One of my auto-requested books came to me as an ARC. I know that they are against PBS rules.  I did write a comment to the sender as well as PBS. What else do I need to do? I'm not too concerned about getting my credit back, but I really don't want the ARC.

ARCs are clearly stated in the PBS help section as not allowed:

Not allowed:

• Advance Reader Copies (also known as ARC s, Review Copies or Uncorrected Proofs--these are not the final versions of books)

So, you are within your "rights", so to speak, to request the return of your credit, particularly since you can't repost the illegal ARC to otherwise recoup your credit.

The official instructions state:

Books that arrive with one of the "official" problems listed above (Wrong book/inappropriate item ie ARC, Damaged, Damaged by USPS, Requestor Conditions Violation) need to be marked "Received, but with a problem" from the En Route to Me tab in My Account. 

• To do this:
  • Click "Was the book received" on the transaction
  • Click "There is a problem with this book"
    • if this button does not appear on the Book Received page, read Why don't I see the *There is a problem with this book* option when I mark my book received?
  • Choose from the Problem options.  
    • This will generate an email from PBS to the sender notifying them that she or he has had a book marked received with a problem, and telling her/him that she or he may receive a Personal Message from the requestor.

• On the next screen:
  • At the top of the page:You can send a Personal Message to the sender to discuss the problem.
    • Please be gentle!  No one wants to send a problem book.
    • Your Personal Message should mention the title of the book, and it can also ask for the sender to refund the credit, if you feel this is warranted.
    • Please remember that it is possible that you did not receive the problem book from that sender. 
      • If an earlier sender sent a book but never marked it mailed, you could be getting 2 copies of this book, and the "problem" copy would not necessarily be the active transaction on your En Route to Me tab.
      • Please see the Help item I received 2 copies of the same book! for more information about this situation.

• At the bottom of the page: type in a description of the problem.  This information will be seen only by us.  It is very helpful to be as specific as possible.
• Click Continue.
• Doing this grants credit to the sender; it also records a Problem swap on his or her account record.
  • We will not adjudicate individual problem swaps
  • We will intervene if a sender's account shows a pattern of problem sending

 If a member (sender or requestor) is rude or abusive during a PM exchange about a book, we can be notified.  We will review the PM exchange and take action commensurate to the offense.

DId you mark the book as "received with a problem?"  I would request my credit back since you will not be able to repost it.

I did mark it as rec'd with a problem and wrote to both the sender and made a notation at the bottome of the page.  I haven't yet asked for my credit back. I'm hoping that this was an honest mistake and the sender will contact me. If I don't hear in a day or two I will contact her directly.

I've gotten two ARCs in the past month - both turned out to be from brand new members who didn't know the rules as well as the rest of us.  I didn't ask for my credit back because it was an honest mistake.  The ARC rule is, yes, a rule...but it is one that is easy to overlook because many ARCs have ISBNs.  Many people don't know what an ARC is, so I could see how a newer member may do this on accident.  So, I'm inclined to go easy on someone in that situation. 

You can also list it on the Book Bazaar forum and it is possible someone could get it from you that way.

Keri-Big Bold Letters on the front that says" Advance Uncorrected Proofs".  On the back is Marketing: A Fresh Fiction Selsection(see your sales rep for details)".

Isn't there an ARC swap going on right now?  That's a perfect place to get rid of one.  Well then, I guess you'll get another one in return...... but, you can just start another swap!

Most ARCs are pretty clearly marked but some are not.  I picked one up at a yard sale before and didn't realize it until I got home (argh).  The words indicating it was an ARC were miniscule.

I'd book bazaar it if you don't want it.  You could always list it as "free with order."

 If a member (sender or requestor) is rude or abusive during a PM exchange about a book, we can be notified.  We will review the PM exchange and take action commensurate to the offense.

Wow, is that part new? I like it a lot, but darned if I can recall seeing it anytime recently.

An ARC might also have the words "Review Copy" or "Uncorrected Proof" or something along those lines somewhere on the cover(s). 

You'll definitely know you have an uncorrected copy -- it will have obvious mistakes when you read it.

ALL ARCs should state on the copyright page that is is an Advance Reader copy OR advance uncorrected proof and that it is not the actual published version.

Some are hard to spot just by looking at the cover.But all will say somewhere on the cover that is is not for sale usually under the ISBN.

I would request the credit back and I also dont buy the fact the sender did not know it was an ARC unless they did not read the book or look at the cover.

I think on the pop that happens when you post the book PBS should ask ,if the book has Not for sale written on it, that way people would look and see if it had that or not.