I just wanted to do a quick comparison, because it is rather educational and interesting.

RWAPs filed against me: None, so far. I try to be very careful about books I send, but I know that's no guarantee. So, if one does happen, I won't let it stress me too much. Just work it out and move on.

RWAPs I've filed: 4

1 for water damage

2 for wrong book (one was a paperback and should have been a hardcover, and one was a MMPB with a different ISBN, when the correct ISBN was for a trade sized paperback)

1 for highlighting/underlining in book

RWAPs resolved by senders: 3

So, I've had pretty good luck so far. At least with the wrong book ones, they can be reposted under the correct listing, so the biggest aggravation is the time lost and effort required to get the correct book (especially in the case of a WL title, since you need to wait even longer).

Of course, I've had several books that were borderline. You know the ones, not strictly a RWAP but not anything I'd post if it were me. Still, overall, I'm quite pleased with the quality of books that I get here. Of course, I really think my RCs help a lot, since several times the message sent when they decline describes a book that must surely be at or near its last read. Then again, I mostly deal with WL titles now, so they tend to have been through a lot of owners by the time my name comes up on the list. So, yeah, I'm not removing my RCs anytime soon.

zero against me

I filed one RWAP last Friday. No response. How long should I wait?

Well, PBS recommends that if there's no response within a week you mark the person as nonresponsive in your account archive. Then, PBS contacts them and tells them to respond. If there's no answer in another week, then it's unresolved.

This assumes that the person's account isn't on hold. Did you check that? If that's the case, and they aren't contacting you, you can contact PBS and ask for help finding out when they'll be back.

RWAPs I've filed: 3

- 1 was for liquid staining and I asked for my credit- it was marked unresolved b/c after the pictures, the sender accused me of doing it

-1 was for water damage due to bad wrapping and poor delivery- I didn't ask for my credit, since it was USPS damage; the sender was a very nice new member, and said he'd use plastic from now on

-The latest was for a hardcover when I ordered a paperback; both are heavily WL, so I didn't ask for a credit, but I'm bummed since I'm out postage.  The sender said it wasn't available in paperback (it is; I've seen it in Target since March), and didn't seem to to feel it was a problem that she posted under the wrong ISBN and binding.  She wasn't rude, just didn't seem to see a problem- made me think I should have asked for the credit to prevent it happening again... oh well

I've had 6 unpostables (out of 36 received)  Almost 17%.   I did not mark the first 4 RWAP I suppose because I dreaded the unpleasant confrontations I had read about here.  Then I did mark the next  2 RWAP.   I did not get my credit returned so it seems that it didn't really help.  Sure, maybe these people will eventually get weeded out but I'm still stuck with unpostables.   I'm discouraged and wonder if this is a wide spread problem.

in several dozen trades over a couple of years ...

Zero against me

Two from me: one wrong ISBN (book type) and one book whose cover came apart before I'd even finished getting the book out of the package. Both credits requested and received right away. I've never seen any underlining, staining, etc. yet.

I think I've only had a half dozen received that I've marked and probably about that many that I didn't mark (books were extremely rare, damage was minor or repairable and I would have paid a credit for the book in that condition anyway).

I think I've only asked for my credit back 3 times and gotten it each time:

• what looks like heavy blood stains on the cover and first 5-10 pages
• dark brown liquid stain along the spine about 1-2 inches into the book, looked like the book was left soaking in something and it was not the ISBN I requested
• filthy edges and lots of water damage

I didn't ask for my credit back on these, all were for my personal collection:

• light water damage on a couple chapters in the middle
• small oily based stain on the bottom of the book, was able to buff it off the book
• multiple small stains on edge of pages

That's out of 272 books received.

No RWAP in 399 sent.

Against me - none        I did have one person ask for her credit back in a game because there was a thumb print on the edge

RWAP from me - none           One very early on that should have been but I didn't know enough to mark it that way.

Over 300 books sent and over 300 received.

I filed one but didn't want credit back or anything. The person mailed it and USPS damaged it BUT it was  b/c sender didn't put enough tape on it. It was just sort of shredded on one end. It was a book bazaar special and for my children so not a big deal to me.

Then I had one filed on me b/c I mailed a wrong book. It was a series and I sent #3 instead of #2. That one worked out fine b/c the person was goign to order #3 anyway so they sent me credit for it. lol I sent the correct one out right away.

1 against me that was made in error. The requestor said I sent them the wrong book when I didn't. They had though they had ordered an audiobook but they ordered an hardcover.  It took several pms but they finally corrected the RWP.  I had to show them where to look to varify that they only paid one credit and how to mark it resolved and such.

