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Topic: So was I wrong?

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celticscrapper27 avatar
Subject: So was I wrong?
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 5:58 PM ET
Member Since: 1/7/2008
Posts: 797
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I just submitted my first RWP this morning.  I had requuested three books for a BOB swap.  The member declined, but offered me a three for one deal.  I immediately accepted, but when I got my books, one (specifically the one I wanted, not that it makes a difference) was clearly water damaged.  Not wavy pages from the new paperback, but throughout the book water damaged.  I recalled all the threads where peole have said "please report these problems so habitual offenders can be corrected or removed"  It shouldn't affect someone who has once or twice in their membership made a mistake right?  So I marked it RWP and sent the following PM to the member who shipped the book. 

Hi :) Sorry I had to mark the shipment RWP, but the ordered book was clearly water damaged and unpostable. I don't want my credit back since you already sent extra books in a deal and I do appreciate it!! I just also want to keep people aware of following the posting guidelines to keep the site enjoyable for all.

Have a good day :)

Heather

 

This is the response I got a few hours later.....

Hmmmm.....I would think that receiving 3 books for one credit would have made you think about the fact that you were able to post two of the books, helping you get two credits for the cost of one.....but, I guess not.

This will teach me to to not be so accommodating next time

 

So I just wanted a second opinion as to my actions.  I love this site and really just want to kep it enjoyable!

Thanks in advance for any and all nice, constructive feedback for either side.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 6:11 PM ET
Member Since: 9/24/2007
Posts: 453
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You did exactly the right thing.  Despite her attitude back to you, what it will hopefully teach her to do is to actually check her books carefully and not send water damaged ones!  You were very nice not to ask for your credit back, and your kindness was not repaid.  Unfortunately that happens sometimes.  If this was truly an abberation then your rwp won't hurt her at all.  But, with that attitude it's certainly possible that she's a habitual offender and you're helping clean up the site.

Sara

drewsmom avatar
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 6:15 PM ET
Member Since: 5/29/2007
Posts: 13,347
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You did the right thing.  She sent an unpostable book and then had a bad attitude.  It's common for people like that to attempt to put the blame and guilt back on you, hence the "accomodating" statement.  More lack of personal responsibility....

I would add her to your "do not trade with" list and forget about it.

berlioz3 avatar
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 6:18 PM ET
Member Since: 1/29/2006
Posts: 54,837
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Heather, I agree.  The book you ordered was damaged, you marked it RWP.  I think not asking for your credit was appropriate since you DID get 3 books, but it was still correct to report it. 

RockStarGirl avatar
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Date Posted: 10/4/2008 6:32 PM ET
Member Since: 4/20/2006
Posts: 5,806
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I agree that you did the right thing.  No one should send anyone a water damaged book without their permission, regardless.  She should have been forthcoming with you. 

dappledart avatar
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 6:44 PM ET
Member Since: 6/30/2006
Posts: 2,303
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In a related question... I have been wondering how exactly to follow the "letter of the law" in the interest of "cleaning up the site".

I have received a few books that do not technically meet the guidelines, but the "problem" is not significant and does not really bother me. ... Maybe, for example, a teeny tiny squashed bug on one page.  Maybe the title page has a slight 1/4" tear at the bottom, or one sentence is lightly underlined in pencil.... Whatever it is, I would hardly notice if I wasn't looking for it.

I am going to enjoy the book, and might even keep it--but I wonder whether I "have to" mark it RWAP to "help weed out bad members".

 

L avatar
L. G. (L)
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 6:52 PM ET
Member Since: 9/5/2005
Posts: 12,412
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She's wrong and you are right, period.  The book should not be on her shelf if it is unpostable.

Kalualani I let that stuff go unless it was obvious when I opened the package and inspected the book.  Most of that kind of minor thing is easily overlooked when one posts a book.  If it's something gross, like stains or mold, I do mark it RWAP.  I just read a book I received last year and 5 of the pages are nearly ripped in half; my fault that I didn't check it closely enough.

 

 



Last Edited on: 10/4/08 6:55 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
DuskyRose avatar
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Date Posted: 10/4/2008 7:50 PM ET
Member Since: 8/18/2005
Posts: 7,977
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Last Edited on: 3/27/09 11:06 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
HoBD avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Subject: In regard to the....
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 8:14 PM ET
Member Since: 5/19/2008
Posts: 562
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"you were able to post two of the books, helping you get two credits for the cost of one"

That part make me laugh, since what you have is two books that may earn you two credits but you still have to mail and thus you have additional postage costs :)

You did the right thing.

 

Kevin

jas avatar
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Date Posted: 10/4/2008 8:40 PM ET
Member Since: 8/12/2006
Posts: 387
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You did the exact right thing.

Cattriona avatar
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Date Posted: 10/4/2008 8:58 PM ET
Member Since: 7/7/2007
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Heather--

You did exactly the right thing; it is, indeed, your civic PBS duty to report these problems so that if she's constantly doing this to other members, she can be stopped.

