So I posted an older (1994) romance novel that turned out to have a long WL for it (who knew?).  The conditions aren't specific just not the book meet PBS conditions but not "worn" or "yellowing". Well it's a 12yr old book. It's yellowing.  I can deny it and let it go to the next person right? It just seems like this person is expecting a mint condition book. I don't think this book is in print anymore but the author is still very popular.  I just don't want to be out postage and a credit. 

No Yellowing on a 12 yr old romance? Never mind, it's not worth the possible problem, I would absolutely deny it and let it go to the next person. Yellowing is an expected condition for older books. WL an old book, expect yellow. Silly people.

I agree with Sherry, especially the bit about the silly people.

Well it said "excessive yellowing" but what's excessive to her might not be excessive to me-I'll take any book as along as it has all the pages. Edited: I just rechecked it and it said "excessively worn". Which I don't think this book is but I'm still afraid to send it and have them nitpick it and guilt me into giving a credit back.  I think I'll pass on the first one.  There's more people waiting for it so I'm not worried.  If it were a much newer book I would accept the conditions.

Ok: also the conditions say to PM the person to see if the book is ok for them. But it doesn't give me that option unless I accept the request. It would be nice to PM a person before you accept or decline.

If someone's condition is that you must PM to see if the book is acceptable, they should expect to be turned down a lot. Move on to the next person in the WL line and save yourself a headache.

I agree with Melanie.  Unless the conditions are objective, I turn them down.  "Excessive" is subjective.

I turn down any subjective conditions and anything that requests a PM.  If you have conditions above PBSwap's, fine, but be very clear about what it is you expect. 

I agree with everyone.  Deny it and move on to the next request.

I recently sent a book published in 1977 to a person who had no conditions, and when she received it she complained about it being  "older then dirt"  (her grammar not mine).

Yes, people can be silly. 

I'd deny it and move on.  Why invite trouble?

Well I denied it since there are 83 other people in WL line for this book.  It must be out of print.  To think It's been in my TBR pile for probably a couple yrs now.  If it were a purchased new and read once by me book I would have accepted the conditions. 

I would have declined it too, Mary. It boggles my mind that people can expect mint condition books that are 10+ years old. Um...hello?

She didn't say it had to be mint.  But it's a 13yr old book and I just don't want to be out a credit. It's perfectly readable. But I'm sure I'm probably the 3rd or 4th person to own it.  Actually it looks really good for 13yr old book that's changed hands a few times. But still.  Since the WL line was so long I decided against the risk.  I still think we should be able to PM someone before we accept or decline. 

I still think we should be able to PM someone before we accept or decline.

Sometimes I think that would be a good idea, but then I think about what that would do -

How long do I wait to hear from the requestor?  There's a time limit on my end.  If I take to long to accept/reject, my book is bounced out of the system.  That wouldn't be a disaster for a WL book, but what if my book's been sitting in FIFO for a while?

It would encourage requestors with vague conditions.

It would encourage people to put "PM me" in their requests.  I hate that.

We'd have to save the PMs should a problem arise.  There could be more "I said - you said"

The more I think about it, the more I'm glad we can't PM from the conditions screen. 

I've seen several requestor conditions that were highly subjective - the one you describe would fit into the category. I would also deny it and allow it to pass to the next person. It's not worth the probable hassle.

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No Terri, you haven't missed anything.  That is the idea.  As long as your books meet the posting guidelines you agreed to when you posted your books (no water damage, not excessively worn, no torn pages, no pages separating from the spine, etc.) your books are fine.  Some members place conditions on their accounts, but if you didn't get a popup before you agreed to send your books, then your requestors don't have any extra conditions. 

The person who requested Mary's book has a a specific restriction attached to her account requesting that NO books be excessively yellow or work.  The condition wasn't specific to this particular book.  When she put it on her account, she didn't specifically list books that the condition would apply to. It applies to all books requested, even 12 year old books.

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Wow that is a huge WL for a book from 1994!  What is the book?

I think that having the PM option would be nice.  Another option is if someone wants a PM, then include your nickname in the conditions so you can be found to PM.  :O)

I think it's best to decline and move on.  Because of the age of the book and the size of the WL, I'm betting if you looked it up at amazon.com or half.com you'd find it is going for a nice sum.  So it's not totally unreasonable to wonder if someone is looking for a copy to resell if they want it not to have yellowing or wear.  Then again, maybe yellowing hurts their eyes.  *shrugs*

I've received quite a few older ('80's) books. They've all been in great condition, but of course they have yellowing.

How can you expect an older book not to have yellowing, you made a good choice.

Definately move on to the next person.