just had a first for me. somebody requested that they receive a book that had never been exposed to a horse. I couldn't tell if it was serious or a joke. denied request. The book was used so I had no way of knowing whether it had been exposed to a horse.

I didnt know horse's could read...LOL

I didnt know horse's could read

that was my thought. altho I think mr Ed might have been able to read.

That's going to be a tough one unless the book was bought new. But always take RCs as meant seriously no matter what they say. They are not meant to be used as a place for jokes, they are meant to tell a sender what the receiver needs. If someone has severe horse allergies, I guess they need an RC like that and will take what they can get.

I know RC's are meant to be taken seriously Melanie , I just counldnt resist....

Charles, MR ED could talk so I'm sure he could read...LOL

I thought later after I said that about Mr Ed, I wonder if anybody will know who that was. I guess I'm not as old as I thought I was.

I know RC's are meant to be taken seriously Melanie , I just counldnt resist....

I know you were Lisa  I was referring to Charles comment in the OP that he couldn't tell if it was serious or a joke. There are some doozies of RCs out there that seem they surely must be jokes.  But the requesters appear to have written them in all seriousness. We take them seriously on the transaction,  joke about them in the forums

Charles, I know who Mr Ed, the talking horse was!   

W-i-i-i-l-l-l-b-e-r !!

Pretty sure Mr Ed could talk cause one episode he had to get glasses!

I just got this one that I found unusual.   Not difficult, just unusual.

I am not willing to accept former library books or well-worn books at this time, nor do I want publications that came inside kid's meals or cereal boxes. Thanks!

A mechanic I used once had a sign up asking to be notified if the car owners had horses. One of the employees was *very* allergic to horses. Of course, I didn't see the sign until I went to pick up the car...

Mr Ed was amazing! I chose a palomino for my first horse because of Mr Ed. Had my horse til she died of old age at nearly 31.I sure miss her.

I had one today that said Do Not Send Audiobooks.

Um, okay, but how about you don't order them and I won't send them?

I guess they're worried that the database has the wrong format...? That really is a weird one.

Sometimes the book type is "unknown," which could explain the "please don't send audiobooks," if you add every edition to your WL.

nor do I want publications that came inside kid's meals or cereal boxes.

Would those even have ISBN numbers? I wonder how many tiny books you need to get smelling of Froot Loops before you decide enough is enough and write up a RC.

They don't have to have ISBNs to be posted. At a thrift store I found a $.25 unabridged Magic Tree House audio book from a fast food place. I'm sure a lot of people would want it if I weren't saving it for my grandson.

Quite honestly (and I know this thread is meant to be funny) my sister lives in an apartment inside a horse barn. She herself smells like a horse (which is a pleasant smell to me) and everything she owns probably has horse in it. I occasionally lend her books and then post them when I get them back. If I was posting one of her books to this person, I would decline the RC. So there is a real example. :)

In the last few years General Mills has partnered with Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing to put bilingual books in there boxes.  I though they were original books created just for the cereal but I could be wrong.  My nieces love them.  The few I've gotten have had ISBN's, and are about the size of the kids paperback you can get at Walmart for 3.50 the ez level readers.  They might be a little wider but they are a real sized paperback.  Here is one we have, they are marked on the cover of the book http://www.paperbackswap.com/Lost-Found-Balloon-Celeste-Jenkins/book/1442467002/.  I also know Mc Donald's partnered with scholastic to do some in their happy meals recently too and again my nieces loved this.  I don't remember if they had ISBN's though I do know they were just like regular scholastic books.  Any books you get through Kellogg's when they partner with scholastic comes from a special scholastic site and was not actually in the box you just have to get codes from certain boxes that allows you to get the book from the scholastic site.  They have always been regular sized kids books with isbn's.  Also all books that I've gotten out of kids cereals have been factory sealed and always outside of the factory sealed cereal pouch.  So they don't actually smell in any way.  Seems to me that in that one they might be thinking they are cheaper quality.

Today I got the first RC that I just think I'm going to say my book does not fit.  I actually have the only copy in the system for this book but I just don't know about this RC it seems really nit picky and I'm not sure I'm comfortable sending.  Is it just me or does it come off condescending and picky.  I believe my book is still in like new condition heck I haven't even read it cause I didn't realize it was a second in a series and now I just have no interest in reading the series.  This just seems excessive too me, especially the telling how long I should take to mail!

"Every book listed is supposed to be in generally good condition but some senders seem to have a loose definition of good condition. Please read those conditions carefully before agreeing. What I do consider acceptable wear includes page yellowing, page curling (not folding) ,reading creases but not cracks on spine). Unacceptable damage includes any books with tobacco odor, damaged spines, splits, tears, loose pages, water damage,  dog ears, writing , stickers, or peel spots on the cover. Bar code stickers over bar codes are acceptable.  Audio books should be unabridged CDS only.  I try to mail promptly -M-F Non-holiday and would appreciate prompt mailing in return, within 4 mailing days, M-F non-holiday."

I might have to let this one digest over night, I feel I need to fully let these conditions stew before I can make a decision ; )  I think I'm most hung up on the mailing thing.  I'm  100% sure my books is ok to send but then what if she gets it and finds some small minute flaw!  I might be over thinking this one but this is the first RC I've gotten that has ever made me question sending a book I know is in good condition.

I would decline, because this requestor's conditions read like a contract.  What you and others think is acceptable for a used book gives the requestor reason enough to receive the book and still demand their credit back if it's not to their specifications.

Although the RC is rather long and more detailed than most, I don't have a problem understanding them and think that they are fairly clear.  Most of the conditions are simply reiterating things in Book Condition Criteria for 'Swappability' at PBS. The only things that are subjective are "tobacco odor", and possibly spine condition and the extent of "peel spots". The RC distinguishes between reading creases and cracks or splits; the latter are not the same as "reading creases" and in most cases not difficult to determine if a book meets the RC, although this could be a gray area. The extent or degree of "peel spots" on the cover may also be subjective, but I don't think the RC is unclear. Dog ears, stickers, and no tears are additional conditions, but are not subjective.

I may be in a minority here, but personally I would not have a problem checking the book and sending to this member.

I think a lot of requester conds are sort of in the form of a rant detailing past problems and complaining about things from the past.