Hey folks.

Hi just received a wet book and that's how it look like. :-/

Do I mark damaged by USPS or by the sender. Obviously the USPS didn't wrap the book and that poor little piece of paper that's been around the book didn't protect it from the rain.

Any recommendations how to handle this ?

I would mark it "Damaged by USPS."   

I would agree with Marsha.  Waterproof wrapping is not required (although it probably should be).  So, for all intents and purposes, the sender wrapped it properly.  USPS is then responsible for keeping it dry IMO.

I recently got one like that, but the post office stuffed it in a baggie with a note saying they were sorry.  The whole thing had black mold growing all over it such that I could barely see the return address so I could give the sender credit, LOL. 

EEWWWWW!!!! The first time I received a book in a damaged bag,  I thought that it was nice that the post office would put a plastic bag around my package.  Then I saw the rip in the side.

I got one covered in red wine, plastic wrap and a "so sorry" letter from the USPO.  Not the senders fault. I've received a couple books where the wrapper was half off but luckily theh books were OK. I did PM the person and let them know so they cold tape them up better in the future.  I think it was a postal issue on my end as I received 5  packages all beat up from various states and on 2 different days.  Somebody was having issues at a postal center somewhere near me. 

I guess I've been very lucky because I've had no problems with books damaged while they've been on the way to me. I have received some that the wrapping was pretty battered, but no damage to the books inside. IMO books that come in any type of envelope, the wrapping seems to take more of a beating. Books that I mail out are first wrapped in a baggie and then taped well before I wrap them to avoid any water damage.

I got one of these a few days ago.  Yes, I realize that if the sender had wrapped it in plastic it probably would have been OK, but since it wasn't her fault that the USPS buried it in snow (which is how mine appeared, LOL) I marked it as damaged by the USPS.  I took pictures tho, and plan to post it under a thread as the poster child of why it is a good idea to wrap PBS books in plastic first, LOL.  I mean, really - it is amazing sometimes to see what happens to our mail in the hands of the USPS!

ETA:  LOL - I already answered this before it came around again!

If my electricity bill is dropped in a puddle and I can't read it - I wouldn't blame the electricity company!  Nor would I tell the electric company that they should use water proof envelopes.      LOL   The ONLY damaged books I've gotten was the ONE spring storm we had and the books looked as if the mail carrier had thrown them in the gutter.         ONE rain storm in 6 months and they couldn't keep my books dry!!  Sheesh!

BTW - personally I think wrapping in plastic SHOULD be a requirement!   All my books are either wrapped in plastic or are in buddle envelopes.

This makes me wonder... If a book is marked RWAP and then DBUSPS, does the sender get a RWAP red X on the transaction? If not, I think it would be wise to send a polite PM to the sender, informing him/her of what happened and suggesting a layer of plastic wrap in the future. (Stress that PBS doesn't require it, but that it's just a good idea to do so.)

I used to work near a USPS mail delievery center, and I have seen crates of mail just sitting on the platform waiting for the truck to arrive and be filled up. So a sudden rain shower would have ruined that mail quite easily. And if they do it then I know alot more would do it as well.

Since I have read alot of people saying about bad weather and hurt books I always make sure to wrap them in plastic (yes I am the strange one using trash bags tightly taped around the book) trash bags. They seem to be doing the job well and fit all size books. I dont use the padded envelopes or bubble mailers as I see alots of issues with that method of packing (if not done tightly). Those stupid padded envelopes also make so much mess. And sadly I see those things every work day and thank god that I do not have to open them.

Please if you use those bubble mailers please make sure the book isnt sliding around inside, because if it is then the padding is useless as they normally tear open from the sorting machines. Better off getting bubble wrap and then wrapping the paper wrapper around that.

Remember plastic is useless when worn.