The last 3 books out of 4 that I have received have been water damaged. 

The one that I just got this morning looks like it may have been the fault of the USPS or the sender.  The book was only wrapped in a PBS wrapper, which is fine...but..the wrapper was ripped in every place that it wasn't taped...one of the corners and the 2 inches down the side.  There are't the tell-tale stains of water damage, just very wavy pages, on the back half of the book where you can feel and see a difference in the texture.

If I mark the book damaged by the PO does the sender get the credit, and I am out the credit?  (That's what I understand from the help file--I just want to be sure)  The help files say that I don't have to mark it received?  That doesn't make sense, it will go lost.  What exactly happens?

It's readable, and I would like to give the sender the benefit of the doubt.  I waited a long time on the WL for it, and I was the only one.  I'll add it to my ever growing list of unpostables when I'm done.

In thinking about this bad run of books, would it be horribble to write an RC stating to pease check books for water damage prior to shipping?  Do you think that will lead to people turning down requests?

~Karen~

Yes, if you mark the book RWAP the sender will get credit.  Whether it's damaged by the sender before shipping or even if the USPS does it.

If you feel it was damaged before it was sent, then request your credit back.

I don't think it's horrible to write a RC asking people to please double check their books for water damage.  I know I always flip thru the book before I package it up, just to double check it for damage I may have missed.  It might lead to some turn downs but only because some people automatically turn down anything with RCs.

<<The help files say that I don't have to mark it received?>>

This is untrue for RWP books.  You must mark them received, and mark them RWP.  Asking for your credit back is optional and up to you, but you must mark it received.  Failing to do so can jeopardize your account.

Cheers,

Catt

Catt,

I marked the book RWP because of USPS.  I now have a "was this problem resolved?" button in the archive.    I guess I'll wait it out to see if she pms me back, but not knowing whose fault it is, I did not ask for a return of my credit.

About not marking the book received--This is from the help documents, and this is where I'm confused:

Karen--

What that statement means is that:

• You have to mark the book received
• The sender will get a credit (which you can request be refunded)

Did you explicitly ask for your credit back?  If you feel the damage was due to poor wrapping on her part (i.e. using Scotch tape or insufficient tape) you can request your credit back, but you need to ask for it.  If, after a week, they have not responded to your request (check your credit registry periodically; sometimes they just return the credit and don't write back) you can follow up on the swap.

To contact the sender, go through your Transaction Archive and send a message from there, (under "Request Details") so your request becomes part of the official record.

If, during this process, the sender sends rude or abusive PMs, notify the PBS folks, since that isn't permitted.

If this still doesn't make sense, let me know -- I'm sleepy today and am not making sense to myself :-)

Cheers,

Catt

"If the requestor gets the book damaged by USPS, the requestor assumes the risk.  The requestor does need to mark the book received and does not get her credit back; the sender does get credit in this case "

Ummm...I'm thinking Karen just misread it..when I quickly read through this thread I read it (underlined) as "does NOT"..I know I got plenty of sleep, but for some reason I inserted the word NOT in there..LOL!  I was thinking "why have 2 people said what it means or it's not confusing, etc...even I'm confused."  Now I know why!  LOL! 

Water damage seems to be a big issue.  I have only had one time that I sent two books and the requestor said they were water damaged when she received them.  I have never and would never send a water damaged book.  One of these started out as basically a brand new book.  Something happened in the USPS.  I always wrap carefully with plastic or put in a plastic bubble envelope to protect them.  You just never know what will happen at the post office.  I have also seen many comments about too much tape or not enough tape.  I always err on the side of caution on the tape as well to protect from something happening at the USPS.

This just seems to be one hard part about sending books through the mail that it is possible for them to arrive damaged.  By the way, I offered the credit back.

I am sorry about the bad luck you have been having.  I guess I have been pretty lucky because have only had two books arrive to me in a condition that I thought was terrible.  That is pretty good odds with all the books I have traded.

There's a huge rainstorm in the Northeast this week-end. I have received a severley water damaged book on another site from someone who didn't use saran wrap. This is a tough call, Kay Cee. The senders say they have no control over the weather, and a lot of trade sites don't stress the importance of water proof packaging, so they won't feel obligated to return points. I hope your situation ends better. The low packing standards is one of the few risks with trade sites...I know of only one that urges senders to protect items against the elements

Paula....

I did the SAME thing!  I just went back and read it again.  It does say that it needs to be marked received...why my eyes want to put the "not " in there is beyond me!  Boy do I look like a doofus!  Duh!  ...And I consider myself a good reader!  I must have read it over 3 or four times inserting the not in there!

Thanks for your help everyone!  The sender apologized for the transaction and offered me the credit back without me asking for it.  All is well now. 

*still shaking my head in awe over that mistake!*

Karen