parts.  :-)   I was trying to be succinct, but didn't manage that very well, did I? 

I really didn't mean to leave the impression that he had intentionally posted a bad book.  He says he didn't notice it, and I believe him. 

I'm sorry if I gave the wrong impression on that. 

I would direct him to the help center. Or if I were in a particluarly snarky mood Id quote it directly to him verbatum countering EVERYTHING he said. Thats just me though.

I think you did the right thing, I wish more peeps would mark rwp when they get books that way, can nip it in the bud!

Seems that a lot of people are as misinformed as this guy, and that's why it's important to mark problem books as RWP.  He needs an introduction to the Help Center.  "Zero sum items"??  Ummmmm, that's interesting- because if used books in postable condition had no market value, as he claimed, then there would not be as many used book stores in business as there are.  Sounds to me like he is trying to justify a poor swap.  Several things he said really rubs me the wrong way- such as "you win some you lose some"- well, that may be true, but if everyone followed the posting rules as they should, none of us would have to lose any.  Maybe it was a mistake, anyone can make one, and those are forgivable.  What's not is trying to justify sending a bad book after the fact rather than apologizing for it.  Don't let him make you feel guilty for giving him a "bad mark".  If he's that concerned about not receiving any more bad marks, there's an easy way to remedy that- he shouldn't send out any more bad books!

the only way that book was valuable is if it is an OOP book and hard to find.  I know there are some OOP books that I look for on half.com and the like and they are listed for outrageous sums.  sums I would never pay and would be very surprised if someone paid that for a used paperback book.  perhaps that is what he meant?

but if he isn't marking books RWP then he is contributing to those that continue to do send out books that aren't postable.  I wouldn't have minded a book with highlighting on one page if I knew it ahead of time and it was a book I couldn't get anywhere else.  But I would also know it is not postable and to offer it as a freebie.

hopefully he was just in a bad mood and is happier today!

When you receive a book with a problem, you should mark it RWAP.  You're following the rules.  If that upsets him, it's his problem not yours.

If you accepted the book as-is, wouldn't that negate the "zero-sum"?  I mean, now he has the value of the credit minus the cost of postage.  What a very strange response.

I agree with everyone else -- if I get a book that I can't in good conscience send to someone else, it should be marked RWP and taken out of the normal pool. Off to the Bazaar with it!

Hi, Julie --

That, coupled with the fact that he hadn't been here much longer than me, sent my irony meter into destruct-o mode. 

Just because someone else thinks it is okay to get books violating the rules doesn't mean I do. What is this world coming to? The rules are for everyone except them. What happened to common sense in this world?

The funny thing is that in another two months, this is going to be the guy that comes to the forums and does a massive hairflip about leaving PBS because he keeps getting crap books.

We all get random crap books.  Someone has to be the last reader of a book.  Someone has to weed out the moldy, water stained books.  It's not a good thing, but it happens.  But the people who follow the rules and mark these books RWP are the ones who can let things go, move on and live with fewer stress induced medical issues. 

Honestly, this guy sound like he is related to the guy who accused me of never sending the book when he PMed me on a Sunday, 8 days after I mailed the book.  The book ended up "going lost", but all of the other 8 books that I mailed that day were received on Monday and Tuesday.  The "lost" book arrived the day after it went "lost".  The funny thing (aside from the 8 day rant and calling me out on a nonmail day) was that the guy had only been around for two months and he only got the book because I was doing my 1 year clean out.  He felt that his 2 months of PBS was much more informed than my 12.  I was ticked at the time, but now I just roll my eyes and share my story about lunitic PBSers.  :)

Kerry

I think that people that send bad books, and know it,  tend to attack you back when asking for a credit return. The few that I've gotten that were not up to PBS standards have so far all had the same reactions, except for one nice lady who appologised and just gave me my credit back. The other's, when they did respond, come on as defensive and offended, in spite of the fact that the defects were so obvious they shouldn't have been missed if the person had actually looked at the book while packing it. I've only gotten a couple that weren't obvious, and could have easily slipped by. The rest had to be sent deliberatly in poor shape.

I think people do that in the hopes that you'll feel bad for complaining and won't insist on the credit back. After all, it's never their fault, so you must be wrong and have too high a standard for free books! (And they were hoping they wouldn't get caught.)

If they can keep people from complaining, then they could save a credit and if you get them again you won't complain and they can stay in business longer, sending out sub-PBS books.

Hi, Cindy --

I tend to agree with you, but in this case (and in the one other where the highlighting was so minimal it could have easily been missed) I did *not* ask for my credit back!  In both of these cases, the books were just fine for our purposes, so I really didn't feel I was "out" the credit and wouldn't feel right about asking it to be returned (and the first person just didn't respond at all).  So I was pretty surprised at the lecture I received.  There was no point in it.  He didn't need to justify anything -- I gave him the benefit of the doubt and thought I made that clear. 

I have only received one book, so far, that was so badly marked up, we really couldn't use it.  I did ask for my credit back on that one, and the sender was wonderful about the whole thing, and even gave me an extra credit, which I thought was a mistake.  She said no, she thought that was the right thing to do.  That's pretty impressive.