I received a book today that I don't think I'm going to be able to use.  I wanted it for my son to read as part of his homeschooling, but I don't think I would consider it a "textbook."  Is it a textbook just because you will be using it for school?  It's a Penguin Classics paperback. 

It is so marked up (a LOT of blue ink in the text and margins -- mostly in the specific parts we need), I don't see how we can use it.  I certainly couldn't repost it.  I didn't receive a PM about the condition, or I could have told her we couldn't use it. And also, I don't think she considered it a textbook, since she didn't send the PM. 

I feel terrible about complaining to someone so soon in my membership.  When I was looking for the book, no one else had it.  I still have two credits left, so I *could* request it from someone else if I found it again. 

I know I'm doing a lot of whining here -- I've received three books now.  One was in great shape, one was "broken" (possibly in shipping) and now this. 

But my main question really is "what is a textbook?"  Is it anything someone might use for schooling, or those from school book publishers? 

there are various things that could be used as textbooks but I would think they would be more conventional type text books.

do not be afraid to ask for your credit back.  books are not supposed to have any writing in them unless the sender PM's the receiver to ask if it is ok on textbooks and cookbooks only.  This person broke the rules by sending the book.

What Leslie said.  I've had this happen too, and it is very frustrating.  If you did not agree to the marked up book in advance via PMs, it should be marked as "Received with a problem", and you may contact the sender to request a refund of your credit.  The Help Center text says:

<<No writing or highlighting on text pages

Exception: if it is a textbook or workbook, these are expected to have highlighting/writing

• if you post a textbook/workbook, the condition must be described to the requestor in a Personal Message
• AND the described condition MUST BE AGREED TO before the book is sent
• This is the one of the ONLY two cases in which a PM exchange about a book is required before the book can be sent(the other is for cookbooks--see below)

If you receive a book with an "official" problem as listed below, you should mark it received with a problem to note this on the sender's record and contact the sender for your credit refund.

"Official" problems (Wrong books/Inappropriate items, Damaged books, Damaged by USPS books, and books that violate Requestor Conditions) are marked as such during the process of marking the book received.>>

To be more clear, if it isn't a "textbook", it shouldn't have writing on the text pages at all.  If it is, and there's writing in it, the sender needs to get your approval before sending.

For more details and instructions, see the Help Center :-)

Cheers,

Catt

Thanks for the responses.  They are much appreciated. 

I know what I have to do -- I just didn't want to.  :-(

I would be mortified if someone received an unpostable book from me.

I consider a textbook anything used for school, although my definition may be a little liberal.

Well we can "consider" any book a Text Book, but the rules are pretty specific about what a swap with a Text Book with writing or highlighting in it. There must be a meeting of the minds. and for a meeting of the minds there must be an exchange of PMs. No PM, no meeting. No meeting, no fair! Please mark it Received With a Problem. As for asking for your credit back, I too think it is a hard thing to do, but the one time I just had to do it, I was met with a bit of resistance, but they did refund me.

I don't think an unabridged work of fiction is a textbook.  But in any event, as other people have said, even if it is a textbook it cannot be sent with underlining etc. unless you approve it in advance.  Definitely mark received with problem.

Regardless of whether you agree that the book is a textbook or not, the sender is still obliged to describe the condition before sending the book.  They didn't, so you should get your credit back.

I've marked it "received with a problem" and sent the PM.  I also found another problem while I was looking for another copy (which I did find, and have already requested and it's been accepted), and added that to the comments.  I really hope I get my credit back! 

I just wanted to say that I've already heard from the sender and she was wonderful.  It was apparently an honest mistake and she was very sweet about it.