I requested a hardcover book, which I received today and am psyched to read.  It was well packaged and even came with a dust jacket!  Here is the problem, though...

The dust jacket has gross black sticky stuff on it in the lower right corner, like where the price sticker once was. I tried to take it off but it's not budging.  I know that this shouldn't be a big deal because it didn't even have to come with the dust jacket to be PBS postable (and I usually take them off anyway).  HOWEVER, when I removed the offensive dust jacket, there was a round mark on the bookcover like someone had set a wet glass there.  What should I do?  I don't want to seem whiny about this, but a big part of why I joined PBS after belonging to another online swap site was to get good quality swaps.  Am I being too picky?  Insights appreciated!

p.s. It's a gross rainy day here, perfect for curling up with a book and a cup of tea.  I kind of love days like this.

I'm not into HC books but it seems that if there's a stain on the bookcover that's a no-no.  I'm looking at the overall condition here.  I hope someone with more experience in HC's helps out here.  Or, you could check with your TG or the Live Chat.

Does anyone know if Goo Gone with harm a dust jacket?

Okay this is from the Help Docs:

Overall Condition:

• No damage at all from water or other liquid
• Not soiled
• No stains (exception for cookbooks--see below)
• No mold
• no highlighting, underlining or writing on text pages (exception for textbooks --see below)

Dust Jacket:

• The DUST JACKET (this is not the same as the cover of a book) does not have to be included with a book at all, unless the requestor had this in their Requestor Conditions. 
• So DUST JACKET condition cannot be considered as part of the condition of a book, unless there were Requestor Conditions on the request specifying that the dust jacket be included.
• If the Dust Jacket was to be included as specified in the Requestor Conditions on the request, the Dust Jacket must meet the same conditions as defined for the cover, below.

Cover:

• Must both be present (front and back)
  • note that a paperback missing its front cover is  usually an illegal, unsold copy
  • "cover" does not = dust jacket.  Hardcovers do not need to include their dust jackets to be swapped here.
• Cover not water damaged (there may be no water damage to any part of the book)
• Cover not torn or chewed/gnawed
  • some used book stores cut out a small part of the cover; if the amount missing is less than 1 square inch, this is OKAY
  • a small rip (less than 1 inch) in the cover is OKAY
  • yes, that does say "chewed/gnawed" above.  That means no pet-chewed (or human-chewed) books.
• A bookplate inside the cover or on the flyleaf is OKAY

I would think that a round mark on the book's front cover would qualify as a stain, and if it's from moisture then it would count as water damage.  If you decide to mark it received with a problem, it's a good idea to thank the member for the book, fast shipping, good packaging, etc., then state that due water damage/staining you are requesting a credit refund.  I'm just basing this advice on what you've told us.  If you could post a picture, that would help us to know exactly what you are seeing on your book. 

Welcome to PBS!  It's a fun & harmless addiction.  ;)

I've used Goo Gone on some really tough sticker residue.  You just have to be careful not to saturate the paper or rub too hard.  I'd try an alcohol swab first.

Goo Gone would get the yucky black off the dust jacket.  The stain would make it an RWAP and you should ask for a credit return because you shouldn't repost the book.

There are things you can do with it.  Keep it, offer it in the Book Bazaar as an unpostable free with something from your shelf.

Welcome, you're gonna love it here. 

Sounds like you got an unpostable book. That's bad luck, for the first book you receive to be damaged :( Don't let it discourage you; I've received over 300 books and all but a handful of them have been in good condition.  You should mark the book as "Received With a Problem" (unless you've already marked it received), and explain about the damage you found; you can also ask the person to refund your credit. Because of the damage, you can't send it to anybody else, unless you offer it as an unpostable.

you can also recoup your credit possibly by offering it in the Book Bazaar explaining the problem and still ask a credit for it.

I contacted the sender, and she very graciously offered to refund my credit.  I was initially planning to repost it in the book bazaar, but a friend came over today and asked to borrow it once I'm done with it, so I'm going to take it out of circulation.  Maybe I'll make it a BookCrosser.  Thank you guys for your help!

Welcome to PBS!   I like your positive attitude and no you were not being picky about the book at all.   Hopefully the next book you receive will make up for it, most of the books I've received have been great.   

What Geri said