im confused as to what happens in this situation. i mean, i wrapped the book and taped it as best i can.  i know that ppl recommend plastic and i have started doing that but being new, i read the directions and did what i know was required.  now a book has arrived damaged and i have a check mark w/ a break at that transaction. does that mean that i didnt get my credit?

so am i correct in understanding that even if you have wrapped a book fine (and i see it happening regardless of wrapper used..in previous threads) that *I* am still responsible for it getting to the requestor in good condition. I thought once it was out of my hands and as long as i wrapped according to guidelines, i was all good.  

now i am having to reconsider. i hate to drop membership here but man, it sucks to be out the postage, and the book, and not get a credit just b/c of something the USPS did (and im assuming that break in teh check mark means i did NOT get my credit). 

You will get your credit.  If a book arrives damaged, you may be asked by the recipient to refund the credit, but in this case he/she probably won't since it was the USPS' fault.

One of the options is "USPS damaged book". I would say chalk it up to experience and move forward.

Alex,

If you check your Credit Registry (click on your account and you'll see it), you'll find a record of your credits. Senders do receive their credit for problem transactions. 

Occasionally books are damaged by USPS in spite of good packaging.  Just make sure that your books are not moving around within their wrappers, well-wrapped, and well-taped using packaging tape (not gift wrapping/cellophane tape).

The PBS Help Center contains a lot of information that can help you learn the ins-and-outs of PBS. 

You will get your credit. If you had it wrapped according to PBS suggestions (wrapped tight and use packing tape not general "scotch" tape) then it is not your fault and you don't have to return the credit. If the damage could be attributed to poor wrapping, it is usually recommended you return the credit. The USPS can be extremely hard on books, some routes they seem to beat them more than others. Chalk it up to a learning experience and move on. One mark against you will won't hurt you.

You'll still get your credit.  I had rec'd a book that was blatantly obvious that it was the fault of the USPS.  I had makred it rec'd that way.  Somehow the sender was notified and asked if she could do anything (like give me a credit back) but I declined because I could tell it was the USPS and not her at fault.

Books damaged by the USPS won't cause you to lose your credit,  but it's good to know so, where possible or necessary, you can make changes in the way you wrap.

thanks everyone.  i just cant believe how much the book was apparently damaged by the usps.

Alex,

Ever since reading one of your first posts, if not your first post, you have been saying that maybe you shouldn't be a member, maybe it's too much hassle, maybe people will withhold credits from you, maybe you should drop your membership if "this" or "that" is or is not going to happen.

There are thousands of people here, and mulitple times that in transactions, and, as you can see from the counter at the top of the page, nearly 2 million books.  Simply put, the odds are, with that many people and that many books and transactions, stuff is going to go wrong.  There is NO WAY around that.

So, I'm going to tell you, right now, a few things.  During the course of your membership here, you will receive an unpostable book that you spent a credit on, and you wont get that credit back.  You will send a nearly new book to someone, and they will tell you it's unpostable and demand a credit back and mark it RWP, leading you to worry if your membership is in jeapardy.  You will send a book to someone and it will go lost.  You will be waiting for a book and it wont show up, ever, tho another will, in 7 months.  You will post something that will touch a nerve and folks will jump on you and you will feel bad.  You will, the next day, post something that will cause all those same people to offer support, encouragement and sympathy, so you will not feel alone.  You will package a book wrong.  You will forget to put postage on a book before you drop it in a blue bin.  You will send the wrong book to someone.  You will receive the wrong book.  And you know what, you will never be alone.  We've all done these things, often, more than once. 

I want to take this time to encourage you to stop looking for the bad to happen and just enjoy the site, the books and the people here.

edited for typos and punctuation

The only USPS damaged book I've gotten, it looked like they'd tried to fold the book in thirds, like a letter!  I didn't think that was possible to do with a 400 page book but apparently it is.  I didn't even mark it as damaged because I could tell it was damaged in transit and not by the sender.

Don't worry...it is discouraging to have a book lost. I've been a member only for 2 months, and I had 2 books that were in excellent condition go missing. But at least 50 I sent arrived successfully.

I made 2 changes:

I read over a thread on wrapping books so that I could get better at it. It really does matter!

I decided to buy Delivery Confirmation for almost every book, by clicking on that button when I print up the address page. I automatically get the credit whether it arrives or not, and it  only cost a little extra. I do this because most of my books have a lot of value, since I am usually the first owner, and the condition is often like new.

The best part is accumulating credits and going shopping for great books. My husband is a very fast reader, and  I just put together a bookshelf from PBS trades that will take him through the summer. We're both happy :)

So keep at it, and PM me if you want to chat.

Regards,

Rose

Check the thread that is  a few lines down from  this one called "How to package your books". I'm definitely not saying you don't package well, because the PO is horrible  with Media Mail. But I always read them and learn more tips. It just makes me feel better to know  that I'm doing all  I can do, within reason, to assure the books arrives intact. Then if it happens again,  you can go and discuss at the PO.

Have a great day!

Rose