Hi all,

In over 2 years and many books sent/received, this is a new one for me.

A book I had especially wanted for ages on my Wish List became available and I got a message that it is en route.

Then I got a PM from sender saying this book has great sentimental value in their family and they didn't mean to send it;  they did not read club rules and thought they were just loaning the book out and it would be automatically returned to them.  They want book returned.

I wanted this book for my personal collection, a "keeper" book, but I can return it to them since it obviously means a lot to them.   Questions though:

(1) Mechanics of how such a return works -- I am assuming original sender should reimburse return postage, and also send me a credit back?

(2) How do I mark the book when received at PBS?

Unfortunately, I also have lost my Wish List place in line, which I am unhappy about.   Is there another, easier way to handle the return so I am able to help original sender but not lose my credit?

Thanks in advance for any help!!

If you want to return her book, ask her to deposit 2 credits in your account (one to make up for the postage and the credit for the book).  Contact TPTB and explain the situation and ask to be restored to the front of the WL line.

Do not return the book unless she gives you the credits.  It really isn't your problem that she can't read rules.  And why she listed a book with sentimental value is beyond me.

I would return the book after reading it.  You can always reorder it later for your personal collection.  When finished reading, I would pm her, telling her she can order the book back from you.  That way you get your credit.

Thanks for the replies!   I wrote sender and asked if he could send 2 credits to replace my lost credit and also the shipping cost.   I also have written PBS and hope they will reinstate me in the wish list line. 

Barbara S. wrote:

" And why she listed a book with sentimental value is beyond me."

I agree completely ... I thought that was surprising as well.

I would return the book after reading it.  You can always reorder it later for your personal collection.  When finished reading, I would pm her, telling her she can order the book back from you.  That way you get your credit.

Why drag it out? I'd probably agree to return it immediatley, after getting reiumbursed two credits. Otherwise she could be PMing you constantly wanting to know if you'd read the book yet. Who knows, maybe they traded out someone else's book and need it back quickly.

Also, if it's a WL'd book, the OP can't put it on their shelves and have it go back to the sender, since there may be other WL'ers still in line by then. The sender would have to put it on their WL and have the receiver then post straight to their bookshelf when the time came. Otherwise it'd go to the wrong person.

It's dispointing, but best to just be done with it ASAP.

And if they won't buddy you the two credits, they don't want it back that badly. I'd be keeping it then.

Cindy, I agree completely.  This isn't a novel but a coffeetable type book -- a beautiful book to look at.  That is why I wanted it for my personal collection.  I'm looking forward to hearing back from sender.  I agree completely that 2 credits (for book credit and for shipping-- not a light book) seems completely fair.

What an interesting situation.  Please keep us updated.

Thanks, I will!   BTW I like your APO/FPO/DPO tag ... I am also more than happy to ship to those addresses.

I'd definitely give the sender a deadline to reimburse the credits so that they don't drag it out and PM you in a month about the book again.  If they truly want it back, they should be quick to send you the credits.

It's nice that you're willing to send the book back when you don't have to.  I don't know what part of paperback SWAP they didn't understand.

BTW I like your APO/FPO/DPO tag

Feel free to steal it.  :o)

I wonder if they got the book for a gift at some point-maybe that person came over for the Holidays and asked about the book. 

This situation has come up at least once before. I wonder how people get that idea. And why anyone thinks it's a good idea!

I guess I'm feeling scroogie right now, but I'd say tough noogies:P  They should have read how the club works at least enough to understand that you don't get your books back.  If I was looking to temporarily trade books, I know that'd be the first thing I'd find out.  And for that matter, who the heck sends something of "great sentimental value" to strangers halfway across the country?  I'm thinking it's more likely they found out it had some monetary value, or someone swapped a book belonging to their signifcant other & is sleeping in the doghouse until they get it back:P

I'm with Kim.  They should never have posted the book if they weren't willing to give it up.  This is a book trading site, which means they should be able to read and understand the rules.  If they didn't,then tough poo.

I would also not send it back. It's paperback SWAP- not "paperback lending library for a short time then i get my stuff back" Has anyone thought of the possibility  that maybe the sender wants it back because she realizes the book may have some value and wants to sell it? I've feel like I've seen this senario posted in the forums before- all of a sudden they are on ebay, realize that the book they sent for free has value- an they want it back. If I had wished for this book for a long time, and it is a slow moving WL- I would keep it. Not your fault they can't read simple directions.

Has the OP checked on Ebay or somewhere to see what the value of this book is?  I'd be asking "What sentimental value?" 

I'm not feeling "Scroogy" and would send it back for the 2 credits and do what I could to return to my rightful place in the WL line. Sure, maybe she didn't understand the rules, or maybe she listed a book that didn't belong to her but rather to another family member whose permission she didn't have, or maybe they just didn't want to type out the whole convoluted story of what the reason is. I've been known to make a mistake or two in my life too, and hey, it is the holdiay season. :-)

I've feel like I've seen this senario posted in the forums before- all of a sudden they are on ebay, realize that the book they sent for free has value- an they want it back.

Yes, I've seen that at least once before, but it's been a while.  Something to the effect that OP sent out a WL book & then sees it on ebay for big bucks & wondered if they could ask to have it returned.  It's happened to me before too - but I sucked it up like a big girl:P  Had a collectible that I posted & sent out, and then saw it later on Amazon & half.com listed in the $30-$50 range.  I turned green, but it was my mistake & tough luck.

I don't know if this will help your decision, but here is what the help docs have to say: 

Do we have to send the books back?

No.

Once you receive a book from PBS, it is yours. You can repost it here for another member to request, keep it, or give it away. Similarly, any book you send out to another PBS member is gone from you forever--and earns you a credit to order a book you haven't read!

Thanks to you all!  I appreciate all the input and info.  I just looked the book up on eBay and it runs from cheap to $34.95 high end, so it's not a super valuable book.    This sender appears to be new to PBS and I am willing to work with them -- if they will pay for the shipping back and also reimburse my credit.  The weird thing is they wrote me several days sounding frantic, and I have written them back twice (once and then a PS) and they haven't replied again.  I'll hold on to the unopened box for about a week and see if they respond.  If not, I will assume they have sent the book normally for swap, and I will add it to my collection.

I guess I'm feeling uncharitable, but I'm with the "too bad, should have read the rules" group. 

Gracious of you Trish :-)

You all would be surprised at how often this is asked of the Tour Guides. It never ceases to amaze us the number of people that sign up for the site, list their books, and THEN ask how it works or what it's all about. Even so far as this gal, to send out books and then be totally amazed that they are not getting their books back!!! I always try to figure out some kind of logic that would explain, as someone else said, why you would send a book out to a total stranger, half wa across the US and then expect it to not only come back, but come back in the same condition! I have friends that I love dearly, but they don't get their little mitts on my good books, because once they are done with a book, it's hardly postable, much less in the same condition I loaned it to them! How do they even consider that a total stranger cares about their book? Weird, just weird. That's about all the TGs can say whenever this issue comes up.