I sometimes have an unpostable book that I want to get rid of (and not by throwing it out). These are seldom WL books, so posting about them in the Bazaar doesn't help. What I've been doing is putting something about the unpostable book(s) in my forum signature and on my profile, offering the unpostables for free with any order, and if no requests come, I offer the book as a free addition to people who request books in the same genre.

Recently, though, I had an unpostable book that I offered to someone who had requested a similar book, and got a very nasty response. Basically (without going into the ruder details), the requestor said that if they'd wanted more than one book, they would have ordered it, and I'm not supposed to require people to order an extra book before I send out their request. Then they canceled their original request.

Please note that I was not requiring the requestor to order a second book, but was instead offering them a free book to go with their order, and I did say in my PM that if they didn't want the extra book, I would just send their original request.

I finally found a home for the unpostable book (I gave the same offer to someone else and they accepted it), but now I'm wondering if it was wrong of me to offer the extra book. I always thought it was okay to offer a freebie, but maybe I missed something. Is there some rule about this?

Obviously that person didn't read what you said. Some people just look for reasons to get pissy with other people. Most people who don't want them would just politely turn them down. There is nothing wrong with offering freebies as long as there are no strings attached. Keep offering and ignore the cranky people.

I think they just  misunderstood what you offered them.  They probably thought you wanted them to pay a credit for the extra unpostable book.

I have done the same thing when someone orders a book from me and I have an unpostable in the same series or even just by the same author-I will PM and ask if they want those free with the one they ordered. I've never gotten a rude response even when turned down. Usually when turned down it's because they have the ones I offered already. 

Gosh!

Definitely a cranky pants who didn't read your message. There's definitely nothing wrong with freebies as long as you're not requiring anything else. I've done that a few times and I've gotten nothing more than profuse thanks.

It is never wrong to offer a free book -- I always appreciate the gesture. But what I don't appreciate, and I know you did not do this, is when people just mail me their freebies, without asking. I have gotten some aging books that I had absolutely no interest in, only now they are in my possession and I have to store them for donation or throw them out. I know the sender meant well, but I am trying to rid myself of unwanted things in general and then to have someone send me unwanted books unsolicited -- it just annoyed me!

Your offer was a kind one.  When someone responds in an illogical way, it helps me to picture them with three toddlers in diapers and a dog that just threw up behind the television.  This is one you can shrug off in good conscience.

Patty, I LOVED your response! I have taped it to the edge of my computer as a reminder that life is not always gracious and it never hurts to remember that!