Not really a question, I just want to vent a little.

I am getting so frustrated with "senders" who do not respond to requests for books!!!!

I have had 4 requests cancelled recently because the "sender" never responded, and currently have 3 books sitting in my requested list with Waiting for Member status.

Hey, I know it's summer, and people go away.  But I usually request books as soon as they are posted, and a couple of these books were Wish List books, which would also be requested as soon as they are posted.

So . . . are all these members posting books and then flying out the door to go on vacation? 

(I guess I did have a question, after all.)

*hugs* Linda, it's frustrating.  Seems to run in cycles tho, and IMO has been getting better recently as kids go back to school (maybe the adults aren't as busy now?).

This is a great place to vent and a really good subject to vent on. Not everyone is an everyday checker to their account, but they should at least look every 3 days or so. Once a week? - Are members that check infrequently know when they have lost out on a trade? Is there a PBS message for that ?

It gets to me too when someone posts a WL book I'm excited to get, then never comes back.

There are some people that post books to this site at the same time they're posting them to other book-trade sites or eBay. I've gotten a PM from someone telling me they couldn't send the book I wanted because someone ordered it on another site first. They're breaking the rules here by doing it, but they do it anyway.

There's also the newbies that post their required amount of books to get their free credits, use the credits, then never come back. I always thought that PBS should wait until a new member has a few books sent out and marked "received" before handing over the 2 credits. But that's just me.

As far as I know PBS sends a first notice to the sender, then a second notice, then a final notice, and finally a cancelled swap notice.

So these people are somehow not seeing 3 e-mails telling them that someone has requested a book.

They are also not seeing Wish List Holds on their main pages. 

Grrr.

Another request canceled today.  The "sender" (why do we call these people senders???) did not reply in any way, shape, or form to the request.

PBS sends several e-mails, and gives us a week to respond to requests.  I just don't understand how people can post a book into the system and then ignore all further communications!!!

I think to some degree it depends on what type of books you're requesting, too. If it's older books that have a ton of copies in the system, the members who were at the front of the queue probably posted a lot of similar books months ago and got tired of waiting for someone to request the books and lost interest and wandered away...and are what are called "inactive" members. When they left, instead of deleting their bookshelf and wishlist as would be prudent, they just left it as is. It takes at least a couple of non-responses to requests for PBS to officially de-activate their accounts and thus remove their entire bookshelf from the system, so the best thing you can do is be patient and allow those requests to cycle through and cull out some of those inactive members. You can take solace in the fact that you're helping other PBS members from having to sit through the same thing with that particular member.

Most of my book-ordering at PBS is now done via my wishlist, but occasionally I need the next book in a series I'm reading, and especially if it's several years old or has a lot of copies in the system, I will be sure to request it several weeks before I know I'm going to need it so I don't get frustrated by the cycling through and waiting.

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl,

I understand what you are saying, but it does not apply in my case.  I use a saved search to look for books in a specific subject category that I am interested in.  the search is set up to show the most recently posted books first.  I run the search daily, so when a book comes up that I want, it is because it was posted in the last 24 hours.

When the request is cancelled, the book is always added to my Wish List, because there are no other copies available in the system.

If there were other copies available, as in your scenario, then my request would just bounce to the next available copy. 

My Wish List has over 200 books in it (above the maximum) because so many requests have been canceled!

Linda

I'm going through the same thing this week. I ordered a book on the 1st. Then a couple of days later, I decided to order another book from the person's bookshelf. The first order timed-out and went to the next person with the book. The second book I ordered from the first person's bookshelf still has waiting for member on the order. I'll just wait for it to also time-out. I now that life happens, but to post books and then just not respond is not responsible behavior on anyone's part. I just wish that PBS can get rid of all the inactive accounts, so that we can actually get the books we order.

PBS sends several e-mails, and gives us a week to respond to requests.  I just don't understand how people can post a book into the system and then ignore all further communications!!!

I wonder if PBS keeps track of these kind of "cancellations" and when a member gets to a certain number (say 5), either puts the account on hold or cancels it.  That would be a good solution for this problem.  They would have to let the people know when they sign up that if they don't respond to X number of book requests, their account will be suspended/cancelled.

I too find it very frustrating when I order a book I really want and it goes through 4-5 requests before someone finally sends the book. 

If there is more than one type of a book in the system (different ISBN, hardback, etc), I cancel requests if I don't get an acceptance within 48 hours.  Then I go on to the next copy of the book. 

