Today I receieved Stephen King's Under The Dome.  It's a 3 pound (or so) book.  It was wrapped in cut up envelopes and had scotch tape holding the folds.  The wrapper was held on by 2 rubber bands that the post office put on the book.  I am so thankful that the book didn't get damaged, just a little dinged up.  It wasn't anything to mark as a problem, because you can't RWAP for lack of tape. 

I sent a pm to the sender telling her about wrapping techniques.  Hopefully it will help her.  :(  Sometimes I wish that to join PBS people had to actually read information. 

Ok, so I'm done venting!

HMPH, that was not long enough to be considered a vent!!! 

It was wrapped in cut up envelopes and had scotch tape holding the folds

Oh goodness, how lame.

Um isnt scotch tape the one thing PBS says not to use..
Hopefully this is just a new member who has yet to read the wrapping guidelines..

Christy,

I was trying to contain my anger.  My husband saw the wrapper and knew I would flip out.  He made me promise that if I came in to vent/rant that I would not go on and on forever, although I could have.  I tried very hard to breathe deeply and type slowly.  :)  Thanks for the comments and support guys.  Only a fellow PBSer would understand.  (And Xen, it does say not to use scotch tape!)

Before I joined PBS I never got so bent out of shape about books and packaging.  I am a tape-aholic, so on a 3 pound book, scotch tape really ruffled my feathers...well, that and my middle school students have tested my patience this week, so I am a ticking time bomb.  Grrrooowl!  (lol)

Yes, both PBS and the USPS say not to use "scotch" tape (Magic tape).

Sounds like a book I received wrapped the same way.  Wonder if it was the same person.

I would say the post office should not have accepted it until it was wrapped properly.  I did not think the post office accepted packages with scotch tape. 

Glad that book didn't take a beating. I'm waiting patiently for that one myself.

It seems to me that lots of people don't bother taking 5 minutes to read the rules of the websites they use. I received several books this past couple of weeks that were plunked into those big, cheap, brown paper envelopes. They got to me full of little rips and holes. Oh, and one that had the wrapper thoroughly taped to the front cover of the book. My head almost exploded, so I know how you feel.

Karen...tell your husband that "proper" long winded vents/rants are ALLOWED on the forums here...we understand the need!!! 

The Post Office does not allow scotch tape as the only tape on a parcel.  Perhaps she dropped into a mailbox.  That way it is looked at less in the mailstream.  I would definitely tell her about PBS and the P.O. guidelines.  It amazes me how people can't see that such a heavy book needs to be well padded!  I am a tapeaholic as I used to work for the Post Office and saw the handling.  Now there is even more machines and more chance of damage. 

I don't like getting books wrapped in scotch tape either. Thankfully, it doesn't happen often.

Karen,

Just want to let you know at the next tape-aholics meeting we will be doing Tape Art as per the link http://www.offtherollcontest.com/main/home.aspx

Don't forget to print the coupons for tape.

Have a pleasant weekend.

Holy smokes, that tape art is INSANE!

Wow! I am reading that book right now and it does weigh a ton.....at least 3 pounds. I was trying to think of a way to wrap it to send out when I'm done with it and that definitely would not have been my first choice. I'm glad it got to you in one piece. Sheeeesh! WTHeck were they thinking???

Lisa, those brown mailing envelopes are often manilla.  Which actually work great for mailing so long as PBS guidlines are followed...fold down snug to book and secure firmly with packing tape.

Scotch tape *head desk*

Understand your frustration, Karen!  And thank you for sending the PM to the sender and advising her about wrapping techniques.  Hopefully will save future books that she sends from becoming damaged.

It seems to me that lots of people don't bother taking 5 minutes to read the rules of the websites they use.

That's a given, in fact alot of people in general dont take the time to read the directions of anything it seems.  Does anyone remember being given a test in school where it specifically said "read completely before beginning test" and then it had like 20 really easy questions and the last thing on the paper was something like "ONLY put your name at the top of this paper and then hand it in."  The teacher gave it out to see how well people followed directions and a good 80% of the class failed it.  haha

I don't remember taking that test, but I am grinning an evil grin wondering how many of my 8th graders I could trick! 

And thanks for the tape art link.  I should submit one of my PBS books. lol

luv2cook - I remember taking that test in 6th grade.   I was actually reading all the questions per directions, but when I realized all the kids around me were writing on their paper.  So I went back and started over writing in the answers...oh the woes of peer pressure lol!