I just declined a book request. They wanted a brand new book/. This book did most likely fit the bill. But it make me annoyed. What if it wasnt perfect enough. I mean it is a used book site. The way they steted it was so rude. I didnt want to take the chance of losing a credit if it wasnt up to their standards.Thanks for letting me vent. I can understand that at times you want a newer like book,. But to make a rude direct statement abouit all books should be new.,  Humph)

I feel the same way when I see those. I just mailed one from someone with high expectation conditions. The book was in perfect condition, but to be safe I used PBS postage to get guaranteed credit. On one hand, I don't want to be biased against conditions, I hope people follow mine, on the other, I want to know if these people are sending only books that meet their conditions, or are they sending out worn out junk and demanding perfect books in return.

Actually, if you send the book and they say it did not meet thier conditions, you are supposed to refund the credit.

I have seen some conditions that are so strict, that it looks like they are angling for a way to refuse based on condition = free book for them!

I just turned one down that had the following Requestor Conditions:

I prefer books to be "better than PBS condition." I have allergies, so, please do not send books that have any kind of a strong odor, or have been around a lot of cats, smoke or mold/mildew conditions. I prefer books to have minimal cover wear, spine cracking, page folding or yellowing.

How could I do anything but refuse?  The requested book is a used mass market paperback that is not new.  To meet that member's conditions, my book would have had to be brand new and virtually untouched and unread.

I turned one down once that asked for books to be "like-new" w/minimal wear.  It was a 14yr old OOP romance paperback.  Um-it's not going to "look new".  Since it had 84 people on WL, I didn't want to take the chance that the person would make a complaint about the book.  I bet these people get turned down a lot. But as long as they aren't on here complaining that they can't get any books then that's ok with me. They need to realize that this is a used book site and they either need to rethink the conditions or be prepared to get turned down alot. 

Because I take the trouble to only send very good, clean copies of books ( sometimes the pages are yellow or brown with age if it is an old book and about out of print); because I am sending out what I would reasonably expect to get, I also get really annoyed at requestors who  forget the spirit of the exchange.  Thank heavens, there  seems to be very few  such demanding people.  One of the beautiful things about PBS is that the traders, by far, are very nice, understanding people who are simply looking for a book to read.  I do my best  to give the best and people who need to have  a lot of conditions met, above the smoke - allergy problems, ... well, it's time to move on to someone who really does want the book and would be glad to have it.. 

I just turned down a request becaue of the stipulations as well.  This person's request was quite snippy in tone (if you can get a "tone" from an electronic message) and I just didn't want to take the chance as well.  I have been "burned" from a couple of people on PBS who didn't think the book I sent was up to standards.  They were both OOP children's books--HELLO! They are going to be a bit worn!  Anyway- I prefer to get the stipulation notices-that way if it really doesn't meet their criteria, then I don't have to take a chance on it not being up to snuff!

As for me and my house, I just want it readable!  I have tape and can repair tears on covers and pages.  :D  Mold/Mildew is a sign of water damage and that is a no-no of PBS rules.  Books that have co-habitated with cats/dogs/ferrets/pythons/priarie dogs or anything else is okay with me.  And since I have no idea about the previous living conditions and/or atmosphere (smoking/non smoking) of books I find at thrift stores and yard sales and post for other readers then I guess I don't really care about smoky smelling books here.  Fabreeze anyone? 

Just think of PBS as a physical used book shop and think of the people with conditions here as people looking through the shelves for a book.  If they have strict conditions they will likely leave 95% of the time without finding the book they want in the condition they want, but they are not hurting anyone by having their standards but themselves really.  Because this is a virtual shop they have no way of knowing what the book looks like so they put conditions that you can accept or reject.  Of course they are going to face the consequences of unrealistic, rude, or incomprehensible conditions, but it is within their rights.  Just turn it down and move on.  All the turn downs they get will be punishment enough.    I've never put any conditions like that up, but I have been very disappointed with nasty books that have come my way.  I typically only look for older books here and get my newer books at the store or a physical used book store where I can look at them myself because nearly every newer book I've gotten here have horrifically creased spines (a pet peeve of mine).  Not just one or two creases, but creases to the point it is hard to read the spine at all and the book feels lopsided.  I am not going to add a "no creased spine" condition because I realize it is a used book site and most people are not as OCD with their books than I am, but I am just not going to be asking for most of those newer books here anymore because of it.  It is odd that books from the 1980s that I want usually come in looking nice and books from a few years ago have badly creased spines.  I guess people hold their books differently these days. 

Actually, if you send the book and they say it did not meet thier conditions, you are supposed to refund the credit.

I have seen some conditions that are so strict, that it looks like they are angling for a way to refuse based on condition = free book for them!

