Some requests are just outrageous, sometimes I just as soon pass. 

It's a free book, for crying out loud.  Wonder if the books they list are all perfect. 

...  BOOK MUST BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WITH NO TORN PAGES AND NO WRITING - NOT EVEN A NAME INSIDE.

Well, I don't know--that doesn't sound so outrageous to me.  If they want to give something as as gift, they don't want someone else's name in it.  (You don't know if this RC is for everything they requested, or just this book.)

And the books are not free--you have to swap a book and postage costs for it.

That is the beauty of the Requestor's Conditions...they have the right to request anything they want and you have the right to turn down that request. Just say "no thanks" and move on.

But none of the books are really free other than the free two ones you get when you join. Each book represents an approx. $2.41 investment to earn the credit to request the "free" books and that is why PBS has posting guidelines and people have RCs.

To meet the site guidelines, books are not allowed to have torn pages or writing anyway.

To meet the site guidelines, books are not allowed to have torn pages or writing anyway.

Not writing on text pages, but books with a dedication or name on the flyleaf are postable.  I just had to turn down an RC like that, on a pretty much brand new book signed by the author.  It didn't meet the "no writing anywhere" RC.

RC's are allowed on this site, with NO restrictions.  To save yourself headaches and stress, read the RC and send if your book fits OR don't send if it doesn't.  If you are not sure? Don't send.  No book is worth stress.

BTW - books are not free.  They cost a credit and a credit cost money.

I tend to pass those RCs up, even if the book is in "like new" shape because I'm worried it won't be good enough for them.

A credit actually costs about $2.41-$3.50 because that's the cost of postage.  Not really free. 

I tend to pass on the "excellent" condition requests, even if my book is in like new condition.

My thought is that ideally everyone would like an excellent condition book, but, why should some members selectively receive only these books, while others receive anything in postable condition. Also, if more & more members impose these "fussier" condtions, members without any conditions will then receive less "excellent" condition books. My thoughts are you should take your chances at what end of the postable spectrum your received book will fall.

That said, i don;t make a big deal about it, I just mark "cannot send", and for a reason I will type in "not accepted due to requestor conditions". Note I do not say whther my book does or does not meet their RC.

But, if the RC takes the time to mention the book name, and that is requested in this condition for a particular reason, then, I may reconsider.

Overall, RC's are not a big deal to me, it's either yes or no, and move on. Chances are if you do decline, you are now at the top of the FIFO queue anyway.

I have accepted books in a very sad shape,I figured the sender is spending money on the mailing, plus I am so desperate for any books offered to my moribund WL  that I do not complain.

I have accepted books in a very sad shape

Hopefully, if they are in such a very sad shape that they do not meet the posting guidelines, you are marking them RWAP? Accepting books that do not meet the guidelines is not doing anyone any favours -- it only encourages the offending members to send books that continue to go against the guidelines.

I have run into this myself, probably the second request I got on this site the RCs was practically a novel.  I'm not even kidding, it was at least 4 paragraphs with bullet points, highlighting, and bolding.  I honestly was scared to death to send my book even though it was practically brand new and was only read once before I sent it.  Ultimately the receiver was happy and it was ok, but really do we have to have RCs that are longer than the book I'm sending lol.  I try to keep mine short and to the point, nothing from a smoking environment...I'm allergic.  That's all and I have not had a single problem with receiving a book that didn't been PBS standards. 

My thought is that ideally everyone would like an excellent condition book

Nope. For 99% of the books I order, I only want postable. In an abstract way, it's nice if I get a like-new copy, but I will say that after I stuff books in my purse for a few days, they don't come out looking like-new anyway, so I would just as soon receive a postable used copy as a like-new copy.

I love being able to send a book that meets someone's RCs (even "like-new") because I feel like I am helping them out .... not like they are trying to take advantage of me somehow.

I have noticed that there are two types of senders at PBS:

1. The senders who feel that book requestors are doing them a favor by requesting their books (and most of these people are happy to go a little bit out of their way to make a receiver happy by meeting their RC or whatever), and
2. the senders who feel that they are doing a requestor a favor by mailing their book out. (in general, these are the people who do not like to fulfill RCs for whatever reason).

I'm not saying one is right and one is wrong .... just that you will see that these are the two basic attitudes that you can have about mailing books.

LOL, poor Stefanie!

If the RC is has more than 3 conditions or it's a novel, I decline without reading. I'm sorry, I don't have the time to go through a checklist to make sure the book meets particular conditions.

