I don't have any cookbooks on my shelf so it doesn't sound likely that I'd run into her - I am in agreement though with all the others on here: Don't sweat the conditions and this one I would decline for sure.

Welcome! I'm pretty new too - It's very addicting!

I almost enjoy getting the ones like that - they are great for a giggle.  Most people with conditions have the ones you would expect about ex-library, dust jackets (which are not required), bookcrossing, pets, smoke and so on.  I recently had one similar to yours, though rather than measure the labels inside the book, I was supposed to count any spine creases.  Just laugh, decline, move on.  :)

Hiya Geek!

Most people don't use the conditions box and those that do more often than not have allergies or other respiratory stuff and need to know if you smoke or have pets.  (I have a large, shaggy dog, but don't smoke, so that eliminates 50% of that category right there!)  Also, most people are pretty nice about asking, so even if you get someone with conditions, it's not gonna be some delicate flower on her fainting couch telling you how she needs to have that new book smell or she'll just! Dah!  As everyone else has said, the best thing to do is decline it and move on. 

As for your book, there are a lot of cookbook collectors on here.  A boxed set of Beard?  I give it until ten, noon at the outside, before somebody snaps that puppy right up!

Welcome to PBS!

I know that conditions set people off the wrong way. I have a breathing problem and any smoke or scent will set it off.  I also don't want a filthy book with food and coffee all over it.

I have had a number of people turn me down, which is fine.  Some are rude and some are just stupid.  I have had a number of people say "It's a clean book with no odor , but I cannot guarantee it never came into contact with smoke ever".  If it doesn't smell and it's clean that's all I ask for, not a pedigree. I even state I don't care about djs, ex-library or condition. I am a book dealer, but do not sell the books I get here. I fell that I provide a service, posting weirdo, out of print books that people have on their wishlists, books I get as part of the lots I buy to resell. I also can get popular WL books cheaply and distribute them here.  Until recently, when I found someone who had a bunch of Buddhism books, my ratio of sent to gotten was about 2 or 3 to 1.

Also, in the booksellers forums, I have been to, PBS is denigrated as a junkheap of Grishams and is seen as a worthless place to get books. I keep my mouth shut about the great books I get here, sometimes after 1 1/2 years on my WL. My loyalty is to PBS in all matters PBS, and to my fellow booksellers, most of which are perfectly civil and nice and not the predatory goons that give us a bad name, in all things that pertain to solely bookselling.  How's that for a run on sentence.

I never tell anyone in the bookselling world to come here, but I have given up quite a few sales by steering my customers here. 

Honestly, the word in the booksellers loop is that PBS is not a place for easy pickins to resell.

Welcome to PBS.  I have only one point to add to the EXCELLENT points already made:

Cookbooks are VERY popular here.  If you have any doubt about being able to "sell" that set, stop now.  They will go in a flash.  So just turn her down, if you haven't already!

I just got a request for a book "only in very good or brand new condition". The book is not brand new, and I know what I think is "very good" may not be the same as the requestor, so I turned it down.

Re-seller or RI-diculous?

I would turn it down immediately and not think twice about it.  The tone of the conditions and the ridiculously long list is too much for me.  But don't let it stop you from staying with PBS.  It's a great site and I've gotten some great books here.

I got conditions on my second day which kind of offended me and put me off. I felt bad for declining  but since then I've had an excellent time with everyone else who has requested from me or sent to me.

I would have turned it down as well.  I don't mind conditions because I understand allergies and such.  But the tone of the conditions would set me off.  I've only turned down maybe one or two people and that was because of the conditions of wanting New to like new conditions.  I didn't want to risk them not liking the book.

I also would have turned her down.......I remember that  list of conditions from a previous posting-especially  the 2 in sticker.  What are you supppose to do, remember where your ruler is at??  I don't have conditions, but her's is a certain turn off for me-and I don't get turned off easily.......and come to think of it I have a couple of cook books on my shelf and have a bunch more that i am going to post-giving everyone  a "heads up"!

I have also gotten a request fom this person before and just declined it. I did not want to risk losing my credit just in case.

Hi Margaret, welcome to PBS.  Please don't be put off by that condition, it's pretty unusual in the grand scheme of things here.  I don't personally see a lot of conditions as a sender, and the ones I do see tend to be shorter, more straightforward and less strident than that one.

I wonder if this member realizes how much buzz she generates with this outlandish set of conditions? I posted the entire text, just as Geek did, about 3 months ago in the forums and then declined her request without hesitation.

I don't think she's a reseller, I think she has unreasonable expectations of PBS and its members.

And welcome to PBS! Most of us are not difficult to deal with at all. The few who fall into that category just give the rest of us something to talk about.....

Hi MArgaret....FYI - this book should be posted as a "book without ISBN" as the description says Hardcover and your reviews says it's a paperback.. :) Welcome!

I don't have any conditions and I just requested both of the Beard books.  My husband loves to cook and I think he'll enjoy them.  :)