At PBS, you can put conditions under which you'll take a book. I have three.

I request that the wrapper is NOT taped to the book. One of my biggest pet peeves. I've had too many covers be ripped or torn because of this.

I request that books come from non-smoking homes, for obvious reasons.

I request that the sender let me know if the hardcover book they have to send me does not have the cover. (This is because some of the HCs on my wish list are for my PC, and for those I want the covers.)



Are those hard? Are they unreasonable? I had a wish list book pop up yesterday which I accepted, and this morning I found a CANNOT MAIL email from PBS that the sender cancelled the book request. Her response:

So many conditions ... it makes me very uncomfortable, and I can't guarantee I'd meet everyone. Sorry.

So many??? SO MANY?? It's not like I have 10 things listed. How hard is it to determine whether or not the book is from a smoking environment, not to tape the wrapper to the book, and let me know if it has a cover???

I kinda want to respond to her, but I don't know exactly what I'd say so it didn't come off bitchy. I guess I'll just let it go, but it's so irritating. That's such a lame excuse.

You know, I have a restriction saying I prefer books from non-smoking areas, and I think it might also say something about readable condition (meaning a cover).
SO many people email me, and I don't mind working with them (one lady was really nice and said that while she smoked, the books weren't near the smoke and if it was a problem to let her know)--and I usually let it slide.

However, I do get a little peevish when I see that notice "Cannot Mail" because by then I'm expecting the book and such. This happened to one book I really wanted and everything was cool, until a day later when I got an email saying "Garage Sale book" what is that?

Yeah, you're not picky. They're just too picky! :-)

In their defense... I've had people with some random condition decide my book didn't meet it and complain.

The smoke thing you need to clarify - say something about just sniffing it and if it smells fine to you, it's perfectly okay to send.

The 3rd one... no one can contact you - unless you give your email address until they accept it, I believe. So, either I lose my place in line or you do...

Just food for thought.

I hate RCs. LOL. I wish they would go to a checkbox system, but they don't care what I say over there. ;)

Elly, I don't think you're being too picky - there are just some people out there who don't like others to have ANY conditions.....

Gothamgal - I would interpret "garage sale book" as meaning they can't guarantee it's from a non-smoking home.....

I kinda understand this. But for me, I don't really think I could 100% feel comfortable complaining about a book that someone sent to me.

As long as someone contacts me after the swap is initiated, we can usually work something out, you know? I appreciate the contact and their desire to work through it more than just the 'nevermind, I don't want to play anymore because of this...'

Not at ALL! I've seen way longer, and some weird ones too. Yours are reasonable, and perfectly fine. I know I got pissed one time when I requested a hardback for my PC from I think bn.com and it didn't have a cover. Some may see it as just a small thing, but I know it REALLY pissed me off.. now I have to go back and find another one for my PC. :sigh:

I don't think its you... it's them.

Oh, yeah... that makes sense...
:duh:

I had one girl refuse to send me the book, just because I had a non-smoking condition. her message? "Beggars can't be choosers" I complained, I replied to her, I shouldn't have, but they got on her case, or at least told me they were goin to because they provide you the ability to list conditions for a reason, and no one should be abused because they are using the system as it is meant to be used.

She was a brat! :rolleyes:

Beggars??? :lol: Sounds like a little twit!! :rolleyes:

I don't have any restrictions, but to tell you the truth, some of the more lengthy ones make me want to refuse to send it, even if I meet all the conditions. I don't know why, but it just irks me. :shrug:

I know there have been several times I have marked CANNOT SEND with people with conditions especially the smoking one.. I do not smoke but my hubby does and I dont want to spend the money to mail them a book and them to say something about it.. since I live in the house with his smoke it doesnt bother me and to me I dont smell anything but that could be cuz Im used to it so to keep me safe I just dont send them but when it comes to no tape on the cover and having a dust jacket I dont see why anyone would cancel a book cuz of that.. thats not being picky at all!

I am okay with conditions like yours Kel, but there are some who go overboard and if I feel that they are being too picky I don't send. I've gotten conditions that state that the person only wants books that are in good condition. Well my good condition may be different than your good condition, so I don't send.

But with conditions like yours that are very specific, I would not have a problem.

You're not at all picky to me. In fact your requests sound quite reasonable to me.

They can and they have. I have yet to turn down a HC without the dustjacket, because so far none that have come up for me were for my PC. :lol:


And the wrapper thing is just courtesy, IMO. I believe it's even printed on the wrapper that you print right from the site!


Ah well. The book will appear again, I'm sure. I've had a lot of books come to me from PBS, and I've only had a couple cancelled for my conditions. (The smoking one.)

:ditto:

Oh absolutely! I can completely agree with that! I think my requests were reasonable.

I also agree with Breeni - I've had requests come through with so many conditions I got a headache trying to go through them. That's why I kept mine simple.

I agree that the smoking one is a tough one. Because the sender will not get a point if the conditions are not met. And if they don't know the history of a book, and don't know if it might have a slight smoky smell they can't detect, etc.

