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Topic: Books Received should be only 1 click

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Subject: Books Received should be only 1 click
Date Posted: 4/26/2009 5:30 AM ET
Member Since: 4/7/2008
Posts: 2
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When I receive a book I go online and login then get directed to the book en-route which I just receive. Then I am asked too many questions and directed to at least 4 different pages before it finally acknowleges that I received the book. This takes too much time and if there is any other alternative I would like to find out what it is. Thanks, Richard

whippoorwill avatar
Date Posted: 4/26/2009 7:47 AM ET
Member Since: 6/25/2007
Posts: 5,637
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No. That's the only way to do it.

ETA:  I don't find it that many steps, though.  I click that it was rcvd. Then I chose either yes or with a problem. Then I skip the survey questions and submit.  Takes less than 30 seconds.



Last Edited on: 4/26/09 11:52 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
donnatella avatar
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Date Posted: 4/26/2009 8:17 AM ET
Member Since: 6/26/2006
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You don't have to fill out the survey, so you could just skip the questions and save time.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 4/26/2009 8:23 AM ET
Member Since: 4/7/2007
Posts: 2,027
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You could just click Recieved and then go do something else.  I've done that for a while.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 4/26/2009 1:45 PM ET
Member Since: 7/24/2005
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I kind of agree with you.  I think the survey was added so that they can collect info on "bad members" who have a pattern of mailing books late or other problems.  I guess I am lucky in that most of my trades have met or exceeded my expectations (maybe I am not as picky?  not sure) and I don't really feel a need to fill out that info.  In someways I feel bad about that because I guess I am not reporting "good" trades, books mailed on time etc.  I personally feel that this forum is where people come to complain (and many have legitimate complaints, don't get me wrong!!) but it is not representative of my experience - I have had very good experiences on PBS overall.

I too just accept and click through the survey, the label info, the postage info etc etc.

ambeen avatar
Date Posted: 4/26/2009 1:59 PM ET
Member Since: 8/15/2007
Posts: 3,044
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I always fill it out. I've never thought of it as optional! I don't mind doing it so maybe that's why I never thought about it.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 4/26/2009 7:03 PM ET
Member Since: 5/18/2007
Posts: 13,223
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I never fill out the survey. I click the minimum, type thank you and add something about the book and then I'm done. I think that's sufficient. I truly am not interested in "catching" someone who might be mailing a couple, few, what-have-you days late. As long as I get the book I'm a happy camper. And I don't feel "bad" about not doing the survey because the book DID arrive and it arrived before it went lost. Good enough for me.

whippoorwill avatar
Date Posted: 4/26/2009 8:02 PM ET
Member Since: 6/25/2007
Posts: 5,637
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I only fill out the survey if the book was mailed more than a week late.  That doesn't happen all that often, though.

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Date Posted: 4/26/2009 9:34 PM ET
Member Since: 5/10/2005
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I would rather it all be on one page.  I don't see the reason to have all the questions on different pages.  Maybe put Received and Received w/a Problem as separate buttons in the My Account Page, then have it take you to one page that has the survey and the add to TBR and all that stuff, with a Cancel or Yes, Received at the bottom options.

Having to go from page to page is annoying.

ruthy avatar
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Date Posted: 4/26/2009 10:48 PM ET
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Not to be critical - but isn't this problem really a very small one in the scheme of things?  I don't let these little things bother me.  If I didn't have the time, I'd do the minimum and forget it.

I fill out the ones who do a great job as well as the bad because I think that good jobs are as valuable information as bad.

Ruth

Poncer avatar
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Date Posted: 4/26/2009 10:59 PM ET
Member Since: 10/23/2005
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I'm with Ruth. Clicking a few times on a site that has added the survey as a resutl of people complaining about late mailers, not using the wrapper, using the wrapper, too much tape, not enough tape, Postage due, too much postage, is really a way to assist in the solutions for these matters. If you dont want to click, dont click, if you dont want to be part of the solutions that can stop some of the problem swaps that happen here, dont click. But if you dont click, dont complain that it isnt getting better.

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Date Posted: 4/27/2009 2:36 AM ET
Member Since: 1/12/2009
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Like Amee, I didn't realize it was an option!  AND I believe in giving positive feedback (so far, it's always been good here at PBS).  A few times when I haven't finished the survey, I felt bad about it, because I want to give credit where credit is due....they DID mail it on time, the postage was as it should be, etc. etc.  It's just not that big a deal to me.

BookBinge avatar
Date Posted: 4/27/2009 11:00 AM ET
Member Since: 4/21/2007
Posts: 304
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I fill it out if I have time. The one thing that stops me from filling it out is I tear into the packages almost immediately. By then most of the information they want is illegible.

