Hi everyone. I received a paperback book today has the cover coming off on the spine, which causes part of the front cover to not be attached to the book. I personally wouldn't send a book out like this, but I was wondering if this falls under the spine intact criteria. All of the pages are intact, just not the cover. 

Thanks in advance. 

That might be covered under the guideline that says the cover cannot have cuts or tears in excess of one inch.  Is more than 1 inch of the cover not attached to the spine?

Denise's suggestion about the 1-inch rule is good, and also the postability criteria say that the binding  "Must be intact, with no separation on the inside or outside of the book."  If the cover is separated from the binding, the book isn't postable.

You can examine the wrapper to see whether you think the separation occured before mailing or in the hands of the Post Office.  If the book was loose inside the wrapper/envelope, then the friction of sliding around in the envelope could have caused some damage. 

Well, personally, I would probably reglue it (with something flexible like rubber cement) and call it good. Unless you think it can't be repaired.

Thanks everyone.

The damage wasn't by the post office because its happening at both ends, and the rip that separates the cover is 2 inches. I think I'll just eat this credit because its Christmas. I will glue it back though to make it sturdier when read it, and I can always get rid of it through other means. 

Happy Holidays everyone

As a newb, even if you didn't RWAP it, I would hope you send me a note explaining what happened so I'd know to watch for it in the future if I was the sender.

Similar to Chris' logic, I'd mark it RWAP, but you can "eat the credit" if you want by not asking for a refund.  One honest mistake RWAPed won't hurt their account but it will help the sender look more closely at their books before sending; those with a habit of sending out damaged items will hopefully get a holiday spanking from the team. ;-)