Today I posted a book with one wisher.  When she accepted she had an RC that said she was getting books for library so she wanted no damage. It was a long, but nice enough RC.  She said PM me if you have any questions.  My book had a strange spot on it so I wanted to discuss it first, and wanted to PM her.  But once she accepted – I no longer had the option of PMing her.  All her info was not showing.  I accepted and got to the mail in 2 days or mail later screen, but her info still didn’t show.  I cancelled then and explained in the box about the spot and her RC, but I assume she doesn’t see what I wrote.  I would like to PM her now but the whole transaction disappeared, it isn’t even in my transaction archive.  Shouldn’t it be in my archive?

If you turn down an RC, there will be no trace of the transaction and no way to contact them. You would need to accept the RC and select a mail-by date (the later one would give more time) and then you could PM and discuss it. If they didn't want the book you could just cancel the transaction.

The other member should have seen what you wrote when you cancelled, but there will be no way for them to contact you. You could post the book again and it will be offered to the same wisher. 

If you include your PBS nickname in your note when you decline the requestor condition, then if they want to contact you they can look you up in the membership directory (as long as you don't have your profile set to "private.")  Or if she includes her PBS nickname in her RC, you can look her up.

Other than that, as Melanie said, you don't have the PM to send a personal message button until you have accepted the Requestor condition and have chosen an "I can mail by" date.  And if you decline the Requestor Condition, there'll be no way to contact her later.

You can post the book again, but unless she has altered her Requestor Condition in some way, or has turned it off, it shouldn't be offered to her again, if you declined it the first time.  But wait -- since you didn't decline the RC, but instead canceled on page page where you choose a mail by date, when you repost the book, it will probably go back to her, unless she has been offered another copy.

If you want to contact her, accept her RC, then choose the latest mail-by date available to allow for an exchange of PMs.  Once you've chosen a date, you'll have a PM button.

If the "strange spot" is a stain, the book should not be posted regardless of if the requestor has an RC or not. 

I was just going to say the same thing as Melissa.  If it's a flaw in the paper-I would have just sent it it's postable and in nice condtion.  Every book has some minor manufacturing details like that.  But a stain is a no-no to begin with and should not have been posted.

Every thread about RCs reinforces my resolve to turn down all but the very few. This afternoon someone requested two SFF books from me; RCs were identical* - one item had to do with the book being good enough for display (on bookshelves I assume). I declined one book which met PBS requiremens but it's a 25+ y.o. title, yellowed, minor creases on spine; the other book I accepted as the book was in excellent condition. So I receive a PM from the requester stating the book was a replacement and must be "top shelf". Sigh. I PM'd stating it was in excellent condition, never read, but if they had concerns to feel free to cancel the order, which they can't do as I've already 'printed' the label. Or can they cancel? I know I can do so from my end.

I don't mind the black mark against me if I cancel; I don't mind losing out on a credit - but but I do mind that I stupidly accepted the RC for the good book. Should have realized that the requester would be concerned if I met the RC with one book and didn't meet it with the other. Live and learn.

I've always said I was a self-admitted RC decliner, haven't changed my feelings.

Gail 

* = means there were 3 items in the RC; I met 2 of 3 with one book; met 3 of 3 with the other, just to clarify

The sender can request PBS to cancel the book.  This can keep your place in FIFO.  If you cancel the book yourself, then you will go to the end of the FIFO line.  Once the label is printed, the receiver cannot cancel the order.

That's what I thought, Emily. There are only 2 other books in the system right now so I'd drop back to #3 which isn't all that bad. I can almost feel a RWAP a'coming with this transaction.

Hope I'm wrong. Haven't received any kind of reply from the other member yet.

Gail

You met her RCs on the book, she contacted you after you printed the label and warned you that this book HAD to be "top shelf." Is this correct?

At this point, if she's not happy with what she gets, she can go eat worms. 

Yes, that's correct Lisa. PM came after I'd accepted the RC terms. Frankly, I thought it should have been part of the RC but since the book is just about pristine I'm taking my chance.

This is just the time the USPS will mangle a book on me. Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants.

Gail

At this point, if she's not happy with what she gets, she can go eat worms.

Gosh, that just tickled me! Sometimes, with some people, that is exactly what I want to say!!! Thanks for saying it for me!

UPDATE ON THIS TRANSACTION: woke up to a PM from requester. Stated that they were having problems with single-book delivery via USPS and for me to please cancel the request.

Not sure how else a single book would be sent without costing the earth but I was THRILLED to cancel the request and stated all the facts in the required message box. This was a new since January 2011 member, and I actually held myself back from PM'ing that this is a used book site and they should not expect new-condition books all the time. Anyhow, I'm happy to not be sending book. It's their loss as the book is in prime shape, too.

Gail

Gail--glad you were able to get out of the transaction!  But that sounds like a very strange excuse to me!!  Why would someone be having problems with single book delivery and not multiple book delivery? *shrug*

Single-book transaction issues? Wierd.

Here's my guess -- the mailman will smash a single book into her small mailbox. If it's two or more books, she gets a not to pick it up at the post office or in a special box at the complex where she lives (if it's apartments, condos, townhomes or some sort of associattion area.)

To add to the topic - to me the whole point of participating in Paperback swap is to exchange books you have read and get new ones for simply the cost of shipping. If someone wants a pristine book then buy it new.

I got a request today - non smoking home and no pets - I have dog, but they don't roll around on the books or slober on them while reading them. If it was chewed on, i wouldn't post it.

The fact that people are allowed to put conditions on books flabergasts me.

It's a book, for reading and enjoyment.

The fact that people are allowed to put conditions on books flabergasts me.

I don't see why.  There is nothing "magical" or "universal" about PBS book conditions. They are just some rules that some people made up while they were sitting around in Georgia.

There are plenty of people who think the PBS book conditions are too strict. And plenty of others who think they are not strict enough. And plenty of people who think they are just right.

And, the ability to have RCs fixes all of that.

I got a request today - non smoking home and no pets - I have dog, but they don't roll around on the books or slober on them while reading them. If it was chewed on, i wouldn't post it.

The dog / cat / smoke RCs generally have to do with allergies. People who are not bothered by allergies generally do not understand how sensitive some people are to certain allergens. Your dogs may not go near your books .... but cats are notorious for sitting on bookshelves and rubbing themselves all over books.  And, since there are plenty of people here who neither smoke nor have pets, and who are happy to send their books to other people who don't smoke or have pets ... why does anybody else care?

It's a book, for reading and enjoyment.

Some people enjoy their books by looking at them on a shelf. Some people enjoy them by reading them and then giving them away. People enjoy things differently.

It's a book, for reading and enjoyment.

I have a non smoking RC because I CAN'T enjoy the book if it smells of smoke. I have bad sinus problems and the smell of ciagrette smoke seems to aggravate it more.

To add to the topic - to me the whole point of participating in Paperback swap is to exchange books you have read and get new ones for simply the cost of shipping. If someone wants a pristine book then buy it new.

 

You are right, that is the whole point TO YOU. The great thing about the site is that everyone's "whole point" can be different and as long as everyone follows the rules we can all be happy. Many of us gladly send out books that look like new so there is no reason for people who want prestine books to buy it new - they can get it here! Might not be from you, but they will find it here. That's the great thing about RCs, they allow those members to get their books from people who gladly send them a book they want and you to send your book to someone who won't be disappointed. If PBS didn't allow RCs, I would bet money that the membership would be cut in half.

I got one too Margaret.  Just this week, asking the sender to pm if we have any questions...then no contact information.  Should I flilp a coin?  Or just decline?  *sigh*