What are the odds that every time one of my wishlist books comes up--it's been turned down for requestor conditions? Well, for me, pretty darn good. Every single time I've had a book on wishlist, it's been turned down. I have one condition--that states "I will not accept books currently in a smoking environment." That's it. I'm not overly picky. I'm not asking that I know the entire history of where a book has been before it's come to someone's house. I've been turned down once because the book was in the home of a smoker. Every other time, the person has written that they don't know where the book was before it came to me and that it might have been in the home of a smoker. Well yeah, it might have, but that's not what my request says. I don't know how to make my condition any clearer and I don't think it's an unreasonable one. As long as the book is in a home where no one smokes now, I'm fine with it. Maybe I should just get rid of my condition all together. I'm just venting because gosh darn it, I see other people getting wishlist books, and every time I get all excited and accept that I want one of my wishlist books, it's been turned down.

if you don't want to remove them, consider bolding and underlining currently.  obviously these people are not really reading your RC fully and missing that very important word.  I have that same RC and have that underlined and italicized.  I think I have only had 1 person turn me down

I am one of those folks who will not send to someone with a vague condition about smoking, but yours is very precise and I would definitely send to you.  Sorry you are having trouble, hopefully you will find understanding senders soon.

Katrina

If I were you I would bold the word currently and then I would add books from thrift stores, garage sales, FOL, etc... are fine,   Maybe you could also add that if they are unsure, to please accept and PM you with the details and if you decide against it you will decline.  I don't smoke but hubby does smoke a cigar sometimes at night, my books are stored in another smokeless room so given those instructions I would probably accept and PM you to see if that would be ok. 

I have the exact same RC and I've only been turned down once and that person smoked.  Obviously someone wasn't actually reading the condition.

Good idea about the underlining and bolding or otherwise making it stand out. I've received some books that did have a smoke smell, but it wasn't a big deal and actually did dissipate within a few days of being aired out. But when I'd gotten books (from a relative who did smoke in her home), the smell was much much stronger and that's what I didn't want to deal with.

And I understand about vague conditions. I got one that said didn't want a book with any odors and I had to turn it down because well, I think any book picks up the odors of the house it's in and smell different depending on where they've been. So that was why I tried to make mine as specific as possible.

Please do not ask for a PM.   No one should be required to PM before sending a book.   I read conditions carefully and will always send a book if said book meets the conditions - but not IF I must PM first.   While I am all for conditions and think they should fit your needs, a PM should not be necessary.

If some of the senders are like me, they may get a book, read it in a day or two, and then repost it.  So, even though they don't smoke, the book could have spent months in a smoking home before the 2 days it spent in mine.   I would assume that the effects of months in a possibly smoking home would far outweigh the two days in my nonsmoking home.  It's just too much to hastle with, especially when it's a WL book that you know the next person will be happy to receive - condition free. 

In 2 years here, and over 300 books I think I've gotten 2 or 3 that have smelled strongly of smoke.  I would much rather accept 1% of my books reeking of smoke than losing out on WL books because of a condition that makes people feel uncomfortable.  Unless you're allergic t smoke, I would seriously  consider removing the condition.

Also, you might want to consider changing the wording from "I will not accept" to Please, no....". Maybe it is just me, but the whole "I will not accept" thing just rubs me the wrong way.

Eg:

"I will not accept books currently in a smoking environment."

"Please, no books currently in a smoking environment."

Either way, I am going to turn you down, but only because I am a smoker :-)

Good luck, I hope you get some WL books soon!

I just turn down all requests that have anything to do with smoking.  My husband still smokes -- mostly outside, sometimes inside.  He's only home one or two days a month, but he's still "allowed" to smoke in this house when he comes home. 

I quit two years ago, so the books I owned have spent many, many years "in a smoking environment" and I've never smelled smoke on any of them.  I also don't smell smoke on books from friends who smoke. 

So I just figure some people have a better nose for these things than I do and decline to be on the safe side. 

Oh Cari--I like that suggestion of making it more positive. I too respond better to things worded in a more positive fashion. I was using it the way it was written when it explained how to write requestor conditions.