The problem with these types of requests is that it is somewhat subjective. I will never return a credit for a book that I truly believe looks like new just because the receiver says it doesn't meet their "like new" definition. To me, if it looks the same as I could pick it up off of B&Ns shelves (price sticker spots, remainder marks, some shelf bending on the dust jacket, etc) it is like new and I will not return a credit. IMHO, expecting more than that means this person is looking for free books. I have never had a problem, but I don't intend to get scammed.

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Conditions are allowed on here - ANY conditions - ALL conditions.   <shrug>  no problem to me if they want a brand new, untouched, gold plated book.   No skin off my nose.  Of course, they won't be getting MY books because I have, after all touched them at least once.  

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I don't turn down all requests with conditions.  I had one recenlty that just asked that the book meet PBS conditions.  It said they had been receiving water dmg, stain and torn books.  I don't send out books like that so no problem. It's the one that say they want mint condition books that I turn down.  I think some book collectors join in hopes of getting lucky and finding that mint condition Steven King hardback they've been looking for but haven't wanted to spend money on.

I don't turn down a request with conditions IF my book meets the condition.        IF I do turn it down I simply say "my book does not meet your conditions"   I don't think any more is needed.     I'm not into giving long explanations NOR am I into wondering or worrying about the whys of people's conditions.   They write em, I read em, I send it it meets em and if not - I don't.           Life is too short to think of it beyound that.

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I'm sorry if something I said offended you Terri.   My answer certainly wasn't meant to do that.   I don't turn down many offers and when I do - I give no excuses.             Sorry - if my other answer went into more detail than was needed. 

Janice, I just want to say thank you so much for the invite to read your profile.  It was rather like reading a good book, and really gave me a smile this morning!!  God Bless You!!  :)

(And thanks to everyone for posting here--as a newbie I am learning SO much just browsing these boards!!)

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I am actually glad to see this thread.  I am new here.   I have been worried about book conditions, and went and reread the PBS stipulations.   I just sent out a book that was used, and intact.   However, the spine was "curled,"  but not cracked, if you know what I mean.   You could tell that it had been read.   Since it was intact, no pages missing, and not torn in any way, I sent it out.   But I've been worried.    I guess I'll see what the receiver thinks, when it gets there. 

It is odd that books from the 1980s that I want usually come in looking nice and books from a few years ago have badly creased spines.  I guess people hold their books differently these days. 

I think the issue is more that quality is deteriorating and that's why books don't hold up as well.

I have an odd situation going on regarding conditions. I have just received the same request for the same book for the third time from an individual whom I have turned down twice already due to his or her conditions. They have requested a book that has never been around smoke. I bought it used and there are smokers in my home. Double whammy! I don't know why the book keeps getting requested when I specifically state that I can't meet their conditions because there are smokers in my home.

It would be really nice if these conditions were checklist type conditions (and I've said this before, I know).  Like if you didn't want certain types of books, you could just check the boxes:  no books from smoking environments, no books from households w/pets, no bookcrossing books, no ex-library, etc.

Furthermore, if you had the same type of options in your own profile, say if you were a smoker or had cats or dogs, and you checked those boxes, requests from people who checked the boxes indicating that they didn't want books from those households would skip right over you.

Yes, I'm probably dreaming, but it sure would save time and aggravation.

I just turned one down that had the following Requestor Conditions:

I prefer books to be "better than PBS condition." I have allergies, so, please do not send books that have any kind of a strong odor, or have been around a lot of cats, smoke or mold/mildew conditions. I prefer books to have minimal cover wear, spine cracking, page folding or yellowing.

How could I do anything but refuse?  The requested book is a used mass market paperback that is not new.  To meet that member's conditions, my book would have had to be brand new and virtually untouched and unread.

 I read this condition and don't think they are asking for a brand new pristine book. If I bought a paperback book and read it once - my book would more than satisfy those requirements.  I'm generally not hard on my books (I do need to put generally, because I have really beaten some up!!).  I've gotten some absolutely wonderful books here, I have also gotten some that were on their last reading.  This person is just requesting books on the newer side.  I don't see anything wrong with that.  Why does everyone get so upset? 

jackie

Janice, I thought your "conditions" were great too, but if you ever find a 20 spot in a book I sent you, I'll expect at least 10 back. :-O You can keep the other ten for a finder's fee. LOL

I actually like conditions. It's great to know up front exactly what others want. If I can't meet the condition, I decline. A few weeks ago, I received a rather hard to find book that was still wrapped in the shrink wrap! Never been read, never been opened! I was ridiculously excited and didn't open the shrink wrap right away because I wanted to show this BRAND NEW book to my husband when he got home. LOL  Of course, out of the many hundreds of books I've received, this was the only book that I can say truly looked as if it had never been touched. I'd imagine that those who want new looking books don't get many books here. I'd rather have lots of used, readable books than one never been touched book!