I was just thinking after getting so many books that I can't repost on pbs... it would be nice to have a place where people could put in the condition of their books. I honestly don't mind getting a book that has a little water damage or stain if it's something I want to read AND if I know it is in that condition! The problem comes when I get one that was posted on pbs and it's not able to be reposted and shouldn't have been when I ordered it.  I seem to be lucky in finding books like that. I was wondering if there couldn't be a way for people to list the book's condition... (I know there are other sites I can post these on... but nothing compares to PBS!) and if it isn't at pbs standards, maybe get 1/4th credit for those types. It would keep books circulating when they are still very readable, and hopefully people would be honest about a book having water damage or badly stained... and they could still get some credit for it, and maybe we wouldn't be stuck ordering books like this and wasting a whole credit. I dunno if anyone else feels this way. But that's my thoughts!!

While I've been really lucky in getting books in fine condition, I think you make some valid points.  I, too, would be willing to order some books that are now considered unpostable, if I knew in advance that they had flaws, especially if I could be assured that there was a way to repost them.    How about an icon of some kind?

There are other sites that allow that.

I don't want books that aren't in decent condition, though, so I'm happy that PBS has certain minimum standards.

All books posted at PBS must meet the minimum standards -- but there are still ways you can swap those books that don't meet it!

The Book Bazaar forum is great! When I have a book that I can't post, I'll make a thread there saying I have x books that don't meet the standards, and I'll give you one free with an order from my shelf!  That way you're earning a credit (honestly), and someone is able to read that book.

Carol, are you marking these books "Received With a Problem" and asking for your credit back? If not, you should be. People who repeatedly send books that don't meet PBS conditions can be removed from the site, but not if it's never reported to the powers that be.

Taleah makes a great point about using the Book Bazaar for books that don't meet posting conditions. 

Also bear in mind that the reason that it isn't practical for us to describe the condition of our personal copy of a book is the way the FIFO system works.  When I search for a book I'm interested in, then request it, I don't know who it's coming from - it's just the next copy in line.  I must assume that the book meets PBS standards. 

And ditto on marking the book received with a problem - this is what makes the system work to weed out chronic bad swappers.

True and good points. I guess I just get frustrated about the books being unpostable. The first few books I received that were unpostable, I didn't know until I had marked the books as here. (I didn't even realize we could mark the books as received with a problem.) But now I've learned to check the books before marking them and I HAVE asked for my credit back once from someone who sent a totally obvious unpostable book. (And I never heard from her again so I just remember to avoid her shelf)

I do use the book bazaar... I've posted several unpostables in the free unpostables forum. And now I have a collection of unpostables that I'm planning to list as free with an order in the next few weeks.

I just wish people would make more of an effort to check books before posting. *sigh* ok... that's my rant! I did receive a great bunch of books today... all in great condition!! Which makes me feel great about our fellow pbs'ers!

Those are the people who  "think" the PBS posting conditions don't apply to them!  Or there is j "just a little" water damage. Or "most of the pages are still attached and they are all there" I have been REALLY lucky so far and have gotten really nice books. It is just wrong to send junky books then refuse to return a credit.

I learned the hard way to check books before I mark them received.  I got a book I'd been anxiously waiting for, marked it received, and found out that not only was it stained, but smelled like vomit.  (sorry to be so blunt, but it did).  Not only could I not repost it, obviously, but I couldn't even read it.

That said, if I order a book that was published 25 years ago, I fully expect it to show its age, and I don't expect to be able to repost it.

Every book is going to have its "one last trip". 

I don't want to get so caught up in worrying about repostability that I forget that I'm supposed to be asking for books because I want to read them.  : )

Just my 2 cents.