Hi--I just got burned again. This time, the book was heavly underlined and highlighted (it isn't a text book). It seems that every third book has a probem with condition. Previously I have had books that were falling apart, books that were torn and books that were stained. I was wondering if I should put in a requestor condition that says "please read the guidelines to make sure your book is in good condition." Do you think that is excessive?

Just make sure your conditions aren't too vague. I probably woudn't turn down Beth's conditions although I don't get the "boogie-fever" thing.  But then I don't post unpostable books.  The credit isn't worth the risk of possible hassle.  I have turned down requests that seem really vague or unreasonable.  Like "please make sure the book is nice" or "I only want books that look brand-new". Well your definition of nice might be different then mine and hello, this is a used book site.  But it's not unreasonable to want books that fit PBS guidelines. Just make sure you are clear in your conditions. And people don't seem to like being asked to PM you first.  But you could put your nickname in the conditions so someone can look you up if you have a question.  It doesn't give you an option to PM the person until after you've accepted the request.

Here are my conditions. I've not been turned down because of them yet:

Please wrap the book in a layer of plastic to prevent water damage during shipment. When it rains around here it pours!

Book quality: All I'm looking for is PBS posting guideline quality.

Thank you for your consideration!

Thanks for all of your input. In each case of bad books, someone has only returned a credit once. This latest one, he asked me to send back the book so he could then return my credit. I don't trust that, plus I would be out postage, too. And he might repost the book. But I did say that if he buddied the credit first, I would mail the book. He said no way.

I like PBS, but all of these bad books with no way to hold someone accountable is making consider cancelling.

If someone wants their book shipped back to them, then they either need to send you a credit for postage, or the cost of postage.  In the case of sending a credit, this means that they send you 2 credits - one to pay for postage, and one for sending you a bad book.  It does say this in the Help Center.

Just today I received a book with some water damage and mold. The sender apologized and readily gave me back my credit.  Then there's the lady a couple of days ago who read my conditions and wrote me a perfectly nasty and rude PM before canceling the request, LOL.

Whatever you do, if you receive a book that doesn't meet PBS standards or your conditions, mark it such when you get it.  R&R can intervene if the sender refuses to return your credit. 

If someone sends you a nasty remark about your conditions in the rejection letter, Report it to R&R.  Just send them a note that says, "On the rejection for book XXXXXX, the person left a very nasty reason why rejecting.  I would like you to look into it."  They have access to the excuses given.  If they find it was rude and/or nasty, they will deal with the person. 

They may think they can get away with it because PBS allows them anonminity in those rejection letters, but they are sorely mistaken.  Don't just sit by and take their abuse because they want to be close-minded. 

<<I probably woudn't turn down Beth's conditions although I don't get the "boogie-fever" thing. >>

That's simply to be a humorous reference to the various postings about books arriving with ... umm ... nasal mucus in them.  It isn't technically prohibited by PBS guidelines (not really a liquid anymore, as a stain it would, um, peel off, although I suppose to toddlers it might be a "food stain") :-), so, having received all sorts of other stains I've had to photo document, I'm trying to head off the "where does it say no sneezing in the books" query. Call me booger-phobic.  If someone would like to wordsmith that phrase for me so it makes more sense while still being lighthearted and not gross, please feel free.  :-)

Happy Friday!

Cheers,

Catt/Beth