I just got a book today that I'd requested last week.  Very nice wrapping job using the PBS two sheet style wrap.  Not so much tape that it was a mummy, but enough to keep it properly sealed and safe.  No damage to the wrapper at all, in fact, it was as clean and smooth as if it just came out of the printer.

Unwrapped the package and found, inside, that the book was securely wrapped in two layers of plastic wrap.  Really, it was a perfect wrapping job.

Unwrap the plastic to find... the first 70+ pages and the cover of the book were seriously water damaged... and were still damp!

Why?  Why did the member even send this book, let alone do such a beautiful wrapping job?  And why wrap in plastic, to protect the book, if the book is wet before you wrap it?!?

This really makes no sense to me at all...

RWAP... sigh....

 (edited because pain meds can really make you type some strange stuff)

I've received a few beautifully wrapped RWAPs myself. But I can't answer your question ...... I'm as puzzled as you about it

you would think that if they are aware enough of the site to know about wrapping books in plastic they would know not to send water damage in the first place

Maybe the Post Office did it? I hear they do a lot of things like that .... you know, open the package, spray the book with water, put in lots of underlines, then seal it up again .....

*shaking head in disbelief*

I don't think anyone will ever find out why - mystery of life!

Oh my... I can't even begin to understand that one.

Well, maybe...no, that doesn't make sense.

Oh, how about if...nope, not there either

Wait, I know!  No, just kidding.

All I can say is...WHAT?

It's one of those things we'll find out "later on" - like what happened to Jimmy Hoffa, Amelia Earhart, the Flying Dutchman and the like.

What I'm waiting to hear is what they said when it was marked RWAP..............

Jimmy and Amelia are taking a honeymoon cruise on the Dutchman, which is skippered by Elvis.  I thought everyone knew that!

Maybe it was a dirty book (::wink, wink, nudge nudge::) and they washed it for you, Bernhard! How thoughtful of them! :D

Cheryl

They wanted to make sure the moisture stayed safely inside so the mold would be able to grow! 

I know why.  The book wasn't wrapped tightly in plastic to protect the book.  It was wrapped in plastic to protect the wrapper from getting wet from the damp book.  Otherwise, the ink on the wrapper might run or the paper might disintegrate, ruining the wrapper.  Gotta protect the wrapper.

You've got to expect a book that was floating in the Bermuda Triangle to be a bit damp.

"They wanted to make sure the moisture stayed safely inside so the mold would be able to grow!"

But the ISBN and description said it was a book, not a petri dish!  ;)

And here's the response (underline mine):

"Have sent you a credit as you suggested. However, just wanted you to know that that was the way I had received (book title). The book was still readable and enjoyable. Not sure if PBS has water damage as a restriction but if it doesn't perhaps you would list it as one of your restrictions? I only sent it with good intentions, not to deceive. (: Have a good day and my apologies."

Oh, and this is someone who has been a member since 2006

Excuse me, I need to go bang my head on the desk now...

It's been a while since a posted a book, but isn't there always a pop-up that says ARE YOU SURE IT MEETS OUR GUIDELINES (links to guidelines)?

My concept of heaven or the hereafter is that that's when you get to know the answer to all life's mysteries both big and small. (And you have no emotion/concerns about any action taken against you personally. It's just knowledge.) 

• Who built the pyramids?
• Do aliens exist?
• Who took my diamond ring?
• Why my teenagers thought [fill in the blank] was a good idea?
• Whatever happened to my best friend from 2nd grade?
• Was Atlantis real?

So my belief is that some day we'll know all these things plus the story behind the beautifully wrapped wet book.

I have a theory!  What if they received the book water damaged, didn't realize it was unpostable, and then were wrapping it in plastic wrap in their kitchen, where it inadvertently got wet and they didn't realize it?  So, really...um...it's been water damaged twice?

I just finished the exam I've been studying for all summer.  I made up a lot of answers there, too...

If I posted a photo you'd see how hard it would be to "miss" the water damage on this.  The book is an MMP, one of those where there's a glossy color page just inside the front cover, and the cover is trimmed short so the edge of the glossy page shows.  Most of the glossy color has flaked off that edge, and portions of the rest of the page stuck to the inside of the front cover.  Not to mention the staining on the pages, the wrinkles, the warped pages, etc.  Oh, and the damp feel to the pages, not to mention the condensation that built up inside the plastic wrapping before it was opened.

Personally I think it rather unfair of you to rule out the idea that it was perfectly fine when wrapped. Perhaps while enroute, unknown terrorists used tiny hypodermic needles to inject water through the wrapping into the book. Did you use a magnifying glass and check for teeny tiny pin holes?

;>)

Dang, you got me!  I guess I really was being unfair to the sender on this.  Good thing they admitted to it, or I'd really be in trouble...

They've been here since 2006 and don't know if water damaged books are prohibited.   I agree - that's a head banger for sure.  I just wonder how many books that member has sent out.  Oh, and the usual response of "I got it here like that" is attached like that makes it okay.  Wow.  I saw someone's profile today that said something like " all the books I send out will be in whatever condition I received them here".  Not those exact words - but similar.  If I run across them again, I'll let you know.  I know I'm going to start checking out public profiles for whoever is sending me books.

Ruth

Most of the books I've recieved have NOT been wrapped in plastic.

This might be a useful question on the PBS survey when you mark the book recieved. 

Bernhard - I think your Superman Squirrell avator couldn't find a phone booth quick enough to stop the sabbotage of your book ;) 

Good thing they admitted to it, or I'd really be in trouble...

I missed that posting, so MY apologies. I guess there's no need to call Homeland Security for a terrorist alert, then.

But really -

that that was the way I had received (book title)

So basically, they received a wet book, read the book while still wet, and then sent it to you  - all in a short enough timeframe it was still damp when you got it? PBS rules aside, was no common sense at all applied to this process? 

Well, at least they were pleasant in the response and promptly returned your credit. And while THAT one is a bit much, we all make mistakes.

Last week I mailed out 3 books. I wrapped them and applied postage upstairs in my office, but one book was 3 cents short. I had some more stamps downstairs and meant to add one. However, I totally forgot and mailed them, not even thinking about it until a few days later. (And then didn't know WHICH book was short.) I held my breath waiting to see if it would be received postage due.  I felt like an idiot for doing that, especially if the receiver had been required to go to the post office to collect it and pay the 3 cents.  But luckily it went through fine.

Did the sender think that if she wrapped the book as perfectly as possible you'd forgive her for the water damage?

So weird! I'd be disappointed, too. I'd read the book anyway, but a credit is a credit and I'd want a "legal" book in exchange for my credit.