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Topic: Lost books (in the mail)

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bradleymtimm avatar
Subject: Lost books (in the mail)
Date Posted: 8/13/2012 9:25 PM ET
Member Since: 1/1/2010
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I recenly had 3 books go missing, within one month. Two I sent and one sent to me. First for me ever. 

Statistically a real outlier event. 

Anyone else experiencing lost books ? more so than normal?

I have not requested any since so I dont know if this is an ongoing event.

fangrrl avatar
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Date Posted: 8/13/2012 9:56 PM ET
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These seem to arrive in mini-waves Bradley.   I have had a few (and a goodly number of timed-out transactions), probably a normal amount for the Summer (or Christmas) Holiday season.  People get busy and forget to mail (or mark received).

Did either the incoming or outgoing packages have DC?  If so and they have enroute scans, you could have a local or regional USPS problem.  If you have reason to believe several in a short time were actually in the mail and lost, you should report it to the PO so they can do some internal searching.

 

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Pat O. (PatinCO) - ,
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Date Posted: 8/13/2012 10:19 PM ET
Member Since: 8/19/2007
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I had 5 books coming - same author - from different states - 2 from MS - 2 from PA and 1 from TX.  All mailed from mid- to end of July.  One arrifved - the one from TX.  The other 4 (2 different senders - 2 books each) are still out there and 2 are going to go lost by the end of the week.  I haven't had a book go lost in over a years, so don't know what's happening now.  Good luck. Pat

berd avatar
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Date Posted: 8/13/2012 11:15 PM ET
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I have had a book en route to me since July 27 that has yet to make its way to me. I'm not sure what happened to it.  I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with books out there somewhere that haven't reached their destinations.

dordale avatar
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Date Posted: 8/14/2012 12:41 AM ET
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I recently had a book go lost on its way to me.  It did arrive about five days after the system marked it lost.  Was mailed on time, so the book took the scenic route I guess.  I was happy to be able to mark it received from my transaction archive.  Hopefully every one else's missing books arrive at their destinations.

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Date Posted: 8/14/2012 9:15 AM ET
Member Since: 6/29/2008
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I was just about to post the same question. In the last six weeks, I've had 4 books go missing - 2 from me and 2 sent to me. Never had this happen before. Maybe it's the summer help. I know our mail was screwed up when our regular carrier went on vacation last week.

 

Susan



Last Edited on: 8/14/12 9:16 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
entRedRaider avatar
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Date Posted: 8/14/2012 9:18 AM ET
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Good to know it's not just me.  I ordered a book for my book club, with plenty of time (I thought) for it to get here (it was mailed 7/24).  It's set to go lost Monday; probably only the frist or second book since I joined to come close to going lost.  And I'm pretty sure the member mailed on time, as she's a forum regular.  Just my luck; the one book I need by a certain date.  :(

fangrrl avatar
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Date Posted: 8/14/2012 11:47 AM ET
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Any of the above books involve DC?

Erin, forum regulars have issues also, RL happens.  I have a recent lost book transaction from a forum regular, we're now wondering if she's missing altogether (CMT thread).  She had recently offered a large batch of WL books in the forums and reported them mailed (with DC) on June 24th.  Several receivers report the books lost without enroute DC scans.

RL happens, but statistically it's more likely to be sender error than USPS (not that they don't loose their fair share).

ERIN:  hope your bookclub book arrives soon  broken heart

ETA - anyone else notice, books that are arriving seem to be traveling very fast?  Maybe it's just the West Coast, but my enroute books seem to be coming and going very quickly.  Sent a package to DD, Seattle to Ft. Benning, Georgia...OK, I sent it Priority but still, coast to coast and through military base sorting and she still received it on Monday.

We're also getting Media Mail from California to Seattle in 2 or 3 days, and other Southwest locations almost as fast.



Last Edited on: 8/14/12 11:52 AM ET - Total times edited: 3
dordale avatar
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Date Posted: 8/14/2012 12:13 PM ET
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Denise--I'm in California-just received a book yesterday (Monday) that was mailed Media Mail from Georgia on Friday!  I think that's the fastest I ever received a package that was mailed via Media Mail.  But for me, that seems to be the exception most of the the books I've been receiving have taken between one and two weeks.

chippygirl avatar
Date Posted: 8/14/2012 6:31 PM ET
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About a month ago I had a couple of books go lost. Unusual.
tommygirl avatar
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Date Posted: 8/15/2012 12:03 PM ET
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I've been noticing a problem with my delivery recently. One package looked slit open with two pieces of scotch tape put over slit - one book missing out of two (mailman said he didn't notice the opening until he was on his route). Another instance (same week) package coming with delivery confirmation was marked as delivered but not to my house. When I questioned the PO they said there was nothing they could do.

 

I ordered more books just to see if it was a fluke.

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Date Posted: 8/15/2012 3:06 PM ET
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Yup. Same here. Funny thing is, I was FINALLY convinced to stop using DC on every one of my books because it costs so much more than the statistically rare lost book. What happens? 3 books lost in the span of 2 months. *sigh* It's annoying, but nothing to be done. The PO says there's nothing they can do without DC.

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Date Posted: 8/16/2012 8:36 AM ET
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This is scary. We have a handicap placard and car title coming in the mail any day, and I notice we have a substitute mail carrier delivering this week.  Hope you all get your packages soon.

berd avatar
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Date Posted: 8/16/2012 5:53 PM ET
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Well, not sure about anyone else's books, but mine that's almost gone lost was scanned in Abrams, WI on July 27 & then as of Aug. 14, it was scanned in Green Bay, WI.  I hope I get the book before too long & that everyone else's books make it to their destinations soon!

vampsita avatar
Date Posted: 8/16/2012 6:46 PM ET
Member Since: 1/23/2009
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No lost book for me yet, but I just sent my first book without PBS-DC in years. I did buy PayPal shipping since I don't have time to go to our PO. It shows as delivered on Aug. 11th, but the member still has not marked it as received. 

berd avatar
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Date Posted: 8/21/2012 2:54 PM ET
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Well, I finally got my book that had gone lost.  I hope all of you who are missing your books will get them after all!

Patouie avatar
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Date Posted: 8/21/2012 4:25 PM ET
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Thanks for the update, Amber -- so glad it arrived!

berd avatar
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Date Posted: 8/21/2012 5:04 PM ET
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No problem! Just thought I'd give all of you missing books a little hope!