I had a book marked mailed to me on 5/18/09 with DC. The DC was never even actually accepted into the PO system, it's just shown as being printed. Does this mean that it was most likely never mailed?

I know at my local PO's (3 different ones I use depending on the day) they always scan right away & it's avaliable in their system usually within 24 hours. And if it's picked up @ my home with printed postage & DC it's scanned right then & there in their truck before they even pull away from my mailbox. I'm not sure if all PO's work like this, that's why I ask. I've never had a book with DC go lost either, although I know it's not unheard of & DC isn't always 100% accurate, but surely it would of been accepted into the PO system by now...right?

I would say it's not coming.  It may be that it was never mailed.  I've had books I sent out not be scanned until it arrived at the destination.  So it is possible that it's gone missing.

Ruth

Leann, there's really no way to tell unless you ask the sender.  I run a large swap each month and receive DC#'s for packages mailed.  I've seen DC's scanned at the intitial post office and I've seen them not scanned at all until delivery.  I've even seen a few that were never scanned, even after delivery.

DC is delivery confirmation, so the post office is not obligated to scan any package until it is actually delivered.  I would send a nicely worded PM to the sender and just ask if she remembered to drop the book in the mail.

Definitely PM the sender and ask if she has any ideas about what happened.

I did this once for a book that I was waiting for ... 4 days before it was about to go lost. The sender lives about 50 miles away from me. She re-printed the wrapper 2 weeks after she marked it mailed, so I already knew she had mailed it later than she said. The day after I PM'd her about the book, it was scanned (in her originating Post Office). I got it the next day.

I'm positive that she didn't actually mail it until she saw my PM (which she never answered, by the way).

I know there are lots of legitimately mailed books that go lost .... but it doesn't hurt to ask the sender about it ... just in case.

It could go either way Leann, although I'm usually suspicious when there's no scans at all.  But as Hunter points out, not all books are scanned upon receipt at the post office (esp if dropped in blue box), some are scanned enroute, and some are not scanned until delivery.  I've also received one or two that were never scanned, and didn't I feel guilty about unkind thoughts towards the sending mailer :-)   Good luck!

Each branch can have it's own policy about scanning.  And it can also vary if you use the APC box or a person.  I've heard of POs where it mattered which clerk you saw.

Yeah, that's right. There is one PO here and one clerk didn't scan until the other clerk looked over and told him he had to. Had to show the first clerk how. And he still doesn't do it...

It is frustrating because we pay the extra charge for DC (though it may not be much but it is offered by the PO and we pay for it...). It works more times than not, though.