I was running a book deal on the book bazaar and unfortunately, someone sent me an order and I discovered that the book they ordered wasn't on my shelf (nor was one of the freebies). I would have sworn those books weren't on my shelf to be ordered anyway--especially the one the person actually ordered considering it was a book someone had ordered and I'd mailed a week or two before). At any rate, I apologized profusely, did the "I can not mail this book" button, and then buddied the person a credit for the trouble I'd caused.

Today I got a message from the person explaining that the book passed on to someone else and they can't PM the person (I don't know if the person already printed the label or not) and now they are getting the book even though they don't really want it because they just ordered it as part of the deal. I Pm'd back and apologized again and explained that I did buddy a credit the other day so at least they aren't out a credit. I am very embarrassed by the whole thing and feel really awful, but is there any other way I coud have handled this? Would the book ordered go through FIFO even though if the person ordered directly from my shelf? I don't know how I could have done anything differently--am I missing something? I hope the person is at least somewhat happy that I at least gave them a credit for my mistake.

Barbara,  I don't know if that is the 'correct" thing to do but I would have done the same thing you did.  I think you handled it great.  From what I understand, yes the book would go through FIFO even if it was ordered from your shelf because the system doesn't necessary look at the person you ordered it from, it assumes you want the book.  It just put that bookshelf first and if that shelf can't fill the order, it goes to the next one.

What can a person do then if they don't want a book--except as part of a deal? In a case like the one above--should the person who ordered be the one to cancel?

I guess i never realized that when you order directly from a shelf that the books will go on to FIFO.

I think you handled it correctly...I think before canceling the only thing you could have done is PM'd the sender (am guessing you knew who it was since this was a deal) and ask them to cancel the order because of the problem.  This way it wouldn't have gone into the FIFO system.

And that person is wrong saying they can't PM the person.  The PM button is there even after a wrapper is printed and the book marked mailed.  I believe it is there even before the book is accepted by the potential sender.  I know I've looked to see who books were coming from before accepting an order and after accepting it and even after they accepted the order. 

However, you did buddy them a credit so they are getting the book for "free" so I don't know what they are complaining about!  Maybe they didn't realize you had buddied them a credit and now feel bad for complaining?

Babs, it only goes into the FIFO system if the sender cancels and there are more in the system.  The system doesn't know that it was a special...but sometimes I wish it did!

I would say if that happens in the future, you should PM the person so THEY can cancel if they want to (or you could offer them something else from your shelf).  That way neither one of you has to worry about it rolling to the next person in the FIFO line.

Yup, I agree with Amy, if you cannot fulfill a deal, let the requestor cancel the order so it doesn't roll to FIFO.

You didn't need to buddy them a credit.  You didnt' get a credit for the book because it was never marked mailed. You don't get a credit just for accepting a book request. So this person is basically getting a free book because you gave them a credit back.  If they had cancelled the 2nd request they would be ahead a credit.

ETA: like the others said-next time ask them to cancel the request.

Ah okay--now i get it. and the person wasn't really complaining--just, I think, puzzled as to why the system would do what it did. It's making a lot more sense to me now. I guess I wasn't thinking about how the system works--and now of course it seems glaringly obvious!

I've learned my lesson about making sure everything on my bookshelf is actually there before offering a deal again!