I have been using pbs for a while now and this is the first book I have received that is in VERY bad condition. It is a hardback and the cover is taped up, there are colored markings, and worst of all the book is taped at the spine and its falling apart.

I pm'd the member about it and they said I could send it back if I didn't want it.

So my question is do I have to pay for postage and send it back to them if I want my credit back?

Thanks for any help, I am a little confused on this.

No, you don't have to send it back.  If the book didn't meet PBS posting guidelines, then the sender should send you a credit, and if they want the book back, then they should send two credits (or send money to cover your postage).

If they refuse to refund your credit, you should mark the transaction as "unresolved" in your transaction archive and move on.  PBS doesn't arbitrate individual transactions (it would be impossible for them to do so without seeing the book themselves), but they will suspend or close accounts that get too many "unresolved" problems on them.

No. You are entitled to both keep the book AND ask for your credit back.

The PBS rules say that if the sender wants the book back, they should offer you a second credit to compensate you for the postage (or, find some other mutually acceptable way to compensate you for the postage to send it back (check, money order, whatever)). Even so, you don't have to send the book back, unless you want to. It's generally considered nice to send it back, though, as long as they are compensating you.

Here is the help doc link

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=529

The first paragraph addresses returning the book to the sender.