I received the following RC with a request this week:

Of course, there was a message asking about the condition of the book. I replied telling the person that it was in new perfect condition with only some slight wear on the dust jacket.  I also asked him to reply within 72 hours so I could decline his request before it times out on my end.  That was 2 days ago and I haven't heard back.  I know that I have another day for them to respond, but I'm not enjoying waiting.  This book would have been mailed 3 days ago if it wasn't for this strange RC.

I'd wait it out until you're almost out of time, then decline.

Annoying, though!

Personally, I would have probably simply declined instead of replying or checking my inbox.  Since you gave them a time frame though, you kind of should wait it out.  Maybe if you do another in the future just give them 24-48 hours.

I don't like to play that kind of game.  I'd have declined.

OK. I'm sorry. But really. "Another" words??????

I never PM about postable books.  If I can't tell by the RC if it meets conditions then I decline.  I'm not going to negotiate over a used book that isn't worth much. 

At this point, you've hit the deadline you gave him, decline the RC.  If it's WL then it'll go to the next person who probably won't be picky.  If he requests it again with the same RC and an answer to your PM that he wants the book-I would keep the PMs incase he  makes a complaint.

Technically, if you have checked your PM inbox (and the book has its dj or never had one) you have fulfilled the requirements in the RC.

I know that's not what this person intended, but really?

Having "questions" about the condition of the book beforehand is just an excuse to be lazy in specifying what is acceptable, inconsiderate of other people's time and perhaps feeling entitled to have other people wait on them.  And around the holidays too?

So I believe your options are either to

(a) decline right now: just get this person out of your hair, but lose the potential to earn a credit

(b) accept, use PBS postage so you have credit assurance, and refuse any RWAPs because you have fulfilled your conditions: no longer have to wait, earn your credit, and teach this person a lesson 

(c) wait until closer to the deadline to decline them. have to be viligant about your logging in to decline them before the deadline or risk a time-out on your account, might be able to earn a credit, have a smoother transaction.

I would have either declined immediately or do (b), depending on how passive-aggressive I felt at the moment. Sheesh.

I don't negotiate book conditions. Decline and move on.

-RD

I agree with Rob D.  What I perceive as "like new" may not be the same as the receiver's perception.  If someone is gonna be that picky, I automatically decline it. This is a SWAP site for used books.  If you want like-new books, get to a bookstore and BUY it.

Mary in KY

The requestor finally got back to me late last night saying he was out of town.  That's fine, but don't use RC's that require a response from you and go out of town until the request would expire.  I responded within an hour of the request. Ugh, just going to decline from now on.

A learning experience Becki.  In the future, when ready to mail you may wish to use a shorter response deadline...or just decline oddball RC's 

I would have informed this member that any conditions on the request must be in the RC and that a PM asking for something additional would not have to be honored. They need to decide what they want and give the details in the RC itself, not expect someone to agree to conditions not attached to the transaction. The site does have glitches where PMs do not get through and a member should not rely on that as a method to add conditions to a transaction.

I also am not a negotiator. When I see the request, if the book meets the RC I accept, if it doesn't or I'm not sure or the RC is poorly worded, too long, whatever...I decline. They can ask me all the questions they want. Doesn't matter. I'm in control of that request and I'm declining.

Oh, yeah, Kathy...."another words"....::chortle:: Sorry...I needed a laugh at the end of the day.

Cheryl

Personally, I have no problem humoring people with odd RCs. As long as my book meets the conditions, I don't really care what the conditions are.

I have fulfilled RCs that are poorly worded before. I was guessing that some of those were non-native speakers of English. At least, that's what they "sounded" like to me.

Even long RCs are shorter than most people's posts to the forums.

I agree Sarah.  In this case I would consider the 'negotiation' aspect as oddball, not possible ESL elements.  Grammar I can overlook, more concerned with stuff that could result in misunderstanding & RWAP (which includes extended pms & negotiation).