Note that while I was a smoker, even though I didn't smoke in the house—thus none of my books on the shelf would pick up a smoky smell; I only smoked about 10 a day, and cloves at that, which aren't nearly as bad smelling, but because I sometimes held a book in my hand outside while I smoked, or even because I do still smoke the other stuff (which smells nice and sweet) :drool: yup, I would usually decline smoking conditions because I wouldn't want to take a chance of losing the credit for something that may have been undetectable to me, but not to the person receiving it.

So on the same vein, when someone gets books where they're not sure of their previous history, they often feel the same way about the smoking conditions.


Speaking of smoking, I've had a pair of books from Amber's bookring, the last 2 Shakespeare ones by Charlaine Harris, in a plastic bag in my freezer with baking soda for the past 3 weeks. :lol: Think I'll go check on them....

And you are absolutely within your rights to decide not to send for whatever reason, as PBS pointed out, but what is NOT okay, that this girl did to me, was to abuse the person for having put the conditions on there. Neither should you be abused for deciding not to send, no matter what your reason.

Her deal wasn't what my condition was, but that I had any at all, and if she just decided not to send, that was fine, I wouldn't have cared at all, but because she decided to be rude to me because I was taking advantage of the tools the system gave me, I was not so nice back. They of course advised me not to message her, that they would take care of it, but by then it was too late :blush: but oh well.

Maybe she's had a bad experience with conditions not being met before.


I think you're doing the right thing by chalking it up to experience and waiting for the next book. Some people....:shrug:

God I am totally not picky and am a bit scared for picky people worried that I make all the effort to send the book and then they hate it because it smells and have to put it in the fridge for 3 weeks. :rolleyes: :lol: so what I did I added on my bookmooch profile. that I smoke and have 3 cats.

the thing is, if you ask me to smell my books I would not detect the smell of cigarettes but I know they smell! :rofl:

this is what I have in my profile...


Most of my books are in good condition but I do warn you I am a smoker and I have 3 cats, so if you want a perfect book, better not mooch from me.

But it works differently on PBS right? Much more strict?

I don't think your conditions are unreasonable. Though, lately I've started declining conditions that say no smoking because even though I dont smoke my downstairs neighbor does and sometimes the smoke wafts up through the vent, which is also the vent closest to where I keep AVL books. So I wouldn't be surprised if those smelled faintly of smoke and I wouldn't want it to go to someone who's very sensitive to the smell.

I used to have conditions but I got tired of people declining my requests and saying "well how will I know you wont just say the book doesn't meet the conditions when you get it." I decided I'd rather just take what someone sends - most of the books on my wishlist are newly published books anyway so I figure thats not a lot of time for the book to get really damaged or anything. So far i've been lucky.

Really? :o :blink: :angry:
Idiots :whip:

:blush: :dunce: :thinking: Dumb question-how does one wrap a book without taping to the book (without buying one of those pre-done mailer things). :shrug: Seems I tape the book-I am not sure if I am doing something to the book or not (at least I try not to). :blush:

Make sure the book is completely covered by the wrapper and tape only the wrapper. If the book is too big to cover completely with the wrapper, use a big envelope and tape the label part of the wrapper to the envelope. If you don't want to buy envelopes, use brown paper bags or whatever, just make sure the book itself is completely covered. If you want to use the paper wrappers, use a third piece of paper if you need to..... There are multiple ways to accomplish this.

I also get pissed when I receive a book that has the wrapper right to it - you can't always remove the tape without tearing a piece off the book....

Yeah, people at PBS can get pretty picky. (Well, only a few people really -- most of them are normal!) But if they say you sent them a book that didn't meet with their conditions, you loose the credit you earned for sending the book.

I've gotten a request from someone who had so many conditions I had to scroll down off the page to read them all. :blink: Needless to say I turned that one down! :rolleyes:

I wouldn't have a problem with EllyMae's conditions at all. But if I didn't know her, I'd end up turning her request down because of the smoke one -- most of my books are used (so I can't tell if they've ever been exposed to smoke and I'm overly careful) and are often shared with my mom who smokes. Now, I've never had a complaint that my books were smokey when I've sent them out to either BCer's or PBSer's, but if you're going to bother putting up conditions at PBS, I'm gonna take them as gospel just so I don't get my hand slapped.

I thought the "don't tape the wrapper to the book" thing was part of the regular directions and people who did that would get in trouble anyway, 'cos then of course it will have arrived damaged. :unsure:

Amen! :lol:

Seems like no one wants to risk it.

And you said so much more succinctly what I was trying to say above. :lol:

it is part of the rules. It might even say it on the wrapper. That said, though I always tape the wrapper to the book. I can't stand not being able to wrap the book tightly. But i would never use packing tape to tape it to the book - I use Scotch's satin tape that is easy to remove and reposition. I've tested it a bit and it's never even left a residue. I've never had anyone complain either.

Are you being too picky? No!

