I received this book today.  The sender has told me the book was in postable condition when it left her.  There were no yellow stains on the envelope.  Do you think these pictures are good enough, or should I adjust my flash and try to zoom in more?

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=xldgzig.31ugws20&x=0&y=-5wcls6&localeid=en_US

I posted the discussion with her below...

Ok...link is working now :)

Here is how this discussion is going...I need some help, here!

My initial PM:

Hello

My requestor conditions state that books should follow PBS guidelines. This book had liquid damage/stains from page 163 to the end of the book. It is a yellow stain.

I am not looking for new books, just ones that I am able to post when I am done reading them.

I would like my credit refunded on this transaction, as it is not postable per pbs guidelines:

Overall Condition:
No damage at all from water or other liquid
Not soiled
No stains (exception for cookbooks--see below)
No mold
no highlighting, underlining or writing on text pages

Thank you for your time.

~Karen~

The response:

I am pretty sure this is something that happened in mailing because when I mailed it it was in excellent condition. I do understand how you feel though as I too would be upset. I am more than willing to give you your credit back but can you please send the book back to me first. When I receive it I will give you your credit back.
Thanks!

My response:

Thank you for your quick response. I am sure that we will be able to clear up this matter rather quickly.

According to the help files: "A requestor does NOT have to return the item in a "problem" transaction if the sender wants the item back, he or she should send postage or a credit to pay for its return."

The above means that you will have to use two credits to get this book back.

I can upload some photos to the internet, if you would like proof.

~Karen~

Her response:

no its not proof that I need, I would just like the book back so I could lend it to a friend or something then. I only have the one credit to send to you but I would really appreciate it if you would send the book back anyways. Thanks

SO....now what?

I can see the yellow stain at the bottom.

Now simply let her know that the transaction will go UNresolved until she sends the second credit.  Or simply do NOT send her the book back and let her know you won't without the extra credit. 

BTW - you've been wording your PM's nicely - I wish everyone would do that.

The pictures are clear for me, although my problem was the dark background of the Kodak Gallery stie itself. The yellow stain was obvious on the pages.

Cozi,

I'm running out of niceness...I'm not sending back the book.  I KNOW that there are people wishing for it and I'd rather send it as an unpostable with an order to someone on the forums!  I just need to find a way to nicely word it, and I'm not there yet!

"no its not proof that I need, I would just like the book back so I could lend it to a friend or something then. I only have the one credit to send to you but I would really appreciate it if you would send the book back anyways. Thanks"

Ask them to send you the 1 credit and a SASE envelope, stamps or a PalPay payment to cover the return postage.

*Updated*

I took Cozi's advice and PMed:

"Thank you for your fast responses.

As per guidelines, I don't have to send this book back at my own expense, and I can't right now. My mother-in-law has just passed away and time and money are tight at the moment.

Right now this transaction has been marked unresolved. If you send me the credit back, I will have The PBS team change it to resolved in the transaction archive. If you choose not to refund the credit it will remain unresolved."

Her response:

Why dont we do this, then everyone gets what they want. You read the book, then send it back to me when you have the funds to do so. I will then send your credit to you. Since the book was damaged in delivery I do not have to refund you the credit but I am willing to. If you work with me I will work with you. This way, you get to read the book, get your credit back, and I get my book back.

I know that the PBS team won't intervene, but gosh....It violated my rc and is not postable!  Arrg!  The book has been since marked "sender did not fix problem".  TG leaders, is there anything else I can do?

I've learned from the more experienced here on the boards that one should not send back a book pending a credit.  Let them give the credit (2 counting the postage credit)  and THEN you can send the book back IF you want. 

Unfortunately, I don't think there's anything you can do.  Sorry you've had to deal with this. I just had one myself that violated my RC and was very unpostable but the sender claimed since it was "readable" it was fine and refused to give me a credit.  Nice, heh? 

I've decided to limit my swaps to folks on the boards here that post nicely!  ;)

Lauren

Karen, here is what I would do.  Tell her that you will send her the book if she can give you a credit for the postage by X date (whatever date you determine is reasonable).  If you do not receive a credit from her by that date, you will be offering it free with an order from your shelf to the first taker.  Definitely do NOT send the book before you receive the credit.

Sorry that you have to deal with this.  Eventually it happens to all of us, it seems.  Still, the good swaps outweigh the bad, so we all need to remember that.  Good luck- I hope you get the credit back.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I just had to deal with something similar recently and did not get my credit back and he's also not responding to me.

Perhaps explain that the point of getting your credit back and shipping cost covered is so YOU won't be out any money. If she returns your credit and then you have to pay to send the book back then you're still in the negative. And certainly DO NOT send the book back without getting the credits in advance.

This sender can either buy credits from the kiosk or through the bazaar. Or they could paypal you the $ or send it to you in the mail. You should NOT be out any money for a transaction that is not your fault.

You are the one with the book.   If you don't want to send the book back, state again what you are going to do.  Then just let it be unresolved.  IF she continue to insist on your sending the book back with PM's, THEN you can contact PBS about the PM's.   

I wouldn't let this go on and on.  I'd just leave it unresolved.

I would probably send one last message to this individual and then let it go....something like the following.

'Thank you for discussing this matter with me but, at this time I have marked this transaction "Unresolved" which will put an additional negative mark on your account.  I would doubt that The PBS Team, should I decide to notify them,  would like it that you are "holding my credit hostage" until the time that I return this book to you at my own expense...which I might add is against PBS Guidelines.  This book not only does not meet PBS Posting Guidelines but, it also violates my Requestor Conditions so, I am once again requesting that you return my credit and no, I will not return the book to you unless and until you send in advance an additional credit to cover the cost of the postage.  Thank you for your time.'

After this message I would probably just with the thought of sending it as an FYI send it to The PBS Team in case other people have similar problems with this individual.

And you might want to send them the link to this discussion thread, where we all agree that you are acting in accordance to the site rules and that the Sender is not.  It might open their eyes and have them realize that they are acting in violation of the site guidelines (which, by the way, possibly could jeopardize their membership here!)

DO you still have the wrapper it came in? If so then take photos of that showing NO water or liquid damage. That way you can show it to PBS. Make sure to show the ID number (block out your personal information).

I would not send her the book back, who can tell if she wont just repost it and send it to someone else. I would only send back books to someone I have seen on the forums.

I did contact PBS in this matter.  They were very nice about the whole thing, but they have told me all I can do is mark it unresolved, and make it clear that negotiations are done.

Whatever....It's my first real burn....I've gotten bad books, but never had to go through this to get a credit back.  Usually people gripe about it, but they give it back.

In all PBS is a great place with great members like all of you.  :)