I'm sorry she was rude and a pill about it; you're still in the right here, and she is not.

Cheers,

Catt

y2pk avatar
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 9:44 PM ET
Member Since: 4/7/2007
Posts: 663
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You did the right thing. Every book on her shelf needs to meet PBS guidelines. Receiving more than one book in a deal doesn't make any difference. If instead of the ordered book, one of the freebies had been water damaged, I'd have also marked the transaction RWAP and posted the details. In fact, I've done that twice. Both senders complained about it, but both of them refunded my credit.

gingerkitty avatar
Standard Member medal
Date Posted: 10/4/2008 10:25 PM ET
Member Since: 4/25/2007
Posts: 12,636
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I agree, you did the right thing.

Every book on her shelf is supposed to be in postable condition.  Just because she chooses to give you 3 books for 1 credit from her shelf doesn't make it okay for her to send you a damaged book without you knowing ahead of time it's damaged.

beebs avatar
Date Posted: 10/5/2008 12:46 AM ET
Member Since: 10/2/2007
Posts: 10,283
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Last Edited on: 2/1/15 1:42 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
patmat avatar
Date Posted: 10/5/2008 8:39 AM ET
Member Since: 12/8/2007
Posts: 1,011
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Wow, I think you were very gracious and then got such a snarky  reply. I definitely think you should have marked the book RWP. How much plainer could the rules be about water damage?? You were polite and honest and I think you did what needed to be done. You are not the "bad guy" in this transaction.

nashvillethecat avatar
Date Posted: 10/5/2008 3:06 PM ET
Member Since: 8/1/2007
Posts: 5,034
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Continue enjoying the site and let this one roll like water off a ducks back.  You are in the right and your response to her was very positive and polite.  She is trying to make you feel guilty for her mistake, which is sad.  Snarky comments leave a bad taste in your mouth, but you can tell by the other responses here that we all support your action and feel you handled everything correctly.   The good swappers far outnumber the snarky ones  :  )

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 10/5/2008 3:42 PM ET
Member Since: 6/21/2007
Posts: 2,015
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Last Edited on: 2/2/15 7:26 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
rainbowbrite98 avatar
Date Posted: 10/5/2008 4:12 PM ET
Member Since: 8/13/2008
Posts: 13,147
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She had a bad attitude towards you which doesn't make sense to me because no unpostable book should have been on her shelf to begin with! You were completely in the right. People no longer surprise me with their rudeness.

LaurieAnne avatar
Date Posted: 10/5/2008 4:39 PM ET
Member Since: 1/12/2006
Posts: 4,972
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I would have done the same thing and I believe you were more than polite about the situation.

royaltech avatar
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Date Posted: 10/5/2008 5:41 PM ET
Member Since: 11/14/2005
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I'm quite sure I probably would have responded with "Whether I received 1 or 3, perhaps the mark on your account will "teach" you (as you put it) to only post books that meet PBS requirements." Altho I'd wait tll after I got my credit back to be a smark aleck :)

Heather-and-Raven avatar
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Date Posted: 10/6/2008 10:21 AM ET
Member Since: 5/16/2008
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It's so odd how people do this. I've heard from other BOB swappers this happening to them. The people seem to think that they can send crap condition books b/c they're sending others. I don't think so! Imagine if Amazon or B&N did this? "Uh, yeah, you ordered a bunch from us, so here are a few we couldn't unload anywhere else." Heather, you did the right thing, and not just because we're namesakes.

Sianeka avatar
Sianeka - ,
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Date Posted: 10/6/2008 1:15 PM ET
Member Since: 2/8/2007
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To add to the preponderance of evidence in your case:  Heather, you did the right thing and are helping out all PBS members when you marked this transaction RWAP.   Your sender's snippy attitude did not erase the fact that she was in violation of site rules when she posted books to her shelf that did not meet PBS guidelines for postable books.  The deal that you participated in did not negate the conditions under which she is allowed to post books here, and thus was an irrelevant argument.  Perhaps you could include a link in your next PM directing her to this discussion, where she can see she is clearly considered the party in the wrong here.

celticscrapper27 avatar
Date Posted: 10/6/2008 2:22 PM ET
Member Since: 1/7/2008
Posts: 797
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I just wanted to say "Thanks so much!"

I felt a little funny cuz it was my first time doind a RWP, but I was ok when I sent off the PM.  Then even though I was pretty sure about the responses I would get, I guess I just wanted to make myself feel better about the site and my choice after I got her response. Not to hijack my own thread, but the boards have been getting a little vicious and I've stopped posting as much.  Threads like this one remind me that you guys rock and I'm so glad I found ya :)  (Not cuz everyone was on my side but because it was clear how everyone felt without being ugly to the sender)

As a follow up question, do I have to say anything about he resolution of the problem?  I was done with it and really don't want any further contact with her.

Generic Profile avatar
Standard Member medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 10/6/2008 2:37 PM ET
Member Since: 5/10/2005
Posts: 2,979
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I don't see any reason you need to contact her again.  I certainly wouldn't, given her attitude.