OK, so I ordered a book I really wanted (#2 of the Black Jewels Trilogy),  but sadly it is coming from Alaska.  It has now been 9 days and I am getting very impatient..  Thankfully the sender used DC and mailed it promptly, but the DC is saying it is still in Anchorage!  Is DC "delayed" at all?  I haven't used it much.  Or does this really mean it is still in Anchorage?  At this rate I'm going to get #3 before #2 gets here.  And I am not patient.  Sigh.  I'm going to go check my mail now.  I live in TX, so things rarely take more than 3 days to get here, even with Media Mail.  But I guess Alaska is special....

:) It will get to you eventually!  But sometimes the wait makes it better... ;-)  It may not be in Anchorage still, possibley traveling and hasn't gotten scanned anywhere else yet.   I know how you feel, I've got books mailed two weeks ago I'm waiting on, but I figure it only makes me more exicited to read them!! :-)

Yes, next time it is sorted and scanned, the Anchorage thing should be updated.  My guess is that it's on its way, at least I hope so!

Having gotten a few books from Alaska - I can assure you it will be quite a wait.  I think people in Alaska should be granted longer life spans since deliveries (of anything) to them take so long as well!  Lots of things we buy online can't even be shipped to Alaska.  So I guess having any packages at all get there is a good thing.  Hawaii is the same for getting and sending books.  They most likely will be declared lost before you get them.  Don't re-order right after a book from either state is declared lost.  It will show up just about the time the book from Alaska or Hawaii finally comes in.  I'm waiting for one that was declared lost right now.  I always check with the sender to make sure it was sent.  It always has been - so far!

Ruth

On the other hand, I had a book from a neighboring state declared lost and show up a month late.  It was post marked exactly when it was supposed to be.  Sometimes media mail is like that no matter where it is coming from.

You need to be patient.  Media mail is sent on a space available basis.  Sometimes a book can take a month to travel one state over, especially during the Holidays.  Sometimes books get sent in the wrong direction. I had one go from Maryland to CT by way of Illinois.  It took it 3 wks to travel what is basically a 12 hr drive.  

Also like Jessie said: it may not still be in Anchorage, that's just when the DC was last scanned.  Some books get scanned several times along the way. Some never get scanned.  I have a book that went lost in Aug that still only says the scan for the originating area.  Who knows where it is now. 

Don't reorder the book right away if it goes lost.  Alaska, Hawaii and APO/FPO addresses can take longer and commonly go lost. If you reorder to quickly you might end up with 2 copies and out 2 credits. You DO have to mark a book that's gone lost as received. 

Nine days actually is not long at all for media mail.  I mailed a book from CA to TX 10 days ago and it's not there and that isn't that long a distance.   Sometimes MM takes a long time and sometimes it seems to move right with the other mail.  

Being in Hawaii, like Alaska - mail just takes awhile lol. I have book I sent a month ago currently "lost". The member hasn't replied to my PM yet either so I don't know if they are lost, the mail is lost or what exactly.

Oh and I sent a book last week too Alaska...from Hawaii to Alaska - post office estimated 20 days or more (normally from Hawaii to the mainland mm they estimate like 13-16 days and it takes 19-21)

I sent a book to Guam by media mail that was requested from me and it took exactly 7 weeks to arrive.  It obviously went lost but when they received it, they marked it received promptly.  :o)

I had a book take 4 weeks from TX to NY.  You can't really predict media mail.

I also had a book sent to me from Alaska and it was sent promptly but still took quite a while to arrive.  I seem to recall that it was somewhere between 3-4 weeks as it was getting close to the automatic "lost" date.

 I live in TX, so things rarely take more than 3 days to get here, even with Media Mail.  But I guess Alaska is special....

It's not just that Alaska is "special", but also that you've just had incredibly good luck if you get things that quickly.  everyone has given you great advice and info.. :-)  Just to add to the stories, I've had a book take 2 weeks to go to someone 2 hours from me.  I live in CA and it took 3 months for a book to get to TX.  (I kid you not!)  

Sorry if I came off as whining, people.   I understand that this is how it works, I'm just being impatient.  Thanks for the advice and amusing stories!

then again, you just never know...I had a book last May that left PA on a Wednesday and was marked received in Alaska the following Monday...5 days!  I was amazed!!!

IMO, there is just no rhyme or reason to Media Mail. I've had books mailed within the state of Minnesota take 2 weeks, and I've gotten stuff from California or Florida in 2 days! Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico and other territories usually do take longer though, and in fact do often go 'lost' but show up a week or two late just fine.

Cheryl

I wouldn't panic, yet. Alaska is pretty far and more spread out with fewer major hubs. And Media Mail will almost always take at least a bit longer.  I had a book that only had to travel 13 miles and if I remember correctly, it took 9 days. (It was one county over and the sender and I joked that it must have been the traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway. You southeastern Pennsylvanians will understand that one.) Meanwhile, a book from the West Coast (forget if it was California or Washington) took only 3 or 4 days. Hang tight. I know it's hard, but your book will get there.