I had a book come from Hawaii.  Normally books come to me within 10 days even if they are on the west coast in California and it's coming to me in Louisiana.  This book took over four weeks to get to me.  I requested it on 9/01/10.  The sender mailed it out on 9/2/10 and I got it yesterday.  If it had come four days later it would have been declared lost by the system.  It took over four weeks to get to me.  The system did allow extra time for me to get the book since it was coming from Hawaii but I didn't think it would take that long.  I had about given up on getting the book so I was thrilled to find it in my mailbox yesterday.

Books to/from Hawaii and Alaska often will "go lost" in the system and take even longer than 4 weeks. Yes, they do sometimes come by boat! Especially media mail--I have gotten first class packages from Hawaii very quickly, but not media mail. Folks who don't normally use the PBS DC or postage will sometimes make an exception when sending a book to those locations not in the lower 48 states for just that reason.

Cheryl

Yes, it very likely did come by boat! Media mail from Hawaii, in my erxperience, usually takes a month and books coming from there are always declared lost in the mail before arrival. I always use DC when sending to Hawaii to safeguard my credit because it can take so long, and it is interesting to see its travels...several days to reach CA and then several weeks before the next scan on its arrival in Hawaii.

 I am glad your book did not go lost, as others have said, they often do when going so far and doing so slowly and by boat! How did it fair as far as condition of mailing I wonder?

Media mail shipped  to and from Hawaii waits until there is a full container. IE: if your book was the first loaded into the container....it could wait weeks before the container is then, yes, loaded on a boat, and shipped.

Unless I am sending multiples or heavy hardcovers, I always upgrade to first class (which is often LESS than media mail....)

Kay, your experience is not unusual for Media Mail packages to and from Hawaii and/or Alaska (and sometimes Puerto Rico).  Extra patience is required for our mail challenged members

Kim,

When the book arrived it was in wonderful conditon.  In fact it was in like new condition.  Very happy the sender first wrapped in plastic.  You never know when it may come in contact with water.  Very happy that the book arrived before the deadline date so that the sender could get her points.   If it had arrived after the date I would have made sure she got her points by gifting back. I guess that is what you do in those situations right?  She sent it out quickly.  Not her fault that the postal service too a long time delivering it.

If a book "goes lost" then arrives a few days later, you still have option to mark it received and credit is delivered by the system so you don't have to "gift" back a credit.  This happened to me alot when I lived in Germany and had an APO address when I first joined PBS in 2009.

As Jeanne mentioned, if a book arrives after the lost date, you mark it received through your transaction archive.

Media Mail to Hawaii IS sent by boat, and usually does go lost before it gets to you, which is why unless the weight of the book makes it prohibitive, I always send books to Hawaii, Alaska, VI, PR and APO, DPO and FPO First Class.  Pat

Hi all-

I've sent out 10 books so far in the past 3 weeks and they are still sitting here in the Honolulu, PO. It takes for-ev-er to at least get to Bell, CA. From there it's faster to get to you. But yes, I guess they wait till the media container is full and then 'ship' it out. I always use DC so I can track it's progress. Thank you to all who are kind and patient in dealing us. Remember- it takes forever to get to us too! I'm glad your book got to you in good condition Kim (wasn't from me- I just had to check )

I'm happy to know that if it arrives after the deadline I can still mark it received.  I didn't know I could do that. 

I was wondering the same thing about how long books take.  I mailed from CA to CT and it has already been received.  Before I mailed my book a book I requested was in route to me MO to CA.  I still have not received this book.  I'm starting to get worried.  If I dont get it, do I get my place back on the long line of requestors?  Boy, I hope so.  Still keeping my fingers crossed though..