I need some other opinions here! I just requested a book about travelling to Egypt.  Based on my requestor conditions, the sender denied my resquest and sent me the following private message:

If you are planning to go to Egypt, a book that might have been in a smoke environment should be one of the very last of your concerns. I took this book, which is excellent, to Egypt - so of course it will have less than pristine smells. Your requirement on the surface is absurd. My advice - don't bother to travel to Egypt if smoke and/or other "odors" will bother you.

These are my requestor conditions:

Due to allergies, I am not able to receive books that have been in a smoking environment, or smell smoky, musty or moldy.If this is an audiobook, I would prefer that it have the decorative outer cover (when applicable), i.e. please don't just send cassette tapes. Thank you!

Honestly, I JUST returned from a two week tour of Egypt this past Sunday. I was in the bazaar the day before the bombing -- and I am so glad to be home. Yes, my sinuses are all stuffed up and have been since I got there, no cold or allergy medication has been any help whatsoever. The hotel we were at reeked of incense or something or other, they had water pipes for people to use in their lobby/restaurant and I don't know what kind of smoke that was but it stunk too. Their smog was horrendous. I've never seen anything like it. Trash everywhere, pollution, bizarre customs BUT ... it was a trip of a lifetime, I don't regret it for one minute.

I get the feeling from this person's response that "my requirement on the surface is absurd?" -- may be just me and my jet lag, or does that sound awfully rude? I'm wondering exactly how I should respond to them/that?

The book didn't get requested from another person, but I thought there was more than one copy in the system. Should I bother trying to order it again and run the risk of irritating this person even more?

It sounds pretty rude & judgmental IMO. How dare them tell you, you wouldn't like Egypt just based on your RC's.

ETA: If you really want the book & don't mind what it smells like, you can turn your RC's off & request it again...if the system will allow it.

LOL Becki- Perfect answer. They were "rude with an attitude". I am so sorry that the person was that rude to you. That is just plain uncalled for.

I am glad that you had a great trip and that you are home safely though.

Yes. Very rude indeed!  Amazing.

Glad you enjoyed your trip! I'd love to go someday.

Or you could ask - "Wow.  Are the insults free, or do you get a credit for those too?":P

Sometimes, a person's response is more telling about them than it is about you.  I'd say that's the case here- this person clearly has some issues.  Why, for example, would they assume that the book was for you? You might be ordering it for someone else.  Or maybe you just want to READ the book, not necessarily travel with it.  Some members just have problems with any RC, no matter what it is or how politely it is worded.  They are the minority, thankfully.  Yes, it was very rude, and frankly he/she does not sound like a very happy person.  No response is required here- just chalk it up to someone having a bad day, a bad attitude, or maybe both, and move on.  Put it on your RL and check to see when additional copies are posted- then when you see the number  go down, you know that copy is out of the system and you can try ordering again.

The person is obviously heavy opinionated---usually a grumpy,  miserable and negative personally type the majority of the time. If it were me, I wouldn't take the time to respond. Just let it go because this personally type usually never benefits from any type of interaction.

Look over at amazon to possibly pick up a used edition. Maybe there's one available for .01 and shipping.

What an experience you had... Egypt. It's amazing the differences in cultures throughout the world.

THANKS for the insight everyone, I'm glad it's not just me and my jet lag thinking here! This person obviously has some issues that need worked through, perhaps they didn't enjoy their trip as much as I did. LOL.

Rubberducky -- I especially LOVE your response idea! I'm so very tempted to do that ... REALLY, I am  :-), but I'm afraid that will just put me down to this person's level.

Good idea Thiggy -- I'm going to head on over to Amazon and see if they don't have a penny copy perhaps. I have a feeling the copy of this book won't be regularly posted here, tho I hate to take my "business" away from this site, I would like to get a copy in the soon. I had a hard time understanding our tour guide's accent, and didn't get all the pertinent information all the time, so I thought this book would be good to get some details from so that while sharing my pictures I can honestly say what century BC something was created or what god/goddess something was made for.

Yes, it was an amazing trip -- but boy do they just not care about their country! They throw their trash in the river, streets, etc. etc., and the smog was just awful. For a country with so much historical significance and sites, I hope that they would think towards the future and what it will do to all those places. It's amazing that they have withstood for so many thousands of years as it is, but that isn't going to last forever!  I am just so very very thankful to have missed that bombing.

Melissa - I also have allergies & won't accept books from a smoking environment. People that don't have allergies might not understand what it does to you physically. Some smokers may take personal offense to this requestor condition, but it's not an insult. It's just my health issue!

I wouldn't dignify the sender with a response.

Sounds like your trip to Egypt was amazing.

Extremely rude!

Wow... someone work up on the wrong side of bed.. or maybe that is the only side their bed has.  Ouch!  That was rude and uncalled for.

If it were me, I wouldn't dignify it with a response... except maybe to say "I am so sorry you feel this way" and leave it at that.

Go ahead and order it again.... it shouldn't go to them since they declined your RCs, hopefully. 

Rude indeed!

I see smoke RCs quite a bit, and have never yet thought them to be absurd or inappropriate.  I am guessing that the book does not meet your RCs, and the potential sender was mad that they couldn't send the book, and inappropriately took it out on you.

I would let it go without further comment.  You're not going to get anywhere with them, and it'll just tick you off even more.

WOW, really unneeded comments. And yes very rude. I know several people that have gone to Egypt and have allergies, plus those that dont. They all came back with dripping noses and terrible headaches due to the smog.

Yes, its their issues not yours.

I feel this way.  She didn't like what you said.  You didn't like what she said. So what? Let it go.  "Rude"  is in the eye/ear of the beholder. Let it go.

Some people just can't read an RC without having some sort of emotional meltdown.  Likely it's a defensive reaction & their book was in questionable enough condition that they found it necessary to defend their decision to put it on their shelf.  That's what I'm reading in that snarky response anyway; "Yeah, my book stinks!  So what?  It's been to Egypt!":P  In which case, pat yourself on the back for having the foresight to add the RCs in the first place.  They accomplished exactly what you meant for them to:P

That sound pretty rude to me.  A person should either just decline the order or they should say, "Sorry, my book doesn't meet your RC."  And then let it go. 

Wow they where rude and I would say mean even telling you that you should not go just because you do not want smelly books! Your RC is perfect for what it needs to be and I would have no issues with it. I would respond just to let the person know they can keep thier book, you had a great time on your trip to Egypt! Allergies and all! :)

There's a LOT of smoke in Egypt.  I wonder if they were not just trying to warn you.

I mean, it is bad.  BAD.