I want to get the same book for four different people as Christmas presents.  PBS won't let you order the same book again until the first one you ordered has shipped.  This is a problem when members don't respond quickly.   For example, I ordered one copy on 11/25 and it's still at the "Accepted" stage.

Is there any way to order several copies at one time?

Also, if the current member never responds, and I choose to order that book again, will the request go to the next member?

Thanks!

If the book is in the system and a member does not respond, the system will automatically reorder it for you from the next person in line.

What I have seen most people who want multiple copes of a single book do is ask other members to order it for them and then buddy the credit to them. The other member can use the ship to an alternate addy to get it to you. The one problem with that will be that you lose the option to mark them RWP if a book is sent to an alternate addy. You could also try advertising in the Book Bazaar (as long as it is not a Wish Listed book) asking for people with giftable copies to PM you and then you could work it out with them on getting the copy to you-maybe they could use "mail to a friend" and you could buddy the credit or something. Keep in mind that any time you try to get around the system and run into problems, you lose some of the recource provided by the system.

Good Luck.

Here is a kind of complicated way to do what you want:

1) Order one copy of this book the normal way.

2) Go to Community / Box-O-Books

3) Enter the title and author of the book you're looking for in the search box

4) Look at the search results and write down the nicknames of the members who have this book. Some members won't have nicknames -- don't bother writing them down because you won't be able to find them again.

5) Go to Community / Member directory and search for one of the nicknames. Click on the nickname. Then click the number under Books Listed to get to that member's shelf.

6) Click on Order This Book next to any book other than the one you really want. You'll be taken to the Alt Address screen. Click on Order More from Member to go back to the member's bookshelf. Now, find the book you really want and click Add. Then click Preview Order and complete it.

7) Go to your My Account page and cancel the request for the book you don't want. You have one hour to do this before the other member is notified of your request.

Repeat steps 5 through 7 until you've requested all the copies you need. You might be able to shortcut steps 6 & 7 by using the X button to delete the unwanted book before completing the order. You might even be able to order the duplicate book without selecting the unwanted book at all if you do it directly from the other member's shelf. I discovered this accidentally once and haven't ever tried it again, so the simpler methods might work too.

If the book is in the system and a member does not respond, the system will automatically reorder it for you from the next person in line.

Yeah...five days later.  And if they don't respond...well, it'll probably be Christmas before you get even a single copy.  I have the best luck ordering from people who don't respond.  I've had three requests roll over just this week...please put your account on hold if you're not using it!

Also, if the current member never responds, and I choose to order that book again, will the request go to the next member?

Al, when a member doesnt respond to a book request the book is removed from their shelf, so no your order will not go back to them when you order the same book. If they notice and repost the book, their copy will go to the back of the FIFO line.

Thanks guys!  I ordered two copies via Cathy's clever workaround, and Cheryl has generously offered to order one for me.

The book is Juggling for the Complete Klutz.  I'm getting this for some teenagers on my Christmas list, and making juggling balls to go along with the books.