I don't understand why this site doesn't have some sort of feedback system so members can decide if they really want to get a book from another member?!

I keep getting books that I can barely read, much less relist. It's so discouraging.

You can mark that the book was not in acceptable condition when you mark it received. Sorry you have had bad luck! Most of the books I've received here have been great, so hang in there and maybe it will get better!

Are you marking them recieved with a problem and asking for your credit back? Granted you'll probably only get your credit back a third of the time but marking them RWAP is essential to the site working. It helps set up a pattern of sending bad books. If it happens often enough to one person they will be flagged and possibly removed from the site.

I really wish something could be done as well.  The majority of the books that I've received are postable but I have also received quite a few unpostable  books as well and most have been wishlisted books . The most recent unpostable was received in a deal I got from the BB. I didn't mark it RWP since I got two postable books out of the deal.. But it is disheartening for someone like me who doesn't have alot of credits to begin with and hopes to get my credits back by reposting the books I receive.

I get books I can't relist. Books with broken bindings and pages slipping out as I read them. Torn and taped up covers. Yes, I post they are not what I expected, but I haven't received any credits back and I can't relist them because they are junk.

I'm sorry you've had such poor luck! Hang in there - I've only received a couple that I couldn't relist and I'm going on nearly 200 books received.

I guess I've been really fortunate because other that the occasional book that shows some wear, most of them have been in really good condition. When I get a request for a book I'll leaf through it and if there's anything I think is wrong with it I'll PM the person and tell them what's I feel is wrong and leave it up to them whether or not they want it. Quite a few of my book I've had since I was in junior high in the 50's so the pages are yellowing and a lot of them have been packed away in boxes for years.

I've received hundreds of books over the past two years, and have had only one or two that were not able to be reposted.

I have been very pleased with the books that I have received. I have received two that probably should not have been posted, but they were readable. I decided that I would take them out of circulation. I still enjoyed the book, and they were not gross or anything, they had just been read a lot.

As I posted in my "Mouse Tracks" thread, I just received a book with little indentations and tears along the top of the cover.  Some of the tears went through the first 8 pages.  I wasn't sure if I should get credits back or not, since I don't intend to repost the book anyway.  (It's a classic that I will probably keep on my shelf.)  I PM'd the sender and gave her the option of returning a credit, but I won't be angry if she doesn't.  (And I've got "0" credits right now, so I know how you feel!)

I guess we'll all get a lot of chances to work on our patience here!  ;-}

Make sure you ASK for your credit back - don't just assume that when you say the book had problems that the sender is going to offer you a credit.  It is your responsibility to ask for it.  I have received several problem books and I always ask for my credit back.  Only once have I not gotten it back.

no matter how bad the book is you have to be nice about asking for your credit back even though you'd like to ring their neck.  ask sweetly and also mark the book RWP...

I've received hundreds of books over the past two years, and have had only one or two that were not able to be reposted.

Same here!  I've received a couple ARCs and one book with underlining.  Those were my only unpostables.  I have gotten a few books that weren't in the best shape, but were still postable.  Not saying that this is the case here, but when you are evaluating the quality of a book, remember - this is a used book site, books are usually not going to be like-new and aren't expected to be.

I've been a member since August. I've requested 35 books. Out of those 35, I've received 6 unpostables and 5 of those 6 were wishlisted books. So 1/6 of all my requests have been unpostable. That just seems high to me when some people have received hundreds of books and only a few have been unpostable. Maybe in my case it's timing. It seems that recently there have been more and more unpostables being mailed out.

ETA: my unpostables range from badly water damaged books to cleaved spines, ripped covers over 1" and stains on the text pages.

I've been a member since July 31, 2007 and I've received 85ish books and of those 2 have been unpostable and of those 1 credit got returned and 1 didn't (that person was rude)...and I've only received those two unpostables in the last month.  I'm wondering if we've had more new members join that are not well versed on the Book Guidelines!  For me the one that was rude was a new member and the one that was nice has been a member for 2 years and she admitted she wasn't well aware of the guidelines.

I know people don't like this idea but, I really think that Unpostables (for PBS) need to be marked in some manner as such so that people don't get unpostables for free and then try and post them for credit.  If they were labeled somehow as "Unpostable on PBS" that wouldn't prevent someone from posting them on another site that might not have the same guidelines.

Just remember that marking problem transactions actually helps weed out bad books and poor traders... I believe R&R track that sort of thing.

Sounds like the problem is focused on WL books more than on general library books. Maybe folks push the line when looking at a WL book, or figure people will be happy to get it anyway.

