Ok, received a book that is really an unpostable as the spine is cracked...the book is essentially in two pieces but held together by the glue on the cover and a couple pages are started to detach.  I contacted the sender about the problem but, I didn't ask for my credit back because it is a WL book and I figured with 88 wishers someone would want it if I listed it in the genre thread.

Well the sender contacted me and returned my book credit and wants the book back...I told her I was going to read it first and if she wanted to wait on that and wait for a postal trip to come up then I'd return it but, she'd have to pay for the postage.  She said when I return the book she'll send the other credit...now she says she hasn't read the book and wants to read it and she'll give the credit when and if she gets the book.

I told her when I got ready to mail it to her I'd contact her and she could forward a credit for the postage and she PM'd back reinterating she would only send the credit once she got the book and if it went lost or didn't make it to her well, basically I'd be out of luck.  My gut tells me I'll never see the credit for the postage....

Would I be bad to now say, well I'm not comfortable with that and tell her I'm just going to keep it and rehome it some other way that I'm more comfortable with.

You are under no obligation to send it back to her, credit or no credit. Sounds like you aren't gettingthe credit ahead of time, so I would just pm her back that you're keeping it.

Yeah, I wouldn't send it back unless she gave me the credit first. If she doesn't want to do it, then her loss for sending an unpostable FIFO instead of using the BB or genre threads.

ETA: I would quote the Help Docs to her about sending two credits to get the book returned and that you aren't actually obligated to send it back unless you choose to.

Amee do you have a link to that about the two credits...I can't find it...at least if it says the sender must send them in advance.

• A requestor does NOT have to return the item in a "problem" transaction
  • if the sender wants the item back, he or she should send postage or a credit to pay for its return.

This is allI can find. I personally think it implies that the cost of postage needs to be provided before the item is returned, but I suppose it could be interpreted differently. Sorry! I looked and looked and haven't found anything about saying if it has to be in advance or not.

Christy, I found this information in the help center:

Remember that the requestor is not required to send the book back at his or her expense.   There is more information about this below.  The sender of a problem book does risk losing credit, book and postage; this is the incentive NOT to send problem books.

• A requestor does NOT have to return the item in a "problem" transaction
  • if the sender wants the item back, he or she should send postage or a credit to pay for its return.

Amee beat me to it. 

It's also in the recommended text for a problem transaction:  (My bold)

We suggest this text: "Thanks for sending the book.  Unfortunately there is a problem [explain the problem here--if this was an unpostable book you can say that the problem "makes this unpostable by site guidelines, and I won't be able to swap the book again"].  I would like a credit refund, which can be accomplished by clicking Give Refund in your transaction archive on the Request Details page for this swap, and I will be happy to mail the book back to you if you will provide postage."

It's your book now.  You don't have to send it back to the person that sent it to you.  If you do, treat it like any other PBS transaction.  She can put the book on her WL and you can post it direclty to her.  I'd use PBS DC in that case so you get your credit as soon as the book is scanned and don't have to wait for her to mark it received.

If she doesn't want to do it that way or send you the credit up front, then I would send the book along to someone else by posting it in one of the genre forums or BB.  Someone'll pay a credit for it.

You're not obligated to return it to the sender, even if they've returned your credit for the unpostable.

Thanks folks...I actually knew all of this but, was feeling really bad about it all.  You all have made me feel so much better.

Christy - I wouldn't post the book to her WL...given her attitude of posting an unpostable and then asking for the book back without sending you a credit to cover for postage, it's likely this member will cause you problems by not marking the book received or RWAPing it (even if you have a PM from her saying she's fine with the condition of the book, she may RWAP it and then you are obliged to respond, etc.)

I was thinking the same thing as D.G.  I'd be very hesitant to post to her wishlist--giving her the chance to mark the book RWAP and put a black mark on your account!

Laura & D.G.  those are my thoughts exactly...initially I was going to do that but, then I got to thinking about it and my gut was screaming about it and so, since my gut has never led me wrong I decided to see what folks thought here.

