I got an RC today that reads: "I will only accept books that are in good condition with intact bindings, no water damage, and little or no highlighting or writing on the inside pages.  Thanks."

My question is what do I write in the box as to why I am declining the swap request? Obviously my book complies with all the PBS listing rules (which her RC is just restating), but I want to steer clear of this swapper and also not write a snotty comment as to why I am declining.  I have to write something, so what can I write?

I would just say something like "I am not comfortable accepting these conditions" or something like that.

No thank you.

Some people don't write anything...will just enter a "." in the box, because you have to say something. I used to agonize over responding to RCs and now it is either "Cannot meet your conditions" or "No thank you" and I save myself the angst of composing a turn-down.

thank you.

If it's a long, rambling paragraph with explanations and reasons and long-winded rehashing of the PBS posting guidelines, then I decline with a "."  That's my "Thumper's Mom" response...'if you can't say something nice, don't say nuthin' at all." LOL (I would LIKE to say, "Sorry, your RCs are so long, full of errors and rambling that I didn't even finish reading it" but as I'm nice most of the time, I don't.)

For that one, it's iffy. Sometimes I will send books that restate the PBS conditions, sometimes not...that one has some subjective terms in there "good condition" and "little to no highlighting..." I would probably decline with a .

Cheryl

my generic response to everything is "does not meet conditions".

*edit to clarify*  I don't respond to all RCs that way as I try to accomodate many; however, if it is subjective or a small novel in itself, the standard response is above.  No reason to give an exact reason.  Decline & move on as there's another awesome person wanting the book most of the time.

I have a tendency to put  "I'm not comfortable with the tone of the RC."   That "will only accept" opening does put me off.

I agree with Sally.  Be polite, generalize, and move on    =^.^=

Personally, I think the RC is fine and I would accept it if my book met it.

The reason that people phrase it "will not accept" is because the help docs use very similar wording. The help docs actually recommended at one point, RC wording that "sounded" very rude. They have edited their suggested wording since I have joined .... and it is more polite sounding, but they still recommend something along the lines of "will not accept". So, I never blame the person with the RC if they have it phrased that way, they are only saying what the site recommends.

I would decline by pointing out (nicely) that the "good condition" portion of the RC is subjective and the requestor and I may have different perceptions of what "good condition" is. 

Why wouldn't you accept, if your book meets her requirements? I get the aggravation with unclear or overly-specific RCs, but this one seems clear and reasonable.

As far as refusal, I am someone with an RC (DJs for hardbacks and no ex-library books) and I very much appreciate it when someone can say why they're refusing my request. Otherwise I'm left unknowing of whether they even bothered to read it or not.

Maybe "My book meets PBS guidelines, but I do not accept RCs."

I hate getting those  "My book meets PBS guidelines, but I do not accept RCs."

It really feels like someone sticking out their tongue and going "naw naw naw."   Why add that tease to the slap?

I do not have an RC. In the mosh pit of life I'll trust in the good intentions of the majority of PBS members and take my chances.

If I have to RWAP I'll cross that bridge when I stumble up to it.

If I get an RC that is a page long. and I have, I accept with no hesitation. The book is postable or not. Mine are.

Life is short and this is supposed to be enjoyable. OK, that's my two cents!

 PS If it's an RC for library, DJ, etc. something non subjective, why not send the book? It's not really personal, is it?

Emily wrote: I hate getting those  "My book meets PBS guidelines, but I do not accept RCs."

It really feels like someone sticking out their tongue and going "naw naw naw."   Why add that tease to the slap?

Well, and then you have the people who say, "They didn't give a reason at all, they just put a . in the dialogue box! I want to know why they declined!" So....the person was telling the truth about why they declined and they get chastised. But if the person doesn't give a reason they still get chastised. What's a decliner to do?

If the reason they declined is that they decline all requests with RCs, I think that's a reasonable response.

Lori wrote: I do not have an RC. In the mosh pit of life I'll trust in the good intentions of the majority of PBS members and take my chances.

If I have to RWAP I'll cross that bridge when I stumble up to it.

Lori, that's exactly how I feel, and I have no RCs because I've had so few problem swaps that (for me) there is just no need. It's also why I get so irritated by those RCs that just re-state the PBS posting conditions. And anyway, you may have to deal with RWAPs whether you have RCs or not...I think the last time I had one was last summer.

Cheryl

I would personally prefer an explanation than just a generic "." as a reason for decline!  My own personal opinion is that it is more rude to refuse to respond that way than to state the truth, that you do not accept RCs or that you do not feel comfortable accepting this RC.  I can live with that a whole lot better than with no explanation at all given! *grin*

Perhaps you can soften the harshness of the decline by adding some conciliatory wording in the reasons area along these lines:  "I regret that I am unable to accept because

I do not accept RCs / I don't feel comfortable with this RC request / I am unwilling to make subjective assessments of book quality/condition."

"I hate getting those  "My book meets PBS guidelines, but I do not accept RCs."

It really feels like someone sticking out their tongue and going "naw naw naw."   Why add that tease to the slap?"

Because it's the truth. It isn't a tease, it's information. Even if it feels unpleasant, it seems to me better to know why you're losing out on deals. It may be worth it, but isn't it good to know what you're losing, both ways?

Then just put "I do not accept RCs".  Why add the tease? 

(My RC is about incense.  I'm quite happy to have it turned down for that.  I do not re-state the guidelines.)

I've always felt that the folks re-stating the guidelines are venting about a past trade.  The RC is not the place to vent.  You just scare off future swaps. 

This forum is.  The little comment box is. 

I have no problem with folks venting.  I just don't want it to come in a RC.

I used to write a somemtimes long explanation of why I was declining.  Now I just write "Sorry" in the box and let it go.

I don't decline RCs as a rule, but if I do, I''ll write a sentence explaining why I declined that particular RC.  Most often it's because the RC is subjective ('smells moldy", "in excellent condition", etc.) .  I don't want to get a RWAP for a book that would be perfectly acceptable to some other requestor.  I've also turned down RCs because they made the requestor sound picky and rude. 

I don't have a RC.  I suppose I've been lucky that in hundreds of swaps on this site since 2007, I haven't had a single book I've had to RWAP.