I understand that this is a used book site and I do not expect brand new books. I simply expect books that I can relist once I am done reading them. I have contacted two members about problems with books. One ignored me altogether; the other was rude to the point I had to ask him to stop messaging me and just gave up.

I have sent out 20 books and most of the recipients have sent me private messages thanking me for speedy shipping and for sending a book in good condition.

I have received 11 books so far and 2 fell apart as I read them.  One was so filthy that I threw it in the recycling without reading it. One had extreme warping from water damage and was readable but not repostable. (Also recycled once I read it, not even a thrift store would take it).

I have eight more books on the way so I hope the odds turn around here, but right now, like I said I am really discouraged.  I wish there was a feedback system of some sort so I could have a better idea before requesting a book from a particular member.

I think we need to stop pointing fingers at "new" members. It causes a lot of ill will. "New" is subjective. The one doing the pointing on this post is a "new" member in my opinion. I'm a "new" member still to many of the old-timers.

I think people make mistakes and don't follow guidelines new and old. Of the nearly 200 books I've received the only two problems I've had were with people who have been members since 2005. That's just MY experience. It doesn't mirror everyone else.

So please, put your finger back down to your side and just deal with the issue instead of "blaming" a certain group. .

Mirka, you should also report rude PM's or ones that are unanswered in these kind of situations. R&R can check your PM's.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what steps R&R take when a particular member keeps getting RWP's on their account? When do they actually step in with a strong warning? It was Susan's post that got me thinking. For example, if you are a long standing member with 100+ books sent out and you get one or two RWP's now and then, then it could appear to be an oversight on that member's part in sending out an unpostable book since that person's track record implies that they know the guidelines. So does R&R handle that any differently than when a newer member with only 5 books mailed for instance gets multiple RWP's on their account? The reason I'm asking is because I focus more on books mailed out rather than when the member joined.  In my mind, if they have 20+ books mailed out and they are still around, they must be doing something right. But maybe I'm wrong in thinking that way.

Add me to the getting really fed up club. I used to get an occasional bad book; the first one I ever got was a mistake, the sender had two copies and accidentally sent me the damaged one. Now I get them constantly *and* people are ruder when I complain about them, even though I never complain unless there is a specific problem that's against PBS posting rules.  I didn't get credits back the last 3 times, because I'm so bad at confrontations - that's over $6 in postage costs. Now I have yet another book falling apart and have to gear up my strength to say something about it. 

I think we need to stop pointing fingers at "new" members. It causes a lot of ill will. "New" is subjective. The one doing the pointing on this post is a "new" member in my opinion. I'm a "new" member still to many of the old-timers.

Looking back over the posts it would seem that this was directed at me so, let me respond.  I in no way was "pointing fingers" at the new members though perhaps if you wanted to jump to conclusion you could take it that way.  One could safely think that perhaps those who had recently joined might be less familiar with the Condition Guidelines of books posted on this site.  Personally, if a newer member (in my opinion joined within the last 30 days) had sent me a book that was "unpostable" I would be more likely to think that they weren't as well versed and I would be more likely to not request my credit back and would simply refer them to the guidelines after marking the book RWP.

I think people make mistakes and don't follow guidelines new and old. Of the nearly 200 books I've received the only two problems I've had were with people who have been members since 2005. That's just MY experience. It doesn't mirror everyone else.

It is true that members that have been here awhile do sometimes make mistakes and send out books that shouldn't have been sent out.  My opinion is that the longer you are here the more familiar you should be with the guidelines....

So please, put your finger back down to your side and just deal with the issue instead of "blaming" a certain group.

If indeed you were trying to scold me...let me assure you that I am not "blaming" a certain group of individuals and I am most certainly dealing with the issue.  Though if you had sent me an "Unpostable" book you would want me to lump you in with the "newer" members.

i think sometimes (at least this is the case with me) expectations may be high.  I have received books that are postable but taht are also very worn.  thats still OK.   i have just learned that this is a good "hobby"...but if i want a book in very good condition, i need to buy it new or in a used bookstore where i can see it. 

not saying this is the case with you..just a little bit about how i have modified my thinking about books i receive from here. 

oh, and MANY MANY books i have received, esp. children's books, have been in nearly perfect condition.

"i think sometimes (at least this is the case with me) expectations may be high.  I have received books that are postable but taht are also very worn. thats still OK."

That's why I specified that I never complained unless a book was actually unpostable by PBS rules. 

BTW, happy ending for this latest situation - the sender was quite nice about it and refunded my credit. *Phew*.