I have a request for a book that meets PBS conditions.  However, the requestor provided the conditions copied below.  I have not idea what "some wear" means and I'm not interested in going back and forth about this book.  When I try to indicate that the book doesn't meet her conditions, it asks me why  and if I am SURE.  No, I'm not sure.  That's the point.   What would you suggest I do ? 

If the pages are wavy chances are it's had water damage even if only mildly. Also if they are ex library books or have some wear I don't mind usually but please tell me before you send them so I can decide if I want them or not.

I am usually pretty accepting of RCs, that one I would turn down.

When I run across one that I'm not sure of, like this one, I simply type "does not meet condition requested" and move on.  I'm there will be another request shortly that doesn't have such a long disclaimer.

I would turn this one down.  The conditions should be stated as such that you don't have to pm back and forth before you decide whether or not to send.  It sounds like the person isn't sure of what they will accept and for what books.  I agree that it's just too much hassle.

I would just turn it down also....too subjective in my opinion.

I agree, I would just say it does not meet requestors condition and move on.

Thanks.  I feel better now.  I just said it does not meet the requestor's conditions.

I just got this one a few weeks ago and also turned it down. The book I had was is great shape, but the condition was to subjective for me. I did explain that I thought the condition was to subjective, that what one considers "some" wear someone else may consider more then "some" wear.

ETA: I very rarely turn down an order because of condition.

I agree with the others. There seems to be the possibilty of a huge "gray area" acceptability. I would also turn that one down. If the RC are really specific, I will generally accept them. That one wasn't.

OK, this is no offense to the member who has these RC's, but perhaps some detailed response might help members understand why their conditions are frequently turned down. Please understand that when I use "you" it is a general "you":

If the pages are wavy chances are it's had water damage even if only mildly.

Not necessarily. Wavy pages that are from water damage are pretty distinct, compared to waves in the pages of newer books that are caused by the binding or thinner paper. I suspect that many newer books might be turned down because of this statement.

Also if they are ex library books or have some wear I don't mind usually but please tell me before you send them so I can decide if I want them or not.

Decide whether you want ex-library or not. Many people just won't bother with the hassle of an extra PM. Either that,or list specifically the books which you will not accept as an ex-library. (Or alter your conditions via case-by-case request or turn them off as suggested below.)

What wear are you willing to accept? Be more specific. This is a used book site. Check the PBS basic condition guidelines and specify more narrow conditions for those items. Be as specific as you can.

If they are for me i'm not very picky as long as they are all there with no missing pages but if i'm getting them for someone else condition may be important depending on who they are for. I will usually accept them (I rarely turn any down) but I would like the option of deciding for myself instead of getting stuck with a book that I can't give as a gift if that's what i'm getting it for to begin with.

The member posting the book has no idea whether the book is for you or a friend. Suggestion: turn off conditions when you make a request for a book that you're happy with basic PBS guidelines. Turn conditions on when you need bettter-than-PBS quality.

This has happened a couple times lately & it's getting old fast.  I understand sometimes these things are not noticable & you may miss something -I have done it myself a few times, but I always offer the chance to get the credit refunded or to send another book off my shelf  if they would prefer that.

This shouldn't even be in the RC's. It has a very negative tone and gives vibes to the reader that the member is highly likely to demand his/her credit back and gives the feeling that this particular transaction would be risky. Negotiation regarding problem books should be handled after-the-fact, not as a part of RC's.

As I stated I rarely turn down books because of the condition but I would like to have the option to if it's being gotten to be given as a gift for someone. So please tell me BEFORE you send it ok?

As stated above, many people just won't bother with the PM, unless it's required by the site (see textbooks and cookbooks). So decide what you want and make the RC's clear. Another suggestion as above: Put a list of the specific books you're looking to find in giftable condition.

I hope that members find these comments helpful for reviewing their own RC's.

In my opinion it would take too many email to determine.. if this was a gift for someone?... what wear and tear was acceptable for that particular book?...etc.  If all it took was one email to say "ex-library book" yes or no, that would be one thing. 

If I really wanted the credit, it would enter in the the PM exchange... if I didn't feel in the mood, I would decline it based on conditions not met.

I think you made the right decision.  I am the kind of person who will go out of my way to make it work, but even I would have declined that one.  Crazy!

Lita, I think that part of the problem is that these RC's have no particular conditions that actually can be met. (Except for the water damage one, but that's part of basic PBS guidelines.) Reading that RC, I would have NO idea whether my book was  even close to what the member was looking for, because the conditions prety much cover both ends of the spectrum.

Those conditions actually sound kinda familiar... I might have traded with them.  I went ahead and accepted the conditions... PMed her about the book... she said yes and the transaction when smoothly.  However, I do believe she should overhaul her conditions. 

This person wants personal service of you telling them exactly what the book looks like so they can hmm and haw and nit pick each book.

I would turn it down. Simply because the acceptability of a book is clearly decribed on the site and I feel IF you participate on someone's site you should accept their rules and not make your own.............with the exceptions of allergies etc. 

We all get books that we wish looked better.........but it's a used book site!! I take what I get and complain when there's water damage or broken spines.

This person seems to want a career as a writer.  Perhaps she should start a blog or something.  That is an awfully wordy RC.

If she can't be bothered to turn her conditions on/off depending on what she needs for this specific book order, then I would turn her down.  I can't be bothered PM'ing to get more details.  Too much agita here for something that should be so simple.

I can see how a lot of people would be put off by that.

And I agree that it's a used book site so expectations should be low.

But I guess I'm just easier going, because I would have no problem pm'ing the person and saying "Hey, the book I have has a slight crease in the bottom front cover and few pages are dogeared, you still want?" or whatever.  If it's just one PM, it's no big deal, and I actually do it every time I get some RC's, because I feel it's better safe than sorry and no skin off my back...

the problem with that RC (or any RC) is that you have to accept to find out who is behind the RC.  I'd rather say I can't send due to RC then mess with that and have someone unhappy and that they deserve a credit back when it meets all of the PBS conditions.

I actually thought that the general concensus was that it isn't appropriate to ask for PMs prior to accepting a book

Well you have to accept - but can't you always cancel?

The problem is, if the person who posts a book cancels, s/he loses first place in FIFO. If I've had a book on my shelf for 4 months, and it's finally ordered, am I going to cancel the order or deal with PM's? Nope. I know I'm first in FIFO, so I figure it won't be long until I get another order, right?

I agree, I'd decline due to requestor conditions...those RC's are way to vague and subjective. and when I declined it I'd say..."due to subjective nature of requestor conditions and having to accept to PM and then risking having to cancel and losing my place in FIFO."

I almost never refuse on basis of conditions unless they don't meet them, and then I might PM if I thought it might just to be safe.  In this case I would definitely turn this one down.  RC's need to be as specfic as possible, I think accepting and sending anything other than a brand new book would just be the start of a huge headache.

You are not required to PM someone about the conditon of the book unless it's a textbook or a cookbook.  I would turn it down also.  This person sounds like they don't know what they want so how are you supposed to know?  I'm not  auto-decline with conditions but I decline any that ask me to PM them first and describe the book to them.  If the book is postable by PBS conditions you don't have to describe it to them. 

Whoa, in the first place it took almost as long to read the conditions as it would to read a book

How are you supposed to know if this is for herself or one she is giving away to someone else?!  I"m with the others, I'd say it didn't meet her conditions either.

I wouldn't blink twice before turning THAT down that request.  Too convoluted.