I've decided that IF she still wants the book back after I've read it she will have to send me the credit in advance or she won't get the book.  Her comment regarding it going lost and "we'll just deal with that when it happens." sent up a dozen red flags.

Personally, I wouldn't bother sending it back.  (*Private grumble: If she wanted to read it so badly she wouldn't have sent it in the first place.*) It's not worth the multiple risks involved.

 TPTB won't intervene on a swap like this, so it's really in your hands.  If you are uncomfortable with something, follow your gut instinct.  :)

Personally, (again) I would not want have to deal with the sender any further so I would just move along, and send the book as a freebie to someone who wants it, rather than ship it back to her. 

HTH

If she had taken the time to read it, like she says she does, she might have noticed that it was damaged and save both of you some trouble.

Excerpts from her messages:

"I am very surprised that this book ended up in the condition you describe as it was in very good condition when mailed. Who knows what happened while in the postal service's hands."

"I too thought it was interesting and therefore would like it back to read myself since you won't be able to repost due to condition. I did not read it before posting and felt that I would just put it on a list to keep looking for."

Personally, this just doesn't add up!!

When I mailed the book it was in very good condition. I WILL give you the credit when the book is back in my hands. I did not post an unpostable book. I have been leary of what your motives were so i thought I was being genourous in saying I would take the book back and give you credtis for it. I am not acting in a dishonest way. I just didn't think that you would be happy keeping a damaged book and I would take it off your hands. I would have preferred we could work this out between us but it seems the discussion boards are the next best thing for you.

Also I have given you one credit back already but just thought that it would be best to send the other one back after the book was received. I will state again that the book was in very good condition when I put it in the envelope and mailed it. 

When you talk about your "gut" let me tell you that I was going on "gut" instinct as well. I was surprised to hear that the book came to you damaged. I don't always read the books I post before I post them. I thought I was being unselfish and generous. 

so much for being nice. Guess nice people do finish last.

From the help documents:

Remember that the requestor is not required to send the book back at his or her expense.   There is more information about this below.  The sender of a problem book does risk losing credit, book and postage; this is the incentive NOT to send problem books.

A requestor does NOT have to return the item in a "problem" transaction

• if the sender wants the item back, he or she should send postage or a credit to pay for its return.

Okay, I gave the credit back that I got for mailing her the book, so now I will send the other credit so she has it before she mails it back. I did not send a problem book. Even though I did not read it, I checked it over and it was in very good condition . I know what a broken spine can do and this book did not havea broken spine when I mailed it. I guess that is what gets me the most. People thinking I was dishonest and posted an unpostable. 

From now on I will take digital photos of any book I send out and will keep them until I see the book has been received in the same condition I mailed it. 

It is entirely possible that the book was sent in postable condition and was damaged in the mail. The books most vulnerable to this type of damage are older hardcovers whose glue has become brittle over time, but it can happen to newer hardcovers as well if they are left with too much room to move around in a package.

I think this situation is a wonderful example of why you (in general) shouldn't always assume that you were sent an unpostable on purpose, that the damage may have happened in transit. I think that it is an equally important reminder not to assume that the receiver is trying to swindle you when they mark a book RWAP. There are help documents about what to do from both sides of this situation for a reason and it is always best to consult them before jumping to conclusions, as chances are the receivers' behavior may just be exactly what the help documents are advising them to do.

I posted in the other thread in the CMT.  Whenever I send a book I haven't read, I am prepared to refund a credit if they complain abotu it being unpostable.  Even though I examine books carefullly before I even post them, and then again before I accept the book request-unless you actually sit down and read the book you can't know for sure that you didn't miss something. It's a risk you take when posting books you haven't read yet.  Even a book purchased new and sent without being read could have some bookstore browsers dirty finger print or coffee drip on some random page. 

I guess that is what gets me the most. People thinking I was dishonest and posted an unpostable.

Nobody thought *you* were anything at all aside from an anonymous second party in a problem transaction until you posted here identifying yourself.  And the remainder of the discussion between you & Christy should go to private inbox messages.  This is the help forum & not the place to thrash out problem swaps.