I've been swapping for several years and have only had one book not been received -- a cookbook I was so looking forward to getting.  LOL

Anyhow, I recently ordered two different "series" of books that I want to read pretty much one right after the other, so my total I ordered was about 12 or so.  Of those twelve one I didn't receive.  I'm since received all the rest, except for another one....it's not marked 'lost in mail' yet, but I'm getting emails from PBW if I've received it.

I'm wondering how often this happens to the rest of you swappers?  I've emailed both senders of the one that was marketed 'lost in mail' and the one getting close to being marked to make sure they've been mailed or possibly mailed late.  Is there a way to check on a swapper to see if this happend frequently such as their books not being sent on time or such?  Grasping at straws here trying to figure this out....

Happy Reading!

I think I've had one or two books go lost in the 4 years I've been here.  I think that's a good average.

It just happens now and then.  I wouldn't reorder the book or worry much about it yet.  Yes, PBS reminds us to mark them received, but those are just standard emails.

I guess I'm saying - it's not lost YET - relax.  lol

I've been here 4 years as well.  In that time I've had 7 books incoming books go lost, 3 of which I suspect were never actually sent.  Of the 528 books I've mailed out, not a single one has gone lost.  It doesn't happen that often and chances are good that at least  one of the two books you're waiting for will show up.  Media Mail is a fickle thing; sometimes books show up in a ridiculously short time, other times you wonder if the book isn't being delivered Pony Express. :-)

Is there a way to check on a swapper to see if this happend frequently such as their books not being sent on time or such?

The system stores data on this type of thing and will flag accounts if they have repeated offenses, but no one but the PBS Team can see that information.  So for us as average members, no there is no way to check. 

I've only had 1 or 2 that I sent go lost but I've had maybe a dozen being sent to me go lost. I imagine a few of them may not have been sent and also suspect there's some misdelivery involved. 

But I think that poor packaging may have a lot to do with lost books. I've received packages held together with a few pieces of scotch tape or in an oversized brown document folder with no additional tape. Luckily somewhere along their travels, the USPS thought to put a rubber band around the package to keep the label with the book, or in a few cases re-wrapped it in plastic. I've also received empty packaging material with the end flap open marked found in the postal system with no contents (again those oversized brown document folders) . 

The owner of a local used bookstore would take trips down to Atlanta to buy boxes and boxes of books from the USPS at their periodic sales of books found in the postal system that were unidentifiable. She would talk about the tons and tons of books available at the USPS auctions.

I've had 3 going lost enroute to me.  One even shows a delivery scan. Don't know where they left it but it wasn't at my house.

PBS suggests you wait 2 wks before you reorder a book that has gone lost. Unless you are willing to be out 2 credits and have 2 copies.  Becuase you still owe them a credit if it was mailed on time.  (and PBS says that "on time" is if it was mailed before a week before it went lost). 

I wouldn't rush to judge these people as bad swappers becuase a book they sent went lost.  They only get a credit for a lost book if they used PBS DC. If they have a high rate of lost books PBS will ask them about it.

Thanks for all your replies.  One of the two swappers emailed back.  They stated they did mail the book, but without confirmation.  This person happens to be the book that's been automatically removed from my "enroute" list since it never arrived.  So, I'll wait another week, then look around for another book.  It's on my list but maybe there's a different book with a different ISBN with the same title.  The other sender isn't quite late  yet, but I have been getting repeated emails from PBS asking if I've received it.  Maybe I'll get lucky!  It would be the FIRST book of the entire series that's I've ordered....:)

Just keep in mind that if you order another copy and the first one shows up you need to mark it received.  PBS says you aren't required to mark it received only if it was mailed within the week before it was set to go lost.  So even if htey mailed it say a week late-you still need to mark it received.  Sometimes life gets in the way. If they have a habit of doing this PBS will contact them.