This afternoon I got a request for a sci-fi book I have posted. It may be a paperback, but probably it is one I got from SFBC many years ago, read once, and stored away.

I have never seen such a list before.

It started with the usual stuff, smoking, Then it listed the things it would not accept if it were a hardback. Among them were instructions how to determine if it was a bookclub edition, in that case, not acceptable. Then there were specifications about the dust jacket. no creases, no dirt, on and on.

There was also a long list of unacceptables if the book was a paperback, but I didn't even read them. I said mine did not meet conditions, and in the required box just said, too many to even read them all.

Hopefully, this will not offend the High Council and get me dragged before the Grand Inquisitor, but holy moley, even before I read the paperback part I have seen virtually every hardback excluded except one either brand new or carefully read only once.

Comments?

I generally shy away from the laundry lists as well and just leave the generic "does not meet conditions" comment and move on to the next person in line.  There are far too many other people that want books to worry about one person with extensive RCs.

I just did the same thing this week for a very popular, but not WL book. I figured I would never get another request for it, but guess what?  Someone else asked for it and I mailed it out on Friday so the karma is flowing despite me denying someone their request.

With a long list of conditions, I don't bother to read them all, I just decline.  Someone that picky should be buying their books new.

You can edd me to the long list of people who would pass on an RC like that - regardless of whether my book met conditions or not. I've gotten to the point where, if my copy of a book does happen to be in like new condition, I'd rather surprise a member without "fussy" RC's, that send it to someone who is demanding all their books be in excellent condition. JMHO

I don't even read long RCS like that.  If you need more than a couple of sentences, short paragraph max,  in a RC than you are too picky for me and need to buy new.  I just decline.

(I do accept APO/FPO RCs though-they're long but mandatory and so I know it's not a picky person)

Nope. I wouldn't even read it all.  I know everybody has the "right" to have whatever RC they want, but IMO that's ridiculous.  If you just have to have a perfect book of exactly the edition you want, go buy the darn thing.  <rolling my eyes>

As long as the RCs are clearly yes/no RCs like you have mentioned (no smoking, dustjacket, no creases, no dirt, no BCE) and not "no smells" type RCs I've got no problems with reading them. I've got plenty of books that are like new or new. Never been burned by sending to people with RCs yet.

You shouldn't have to read a book of RC's to send a book!

They have a right to have them, you have a right to not send your book.

Hopefully, this will not offend the High Council and get me dragged before the Grand Inquisitor

Why would you think that it would? You're always allowed to decline requestor conditions, even if your book actually meets the conditions, as long as you do it politely.

Why would you think that it would? 

I don't think he referring to the fact that he turned it down, but that he is complaining about the person have such an RC.

I would have no problem with the RC but I often get duplicate brand new books that have never been read.

So glad I just stumbled upon this thread.  I too just turned down a request with some prettyy specific RC's and I was actually feeling a little guilty.  I'm farily new to PBSwap and I was worried that I was being "mean!" lol

Yes you have offend the High Council \and  and get you will dragged before the Grand Inquisitor tomorrow.  Prepare for your time before the Grand Inquisitor as no one has escaped yet and if found guilty of charges against the High Council you will be forced to.....well if I tell you here you might want to escape :)

Any good sci-fi buff knows the High Council and Grand Inquistor are great and mighty councils or well I could have just made all that  up. 

The RC lists sounds a little over the top...if someone is that picky,  I would suggest they buy new :)

Does one have to give a reason for declining?   It looks like we do, but what if I didn't? 

Sarah , you can't leave it blank, you can't get past the screen with the field blank but I have seen people who just put some blank spaces or a . or other character. Personally I wish they would remove the requirement of a reason, I'd rather not require people to give a reason that have the snottiness people feel they have a right to dole out when they deem someone too picky.

There is a text box for entering a reason for declining. There is no need to write a novel about it or a snarky messsage (the message does go to the book requestor) .... a simple "does not meet conditions" is perfectly fine.

I figured the "reason for declining" part was a request/demand for a specific explanation. I don't think I was anywhere near my usual snarky natural self, but I did comment slightly critically about the annotated catalog of specifications a book had to have.

And I am a little bit shy of The Grand Inquisitor, having been there before. He or She tells you right off that you have been found guilty, and your sentence is indefinite. You are further cautioned that you can ask one short question, but not to protest, and if The Inquisitor doesn't like your attitude you can be permanently excommunicated.

I had one today that had about a dozen requirements to be met. My book probably would have met them, but I am very leery of RCs with so many conditions that I turned it down with a simple "no thank you." I don't think they wanted to hear that when I get an RC like that, there is no way I am going to risk the credit, the cost of mailing only to be met with a RWAP because the other member is checking for dog-earred pages, any smell whatsoever, any wear on the page edges, and on and on and on... Those are the RCs that invite a snarky decline, but I restrained myself!

I don't generally mind RC's, but have little patience for the long laundry list format.  I allow myself a short attention span for these.  After a couple sentences my attention begins to wander and my mouse hand drifts towards the 'decline' button.

BTW - members wishing to shorten their RC's should feel free to ask.  There are PBS members very gifted in this area, and are usually happy to help.

Like the BCE (Book Club Editions), I totally suck at spotting those.  But if you want to exclude BCE, adding pointers on how to spot them is probably a good idea.  But refer to it in the RC, then move the explanation to the bottom instead of taking up space in the middle.  And remember to add your contact information in case a posting member has a question.

If the RC is more than a few sentences, I don't accept.   I find people who write RCs that are a paragraph or more are picky.  I don't want to end up with a RWAP so I'd rather swap the book with someone without a long involved RC.

I really like the "reason for declining" reply box, because that gives us opportunity for feedback.  I've seen threads on this very discussion board from people who changed their RC due to some well-written refusals.  How are people going to realize that they are being refused because of too long or unclear conditions unless we tell them?  :)  Some may still not change, but at least we have given them every opportunity to work within the system, kwim?

I'm glad I read this thread!

I've been on the fence about sending a WL book to someone.  It only had 1 wisher, but then I got a laundry list of requester conditions from him/her.  The book is new but I hate to send it to someone so picky!!   So I am thinking of canceling the request & allowing someone else to get it.