RWPS to me: 7 out of 380.  I think this is pretty good.  I only asked for my credit back on 5 of them.  I got it back on 3. I've gotten several books that I wouldn't have posted but they were borderline so I didn't mark them RWP. I just figure they're ending their run as a postable book with me.

I had 3 damaged by the post office-2 to me and 1 that I sent. 

RWPS Ive filed= 0

RWPS filed against me= 0

Ive had nothing but good experiences here, I must be lucky.  =]

I filed one for writing in the book. It was kind of disappointing because it was pen and wasn't a text book. I didn't ask for my credit back because I wasn't planning on reposting the book anyway. I marked it resolved as soon as the sender told me that she didn't notice the pen marks before she sent it out. I received one with water damage when I first joined. I didn't know what water damage looked like at the time, so it didn't get marked. I ended up having to throw it out because it grew mold on one of the pages. I recently received one with water damage that was very minor. I didn't notice it until I actually started reading the book. Hopefully it won't cause any major problems.

I haven't had any filed against me so far *keeps fingers crossed*, but I did have one go lost.

Is bent cover postable?

Yes.

I've had 2 RWAPs against me, one for a broken spine, when I sent it all the pages were securely attached but the receiver said that some of them were loose when she got it. Probably got knocked in the mail. The second one was for a craft book and the reciever said that there was a missing pattern page. I didn't believe that one, because I checked the book pretty well before I sent it, but since I wasn't absolutely sure, I refunded her credit too.

I've had to mark about 6 or 7 RWAP. So far, I've gotton back the credits when I ask for them. One of the books was so disgusting (it has white mildew growing on the bottom inch of ALL the pages) that I had to throw it away ... I only got one stained with mystery substance, a few water damage, and 2 with a lot of writing/highlighting.

RWAPS filed against me - 1. It must've been a miniscule stain for me to not notice it.

RWAPS I filed- None.

But I have left negative feedback on other sites. There is one swapsite where I'm convinced some members use it only to list books that are unpostable on PBS. I've received some of the most damaged books ever on that site. I won't say its name, but it does rhyme with Cook Pooch.

None against.

2 for received -- refund not asked for, but message sent and marked as:

1. PB instead of HC
2. Broken inside binding

81 mailed
92 received

32 books received, no RWAPs filed, but I did get one with pencil writing on some text pages.  I was able to erase them so it was OK.  The sender was also aghast that she sent out a book with writing on text pages. 

36 books sent, no RWAPs filed, but one requestor was not happy because, when requesting the book, she didn't check to make sure it was the exact edition that she wanted.  Said that no matter what I said, I still "got what I wanted" for the book. 

All in all, a very pleasant experience and I would recommend it to anyone.

About the site that "rhymes with Cook Pooch" [how clever!] I have had only positive experiences there too.  

None against me yet; one Rwap for a book with ink underling and written notes, as well as highlighting on many pages.  It was not a text book, but someone must have been studying it.  The sender claimed she hadn't seen any of it, but she did return my credit.

Been here 4 months, sent 22 books and received 16.  Most have been like new.  Yellowing pages for an older book do not bother me.     D.

Against me - 1 for something she saw and I didn't see: I was devastated, my first RWAP and it bothered me for days.

That I've filed  - none but 2 pbs ended their postable life with me which was o.k; they have to expire somewhere; another I could have RWAP'd was a hard cover that had an open spine when you opened the front cover; all pages were intact and book was in otherwise fine shape, all I cared about was having an HC edition so I jus marked it received, with no feedback to PBS or note to sender.

Gail

RWAPs against me: 2. One for wrong book--a new book that the title changed after I'd wishlisted it and it was so similar I didn't notice it--so reposted it as it was and the receiver RWAPed it and pointed it out. Totally my fault, I refunded the credit immediately. The other was back in 2006 and the details are fuzzy, but I believe it was one I disputed and never did send the credit back as the extensive damage the person claimed I knew was not there when I sent it.

RWAPs I've marked: Total of 8, 2 for wrong book, 2 for damaged by sender, 4 damaged by USPS (some due to packaging that wasn't adequate.)

Not bad stats for having been here almost 4 years, and having sent 1324 books and received 1295.  A huge majority of my transactions have gone smoothly.  To put it mildly, PBS is in the top five "best things that have happened to you in the past five years." :)

Cheryl

ETA: zero against me.

Last Edited on: 6/3/09 11:26 AM ET - Total times edited: 1

Nothing against me.  Only 1 that I have had to file & I left it is as Post Office damage.  It was a MMPB where the spine came apart.  Could tell by the wrapper the Post Office was pretty rough on it & it looked like it was read several times already.  It was part of a Book Bazaar deal & other book was fine so figured PO did damage & didn't ask for credit back.  I will do a little repair job on it so I can still read it & then donate somewhere when done.