To tell the condition of these books before we request them?  and can we get the address of the recipient w/o printing out the 2 pages to wrap the books?

All books that are posted to PBS must meet the book condition guidelines found here:

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/help_item.php?id=205

When you receive a book, you mark it received.  If the book does not meet posting guidelines you mark it "received with a problem" (RWAP) and have the option of asking for your cedit back.  PBS monitors members accounts and if there are too many RWAPs, the member could lose their membership.

Hi Penny- There is no way to seee the condition of a book until you receive it. We hope that all members read the Book Condition Guidelines and follow them.   Also, Here's the Help Center section on hand writing wrappers.

If you cannot (or do not wish to) print the wrapper, you may hand-write the address on your package. You will need to access the address from the request for the book on your My Account page, just the same way you would begin if you were going to print it; then just click the "hand-writing" option at the bottom to view the address that you can copy onto your package.   If you choose to hand-write the address to send a book, neither PBS Delivery Confirmation or PBS Printable postage may be used for that shipment.

Here is how to get the address:

• Click on the request for the book.
• The Wrapper Settings page will come up.
  • Choose the orientation (layout) of your wrapper
  • Scroll down and click the link to "hand-write the address"

IMPORTANT:

Be sure to include the Request ID# as part of your return address.

• this is not crucial, but it helps us locate the request if you need to communicate with us about it.

• If your package weighs 6 ounces or less, it will be less expensive to send First-Class.

Hope that this answers your questions.

If you're looking for book conditions that go above and beyond PBS's postability guidelines, you may use Requestor Conditions (RCs) to ask for them.  For example, if you only want nonsmoking books or you want hardcovers to have dust covers.  Also, RCs can be turned on or off and tailored for each request, so you can ask for specific conditions for specific books.

You're allowed to ask for anything at all, but many members are turned off by RCs that are overly long, impolite, or perceived as picky.  Short and sweet is best.  If you'd like help writing them there have been many past threads in this forum discussing RCs, or you can post your draft RC here for others to review.

And there's an option on the "print wrapper" page to print a one-page address label, if you aren't using it as your wrapper.

Thanks for all the replys!  & links.  I read the book condition guidelines (I should of read them before, the first book I sent was only read 1x so I was good there).  I use paypal shipping it's free and DC costs less.

thanks

Penny

While Paypal postage does cost less, it does not get instant credit like PBS postage does.  I do not use PBS postage on every book.  But sometimes the extra fee is worth it.  Like a form of insurance when I'm shipping media mail.  I do use it whenever I'm sending multiples or over water such as APOs, AK, HI, PR or GU. 

You also do not need to actually print the wrapper, just generate the .pdf file and copy the address from your screen.

Welcome to PBS Penny!