I sent out a book which had had some pencil markings (child scribbling, not mine - received it that way myself) in the front and back covers.  I took the time to erase every bit of it myself and checked all the text pages and found no other markings.  now the recipient says it's unpostable b/c of scribbling and wants her credit back.  I'm willing to give the credit but would like the book back.  I'm willing to credit for the postage obviously, but is it OK for me to credit just one now, with the caveat that I will credit the other when the book comes to me?  I'm not saying it like I'll only return the credit if I agree with the damage; I just want to make sure she really mails it out.  Is that OK?  or do I just refund her credit plus advance one for postage and I might end up out 2 credits and still get no book back?

Karen T

or do I just refund her credit plus advance one for postage and I might end up out 2 credits and still get no book back?

Yes, that's how it works. She doesn't need to return it unless you provide the credit for postage.

Hi Karen,

I actually think the book you describe is postable if the only thing is the scribbling you erased on the covers. So I would probably write a nice polite note citing the appropriate sections of the "Help Docs" regarding posting guidelines (see below) and not even return the credit.

I don't think most people would agree to mail you back the book without getting 2 credits to their account (one returned, one to cover postage) first. In their eyes you did something wrong, not them, so they would be unwilling to take the risk of being out the postage in mailing the book back to you. But you can ask if that's okay. There isn't a hard and fast rule about it.

I personally won't ask for books back if the other person RWAPs them. In my opinion, it was a book I was willing to part with, and it's almost like using good money to chase bad money. That's just me though.

Good luck.

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

No writing or highlighting or underlining on text pages

• a signature or note on the flyleaf or inside front or back cover is OKAY
• an author's signature on the title page is OKAY

In my opinion if there wasn't any writing on "Text" pages then the book was postable as noted above in the quoted Help Section information.  If there wasn't any writing on text pages I wouldn't refund the credit.

Why would you want the book back?  If you repost someone else might feel the same way about it and you'd be in the same situation. Some of condition is subjective.  After explaining that it was postable when it left you and she still complains  I'd just give the credit and move on.

I agree--it does sound like the book was postable.

But, I don't think I'd want the book back again either. You'll be out an additional credit to cover the postage back.  Then, if you do decide to post the book again all you would get for it is another credit--making it a wash.  But as others have said, if you do want the book back, according to the site rules you need to send the extra credit in advance.

Like others said, since there is no writing on text pages I would not refund the credit.

S/he needs an RC if they want the inside covers and non-text pages to be free of writing. I've received many books with names or dates written on the inside covers and even on the page that lists the blurbs from reviewers. It's not against the rules and should not be marked RWAP unless there is a RC saying those things aren't acceptable to that particular sender.

I guess the reason I want the book back is that I really believe it's postable, and if she keeps it, she's not only getting the book for free, then she's getting another credit for it.  She says there is more scribbling inside but I went through it and did not see it, so if there is, it's a stray pencil mark on some page somewhere. 

Whatever I decide to do, is there a way I can fix my settings so that I no longer trade with this person?  I figure if we are using the same school program there is a good chance more of my books will appeal to her.  Maybe I can just keep a note to myself on my computer.

I've given credit back before for a book I sent out that the person found some highlighting in - it was a book used by my son, bought used, and I never bothered to check through it b/c I knew he hadn't done any highlighting but it must have had some previously.  so it's not like I'm normally unreasonable about it. 

karen

Because PBS primarily works on FIFO there is no way to block someone.  The only thing you can do is write down the name and check each book order then cancel if it's them.

Seems to me that a lot of people will put their name inside a cover of a book, especially if they loan it out.  I've gotten or seen lots of used books with initials and/or date read written inside the front cover.  So it makes sense that this DOES NOT make a book unpostable here on PBS!

yeah, the rules state that writing inside a cover is acceptable.  So even had i not erased the original scribbling it would have tecnically been OK I think but I was afraid someone would question it on that basis.  That's why I took the time to do all the erasing and then went through the book page by page.  But the recipient of the book says there is still more scribbling elsewhere in the book.  I gave her her credit back, plus one for postage, b/c I want to see it for myself and if I missed something I'll erase it (like she could have done with a 40 cent eraser herself!) and repost it.

Karen

The question about when you send the credit to cover postage is a good one - I know you are supposed to send it in advance, but I recently lost out on a credit (and a book!) that way.  Now I originally sent the wrong book to the request (a different book by the same author) so it was completely my fault - when I got a PM about the mistake, I immediately PM'd with apologies and sent the correct book first class.  I offered to let her keep the wrong book but she said she already had it, so I sent her a credit to mail it back to me.  That was over 5 months ago, and I still haven't received the book - we have exchanged PMs and she said she had forgotten but would send it "right away" but that was 3 months ago and now she hasn't responded to my PMs.  I suppose it's possible that the book went lost, but still strange.  Not much I can do and I know it was my silly mistake that caused the trouble, but still a bummer.

A middle ground would be to have the book returned with DC with counter postage.  The DC will be noted 'acceptance' and you could then transfer the credit to cover postage...but again, there's the issue of trust.

Christine - you definitely need to send in Feedback about that member. That is not acceptable behavior. The receiver is not required to return the book, but once she agreed to and you gave her that credit she became obligated. The site does not tolerate ignoring PMs about resolving an issue either. Send in Feedback and copy in the PM exchange showing she agreed and then failed to follow through. At a minimum they will contact her and tell her she HAS to resolve this. Depending on the exact details of the situation and how the member handles it, they may take that credit back away from her.

Karen - if you went through the book page by page and knew there was no markings on the text pages, you should have kept the credit. If there was markings in the book - no she doesn't need to buy an eraser and erase them, it wasn't postable. I would recommend NOT trying to erase more and resend the book since that obviously did not go well the first time and do you really want to spend postage to and from you over and over again to get that credit? You'll waste 5 to send one book that appears like it is not being received well. Sometimes even though books are technically postable, they are in a condition that should just be retired or offered in the Bazaar so the receiver knows what they will be getting.

Well, I figured if someone else requests it I will PM them first and explain it before sending.  Most people choosing this book would be using it for something like we did - school reading for a 2nd-3rd grader and then done with it in a month so I don't understand why it would be a big deal.  The other thing is we have a local used bookstore that will buy ANYTHING, and I'll then have credit there.  that might just be the best option.  But I'm getting it back b/c I really want to see what is so terrible about this book, when I don't recall seeing any marks left in it.  But maybe I missed something.

karen

Don't you think they might mark the book up before sending it back so there really is "proof" that you missed something? That was my first thought. If they were really just trying to get their credit back for a book they figured they could deem unpostable because it had pencil marks, even in a place not considered against the rules, I would think they'd make it unpostable before sending it back.

Yes, I guess there is always that possibility.  Oh well, I have plenty of credits for the moment and we'll see what happens.  She wasn't nasty in her emails or anything so hopefully it will come back as I sent it.

Karen