VLR avatar
Date Posted: 4/27/2009 11:15 AM ET
Member Since: 8/31/2008
Posts: 2,608
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I also did not realize that the form was optional.  I've always filled it out, just not always filled out the additional comments section.  I figured PBS was collecting statistical info on all that stuff.  The concern is that if people only fill out the form when there is a problem then that info (such as  how long it takes a book to arrive) is very skewed.

chiricahuagal avatar
Date Posted: 4/27/2009 11:34 AM ET
Member Since: 10/6/2007
Posts: 376
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I try to open the package with care so the info they need is available. We use the site for free and in my  opinion they are just gathering stats - how long shipping takes, how much postage it takes, do the members use the resources (like printing the label) - maybe it's about catching the bad members, but I always thought it was just about how well PBS was doing its job helping the members. I usually fill out all or most of the information. For one thing, I use PBS as an organizer as well, so I like having the book go into my TBR and having the transaction sit in my "hold" bookshelf in the event I decide to post it back after reading with just 1 click. Like someone else said, in the scheme of things, it's a few seconds out of my life per book at the most, and if I don't feel like doing it, I just click through to the end and don't fill anything out. To each her own, huh?

drewsmom avatar
Date Posted: 4/27/2009 12:13 PM ET
Member Since: 5/29/2007
Posts: 13,347
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I'm with the OP, it's overkill, big time.  It's a number of pages.  First you say you received it, then 3 options, yes, RWAP, or no.  Then they ask if you want it added to your TBR.  It's going to be in my transaction archive, if I want to move it around, I'll do it from there. 

Then, if you don't answer the question, in the survey portion, about adding the book to your bookshelf, it automatically adds the book to your bookshelf.  The books I get aren't all for me.  So, no, I don't want to automatically add every book to my bookshelf.  That question is backward.  They should leave it off your bookshelf unless you answer "yes", not automatically put it on your bookshelf if you don't answer "no".

Yep, I get that it's less than a minute (unless it's a RWAP, then it could be more time if your penning a message to the sender, cutting and pasting rules, etc), and yes I know there are bigger things to worry about, but it still annoys me to go thru all those steps.  They could easily eliminate the "adding to your TBR" and "taking off your bookshelf".  Those aren't necessary and have nothing to do with making sure the sender receives a credit, and isn't that the whole point of checking in a book, to make sure the sender gets a credit? 

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Date Posted: 4/27/2009 12:27 PM ET
Member Since: 5/10/2005
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I don't mind the survey. I mind the page after page after page to get to the survey to actually finish marking it received.

If I have the info,  I fill out the survey. If the packaging has already been dispensed with (I try to not let clutter around) then I fill out only the type of packaging, which I can usually remember.

It's the multiple-screens that bother me.  Put all the questions on the same page!

geejay avatar
Geri (geejay) -
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Date Posted: 4/27/2009 5:11 PM ET
Member Since: 9/2/2008
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Until this post I didn't even realize there was more than one page!  Duh on my part.  I thought nothing of just clicking on the appropriate spot and either leaving a comment or not.

angelacisco avatar
Date Posted: 4/27/2009 6:05 PM ET
Member Since: 6/15/2006
Posts: 1,691
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I skimmed the other answers so excuse this if it's repeated info.

TPTB added the survey before there was the option of printing a shipping label & packing slip on one page (the last of the options).  So many people were either not using the "original printed wrapper" as intended (to wrap a book) and were either cutting it to tape to an envelope or a book wrapped in something other than the two-pices-of-paper wrapper or writing the info by hand.  The one sheet shipping label and packing slip was lobbied for and TPTB wanted to make sure it was something that would be used.  (This refers to the part of the survey that asks How was the book wrapped?)

Then I think the printable postage came along after the one page shipping label & packing slip.  (Though I may have the order wrong.)

 

willaful avatar
Date Posted: 4/27/2009 8:00 PM ET
Member Since: 5/3/2006
Posts: 6,436
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I agree, I don't mind the survey - can always skip it if I'm pressed for time - but the multiple screens definitely seem redundent, especially the "have you received this book in the mail"  screen.

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Date Posted: 4/28/2009 2:02 AM ET
Member Since: 1/12/2009
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I think Melinda said it best:  "To each her own, eh?"   Way to go - either do it or not....but at least now some of us know it is optional!    D.

barbelaine1 avatar
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Date Posted: 4/28/2009 3:12 PM ET
Member Since: 12/23/2005
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I agree with the OP.  I wish there was a one click system and a link for those interested in completing the survey.