Ugh. Newbie here, and boy did I get an eyeful today.

First package - readers advance copy instead of the hard cover large print that goes with the ISBN. Truly, I prefer what I received (I wasn't planning on reposting anyway) but I know it is a no-no and I should mark as RWAP.

Second package - water damaged book. Can't have happened in transit because the paper wrapping was perfect and it was plastic encased inside.

Third package - broken spine - book not yet losing pages but only a matter of time. (Not wholly a surprise, it is an old book printed in 1982, but still, it is obvious, the glue has completely split at that point. If the sender opened the book they could not have missed it. And if the sender looked at the spine, they would have suspected.)

But, I'm NEW - can I really mark 3 out of 4 arrivals today (3 out of about 12 total I've received so far) as RWAP? I'm going to look like a nit-picking complainer. The only one I mind is the water damaged one, it is a new author I'm going to try out and I was hoping to repost if I don't care for it. The other two were going to have permanent homes with me anyway... I suppose the best thing for PBS is for me to honestly report these but would it be ok if I just report the two I don't mind as received and give PBS the information in the comment section? I don't think I'm up to 3 potential confrontations.....

Advice welcome... I'll have deal with this tomorrow. Tonight I'm only going to think about the 4th package. 4 books, - all just fine, one in brand new condition (already marked RECEIVED and a grateful thank you posted to sender)/

I think you should go right ahead and mark them RWAP because that's what they are.  If you are ever questioned by the site owners, just explain.  They are really nice and would understand.  It does no one any good to NOT mark RWAP when they ARE a problem.  If you don't mine the ARC - I understand.  But the next time she send an ARC she might say "well the last one I sent was fine."

Don't sweat having a "black" mark - the guys here understand most situations.

 I would mark them as the rules say you should, and I know it is a bother but I would message the senders so they at least know about the issue!

I mention the last part because I am new as well and even though I think I read all the rules over and over and know them, and I know I check my books so so well. Every time I read an issue, I worry, was it one of my books! LOL Did I miss something? I never can remember who I send them too and if I run to go check, I feel silly for being so so worried. Am I the only one that gets worried they might have missed something even though they are sure they know all the rules and check things well?

Mark them as RWAP.  If you said something like "there appears to be what might be a 2 millimeter pencil mark, that had been erased on page 72" you might look like nitpicker, but these problems are pretty clear and do not appear to be in ambigious zone.

Hopefully, these will be the only three bad books you get at PBS.

I agree--mark them as RWAP. It's the only way that the PBS "powers that be" will know that a person is sending unacceptable books. Send a PM explaining why you are marking it as such and quote the PBS posting guidelines. If the person is breaking the rules sending you an ARC, a water-damaged book and a book with a cleaved spine, what are they sending to other folks? We have to each individually police these bad trades because you just don't know what else that person is sending to others.

You're not only helping PBS weed out bad traders who are out to get a credit any way they can but also perhaps educating people who didn't deliberately set out to scam you, but just hadn't bothered to read the guidelines...although both "not an ARC" and "no water damage" are clearly on the popup when you post a book, so I guess those folks get an F in reading comprehension. :=D

Welcome to PBS, and I do hope your run of bad luck improves!

Cheryl

Don't worry about marking them RWAP.  If the books are unpostable, that is what you are supposed to do.  You've just had a run of bad luck.  In the future, the large majority of books that you receive should be fine and it will all even out.

I do have a quick question about the book with a broken spine, though.   It's a fine line of distinction, but books with broken spines ARE postable at PBS.   It's books with cleaved spines that aren't (where there is actually a separation between the pages and you can see through to the inside of the spine of the book.  Specifically, the book condition guidelines only allow books with no separation on the inside or outside of the book.   It sounds like the book you are describing has that separation, so it would be unpostable.

Wow--a hat trick of bad books.  Definitely mark RWAP. 

Marking RWP helps get rid of the bad senders.  I'm sorry you had so many at the beginning.  I've received around 300 books (not counting BOB transactions and freebies) and I I've only had to mark maybe 5 as RWP.  I've received quite a few that I wouldn't have posted but I didn't feel were bad enough for an RWP.  I just wanted to point out that in the long run you'll receive many more nice postable books then bad ones. You just happened to get a chunk in the beginning.

Thanks everyone,

I guess I knew that was what I should do, but I'm not looking forward to it.  

And thanks for the encouraging words, I've received wonderful books here already, and don't really need the encouragement, I'm hooked.  It just seemed like a bit much yesterday night. 

(As for the broken spine question posed above - about midway through the book, the pages completely separate (glue broken, can see the through to the spine) except for at an inch at the bottom. )

Thanks again, and happy reading!

M.E.M.

I'm sorry you had such a bad run so early. I just wanted to commend you on being so well versed in the site guidelines, despite being so new.

Yes, definitely do RWAP so PBS has it on record.  It's up to you if you want to ask for your credits back.  I definitely would for the water damage.

It's not your fault that the senders didn't follow the rules.