Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - Questions about PaperBackSwap Questions about PaperBackSwap

Topic: Is there a way to block requests with conditions?

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
readerholic avatar
Subject: Is there a way to block requests with conditions?
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 12:53 PM ET
Member Since: 2/26/2007
Posts: 908
Back To Top

I don't feel comfortable accepting a request from someone who doesn't want a book to smell like smoke. I can never smell it on books, but unless I bought them new I can't guarantee that they didn't come from a smoking home before me. I would hate to lose a credit because my nose isn't sensitive enough! :)

I've been turning them down, but in the past few weeks at least half of my requests have been worded this way.

Just wondering if I can block these people from requesting from me again?

Thanks.

 

musyklvr avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 12:54 PM ET
Member Since: 1/5/2008
Posts: 3,558
Back To Top

no, there isn't.  you just have to continue to deny them, because they don't meet the conditions.

Tonksy avatar
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 12:58 PM ET
Member Since: 5/14/2007
Posts: 881
Back To Top

If you are not a smoker and can not smell it on your books chances are that you recipients won't either.....unless you have no sense of smell.

I understand your concern though.

mattc avatar
Matt C. (mattc) - ,
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 1:17 PM ET
Member Since: 8/13/2008
Posts: 3,849
Back To Top

I wouldn't worry too much about the smell issue.  I am extremely sensitive to cigarette smoke.  I will start coughing from just the faintest whiff, and I can smell it even when someone who has been smoking several minutes earier walks by...but I have hundreds of previously owned books and this has never been a problem.  Once I did open a box of books I'd bought on ebay, and there was a very strong smell of smoke...I was disgusted, but I aired them out and the smell was gone within a few days.

Generic Profile avatar
Standard Member medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 1:35 PM ET
Member Since: 5/10/2005
Posts: 2,979
Back To Top

I would continue to turn them down.  The only reason I send any books that have a smell-related condition is because I live with a sensative nose--and if he can't smell it no one else is going to either.  If it was just me they'd all get rejected because I'd be worried.  If he's not here, I reject.

I prefer those that say "Not currently in a smoking environment".  I consider this a MUCH better RC, and one I can personally check for.

melanied avatar
Standard Member medalMember of the Month medalBook Cover Image Group medalBook Data Correction Group medalTour Guide Leader medalBook Bazaar Coordinator medal
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 2:41 PM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
Posts: 15,234
Back To Top

Those people will not be able to request that specific book from you, but other books offers cannot be blocked. I don't think the site would ever go through the work of setting something like you are looking for up because there is no reason to assume that someone will be turning down every single book request with any or all RCs. Even a smoker can get a book from a friend or something to swap. Since they allow RCs, I can't see why they'd encourage a blanket refusal to even see them.

CK avatar
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 3:43 PM ET
Member Since: 12/25/2005
Posts: 1,413
Back To Top

I don't  have smoke smells as one of my conditions, but I do have other smells listed that I won't accept and I get turned down alot.......most with rude comments sent to me.  I mean, gosh, who would want a book that a cat has peed on or one that has a mildew smell so strong that it knocks your breath away???  The last person who turned me down said that she was insulted that I had conditions in place.

 Whenever I get a request for something I have on my bookshelf that has conditions and I'm not quite sure if my book meets them or not, I will PM the requestor and give all of my information on the book and then let the person decide if he / she still wants it.  If yes, then I mail it right away....if no...then hey, it's all good and okay.  Less frustration for myself and for the requestor.

 

patmat avatar
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 3:50 PM ET
Member Since: 12/8/2007
Posts: 1,011
Back To Top

Not all conditions are related to smell. I listed a condition of asking that the books be wrapped in plastic before being packaged and I was shocked at the "turn downs" I got over that!! So..... now I have turned off that condition request. If you blocked all requests that contain conditions, you may be denying a request for something as simple as that.

dukensa avatar
Standard Member medalMember of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Diamond medal
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 4:09 PM ET
Member Since: 8/19/2007
Posts: 1,165
Back To Top
I actually appreciated the RC I got once that said please wrap books in plastic. I had never done that before because (and this is super dumb!) I thought, "Well, it's not raining where I am." !!! Brain cramp! Now I wrap each book in a plastic bag, so that RC has changed my shipping to everybody for the better. I felt I had to turn down a recent RC that said I should use delivery confirmation because "the post office has been losing a lot of my books lately". I just wasn't comfortable with that. If only there was a crankiness blocker! Peace today, Lisa
Generic Profile avatar
Member of the Month medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 9/6/2008 4:29 PM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
Back To Top

I seriously doubt using DC will stop the post office from losing that person's books.  I have one book about to go lost. It's the only book enroute to me where the person bought DC. 

I turn down some of the smell ones-it depens on they're worded. I don't do PMs either my book meets your conditions or it doesn't. So I turn down ones that ask me to PM and give them a description.  I used to accept ones that said "not currently in a smoking environment" but I turn them down now too-dear hubby has started smoking the occassional cigar in the house now.  Better safe than sorry.  Before that it would depend on they were worded. If it just said no stong smells than I would send it out-none of my books are really smelly. But to me all books have a funky stale paper/glue smell.  So if the RCS sound really vague or super picky-I turn them down.

I don't think there should be a button to check if you don't want any RCS.  Many people have RCS that pertain only to certain books.  Like wanting a dust jacket on certain hardbacks.   And you know a lot of non-smokers would check that box just so they wouldn't have to deal with any RC at all.