I am allergic to smoke if I'm in a room with it but I don't know that it would hurt me otherwise. I wonder if I put the books in a box with some activated charcoal if that would help draw the smell out? If I did that, I could handle not having conditions.

Barbara, I had some problems with that when I first set up my RCs as well.  I reworked them based on a lot of the feedback I was reading on the forums, and since then I have not had any problems.  I think how you say things matters as much as what you say- a polite request goes over a lot better than a blunt statement of what you do/don't want.  My conditions also have to do with smoking odors, and I have yet to receive a problem book in that area.  If this helps, you can take a look at what mine says and use whatever might help you- you can even rip off the whole thing if you want, I don't care!

Thanks for checking out my conditions!  They are pretty simple:

- I'd prefer books that are not from smoking households.

- If your book is used and your household is non-smoking, please just use your good judgement.  If it doesn't smell to you, it probably won't to me either. 

- Please, no books with pet odors!

Thanks!

Good luck Barbara!

Lesley

Lesley, I'd have some problems with your RCs.

"I'd prefer"....well, will you accept them or not?  If you will, it shoudn't be an RC, and if you won't, please be clear.

Maybe it is just me, but the whole "I will not accept" thing just rubs me the wrong way.

I'm kind of the same way. I'd recommend:

If your home is a non-smoking home, please send the book!

Thank you for your considration!

Simple, straightforward, friendly.

Thanks for the feedback Kayote.  I've never had anyone bring that up before or have a problem with my condition, and the only people who have declined my conditions are people who smoke, which is what I want anyway.  Do you have any suggestions how this could be better worded?

Not that I want to start a debate over wording, lol, remembering that a few of those have come up in the past- I know everyone has their own preferences as to wording.  I do appreciate hearing other points of view though.

Lesley

I have similar problems with smoke; if it helps, my RCs are worded as:

"I am sorry but, due to severe asthma, I am unable to accept books which smell strongly of smoke, mildew or mold.  (Dust or pet hair are fine.)  ... Thank you for your understanding."

I know the example statements in the RC area use "I am not willing to accept", but I agree that it comes off sounding a bit harsh.

Cheers,

Catt

I agree, just changing it to "Please, no books currently in a smoking environment" makes a big difference in tone.

I got a non-smoking condition that sounded really strident and even though the books were new and had never been around smoke, I almost refused, just because the tone put me off so much.  In the end, I decided to cut the person some slack, but that was my visceral response.

I do not smoke, so if I came across your RC I'd send the book. If I had a book that smelled at all of smoke, I'd either deodorize it or not post it! Your condition seemed OK to me.

I wouldn't put in there to PM you first.  I see that and I auto decline. I dont' want to have to go back and forth about the smell, condition of the book. 

Personally I thought your condition was clear.  I would do what others have suggested and say not currently in a smokin home. Books bought used OK.  Something like that. The asking to PM will cause some auto declines because people don't want to deal with going back and forth.

I think you have just had a bad string of luck hitting smokers for your WL books. I also have a smoking RC (might even be worded the same as yours) and have received lots of WL books. I have had strings where I'd get 5 or 6 turn downs because of the smoking RC, but it evens out.

I am really surprised with the wide range of genres you have that you haven't gotten any yet. I will keep my eye out for some of them. I have the nose of a bloodhound, I can always tell if the UBS books come from smoking homes or not.

On a wishlist book...it's possible that people are being cautious.  I mean, if they turn you down because they're not sure if you're going to object when they receive it...they're going to immediately get another request right?  It's easier and safer for them to just turn your request down and move on to one without caveats. 

I'm not saying that's right, or that your requests aren't clear, it's just less risky for the sender.

By the way, I haven't done that I'm just pondering...

Sara

Thanks for everyone's suggestiions. I'm changing it to a more positive one--the Please one :)

I do wish there was some sort of checklist system for the major things--smoking, pets, and the system would somehow just boot those out if you had the conditions. I'm relatively new so I'm very impatient and get very excited!

Barbara sez:

<<I'm relatively new so I'm very impatient and get very excited!>>

Heh, even with those of us with a "TBR mountain" (mine has 247 books on it at the moment) still get excited, not to worry. :-)

Cheers,

Catt