Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - Questions about PaperBackSwap Questions about PaperBackSwap

Topic: Water damaged book received

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
psychobabbler avatar
Subject: Water damaged book received
Date Posted: 5/13/2008 3:27 PM ET
Member Since: 8/25/2007
Posts: 13,134
Back To Top

 

This is from a friend who joined PBS recently.  She received a book with obvious water damage.  These are the PM exchanges:

This is what I wrote to her when I received my book...

I received the book I requested today. There was quite a lot of water damage to this book. At least the last 100 or so pages were crinkled obviously from some sort of liquid. While the book is still readable, it is not acceptable according to PBS standards. Therefore, I will not be able to repost this book. I would appreciate a refund of my credit. Thank you.
This is what she replied to me. 
 
I recieved that book in a previous trade in the same condition. Since the book is still readable I didn't feel that it was in bad condition. There is no writing in the book, the covers are intact, and it is readable.
 
I then replied...
 
The PBS guidelines state that a book is unpostable if the book has any water damage at all, stains, mold, writing, torn covers, etc. The guidelines leave no room for doubt. It is not a personal judgement call. It does not matter that this book is still readable. This book does not meet PBS standards and should not have been posted and sent to you and then forwarded on in future trades. I will not list this book on my bookshelf so I have no chance of getting a future credit for it. I also do not feel that I should have to pay return postage to return a damaged book. I simply would like my credit refunded.
She just got back to me and sent the following message...
 

I have returned your credit to you. But please to not ask to recieve anymore books from me because I'm sure you will not be happy with them. I would rather you have to wait longer to recieve a book you are happy with than to recieve one immediately that you are not satisfied with. I would have been happy to pay you the $3 to ship the book back to me. But you seem set on getting a credit instead. I also have other Hannah Swanson Mystery books (I saw them on your wishlist) that I would have been willing to send free to you to for the inconvenience. After you read the book if you still want to get rid of it please contact me and we can make arrangements to get the book back to me. I know there are many people out there who would be more than happy for the chance to read that book

**I think she needs to report this because it seems that this member is stating she intends to post a book that is clearly in violation of the rules.   What do you think?

 

voodidit avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 5/13/2008 3:33 PM ET
Member Since: 10/27/2005
Posts: 503
Back To Top

Where there actual liquid stains on the wrinkled pages? I  have bought several new books in thepast few months that by the time I was done reading them the pages where wavy. i think quality of a lot of new books has gone down a lot in the recent past.

annakanga avatar
Limited Member medalMember of the Month medal
Date Posted: 5/13/2008 4:09 PM ET
Member Since: 2/28/2007
Posts: 2,164
Back To Top

Weeellll...Dawn, I think you are probably right, she is probably posting other books that break the guidelines.  However, she doesn't really say that outright in any of her PMs.  She could argue that no, she isn't posting other nonpostables, rather, she asked your friend not to request any more books from her because she thinks your friend is overly picky about book conditions.  Does that make sense?

I am not sure I'd report her.  It sounds like the person handled the situation appropriately (giving the credit back).  Beyond that, I'd suggest that your friend sends her a reply thanking her for the credit return and a link to the posting guidelines for this person to review.

ETA:  OH WAIT.  I re-read the last part of her PM and I see what you are saying now.  Still, she hasn't re-posted this book yet.  I'd still just send her the link to the posting guidelines and give her a gently, "Hey, your books have to be in this condition to post them here or you will get lots of complaints and PBS may eventually suspend your account."



Last Edited on: 5/13/08 4:11 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
Cattriona avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Gold medal
Date Posted: 5/13/2008 4:50 PM ET
Member Since: 7/7/2007
Posts: 4,815
Back To Top

Don't return the book (you're not required to do so) and you won't have to worry about her reposting it.  Some folks just don't get it when it comes to PBS conditions, unfortunately.

Cheers,

Catt

Generic Profile avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 5/13/2008 6:24 PM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
Back To Top

Once the complaints start piling up she'll get the picture.  Hopefully this was a one time thing for her.  I'm not sure I'd report her. She's already been reported as having sent a bad book.  I don't think there's much PBS can do unless she gets more complaints.