Lately, I have gotten some outlandish requests.  The last one I refused stated she wanted to get perfect books so she can build a personal library.  My book has only been read by me, is in great condition.  It cost me $15.  I don't mind sharing with others but knowing this person was going to retire it simply did not set well with me.  I said mine was a former library book and did not meet her condition. 

I now have it listed again to share with another reader.  Hope someone requests it soon.  It was a good book.

I've never had a problem with an RC except once.  I mail out to just about all RCs, ( even though I don't have an RC myself).

>>>Wonder if the books they list are all perfect<<<<

They don't have to be.  All they have to do is meet PBS guidelines, unless the requestor for their book has an RC.

>>>My thought is that ideally everyone would like an excellent condition book, but, why should some members selectively receive only these books, while others receive anything in postable condition<<<

Because they may have different purposes for each book.   I don't mind reading something with writing on flyleaf, or even a well-loved book.  But if I see something I'd like to give my brother for his birthday, I want it to be a little better than that.

As for cost to mail a book, minimum $2.41 postage, $$ for the envelope/paper/wrapping, and my TIME, which is not cheap  if you figured it out hourly.   LOL

Everyone has different reasons for joining a swap......I'm just glad we are all here, and that there are people who want my books, and vice versa, which is how I got here in the first place.

Not sure how having an RC is different than having preferences when you eat out in a restuarant.  Yes, the menu tells me what I'm getting.  But I often tell the chef/cook:  please, no butter, adn if sauteed, as little oil as possible.  And, no salt. I hate salt.

And, I'm paying for the meal so that is how I want it.  IF I can't get it the way I want it, then I will just not eat and will have a beverage instead.   So, how is getting a book different than that?

As for making judgements on people who have RCs, my purpose here is to send and receive books.  I only make judgements on RCs, i.e. can I meet these requirements?   Or as someone mentioned, do I have time and focus to want to go thru a checklist today?

But Making judgements on the person writing them seems a bit .... well, not part of my mission here.

Like D.G., my attention span for RC's is short.  If the requester hasn't made their point (or caught my attention) after 2 or 3 sentences, I often just politely decline. 

I'm happy to accept RC's if my book meets them.  I'll even accept "like new" RCs if my book is in "like new" condition.  If the RC is ambiguous and I'm not sure, I'll probably decide not to send the book--I'd rather someone not receive a book they aren't happy with.

If I've listed a book here, it means I'd rather have a credit for the book to use on a new-to-me book.  It doesn't matter at all to me what the person I'm sending my book to does with the book.

Vernessa sez:

<<knowing this person was going to retire it simply did not set well with me>>

Knowing that someone will love the book you send them so well that they want to keep it on their shelf forever and read it over and over again bothers you?  Folks can do what they wish to with books they gather here -- keep them, share them with friends, give them away, donate them, etc. (as long as they're not gathering for resale) -- they're not obligated to swap them back on PBS.  If she's able to order books, she's obviously contributing to the system somehow (either posting books or purchasing credits), so why should the fact that the book will be well-loved prevent you from sending it out?

I agree with everything Cozi said.  The person is free to put any RC on their requests that they want, just like you are free to turn them down.  No reason to stress over it.  And the books aren't free.

Elizabeth, let's just agree to disagree.  As others have said, each of us can choose to either accept or reject a request.  Depending on the specificity of the request, I will subjectively decide. 

The other thing you can do is send the person who requests it a PM telling them about your book and asking them if they want it or not. That way the onus is on them. Rachel

Rachel,

Unless they put their nick name in their RC you can't pm them until you accept the request.  Then if they decline you have to cancel and go to the back of the line with your book.  If you decline their RC they stay at the front for receiiving and you stay at the front for sending.

Excellent reminder Nancy, several times lately I've wanted to contact a requester regarding something in their RC.  My book probably met their needs, but without a nickname/contact information I had no other option than to decline the request and move on. 

With the holidays coming, I'm sure there are some members who may use their credits to get gifts. Not against the rules but if you don't feel comfortable with an RC, then you can easily decline.

Personally, I never quite understood the reasoning behind putting your name in a book, especially if you plan on giving it away or trading it in the future. I've seen books at FOL used book sales that had name and address stickers inside. I always wondered why people would want their personal information out there for anyone and everyone to know.

My favorite was the lady who had an RC telling me to be avoid getting tape on the plastic wrap or bubble-wrap so she could recycle MY packing materials on her next request. 

I turned it down.

MaryF