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Topic: What's a nice way to turn down this RC?

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pvc avatar
Subject: What's a nice way to turn down this RC?
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 3:40 PM ET
Member Since: 1/28/2007
Posts: 765
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I'm looking for some helpful words for turning down this RC that says (I am not willing to recieve books smelling like perfume or artificial scent).

Maybe I can say, "The book is in excellent condition and it doesn't smell like perfume.  But I don't know how to determine what artificial scents you might be worried about???"

katiebegood avatar
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 3:45 PM ET
Member Since: 11/5/2009
Posts: 1,083
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That sounds fine to me.  She's not going to get a lot of books with that RC.  Mine says "cigarette smoke, perfume or chemical smells".  Most people send me the book and the few that haven't, usually PM me and ask what I want to do.  I appreciate it when they do that becaue if I really want a book, I am willing to attempt to "de-smell" it.

BTW, I put in the "checmical smell" part because I once got a box of books from someone on E-bay that about knocked me off my feet with it's harsh chemical smell.  It turned out she sprayed the books with Freebreeze to try to mask the cigarette smoke smell on the books.  The combination of the two caused me to give the books to Goodwill.



Last Edited on: 1/19/10 3:47 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
pvc avatar
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 3:49 PM ET
Member Since: 1/28/2007
Posts: 765
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I'm not sure how to PM the requestor and keep my place (as #1 in copies available) if she says no?

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 3:50 PM ET
Member Since: 6/21/2007
Posts: 2,015
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Last Edited on: 2/3/15 6:27 PM ET - Total times edited: 2
Arica avatar
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 3:50 PM ET
Member Since: 8/28/2008
Posts: 3,291
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This isn't helpful really but what came to mind was would the person be ok with the book sprayed with Fabreeze or the book sent with a dryer sheet if the scent wasn't artificial.  You can buy dryer sheets that are scented like mountain spring would that be ok because mountain springs are natural.  I have vanilla smelling perfume vanilla is natural can I send a vanilla scented book to the person?  I might mention in a nice way that you find their RC confusing and don't quite understand what scents they cannot accept.

pvc avatar
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 4:04 PM ET
Member Since: 1/28/2007
Posts: 765
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Thanks.  I turned it down with "The book is in excellent condition and it doesn't smell like perfume, however, I am unsure if it has any artificial scents so to be safe I am declining the request. Thank-you.".

rxrcds avatar
Friend of PBS-Gold medal
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 4:07 PM ET
Member Since: 12/3/2005
Posts: 3,434
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You really don't need to address the specific issue in your decline.  For any that I decline, I simply write "Book does not meet conditions" and move on.

Spuddie avatar
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Date Posted: 1/19/2010 4:36 PM ET
Member Since: 8/10/2005
Posts: 4,607
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I decline any that mention "perfumey smells" because i do make handmade soap that has scent in it, and some of those cure in areas where my books are. I've been told before that my books "smell good." I cannot smell anything on the books, but it's because my nose is so used to the scent it doesn't pick it up. Anytime the RC asks for my subjective judgment, especially about smells, I decline.

You don't have to address specific reasons why you're declining, as Mary said. Just "doesn't meet condition" is fine.

Cheryl

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 1/19/2010 5:23 PM ET
Member Since: 1/8/2009
Posts: 2,016
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My generic response to "smell" RCs is:

Although I do not detect any odor on the book, I have a poor sense of smell (this is true).  I would hate to risk disappointment since smell is so subjective.

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Date Posted: 1/19/2010 5:34 PM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
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The only way to PM them is to accept first.  Then if you cancel you will lose your place in line. 

fangrrl avatar
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Date Posted: 1/20/2010 2:50 AM ET
Member Since: 12/28/2006
Posts: 14,177
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Good choice Marilyn/Dan, I was liking Jeri's response also.  Although any simple and polite response is adequate.



Last Edited on: 1/20/10 2:52 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
Generic Profile avatar
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Date Posted: 1/20/2010 11:49 AM ET
Member Since: 8/27/2005
Posts: 4,138
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I think it's helpful for you to say if you are confused by an RC, because that will tell the other member that they should reword their conditions.