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Topic: Another RC question

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Subject: Another RC question
Date Posted: 7/19/2009 2:37 PM ET
Member Since: 7/8/2008
Posts: 655
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I'm one of those people who doesn't really like to accept RCs unless I am 100% sure that I can meet it.  If it is a little bit vague, then I don't like to accept.  The one I have right now seems pretty vague and I am not sure I am comfortable accepting, although I believe I meet the requirements.  I don't think it smells like smoke and is in good condition (it has to be in "good" condition to be posted) and I know it has no highlighting or underlining (also would be unpostable with these since it is not a cookbook or textbook).  I hate the word "good" because it is far too subjective.  What do you think?

Should be in good condition.  Should not smell of cigarette smoke and should not have underlining or highlighting.

Thank you

 

 

 

Date Posted: 7/19/2009 2:48 PM ET
Member Since: 1/30/2009
Posts: 5,696
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I would turn it down.  "Should be in good condition" can mean anything.  I might suggest to the requestor that making her/his RC a little less subjective might be a good idea.

Date Posted: 7/19/2009 2:57 PM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2009
Posts: 53
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I would guess that the person who requested your book is expecting the book to be in like new condition (like it was just bought from a book store). It's hard to say exactly what that person is expecting, so because you are unsure, it would be best to turn down the request, unless your book looks brand new.

Date Posted: 7/19/2009 3:05 PM ET
Member Since: 3/27/2009
Posts: 25,000
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Send it.

Date Posted: 7/19/2009 4:04 PM ET
Member Since: 8/6/2006
Posts: 1,619
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Who knows what the requester considers "good condition".  I'd decline.

Date Posted: 7/19/2009 10:14 PM ET
Member Since: 5/5/2008
Posts: 515
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I wouldn't figure "good condition" means the book has to look like it's just been bought from a bookstore; I would assume it meant that the book didn't have much wear - maybe a little around the edges, but not, say, multiple folds in the cover or loose pages. But that just illustrates how subjective a description "good condition" is. Maybe accept the request and PM the requestor asking what he/she means by good condition?



Last Edited on: 7/19/09 10:15 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
Date Posted: 7/19/2009 10:17 PM ET
Member Since: 4/25/2007
Posts: 11,442
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"good condition" is pretty subjective.  My definition of good may not be the same as your definition of good.

Unless the book looked practically new, I'd turn it down and let them know "good conditon" is too subjective and they need to be more specific in their RC.

Date Posted: 7/20/2009 9:55 AM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
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The only problem with PMing is that you have to accept first and then what do you do if they don't respond?  Do you send the book anyway? Who cancels if the requestor doesn't want it because of some minor flaw?  It's a used book trading site and we shouldn't have to go back and forth over conditions. If you have RCS they need to be clear enough for the person to know right away if their book meets them or not.

Actually  for used book selling sites "good condition" is one of the lowest conditions and can mean that a book has shelf-wear, remainder marks, minimal writing, and other flaws but is still readable with an intact binding.  It's only 1 up from "fair" conditon and "fair" would probably not even be postable on PBS.  But when people use this in RCS on PBS I tend to think they want a book in better than PBS guidelines condition.  So really you could send it and if they complain just say "the book met PBS posting guidelines which means it's in "good condition" or it wouldn't have been posted in the first  place.

Date Posted: 7/20/2009 10:06 AM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
Posts: 15,185
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I personally believe that if someone uses the phase "good condition" they get a swappable book. If I ever had someone complain I would point out that PBS swapability guidelines define "good condition" on this site and if they want something better than that, then they need to use a different word. I wouldn't send them one that looks like it is close to its last swap. but really anything postable is in "good condition".

Date Posted: 7/20/2009 10:15 AM ET
Member Since: 8/25/2007
Posts: 13,134
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Actually  for used book selling sites "good condition" is one of the lowest conditions and can mean that a book has shelf-wear, remainder marks, minimal writing, and other flaws but is still readable with an intact binding.  It's only 1 up from "fair" conditon and "fair" would probably not even be postable on PBS.  But when people use this in RCS on PBS I tend to think they want a book in better than PBS guidelines condition.

That's how I interpret it as well, Mary.

Date Posted: 7/20/2009 4:09 PM ET
Member Since: 7/8/2008
Posts: 655
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I ended up turning down the request and stating that it was too subjective.  I needed to know what "good condition" meant because his/her definition could be different than mine.  I also said that I am not a smoker, but it is a used book and *may* smell like smoke, but it doesn't to me. 

It is actually the first time I feel bad about turning down an RC.  I really wanted to accept it, but I didn't for principle's sake.  I hope the requester rewrites their RCs to be a little more clear. 
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