First, I have to say, I'm pretty amused by my current situation.  I'm also happy that I am (hopefully) helping to clear out non-responsive members.  The book I'm requesting is one I'm interested in, but not in any particular hurry for, so I've been entertained by this whole process.  With that said, I'm just trying to understand the nuances of the system...here goes:

From what I am reading in the help pages, a member has five days to respond to a request for a book.  It appears to me that the system actually gives six days to respond to a request.  Example:  I requested a book on 2/20 at 3:33am EST.  It was cancelled by the system do to nonresponse on 2/26 at 3:01am EST. (Not quite a full six days, but close.)  The book was then assigned to the next person on the list on 2/26 at 3:01am EST.  It was cancelled by the system do to nonresponse on 3/3 at 3:02am EST (A full six days and one minute.)  The book was then assigned to a third person on 3/3 at 3:02am EST.  It's now been five days and nineteen hours since the request went to that member.  I'm guessing it will get passed on just past midnight (I'm pacific time) when a full six days and one minute has passed.  So, is it five or six days for a member to respond to request? 

Thanks for any insights.  And, laugh with me as I get turned over to the fourth person in requesting this book!  <grin>

LOL! I just had to laugh when I read your post! You have turned what, for alot of us, would be a very frustrating situation, into something that brought a grin to alot of faces I'm sure.

You have a great attitude about it all!!!!

If I  ever get a request from you, I'll accept it immediately! You deserve it!

:-)

Lol...thanks, I'm glad I could amuse someone besides myself.  I'll keep everyone posted as the midnight hour rolls around. 

Third try resulted in a "No answer from sender after alloted time" at 3:01am EST on 3/9/08.  This put the wait time at.....wait for it... five days, 23 hours, and 59 minutes.  I guess, technically, that is in the five day category.  I suspect I'll have much better luck with request number four (the member has a profile and has been a member for a couple of years), so I won't be able to have fun playing with the five or six day countdown on this book anymore.  Let me know if you notice a five or six day wait period next time a book looks like it will time out on you, will you?

I just went through four time-outs before an acceptance and I noticed it was 6 days each time too.  Don't know if that's how it's always been or if there's a glitch in the system.     Like you, I wasn't in a hurry so I just waited it out but it's curious.

I think it's 5 full days after you request. The first partial day doesn't count. Since your request is rolling over automatically by the system at midnight, the "partial first day" is only one minute short, give or take one minute either way since I'm sure the system can't process *every* single roll over in the blink of an eye.

You have patience, grasshopper!  Hope you get a response from this one quickly.

yes, my understanding is that that partial day isn't counted by the system, everything is counted midnight to midnight

Makes it easier on the servers running the site if they only have to run the check once a day. 

I do like your attitude. :)

Just out of curiosity, what book were you requesting?  I'm assuming it's one that has lots of copies since it looks likes a lot of members posted it then abandoned their accounts.

It's actually the 6th day that it gets passed to the next person in line.  So you're up to 4 people now, huh?  Ack...that would make me a little nutty.

I'm on my 5 or 6th person waiting for a WL book I posted to get accepted.  It's really annoying.  If it were a book I requested, I might find it entertaining to see how many I can get through before it gets picked up.  Because I have so many other books to read.  But I've made 2 trips to the PO now and have more books to mail tomorrow. I'd really like to mail these 2 in limbo WL books out as well.

The book is Slow Burn by Julie Garwood.  Apparently there are 296 copies in the system (there were 295 yesterday, so someone has added one in the last 24 hours).  I'm right in the middle of reading Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series, which is a big reason I'm not in a rush.  I've got about five books more to go in the Scarpetta series before I even look at another book. 

Denise, has it right, that it is 5 FULL days, the first partial day doesn't count. AND the time is EASTERN time, so for me it's Midnight, for you, it's 3AM and the 1-2 minute difference is because of the sheer number of books timing out, it can't all be done in a second. A minute, but not a second :)

Also, remember each copy that you help time out, removes it from the system so that the next on that wants to order "Slow Burn" has that many fewer timeouts to wait on because those books that time out on you are removed from the system!  So, since I might be looking to order that book soon, I personally thank you! hahahahaha

Some little part of me wants to get  a link to the shelves of the folks who are letting it time out and just start requesting their books one by one.  Would have to pay close attention to promptly cancel when it rolls over, though!

Hmmm... that's an idea, Kayote! hahahaha You are right on the paying quick attention at rollover time , tho!

Ugh, you have more patience than me!  I'd be searching the shelves of boxers and direct requesting the book from one of them just because that's the only shelves you can search.  Or posting in the BB looking for someone with a copy.

Some little part of me wants to get  a link to the shelves of the folks who are letting it time out and just start requesting their books one by one.

That is too funny!  Don't think I'm not tempted to post a link to their bookshelves!

By the way, for all you folks keeping track, I'm now entering Day Number Two in the Fourth Request for this book.