I just received a PM that a book I mailed was damaged by the USPS.  I wrapped the book very carefully in a Tyvek envelope and covered all of the seams with tape.  It was taped very securely and it was packaged exactly as I have packaged all my books in the past (almost 400 books).  The requestor said that the front and back cover was torn.  I'm really sorry that the book was damaged, but I don't feel like I'm at fault.  Do I have to refund the credit?

I will refund the credit if necessary, but out of almost 400 books I have sent out, I have a clean record and don't want a black mark on my account because of this.

Any thoughts?

From deep in the help files:

If your book was marked as "Damaged by USPS"

• This means the book was damaged en route by USPS.
  • USPS has a superb record of delivering packages intact, but accidents do happen. If the package was wrapped properly and this was just bad luck, then you do not need to refund the credit.
  • If the method with which the book was wrapped could have contributed to its damage en route, you should read here for guidance in wrapping a book. The main points are: use plenty of tape (2-inch shipping tape, not Scotch), especially to reinforce corners and seams, and make sure that your shipment is completely enclosed within the packaging (there should be no portion of the book(s) inside exposed).
  • If your book was damaged en route due to poor packaging, you should refund the credit.

Tyvek isn't USPS proof.  But it's close.  Just be sure all loose peices of the Tyvek are taped up so they don't get caught by machinery.  I also wrap the books in plastic of some kind just in case the outer wrapping gets damaged.  I've had books come through only because of the plastic wrapping used. 

Ruth

You know I had recieved two books wrapped together very good but the post office had destroyed one of them and no it was not the senders fault and I told her that but she was kind enough to give me a credit back.

She didn't have to and I'm not saying you have to that is up to you but I am saying that some times no matter how good we wrap them accidents can happen.

Is the person demanding a credit back? I never asked for one because I knew it wasn't the senders fault and I don't believe it is your fault so with that being said you do what you feel is right.

there is no need to offer the credit.  the book was damaged by the po not you...as evidenced by your track record.  there also will be not be a  'black mark' as it was not damage by your wrapping methods, it was damaged by the p.o.

did they happen to say how badly the packaging was damaged?

I have gotten a lot of books in Tyvek packages where the package had obviously gotten caught in a machine and tore.  I've never had a ruined book from it but I feel lucky about that.  Tyvek seems to get punchered easitly and then that hole catches in a machine.  That's my experience at least.

IMO - if the book was damaged by the post office, you should not refund the credit. 

If you do, it is a gesture of goodwill, and nice. 

I have had a book damaged by the P.O. and marked it RWP by the post office.  I never even contacted the sender, because I did not feel it was their fault.  I checked the appropriate box, and got a nice email from the site saying  (in the nicest possible way), too bad/so sad.

Unfortunately, my book was so water damaged, it was unreadable.  =(

If the book you send is damaged by the P.O. is the sender notified?

I should have added that no matter how it's wrapped,  if it's damaged by the PO you don't owe her a credit. 

Update:  She PM'd me back and said the packaging was shredded and she couldn't imagine it being my fault.