I just got a book that has a note written on the title page. "Dear X, Happy birthday. I hope you like this book. Love, Y"
Only it's a few sentences longer.

Honestly, I don't care. The book is mint otherwise. My question is, does this make it unpostable? Or is is borderline and only requires a PM?

I don't know, hmm.  I've sent out a few with my name on them.

Help Center sez:

"a signature or note on the flyleaf or inside front or back cover is OKAY"

• Book Condition Guidelines

Ok. I just wasn't sure if flyleaf was the same as the title page. Thanks.

The flyleaf is not the same as the title page.  The flyleaf is a blank leaf at the beginning or end of a book according to Mr. Webster. 

The Help Center says that the author's signature is OK on the title page, so I assume nothing else is:

No writing or highlighting on text pages

• a signature or note on the flyleaf or inside front or back cover is OKAY
• an author's signature on the title page is OKAY
• writing or highlighting on the text pages is NOT OKAY

That may be technically correct, Pattie, but I doubt anyone is going to really make the distinction, and if they did, they would have a hard time convincing most people to return their credit based on the fact that the note is on the title page rather than the actual flyleaf page. To me, it's "inside the front cover" and close enough. Very few of us are as picky as Mr. Webster hahahaha and occasionally, there is no flyleaf, and the title page is the first available page, and would be considered the same.

I got one today that apparently was given as a shower gift---not only does it have little notes written inside the front and back covers--there are little "comments" written throughout the book---it is a baby care book--and some of the comments are like "don't put coffee in the baby's bottle" and other attempts to be witty----I PMed the sender already.   I would normally not care, but this book is clearly way beyond non-postable.

Since most often when an author signs a book it's on the title page, I would suspect R&R meant the flyleaf exception noted above to include signatures or inscriptions on title pages.

Yeah, Tammy, I would have a problem with that too. It's funny how when given an exception of an inch, so many people turn that inch into a mile! A note somewhere on one of the beginning pages, whether it be technically the flyleaf, or the title page, is no big deal, but then you add notes throughout, and then it's become a mile. Totally unacceptable! Hope you don't have any problem getting your credit back.

Personally I wouldn't care about writing on a title page, as you mentioned the rest of the book is mint.  If I wanted the book and wanted to read it, I wouldn't let a little writing there stop me from getting and enjoying  the book.

I had a book like that. I just signed up and was not careful with the quality of books I listed (2 of them) and I pm'd the person and told them the book was not in good shape but you may have it for "free". They still wanted the book and we were both happy. They got a free book and I got a book off my bookshelf!!!

Well, it may be getting technical, and writing on the title page wouldn't keep me from enjoying a book, but IMHO such a book does not fall within guidelines, and the OP could have a problem if the recipient objects. 

I received one today which was a wish list book that not only has a bookcrossing sticker in the front(which I know is okay) but they also wrote the "This is a Bookcrossing....blah, blah" on the very first page right above where Chapter 1 starts!

So now, I can't repost it. 

I sent a book out in beautiful condition, almost new, except it had my name on the inside front cover.  The receiver marked it as received with a problem.  Somehow I don't think that was fair.  I think it was a totally postable book.

I can't imagine anyone would actually care if there was an inscription or something on the title page.  Most authors autograph the title page and not the flyleaf anyway....at least, that was my experience as a book reviewer.  I typically skip right over the title page...I imagine most people do.  I've never had anyone complain when I've sent them a book with an autographed title page. 

Angela, if I had received that book, I would have marked it RWP.  People should not be writing on the text pages, bookcrossing or not.  I don't know how bookcrossers expect people to enjoy their books when they write on the pages you are supposed to be reading.......that is really annoying.  That is neither the flyleaf or the title page....you should try asking for your credit back.  Couldn't hurt....

Heather, while it's true the books here are used and fairly cheap there have been standards on this site.   Those standards were not set by us but by the men who started this site.          I expect a book that meets those standards, nothing more and nothing LESS.     

I heard from my person...she was really sweet--and really NEW--anyway I pointed her towards the book conditons section, told her to come have fun with us in the forums, and tried to make her experience good ;0)

Wonderful, Tammy, I'm often worried about PM'ng new people for fear of running them off before they discover that it's such a great place. But they need to know that writing all thru the book is not acceptable and someone has to do the dirty job of telling them what they didn't see already for themselves. Glad it was a good experience for you :)

Well thank you, Sherry!  My motto is "mean people suck" so I try not to be one of those mean people---not that pointing out that a book isn't postable is mean--but there is a positive way and a negative way to do it..and I'll opt for the positive ;0)

Getting a "bad" book isn't the worst thing that can happen to a person, now is it? ;0)~