I received a book that sender deemed unpostable came with another book I ordered.  I don't see why its considered unpostable.  I wondered if its appropriate to PM and ask the reason they felt that way.  Maybe I've missed something.  Would it be inappropriate for me to post it?  I'm even tempted to buddy a credit for it as I don't see the problem with it.

What's your opinion?

Your option, members have different comfort levels of postability.  I see no problem pm'ing the other member if you have questions about the book.

I would be curious too.   Don't see anything wrong with asking politely.

Have you read the book? I've sent out unpostables that the receiver said looked fine, but the damage was something you wouldn't catch without  reading or going page by page - torn pages in the middle of the book that weren't really noticable without being on those pages, stains on pages later in the book. I would definitely PM and ask before posting it into the system.

Could it perhaps be an advance reading copy? Those are unpostable even when undamaged.

I sent out an unpostable once to someone, a heavy Anne Rice hardcover. It had staining on the page edges from dust or maybe a shoe kicked it at one point, I don't really know. The staining to the page edges in the area was pretty dark, and I don't know if it could have been sanded off or not. It had its dust jacket and the dust jacket also felt really sticky, so I deemed it unpostable.

A few months go by, and I'm ticked to see that she's posted it to her regular bookshelf. I called her out on it (nicely, of course. No seriously, I was nice!), and she said there was nothing wrong with it. I was still peeved, because it was a heavy book and I'd given it to her for nothing. I don't know whatever happened with it, if she sent it out and got an RWAP for it, but it shouldn't have been posted.

So I would say PM her and ask her exactly what she felt the damage was. As another commenter said, there might be something that's not immediately visible until you read the book. I've come across that several times with books I've marked received, only to find out later that they are completely unpostable.

I've actually seen some unpostables in signature lines or in the deals thread with the damage described (and I can't remember where or whose) but it sounded perfectly postable to me. Maybe this is one of those instances?

I personally would never ask for or accept an unpostable book unless I knew what made it that way anyway. Since you didn't know beforehand, I'd PM like others have suggested.

I don't know if it could have been sanded off or not. It had its dust jacket and the dust jacket also felt really sticky, so I deemed it unpostable.

Could it be they were able to sand off the stains (I've never tried sanding the edges of pages before so I don't know how bad the stain has to be before it won't work) and get the sticky stuff off the DJ with Goo-Gone or some other method? Also, the DJ condition wouldn't really matter unless the person they sent to had an RC.

I've actually seen some unpostables in signature lines or in the deals thread with the damage described (and I can't remember where or whose) but it sounded perfectly postable to me.

A little off topic but...I actually have some "postable unpostables" listed on my bookshelf header.  Some are just well worn books I have that I am not personally comfortable posting.  I would love to be able to throw them in as a freebie with an order from my shelf, without getting the credit for them because I do not feel they are worth a credit.  Of course, it seems that nobody ever looks at my bookshelf header because I have only had one person ask for one of them :-)

Dust jackets are not required, so if it was sticky the other member probably either threw it away and posted the book, or cleaned the cover.

Sanding is an excellent method of cleaning page edges ... I do it all the time and it can take an unpostable book right to postable in about 2 minutes. And, you can't even tell its been cleaned, on most books. (I was surprised, because before I ever did it I thought the sandpaper would tear up the paper edges ... but nope, that doesn't happen if you do it right). I don't bother with ink or marker, which are allowed, but dirt scuffs, greasy fingerprints, dirt splashes, and the like will come right off. Even dried food, as long as it is only on the edge and didn't invade the pages.

To the OP, yes, you could PM the other member, or just check it over really carefully.

That's the main reason I wouldn't like to send an unpostable back.  It happened that once I got an unpostable (water damaged) but it was the wrong book as well.  He wanted it back - and I know he sent on to the right person.  I probably wouldn't ask if they wanted it back.  I don't want them to mail it on as a postable.

Ruth

Sherry, put them in your posts' signature line.  Then they'll come look at your shelf!

Ruth

Will any type of sand paper work? Or does it have to be fine type?

Unfortunately, most of my unpostables are because of cleaved spines rather than edge stains, but that would really come in handy!

I use some sandpaper that I got at the dollar store. I think it is probably a medium grade, not particularly coarse or fine.

I practiced on an unpostable book first until I figured out the best way to do it. Just hold the book on the edge, press the pages tightly together, (I leave the covers on the outside of my fingers and just hold the pages) and then sand out the offending spot.

I use a fine grade of sandpaper.  Great at removing chocolate fingerprints.

Awesome! Thanks!