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Topic: Are these American Girl books postable?

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Subject: Are these American Girl books postable?
Date Posted: 7/27/2009 9:37 PM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2009
Posts: 53
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Hi! Technically I know that these American Girl products are found in book stores and the book sections of websites such as Amazon.com, but are they allowed to be posted here on Paperbackswap.com? Thanks for any help you can give me! - Charmaine

Examples:

American Girl art studio: an instructional book that comes with colored pencils/art supplies

American Girl magnetic paper dolls

American Girl paper dolls

American Girl cooking sudio: an instructional book that comes with a cookie cutter, place cards, etc.

American Girl craft kit (comes with craft supplies)

American Girl postcard collection

etc. etc. etc. :-)

Date Posted: 7/27/2009 9:47 PM ET
Member Since: 7/19/2008
Posts: 15,485
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The policy is that all media (stickers, postcards, paper dolls) has to be included.  No writing.  No cut outs.  No coloring books.  The non media should not be included unless it is sent first class.  And as they are kid's stuff, I'd PM about what is not included.  Otherwise there might be disappointment on the other end.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 12:15 AM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
Posts: 15,220
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If the art studio and cooking studio books require the non-media to use them, then they cannot be posted. The post card collection, paper dolls, and craft kit all sound like they would fall under the *not a book* and would not be postable.

Not allowed:

  • Anything that is not a book (this includes calendars, coloring books, blank journals)
  • Anything that contains advertising
  • Advance Reader Copies* (also known as ARC s, Review Copies or Uncorrected Proofs--these are not the final versions of books)
  • CD-ROM books/e-books (books that must be read on a computer)
  • Burned copies of audio books
  • Xerox or otherwise unoriginal copies of books
  • Unbound pages
  • leaflets or pamphlets or booklets** without ISBNs (other members complain at spending a credit for these)
  • Brochures/Promotional "first chapters" of books - these are not complete books, even if they have an ISBN
  • Books that require supplementary non-media materials (non-media materials cannot be sent by MediaMail)
  • Pornography (sex manuals and erotica are allowed, hardcore pornography is not allowed)


Last Edited on: 7/28/09 12:16 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
Date Posted: 7/28/2009 1:37 AM ET
Member Since: 7/19/2008
Posts: 15,485
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But craft books like knitting and sewing pattern books are allowed.  One of the dividing lines is if the extra material is needed or if it is a bonus.  The charm necklace with a book is not needed.  The decoder ring is.  So it would be book by book decision.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 11:29 AM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2009
Posts: 53
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Hmm... definitely the craft kits have materials that are needed with the book, so those shouldn't be posted.

I think the art studio has some coloring pages inside the book. Does that make it unpostable? The art studio is on my wish list, and someone is offering it to me, so I'm wondering if it would be wrong to accept this wish list offer. If it is, I'll refuse the offer.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 11:54 AM ET
Member Since: 8/27/2007
Posts: 3,326
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Charmaine, If it were me, I'd accept the offer.  I have received several "not allowed" items, including a blank (but illustrated) journal and some very specific "coloring books" which if you ask me are simply collections of historic events illustrated with line drawings - they aren't cartoon characters.

As for the rule about "non-media" stuff - it *should* be included with the book if that's the way the book is described "Cooking Studio Book with cookie cutters"  BUT  it should be sent first class as a package. Not media mail, and not in an envelope.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 4:12 PM ET
Member Since: 12/28/2006
Posts: 14,177
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As long as you are fully aware of product content Charmaine, I don't have a problem with you accepting.  It makes sense that PBS would exclude these types of 'books' to minimize misunderstandings and requester disappointment.  Be discrete and don't ship Media Mail ;-)

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 4:48 PM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2009
Posts: 53
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Thanks, Denise! I was afraid that I was going against the rules to accept an item that probably isn't allowed to be posted on here. :-P As much as possible I want to follow all the rules/regulations of the website.

If anyone has any different opinions about this situation, please let me know!

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 5:25 PM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
Posts: 15,220
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Those shouldn't be posted either, but lots of stuff gets posted in that shouldn't be here. A lot of people think if it has an ISBN it can be posted.  I don't think they have the staff to clean it all out.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 5:27 PM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2009
Posts: 53
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Okay! Thanks, Melanie. In your opinion (and anyone else's... feel free to comment!), would it be wrong for me to order one of these products that shouldn't be posted on here?

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 7:32 PM ET
Member Since: 7/19/2008
Posts: 15,485
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There is a red thread to report things that shouldn't be posted.  I think they remove the listings of questionable items.  But no one goes looking.  We are to police the site ourselves.  But I won't report something that I wanted and was willing to spend my credit on.  Of course, I wouldn't repost it either.

Date Posted: 7/28/2009 7:36 PM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
Posts: 15,220
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I think you have to decide that for yourself. Its available and you want it. Lots of people say they post and order the coloring books because they don't agree with PBS's exclusion of them. Me, I personally want to honor what they ask if I can and don't want to encourage people posting items PBS says not to, so I don't order them. But that's a personal choice and my personal hangups don't have to have a bearing on your decisions :-P

Date Posted: 7/29/2009 2:43 PM ET
Member Since: 5/10/2005
Posts: 2,367
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You can look at it this way: If you order it, it's no longer in the system.  Cleaning it up one order at a time!

Date Posted: 7/29/2009 3:23 PM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2009
Posts: 53
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Ha ha, you have a point there, Kayote. ;-) Ordering them from another member does get it out of the system, but there's a good chance that it will encourage that member (or others) to post those products on this website. :-P

Date Posted: 7/30/2009 10:32 PM ET
Member Since: 1/22/2008
Posts: 694
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Charmaine,

You might want to make sure she knows not to send it media mail. If she sends media mail and they happen to check that package, I believe they won't send it. Several postal employees have told me they do randomly check.. First class on a package like that could be quite expensive.

Nancy

Date Posted: 7/30/2009 11:04 PM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2009
Posts: 53
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Thanks for posting, Nancy! :-)

Yes, I told the sender that it should be sent media mail, and I received this as a reply:

"According to PBS, this kit is considered a book - it comes jacketed in a hard book cover, opens like a book, and has an ISBN number, unlike other art kits which are just kits."

So, she sent it media mail.

What do you think? Is it really classified as a book here at PBS, so books like this art studio are an exception to the media mail rule? or no matter what kind of book it is, because of the art supplies, it is not allowed to be sent through media mail?

Now I have a greater understanding why PBS does not deal with these kinds of books. :-P

 
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