I've not had this happen before.  I understand the process but it isn't clear what happens to the credit involved.  Can someone please enlighten me?

Thanks, Jan

You have to specifically ask for the credit back from the sender

You have to specifically ask for the credit back from the sender

Thanks for the fast reply, Mimi.  Next question:

What if they don't send the credit back?

When you PM the member, you need to explain the problem with the book, request your credit, and give them a timeframe within which to respond.  If the problem is not resolved, then you can go into your transaction archive and indicate that the problem was not resolved to your satisfaction.  You won't get the credit back unless the sender chooses to give it to you, but if you mark that the problem was not resolved, it will be on their record.  Unfortunately there is no way to force them to give your credit back, but if they have repeated complaints like this against them, they may have their account suspended.  Be sure to be polite in  your PM to them, and if you feel the need, you can reference the posting guidelines from the Help Center to explain what about the book was unacceptable.

Thanks, Lesley,

I figured that was the case since I coudn't find a definitive answer about a credit being returned.  That's a shame :(.

With any problem swap or lost book there are buttons on the right side of the Transaction Archive.  If you have a problem swap and the sender doesn't respond, responds but doesn't resolve the problem, or resolves the problem completely, you can go there and indicate the result as such.  When you click on the button there's information explaining what each option means and what the end result will be.  For your situation it sounds like you should find the sender did not resolve the problem button.  It's all in the Help Center under Follow-up on Problem swaps

eta: Holy cow I made a link straight to the little pop-up lol.  Well, there you go :)

Yes James, I did see that when nosing around.  Nowhere though does it commit to ensuring that the recipient of an unpostable book has the spent credit returned :(.

This has been discussed in the past, and there are definitely some PBS members who wish that we had a guaranteed way to get back our credit if we receive an unpostable book.

However, if this system DID exist, it could also be abused.  What would prevent someone who received a perfectly good book from saying that the book didn't meet PBS posting standards, requesting their credit back, and getting it - automatically?

I think the system works the best the way it is.  If a member accumulates several RWAP, I'm sure that PBS looks into it and closes that member's account if necessary.

I'm sure this has been discussed  more than once and most likely will be again.

As it stands now one could make the same argument, can they not?  What prevents someone from posting/sending an obviously upostable book and not honoring the recipients request for the credit to be returned?   The recipient now has a book that cannot be reposted and no real recourse.  Yes, they can mark it RWAP and maybe somewhere down the line, after a number of other folks are put in the same position, the member's account is closed.

I'm not sure what the answer to this dilemma is but the way things stand now is not ideal either.

Edited because apparently I can't type tonight :).

My experience is that when I request my credit back, and I'm really nice about it, the sender has returned my credit -- every time, I think.   The way it stands now both people have some leverage.  The sender has control of the credit, and the receiver has control of the "was this problem resolved" feedback.   You're right, it's not perfect, but it works pretty well.  My bet is you'll get your credit back.

Part of the logic, I think, is that the sender is the only one who could have known the condition of the book when he wrapped it.  If I sent a great book and it is damaged by the postal service, the receiver wouldn't know it was in good shape when it left my hands.

When I write asking for my credit back, I make the assumption in my mind that the sender was acting in good faith, that either he didn't know the rules yet, or hadn't noticed the damage.  I try not to back the person into a corner.  And sometimes, with a brand new member, I'll point them to the rules, but not ask  for my credit back. 

Most people aren't going to spend 2 or 3 bucks to mail me a book they know I am not going to want.  I don't thinking scamming plays much of a part in it.  Mostly it's inattention, or confusion about the way the site works.