I just saw this as a requester's condition on a book I had on my bookshelf.  I turned down the request because, as far as I know, the pages have darkened somewhat (I can't remember what shade they were 7 years ago when I bought the book, but it's not  a new book).  I didn't want to take the chance that it did not meet the requester's condition.  I have two questions:

1.  does anyone else think this is a strange condition for a used book swap, or is this normal?

2.  when I submitted my explanation, it asked if I was sure the book did not meet the requester's conditions.  I don't think that's a fair question.  How should I know if it meets the requester's conditions - I don't know how much yellowing they would really be willing to accept.  How sure do I have to be?  Is there some penalty if I get it wrong?

I haven't seen that condition, but it is a very good question, I will be interested to see the answer. Maybe in the future PM the person and explain how much discoloration there is on the book and let them decide.

Personally if I saw that condition, I would go to my transactions page after declining it, and PM the requester to let them know their conditions were ambigous and needed to be more detailed. Are they only referring to older books with yellowing from age? Do they also mean newer books that may have "sunburn" from being exposed to the sun? I would be really uncomfortable sending to someone with that condition w/out a better description of exactly what it is they do NOT want. Right now I'll bet they are getting a lot of turn downs on orders from anyone whose books aren't brand new.

I also have no idea why someone would have that condition, unless maybe they have trouble reading books where the pages have darkened to the point where the text seems faded. I hope they don't intend to order too many older books!

After I turned it down, the requester PM'd me and still wants the book so I will send it to them.  they said they have that condition because they got a book once that was so dark they could hardly read it.

Another vague one.  On one hand, you want to say, these are used books, but on the other hand, if they're willing to be turned down again and again, until they get what they want, then okey dokey by me.    Altho a friendly PM certainly couldn't hurt.  Perhaps if they were convinced to be a little less vague they may be happier here, and still get what they want. 

Just fyi, the reason the person has the condition may be because of a vision problem.  My grandpa can only read print that is very dark on very white pages for contrast.  He can't read a newspaper, for example.  I agree that its hard to judge if your pages are yellowed or darkened...

Nicole, my rule is, if in doubt, decline.  If the conditions aren't extremely explicit, I decline.

I hate it when people PM me and ask about the condition, and/or tell me to send the book anyway - it's such a hassle.

I'm on the other end, L, so to speak.

If I order a book for someone else, or one for myself that I will take when I travel, then the no cats/no smoking conditions I have are not "in play" since I don't have those allergies.  And I try to remember to PM the person and say, hey these books are for someone else, or for my travel reading, so please ignore my conditions.  But I forget, and then I get declined, and then I'm the person who says "send it anyway".   Oops!  Sorry  :>)

For only about the third time I have just turned down a request because one of the conditions was "no yellowing pages".

I understand conditions and as someone said maybe a vision issue but, when ordering used and many times older books I think it unrealistic not to expect some books will have yellowed pages. (This particular book is ten years old).

Nicole,

I love your sense of humor!  As far as I know, there is no penalty for getting it wrong, but I agree with you - how are you to know?   Rules, rules, so many rules! 

As mentioned by the others, you can always PM the other member and ask for clarification. 

Welcome to PBS; I hope you enjoy the trading.

Diane

Seeing as the books I want most are mysteries 30+ years old, I'd be in trouble if I included a "no yellowing" condition!  ;->

I got a condition like this just the other day along with, no major spin creasing, some creasing is fine, but not if the spine is white from creasing. At first I was going to decline. I looked over the book, it's practically brand new so I accepted the trade.

I'm worried about a WL book I posted w/some conditions.  The 1st person accepted and said to please send a book in "good condition"  but wasn't more specific.  It said she sometimes sends books to others and wants them to be in really good condition but if the book if for herself then it's ok to have some wear.  Well it wouldn't let me PM her to tell her it's a used book.  I should have declined and let it go to the next person.  I bought it used and read it once. To me it's in good condition.  I pm'd her and told her I bought it used and read it once and that it is a used book.  If she cancels then it'll go to the next WL person I guess. 

Sometimes the conditions are ambiguous. If it's a WL book I ususally PM the requestor to clarify. I hate turning down WL books.  But for something like that I would say it's because of vision problems or something like that. Or else I'd get the idea that they want new books from a used book site.

A couple of those things I don't particularly like (excessive spine creasing, dark yellow pages) but not to the point that I would turn down a book over them.  Which is why I don't have any conditions aside from the minimum posting conditions.  Some people are just really distracted by those things though, or maybe they want to keep their books for multiple reads and are afraid they will wear out quickly with either of those things.  I guess if it bothers them enough that they would rather not have the book, then so be it.

If I ever had a silly condition, it would be for tilted spines.  You don't know how many times I request newly released books that have been read once or maybe twice, and the spines are extremely tilted.  Almost to the point that you can lay the book face up and read the spine at the same time.  Who are these people that feel the need to flatten their books out on every page?  I don't get it.  I get a little crazy about that.  It's like book abuse.  I keep trying to straighten it...I like things to be symmetrical.  Yes, I am a weirdo.

Yellowing was the only stipulation?  I've rec'd requester conditions that only wanted books: acceptable for gifts, clean enough for reading without gloves, nice enough for a bookshelf, not from a home with smelling cooking, clean enough for a child (?), and available for the holidays. 

Needless to say, I've declined w/o comment these silly requests.  These are used books that have experienced life...ok smoking environments can be annoying...and regardless of the no-cat allergies requests (my kitties only read labels...no books)....my rule is don't send it if there is a possible problem. 

Avoid the heartache of rejection and the aggravation of dueling emails. 

Happily reading and thoroughly entertained,

jamowa

Amanda - I've noticed that with new books I've read and it distresses me.  I haven't DONE anything to make them tilt - in fact I am very careful of my new books.  but it seems as if all the new mmpb's do that no matter how hard I try to keep them straight.