Ugh. I found my 2 new volumes of the Starman omniboo. The post office had left them at the BACK door (I've lost count of the amount of times I've told them I don't want that), and as a result, they were out in the rain.

Volume 2 was shrinkwrapped, I think it's okay.

The box itself was soggy, and their was a reddish patch on it. I realised later that that was ink from volume 3, which was not shrinkwrapped, and absorbed water.

The hard cover itself is now soggy, and very malleable, not at all like it should be.

Even if I manage to dry it without any further damage, is it solved?

Or will that moisture leave a permanent effect on the book/cover?

Thanks for any advice. First time this has happened to me, and hopefully the last.

The hardcover part will swell up and warp from moisture, and the interior pages will get wavy and curly. Where did you order from? They may let you return it.

I got it from Amazon.

They're ALWAYS really good about sending replacements. I just feel bad, because they always tell me to keep the first item, as the cost to ship it back doesn't make it cost-effective for them.

And this time, I really don't think it's their fault. The Post Office screwed up.

I rang them. I have to take the book and box down to the post office (which is gonna be fruitless. The damage is obvious to me, but will they care? It's just a book, after all), then I have to put in a claim. The lady on the phone I was speaking to told me that has a 10 day turnaround. I could tell by her voice that that was just the official word, so I asked her how long it REALLY takes. Her answer: ''Months usually"

It seems like it may be easier to just cut my losses.

Burn your Post Office down.

Call Amazon and have them send out something. They can decide if they want to file a claim with the post office.

I'd just call Amazon and get it sorted out through them, if possible.

Some of our patrons don't seem to get it that leaving books out in the rain isn't good for them either....

Which reminds me, I need to go to the back room and check to see how it's drying. We might be able to salvage that one.

Books + water = bad

I like this idea best.

And the Post Office is the chosen distribution model for Amazon, in this instance. One of the reasons Amazon can undercut your local brick and mortar store is that they ship direct to buyers, without having to lose any copies in shipping to their own stories.

Send it back.