I received two books stained today.  One was a WL that I marked a rwap on because its  kind of gross with different types of stains, don't want to touch it kind.   The other came in a deal its and older book and the stains on it look more like old age type yellowing.  The rest of the books in the deal are in great shape.   I'm not sure how you handle a problem with a deal book.  I'm ok with it but I will not repost it.  The book will retire with me.  But I'm feeling a bit hypocritical marking one and not the other And not even sure if I can mark the deal one.  I need the great PBS swammies to help me figure this dilemma.

The other came in a deal its and older book and the stains on it look more like old age type yellowing.

Yellow discoloration from age is not considered a stain. If the book is actually unpostable, and you ordered it directly through PBS, mark it RWAP. If it is a "freebie" from the deal, I think you might be out of luck. You can send feedback to PBS so they know what happened for future reference, but you can't mark a different book RWAP if this one doesn't actually show up on your account.

It sounds like the 2nd book is postable if it's jsut old age yellowing. Yellowing is allowed per the rules.   I generally won't mark a deal book RWP unless the book I actually ordered was the bad one.  I will put a note in the survey that the book came with freebies from a deal that had been posted to their shelf but weren't really postable.  Just so it's on record incase they are reviewing the account.  I woulnd't ask for a credit back on a deal unless one was completely unreadable or they were all bad books.

The other came in a deal its and older book and the stains on it look more like old age type yellowing.

If it's really old age yellowing, then it's not a stain. It's a natural aging process for the paper. That's okay.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=205

Older books may have some page yellowing or spine-creasing or dogeared pages; these are all OKAY.

The one that's naturally aged is fine, the one that's got stuff that wasn't part of the original book (the liquid or other type of stains) is RWAP.

If you're not comfortable posting a book, then you don't have to. But I wouldn't mark and older book RWAP for natural yellowing, if that's what you think it is.

I just posted 30 some books my mom gave me. Several are older mysteries/thrillers. They have natural yellowing beginning to occur. One book's page edges are completely yellow instead of just starting, but it's also the oldest. It's the natural progression of a book's life and completely within the rules.

If you don't want natural yellowing with age on your books, I'd suggest an RC stating that you won't accept any that come that way. Otherwise, I'd expect it for older books. Or even the books that have been reprinted but the ISBN reused. You could end up with one of the older copies before it was reissued and have no grounds to RWAP without the RC.

In addition, you might want to check the quantities of the aged book. I've posted many older (and some downright old) books with yellowing/tanning and even some foxing - and because they are hard to find and actually are postable, the recipients have been very pleased to get them.  And for people seeking to fill out a collection, they order the older book rather than a newer reissue.

Random question: When we put notes in the "other comments" box when we receive a book, who sees it?  The sender?  Us?  Or just TPTB?

Items in the lower 'Comment' box are only viewed by PBS admin.  Contents of the upper box are pm'd to the book sender.

Funny that I read this post now. :)

I read a lot of new releases so I seldom see yellowing in pages. But now I'm reading a book that's been on my TBR for a long time so when I saw some yellowing, I was like 'drat! I think this is an unpostable!' I was on my way to check the Help Docs when I came along this post. :)

Thanks Denise :)

Was the other older book the actual one you ordered in the deal or was one of the freebies the book you are talking about.  Because if it isn't the actual book you ordered, you really can't do a RWAP on it. 

Any book that is posted on a bookshelf needs to be postable.  If the one that you requested is not the damaged one, you can't mark that book RWAP.  I would note it in the comments box as someone stated previously.

It sounds like the book that you are talking about though might just be old, so it may not be RWAP at all.  It's hard to tell without actually seeing the book. 

The other book, however, YUCK!  You did the right thing.  Stains, and chunks are never okay!