I recieved a book in the mail today, part of a 2 for 1 deal, plus an unpostable. The book that I ordered and paid my credit for has parentheses drawn in several places throughout the text and some highlighting. I know this book is unpostable and I won't be able to reswap it. I'm not sure if I should ask for my credit back, because I did get more than one book out of the deal, but I know I should mark it RWAP, because my letting it slide doesn't do any favors for PBS. How should I word the PM without sounding rude, snarky, etc?

ETA: She's only been here less than a month, so I really think she just may not have been aware that her book was unpostable. I know, it doesn't excuse not reading the rules.

My mind keeps going back to... "If that was one she thought was postable, how bad are the ones she considered unpostable?"

I would mark it RWAP because the book you actually requested was not postable.  I'd also PM the other member and gently explain why it wasn't postable so that they know.  It's up to you if you want to ask for the credit back.  I probably wouldn't because it's a newer member and you got more than one book for your credit.  You need to make up your own mind though, it's perfectly within your right to request that credit back.

I'd PM and let her know but not request my credit back.  It could be a book she posted without actually reading herself.  I know I pick up books at garage sales and FOL sales just to post here.  I do flip through the book to look for stains, etc. but if I don't read the book I'm not going to look at every single page.

I get the "guilt" of getting more than one book for the credit - but the actual point is that the credit offer ended up being an unpostable - one of which you got in the order.  On PBS there is no way to charge a credit for an unpostable.  Bottom line.  The hard part is the being "gentle" about telling them.  I'm not good at being gentle.  I'd just be sure to  copy and paste the conditions for posting and the consequences for not doing so in the PM.   It's hard to do this to new members - but considering this is a site they joined it is presumable that they read so they really should have read the rules before doing anything else.  That may sound harsh - but we're getting a lot of PR and as a result - a lot of new members who have latched on the idea of "free" books (they aren't free) here.  We really have to hold the line on unpostable books no matter what if we want to continue to trust that the majority of books we get are of high quiality.

Ruth

One way I try to think of it- when you receive the book PBS asks you a factual question- was there a problem?  If there's a problem you have to mark it RWAP or you are not telling the truth.  Part B of the equation is whether or not you ask for your credit back.  If it's a new person sometimes I don't.  But, the result is that if this person is going to be a habitual problem then there's a record of it- you did your part by entering your truthful RWAP.

Bernhard, the funny part is, I couldn't find anything wrong with the "unpostable". Yes it was old, but in excellent condition for a 26 year old book!

Definitely mark it as RWAP. Asking for your credit back is up to you. Some people might take pity on those who are new to PBS but part of me thinks, "They need to learn to read the rules before posting a book even if that means costing them a credit to learn this truth". But its really all up to you.

I recently got a book that looks like it has been left out in the rain or in a flood.  Very disappointed.  I contacted the sender, but she did not respond back. PBS says NOT to list books with ANY type of water damage.  BOO HOO!