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Is it possible the other person had their account on hold--would that make sense?

Could it be because the other member's account was on hold and now is back on? If so, they were first in line for the wishlist book when they put it on hold?

It's possible that someone had that on their WL and their account on hold for a long time.  I've had my account on hold for 3 months now.  I just have so many books already that I dont' want WL offers right now.  I have a lot of credits so I don't care if I don't get any book orders for awhile.

I had it on hold for 6months last year because we had a house to sell, one to buy and a cross country move to make.  I would just take it off when I wanted to post a WL book.

I guess that could be it, but even if an account was on hold, I thought since I ordered the last copy & it went lost I automatically got 1st place. And I thought if an account was on hold & copies were posted & available to order in the mean time, it went to their reminder list. Maybe the system then moves it back to their WL again if it becomes unavailable again? I don't know...it's just going to drive my crazy!

Since I ordered the last copy & it went lost I automatically got 1st place.

My understanding is that someone could've had the book on their WL & their account on hold. (Perhaps they were the only wisher, and so #1 in line.)

Then, one copy was posted, there were no other wishers, and so when you requested it, it went to you.

In between you requesting & it going lost, the other person took their account off hold.

 Now, you go back to your place in line--which is behind the person whose acct was on hold.

Alternatively, you requested the only copy but, someone else's book went lost/damaged after you requested the last copy, but before your copy went lost. So, they are 1st in line for the next copy.

ETA: To clarify, my understanding is that you go back in line to where you were.

My thought is member A WLed the book while there were no copies available and then put their account on Vacation Hold.

While they were on Hold, enough copies are posted that it becomes available to order in the system. Member A's wish will hold, they will not be converted to the Reminder List while the account is on Hold. 

You come along and order the last copy available in the system. It goes lost and you go back to the WL since no copies are available.

Then member A takes the Hold off of their account. Since their wish date is prior to your order date, their request preceeds yours and they get the 1st spot in the WL line.