Hey everyone

Here is a book I recieved in the mail today.  It smells pretty bad and has staining all over it that looks really old. I'm going to try and post some pictures. What is this.....mold?

http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt162/wyattandtwins/?action=view&current=100_2276.jpg

http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt162/wyattandtwins/?action=view&current=100_2281.jpg

http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt162/wyattandtwins/?action=view&current=100_2282.jpg

Smell isn't a reason to mark it RWAP but that is definately stained and unpostable.  I would Mark it RWAP and ask for your credit back.  I don''t think I would want to touch the book with gloves - seems high the yuk factor.  I am sorry you received this...what are people thinking when they send stuff out like this.  A USB wouldn't even accept it!  Good Luck

That is foxing and very comon in older books, it happens with the aging of the paper. I will see if I can find some of the older threads that explain it well and bump them. The site has said that foxing doesn't necessarily make a book unpostable.

Here one, it explains foxing really well, but doesn't answer the postability Q, I think it was Sherry that posted on that at one point.

This book is from 1994, so its not super old. I am seriously not one to be picky about used books, but between the strong smell, the staining and the grubby feeling of the pages, I think I'm going to toss it :( First time in my life to throw out a book.  

Melanie, take a quick peek at the 3rd picture I posted if you have a chance, I think it looks pretty different from the link you posted.

Mandy - if you go further down the link there is this link i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/rubberducky102760/00Foxing.jpg.  If it didn't have a smell and you came across this then maybe.   I don't think the other thread mentioned any smell.  Also you said the pages have a grubby feeling.  With the smell and the staining texture changes of the pages - I wouldn't post it (but that is me). 

jubead

Thanks so much. The sender was nice about it and returned my credit. I went ahead and threw it away. I am pretty picky about what I post to people (less picky about what I recieve, but this one was gross)

Thanks again for the help girls, I appreciate it.

Mandy

I am happy they returned the credit.  I hope the next swap goes better.

Melanie, take a quick peek at the 3rd picture I posted if you have a chance, I think it looks pretty different from the link you posted. All three pics you posted looked like textbook cases of foxing to me. That said, just because foxing is allowed, that doesn't mean that it excuses the book from the overall "in good condition" requirement of the site. The sum total of the issues sound like they add up to not in good condition and therefore not postable. Thats something that only you, with the book in your hands, could decide. I just wanted to point out that foxing in itself does not make a book unpostable, unsavory maybe, but not inpostable. I personally would never send a book in that condition without first PMing the receiver, its just too much of a shock to get that heavy of foxing to send it to someone unawares.  Glad you got your credit back.

That is definitely gross looking. I have received probably 50 books in this club since the beginning of this year and I have to say that with the exception of one or two, the ones I received literally look almost new. I would have gagged if I opened that up. Good thing the sender gave your credit back - they must have thought it was bad themselves but took a chance that you wouldn't care.

It looks like foxing to me too. So, your book isn't stained.

Foxing is completely independant of mold, though. If the book is moldy or mildewy, the proper thing to do is RWAP. Mold and mildew are not allowed in books on PBS.

Was the back cover, on the inside stained? If so that does not sound like foxing to me...

Hey Kim

Yes, inside front and back cover also stained

For what it's worth, almost all of the books I've seen with foxing have had brown discolorations of the inside covers to go along with it. I think it's part of the aging process for many books.

It looks like either foxing or shelf burn (when the paper reacts with the acid content of the shelf the book is stored on).  As others mentioned, neither of these effects have anything to do with mildew, mold or staining.  If your book is mildewy, the staining you are looking at is likely not the source.  If the book feels grubby, or smells of mildew, I wouldn't send it out, but the foxing alone would likely not be a problem.

For the sake of clarification, I just sent a PM asking TBTB if they have an official stance on foxing & shelf burn, as neither are addressed in the help documents (IIRC).

A 15-year-old mass market paperback, printed on cheap paper as they usually are, is likely to have foxing. If it bothers you that much, perhaps you should request newer editions or simply set conditions for the books you request. The sender is out postage and a credit even though he or she followed current PBS guidelines, as far as I can tell from the photos. Did you remember to go to your transaction archive and mark the problem resolved?

If you find that many of the used books you receive from PBS members don't live up to your expectations, you might be happier ordering books from Half.com or Amazon Marketplace, where sellers are able to describe the exact condition of the book.

Jan

Well...I love this site and have been very pleased with the books I have recieved. Like I said, I am not a picky person when it comes to used books and don't have high "expectations"...I read 2-4 books a week, and have for years...all used...I go to thift shops, Goodwill, and the used bookstores in town, and order books for myself and my little boys from amazon marketplace, half.com, ebay. Books are anywhere from newly released all the way to 40 years plus and this is the first I have come across in this condition.

Thanks

Take care