Why do people join a used book site and expect to get books that are pristine? For the record, I do not think this was a homeschooler. People on the main board talk about this as well. I *thought* PBS was for used books in decent condition.

Argh, Ok now I feel better.

I have to agree with you! I got a VERY unreasonable condition request list this morning. And I mean a LIST..... One of them was that the book was brand new when I got it.

Shannon

Did someone complain about a book you sent, Nina? Nina sends great books. :)

I totally agree!  I hate conditions.  If a book is readable then I want it! 

Shannon, first of all, welcome to the forum!

I don't mind people's conditions as long as they are reasonable. I got one set of conditions once that demanded that the book be either brand new or like brand new. I calmly (albeit slightly rudely) declined and commented that "I hear Barnes & Noble sells brand new books". It irked me that day.

Thanks for the Welcome! I have been meaning to jump in on the board and this subject just got me on the right day!

Shannon

I flat out deny requests that come through with a list of conditions - one or two reasonable conditions I can understand and I will accept, but I've denied people's requests because of laundry lists of conditions.  If they want a book in a certain condition, they can buy it new.  These are used books.

When you get more than a few books that are falling apart, have gum stuck to pages (yes, gum), or are green from mildew, then you start rethinking whether or not you should specify condition. Are books supposed to be in this condition? No, but guess what? People still send them. Yes, I've received some very rude comments because I have a list of conditions, but when a book arrives in this condition, or even worse, a once new book arrives soaking wet because it wasn't packaged properly, then I guess I'll have to miss a few gems because someone was upset over my list.

Michele

Hi. I'm new here and would like to jump in on this thread.

I appreciate the fact that people can put conditions on their books. My daughter has asthma and we can't have books that are currently from a smoking environment. However, I've had several conditions from other members on requests that I just declined for fear of it not meeting their expectation. I buy books at thrift stores for my bookshelf. I ONLY choose the ones that are in good, readable condition. No stains, little wear and tear on the spine and cover. I have no clue if those books have ever been in a smoking environment. When I pick them up they don't smell like smoke or I wouldn't select them.

As a first-year homeschooler I have found that parents appreciate good, usable materials but for the most part they expect there is going to be wear and tear on items. That's the value of a swap...used more than once so as many kids can benefit from the item as possible!

I did have someone who had a condition on her books that was almost as long as my post is right now. And, the book she wanted from me was in a very unique category. Basically, she wanted a Barnes & Noble quality book, except, she is the type that would have complained to the store if there was a sticker on the dust jacket and demanded they find her a copy without one. It was THAT specific. Kind of freaked me out.

But, I figure that is her choice. If she wants to miss out then so be it. I'm not taking the chance of the subjectivity on the other end so I declined the swap.

Rhonda

I understand why some people want nice books.  If it is a book they really like and want to keep forever, they want it in good condition.  For example, my family is crazy about the Redwall books.  I don't have the money to buy all of them new in hardcover(paperback falls apart too fast) and am therefore collecting them here.  I want all of them to have the dust jacket and be in fairly good condition.  I don't put this in requestor conditions, since it's only this series I'm so particular about.  I just PM the person when I request one.

I agree that some of the conditions you described are outrageous!  I would be a little annoyed if someone wanted their books like that.  Michelle, I love the comment about Barnes and Noble having new books!  That's great!

I don't have conditions on my books, but I do understand why some might.  Mish is right...everyone here can read the posting guidelines, but unfortunately, not everyone does.  I have received some great books, but I have also received some books in terrible condition (which shouldn't have been posted in the first place.) Most of the time it's an honest mistake.

I have no problem with reasonable conditions, I have an asthmatic child so we cannot have smoky books. But some of these go on and on.... I admit, I was thinking the B&N comment.

I had an upset swapper this week.  I'd never had one before and was really saddened by the PM.  :o(

Awww Carla, try not to take it too hard. People don't realize how harsh they sound in their emails. Don't let it get to you.

I agree.  I don't mind conditions.  But I hate it when people expect brand new books on a used book site.  It's frustrating.

Overall, I have been extremely fortunate in my trades.  The first package that I've gotten that I was really disappointed in came last week.  None of the 4 books were in really good condition and one in particular had at least two holes/rips in the cover!  Not little either.  I would have complained except that I got that order off the book bazaar so it was a 4 for 1 special so I felt bad complaining, but still - we are talking severely damaged book here!  I just sucked it up =(

I have only received a couple of bad books out of 60 or so.  One reeked of smoke!  It was Eragon, and I had waited a really long time for it to come up on my W/L.  It was so bad that I had to put it in a ziploc bag with a bunch of baking soda, and I still don't think I want to touch it!  Another was just in really worn condition. 

I think if they started a rating system like other sites do, people would be much more hesitant to swap an unpostable book!

Amity

Hi, I am new to this site - and have never been part of a book swap before.  I have already mailed 9 books - all of them in beautiful condition.  I take good care of my books and have only posted those in like new condition because, while I read the posting criteria, I wasn't sure what constituted too much wear.  I currently have books that are worn ( paperbacks with some creasing of the front and back covers), but the spines, and pages are in good solid condition.  I didn't post those because I wasn't sure if they were too warn.  I was waiting until I actually recieved a few of the books I ordered to determine if they were ok.  In your opinion, would books like these satisfy the average person using this site?  Based on what has been written here, it sounds as if they would.

Thanks,

Sonja

Sonja,

What you described would be absolutely fine to me. I would expect any used book to have some creasing on the covers.  That generally means someone else thought it was worthy to read! :-)

Welcome to PBS, by the way!

Hi Sonja, and welcome. Your books sound fine.

I've gotten some whammies. Some of you might have read my rants in weeks past. People scold me for ranting about the condition of some of the books that I've received. One of them was clearly chewed up by someone's pet. The cover was half-gone and the entire 800 pages were pocked with tooth marks. It was also stained yellow. NOT yellowing pages, but more like cookbook splatters. I couldn't even touch that book. It repulsed me. When I complained about that one, someone told me to suck it up, because this was a used book site. Yeah...

I got one that smelled like urine. It smelled like an overnight diaper on a two year-old. Yep. Someone mailed that to me. Oh well...at least they were decent enought to put it in a plastic bag before they mailed it. Wouldn't want it to get here wet...

I've gotten the ones where the pages are unattached and just crammed into the book.

BUT...I have received over 200 books. Maybe a dozen were damaged. Not a bad ratio. =)

Michelle, I don't think you were unreasonable about those books. Those clearly don't meet the guidlines and are disgusting. I'm talking about the ones that want them like new, hardback *must* have dust covers, and on and on...

Overall, I have received books in good to great condition. Books just aren't made like they used to be. Paperbacks, especially, seem to show wear after one or two readings.

Nina, off topic, but I love your avitar.

Talk about rude:  someone just sent me this message:

I can't guarantee the "smell" of the book, and I'm offended by people putting stipulations on "free" books.

Color me offended, too!  I don't call them "free" since I have to have one to offer in exchange, and it's assumed that I purchased it in some fashion since coverless and free advanced review books aren't allowed.  It is perfectly within the rights of PBS users to stipulate conditions! I agree that lengthy laundry-lists of conditions is abusive, but asking that books not smell of mildew or smoke isn't untoward, IMO.

thanks, just venting.