That's 'cause you're smarter than most! :lol:
I've actually had DUCT TAPE used on packages I've received from there, and yes, it was used to tape the wrapper to the book. :blink:

My oldest son is asthmatic so my only condition is: I am not willing to receive books that are currently in a smoking home. I've had books that smelled like someone was trying to smoke it instead of their cigarettes. :yuck: A light smell of smoke isn't bothering though.

That's a good way to phrase it. 'Cause I know with used books you don't know where it's been before you, even if you happen to be a non-smoker, like me.

I actually have this as one of my conditions (the other being: Please don't include a dryer sheet in the package). It's been there since conditions were allowed.

The reason is that I'd take the kids to the post office with me. They'd want to carry the books, which was fine with me. But then, on the drive home, they'd open the books. And no matter what kind of tape was used... well, toddlers aren't particularly careful or have developed the sort of finesse needed, ya know?

My kids have outgrown both the lack of care (usually) and the lack of finesse (by and large), but the condition remains, and not entirely because I am lazy. It's there because if by chance the cover should rip, there's NO WAY I'm going to relist the book on PBS. Not with all the people who want a like-new book.

I think I shared my Brown water stain/black mold story.??? :erm:

I didn't have conditions listed because the extremes are few and far between.

I have now considered it, since losing my point and having to order the next available copy. The knee slapper was that she realized the condition when she sent it, just tucked in a note and never contacted me prior to mailing. (days after she marked it sent too) Note said: " Email me, ENJOY, this was good" I peeked --- about 20 pages from the back on in were effected.

ENJOY?
HA ! I ENJOYED TOSSING it in the trash and washing my hands with anti bacterial soap while humming the entire alphabet song to myself

The results were, before marking it rec'd --- she "couldn't figure out how to gift a credit" :whip:
So, I marked it rec'd with a problem and she gets her credit, I lose because PBS just sends you back to, "contact the sender" and she didn't respond at all, once I marked it rec'd. (why would she?)



I've now added the condition that there ""can't be any brown water damage or mold/mildew. ""
~~

The "not from a smoking household" only applies to my house can't guarantee prior to that and don't wish to lose my credit when the next available copy might be better for the requester.

Cheesy's phrasing leaves less ?? questions ?? in my mind.
I'm mysterious and I approve that message :P

Things like "DUST COVER required" makes it easy....... it either does or doesn't have it.

I seem to be really sensitive to perfume-y smell attempts masking cigarette smoke.
I find it easier to rid one smell then a combo of the two.

Hasn't been a huge problem except when some people formed a ring with a book I really wanted to read and I "pretended to read it" and sent it on, I couldn't breathe though my nose after only 5 mins. No time for lengthy de-smell-ification.

Yes, sometimes you have to "fake it" ladies.
Just try to make the obligatory oooouuu.......ahhhhhh......oohhhhhhhhhs sounds --believable. ;) :lol:

I had someone send me a book that smelled like they had buried in the kitty litter box for a while. The smell was so strong that when I opened the envelope it made me gag and my eyes water. I had a headache for the rest of the day from it. That sucker was in a bag of baking soda for over a month before I could tolerate it.

I just mailed out a book and on the 2nd page that prints out it says not to tape the wrapper to the book. I did kinda find a way around it on larger books. I use the second page to sorta half-ass wrap it up and only tape on the paper, leaving say the front of the book with no paper on it, then use the other sheet to cover the other half... if I do it that way, the first page is a little loose, but then when I use the second it makes it tight and doesn't get tape on the books.

I got burned once because I would tape the paper to the book, and I lost credit for doing that. So since then I don't.

Mysterious, you should've contacted Support directly on this one and they would've given you back your credit and taken hers. Listing a book with mold or water damage is against the terms, and that book shouldn't have been listed. The fact that you're not getting a response from her now, even though you've tried to resolve the issue directly with the sender as recommended, well, it's certainly fine to now contact R&R directly.

So go ahead and do that... giving all the info you posted here and I know you'll get your credit back.

I'm giving it one more try. :D I did include a link to the photo when I marked book Rec'd but with a problem. I understand they might get overwhelmed with complaints but hopefully they will pay attention to this one. We'll see if they get back to me this time.


After pulling the book and seeing the condition the right thing to do would to have contacted me and said........ "hey, I can't send this", instead of spending money to mail it and including a note with an apology. :rolleyes:

I never get angry and have read books with missing covers, one with the corner chewed off by a dog, one that got splatter with mud and some with broken spines just barely hanging on.

Had she told me she couldn't send, I would have done what I did afterwards anyway. Just grabbed the next available copy for my daughter and never gave it another thought.

Keeping with the PBS theme..........



I received my longest condition note ever today..... :giggle:

The member that has requested this book has put the following conditions in their account:

I am not willing to accept ex-library books with non-removable tape / stickers or obvious stamps, same for BookCrossing books, and I am not willing to accept books that are water damaged, moldy, or show excessive wear ( a little normal scuffing and wear is OK ) . With the exception of non-novel textbooks , please send none with highlighting, underlining or writing on text pages ( signed, inscribed or names on inside cover or fly sheet are OK ). I'd like books that I can be entirely comfortable re-posting.