I recently received this book for my daughter http://www.paperbackswap.com/Junie-B-S-Barbara-Park/book/0375871233/   I know it's a puzzle book, with wordsearches and such, but isn't the protocol that the memeber is supposed to PM me and let me know there is writing in the book, to see if I want it, before they mail it? It's been on my wishlist for quite some time, and I guess expecting a book like this with no writing at all is unexpected, but I'm not sure how the protocol should be, as my daughter is disappointed that there were several puzzles already completed.

This is the sites rules on writing in books.... Here.

I would think that even if you posted the puzzle book under the Textbook rule, the sender would still have to get permission to send it by PMing the receiver and describing the writing inside. So I'd definately list this as RWAP and ask for my credit back.

• No writing or highlighting or underlining on text pages
  • a signature or note on the flyleaf or inside front or back cover is OKAY
  • an author's signature on the title page is OKAY
  • writing or highlighting or underlining on the text pages is NOT OKAY
    • Exception: if it is a textbook or workbook, these are expected to have highlighting/underlining/writing
      • if you post a textbook/workbook, the condition must be described to the requestor in a Personal Message
      • AND the described condition MUST BE AGREED TO in a reply PM before the book is sent
      • You can use the PM button on the request on your My Account page to send a message
      • This is the one of the ONLY three cases in which a PM exchange about a book is required before the book can be sent (the others are for travel guidebooks and cookbooks--see below).
    • Exception: if it is a travel guide (not a picture book but a guide, such as Fodor's or Lonely Planet), some writing on text pages could be expected.  All maps must be present and included with the book - if detachable it is OK if they are detached, but they must not be missing.
      • if you post a travel guide that has writing in it, the condition must be described to the requestor in a Personal Message
      • AND the described condition MUST BE AGREED TO in a reply PM before the book is sent
      • You can use the PM button on the request on your My Account page to send a message
      • This is the one of the ONLY three cases in which a PM exchange about a book is required before the book can be sent (the others are for textbooks/workbooks and cookbooks--see above and below).

Yes -- a puzzle book is considered a "workbook".  It's okay to post it with writing, but the PM describing the condition (and a reply to the PM saying, "yes, send it!") are obligatory.

And in my experience, the "writing" rule is the least-followed rule on PBS. Since I request lots of textbooks I see a LOT of writing in books, and much of the time the rules aren't followed. I've stopped being easy on this!