Hello....

I was wondering if anyone could help me.  I have read the help docs and cannot seem to find the answer.

I requested and received a travel guide (like fromers) that is supposed to have a map in the back of the book.  However the book I received doesn't have the map.  The book is in otherwise pristine condition so I hate to say that it was received with a problem.....but I still would have really liked the map.  :-(

Anyway....do you think I have a right to say it has a problem or should I just keep my mouth shut and enjoy a really nice travel book...sans map?

Thanks for your help!

Tonia

I imagine that the map would fall under supplemental materials.  But there really isn't anything obvious about it in that section of the HC (below), unless you consider the map a REQUIRED supplement.

I would PM the sender and ask if they still had the map and would they be able to mail it to you.

Supplementary/Accompanying Materials:

• Books that require supplementary Media materials MAY be Posted

  • supplementary Media materials include CD(s)/CD-ROMs/DVD(s)/VHS tape(s)
  • if the book originally included supplementary Media materials, the supplementary materials must accompany the book for the book to be postable.

• Books that require non-Media supplementary materials MAY NOT be posted

  • an example would be a book that requires a decoder or craft materials
  • these items cannot be sent MediaMail

• Books that originally had accompanying non-Media materials that are not required to read the book (ie, jewelry) MAY be posted.
  • The extra material does not have to be included, and if it is included, the book must not be sent using Media mail rate.

it probably falls into the grey area but I wouldn't be surprised if a travel book didn't come with a map because most people would tear them out to use.  but others will say it isn't postable because the map is missing.

I wish they would put travel books in the textbook/cookbook category and allow writing as long as it is PM'd to the person before sending.  I've given away some great travel books on another site because of notes I made within the pages...which could do nothing but help the next person!

I would say it's required to use the book for it's intended purpose--travelling!

At the minimum you should have gotten a PM about it.

I don't know that a map is required to be able to use the book.  Sure it helps you look things up but it isn't a required piece of material to use the books IMHO.

The map is part of the book and should have been included.  I agree with those who have said the Help Center is not entirely clear about this.  I will bring it up within the Tour Guide community.  I would mark the book "received with problem."

When someone asked about posting a book like this, I think the majority of responders said that he/she could post it. The book was postable without the map because it fell into the following category:

I guess it would depend upon how the map was used in the context of the book.

For example, if you're reading the book and it says, "The Eiffel Tower (item #3 on the map) was..." or the map was integrated into the book reading with repeated references. If the text consistently refers to the map, I would consider it integral to the use of the book.

If it's not refered to, I would consider it a bounus item, then I'd say it's OK to post without the map.

ETA: FWIW, I've never found maps that came with tour books all that useful. I'd go buy a good one when I reached my destination. :)

But a map would be considered media material...not not-media.  A map is not the same thing as jewelry or the like.  A map, in the context of this swap would be considered part of the book as a supplement to the book.  And therefore I would see it as being required with the book.  True, someone may want it even without the map, but it's not postable cuz it should have included the map.  This person could have posted it elsewhere on PBS and made note of the missing map.

just my opinion but my guess is a lot of travel books would not be able to be shared here because of the map issue.  It is a hazy area as to how much value they bring to the book or if someone would use it.  Yes it is a part of the book when it is purchased new, but if someone bought it new and wanted to share it with someone else down the road, they couldn't use the map or would need to make sure they didn't have coffee rings or whatever on the map from their use.

ok yes, someone could trade it for no credits, but we don't want to give away all of our books!

Travel guides (as I mentioned above) need to fit into the text/cookbook guidlines IMHO.  Most people will make notes and these notes could be useful to other people that are visiting the same place (or not, depends on taste preference etc) 

The problem is that the help docs say (in red) that it must include required suppl/accomp material. If the map is not required to use the book, then the book should be fine to post. As someone else said, if the book refers to the map in reference to places, then it should probably be there. If it does not refer to the map at all, then I don't think it would be required material. To me its like getting a learning CD with a book as a bonus. If the book doesn't refer to the CD at all, then it would not have to be included with the book to be swapped.

A map is media material.  Therefore it must be included.  Though it is not listed as one of the examples of what media materials include, a map is clearly media material.