This brings us to a suggestion I have seen mentioned in the threads numerous times...   pbs should have a rule that member should be required to log in to their accounts a minimum of once a week/month.  If a member can't do that because of vacation, then they would have to put their shelf on hold.

Here's new wrinkle, which makes me wonder if there is a serious glitch going on:

I have yet another book sitting in my requested list with "Waiting for Member" since 9/5/10.

I click on the Order More from Member link, and I find that every book that I try to add from this person's bookshelf is no longer available!

What's up with that?

Linda,

That happened to one book I ordered in July. The person posted the book and it happened to be on my wishlist, so I requested it. I checked the person's bookshelf and books were still posted. About a day before it timed-out I checked again and the member's account was suspended.

I was just going to post on this subject as I have one sitting to be sent I requested it on 9/3/10 and the sender has till a 11pm tonight to send.

I wanted to know if they dont responed and dont send do I get my credit back?

I have sent a pm to the sender twice now asking if the book was still on their bookshelf still and if so just let me know. Im new to the sight and I tell them that and I just wanted to make sure they have the book.

I also have another one that I requested on 9/6/10 that they have till Saturday to send out at a 11pm. I really dont want to lose two credits as there is another member here that has a few books I would like and has sent me some already and I could use these credits to get the other books from that sender.

When I get the order I send it out the next day and so far I have had one book that I sent out get to a member really fast. The others are taking a bit more time as they are on the west coast.

Thanks to everyone or anyone who answers my questions. I just dont want to lose the credits.

Kevin - if the sender does not respond within the allotted time, your request with that sender will be canceled. If there are other copies of the book in the system, then your request will automatically be passed on to a new sender. If there aren't any other copies, then it goes on your wish list and you do get your credit back.

Thank you Cathy. I think the one is the only copy in the system and the other may have a few copies. Thanks again Cathy.

Another cancelled request today due to no response from the "sender."

That makes 6 since 8/1/10.  I am really wondering if there is something wrong with the system.

Plus, one of the books I sent is lost in the mail. "Processed" in Lexington, KY on 8/20, and then never seen again.

I'm not having fun anymore!!!

I have a member that has not responed to my PMs (2 or 3) about the book I sent out. The ones that I sent out at the say time where going out west and this one book was on the east coast. The others recieved their books and emailed me. This one book no contact from the person at all other then they wanted the book.

I really hope they get the book and PM back soon to let me know either way.

I recently had the reverse of this problem. Posted 4 WL books, one of which only had 5 wishers. The book actually went to the final person on the list.  While it didn't bother me one way or the other I'm hoping the situation helpd to weed out the inactive members. I have no way of knowing how long these members had been on the WL, or whether it was simply lack of credits that kept them from accepting, but if the inactives can be eliminated it helps all of us.

Gail 

I had this happen last week. It was a WL book for my daughter.  I accepted , told my daughter she was going to get it soon. And then was cancelled.

I just checked my WL and seen that I'm #2 for that book....?  I honestly cant remember  if I was # 2 before ,and if so wouldnt  someone have had to post it directly to me ? then why cancel....? and if last week I was #1...how did I get #2?

oh ,thanks Cyn ,

I was assuming someone posted to me then cancelled.  thanks for clearing that up.

What can I do if a person does not return my PM about a book I sent to them? Im not even sure how long the person has not been on the site.

I placed an order for another book and the other person has one more in the series I want and if I can get this one credit I can place the order for that other book as well.

The person I sent it to is about three states from me. I sent books out west the same day (east coast here) and they recieved them in about four days. I've sent three PMs now and no word.

Do I just chalk it up to a loss?

Welcome to Kevin!  IIRC members are only required to respond to pm's if a RWAP is involved.  Since the FIFO system will automatically mark a book lost after so many days, many members will not reply to pm's if they have not received the book yet.  Media Mail times vary alot, b/c that rate travels on a 'space available' schedule.

Buddied you a credit 

ETA - yes, if the book goes lost you will loose that credit.  Purchasing PBS DC (with or without postage) will guarantee your credit, and they are transferred to you shortly after the book is scanned by the post office.  If USPS then looses your package, the credit is still yours.  Purchasing through PBS costs .46 (.27 PBS fee and .19 USPS charge) instead of .80 if you purchase the green sticker DC at USPS counter.