Newbie here. 

I received a request for a book today - but I am at work, and I know I can't get to the post office on Saturday, and the post office is closed on Monday.   So what is better to do, I have 5 days to accept the request, so I could punch the I can mail within 2 days button on Sunday and mail it Tuesday.  OR I could punch the I can mail later button.

But what exactly does the I can mail later button do?

(Anyway, a very happy newbie - 17 books mailed already and I've only been a member less than two weeks.  I received my first yesterday, and already know how much I'm going to enjoy membership here!)

Thanks,

Maria Elena

Hi ME, really either is fine.  You have 5 days to accept the request and then you have 5 days to mark it mailed.  So even if you accept the request and can't mail it till Tuesday you are still fine.  Or you can choose to mail it later and pick Tuesday as the date to mail by, and mail it then.  It really is good either way.

Welcome!

Mail later gives you 5 days instead of 2 to mail the book. Once say you will mail later, you select the day you will mail it. It does not take holidays/weekends into account so you would get wednesday as the latest option I think.

Welcome...If you hit the 'I can mail later' button, it will give you a drop down list as to what day you can mail it.  I mail my books out within 24 hours, but I use that button all the time now, because the last time I used the 2 day one, we had an ice storm and I couldn't get to the post office.  I ran out of time, but I mailed the book anyway and gave up the credit.  However, that person is waiting to see if you will reply, so hit the mail later button so she knows you're paying attention.

Great, I did use that mail later button - I agree, I'm sure they want a reply even if the long postal free weekend will interfere with immediate mailing.

Many of us select the latest date possible on the "mail later" option out of habit.  I tend to do that even if I have the book in my lap and know that in the next 5 miutes I am going to print out the wrapper, wrap the book, apply postage, press "book has been mailed" and head out the door on the way to the post office...

Yep, I love the 'mail later' option.  99% of the time I mail the next day (or Monday if the request comes in over the weekend), but there's always a chance for RL stuff to happen. I like having the 'just in case' cushion!

Yeah, I do that too.  Pick the latest possible day, then mail at my leisure.  Well, leisure before that day!

I had someone mark a book they sent me as mailed, then they mailed it about a week later.  *shrug*  As long as I get my book, I don't care!

I always choose the last mail by date even if I have other books to mail and know I will probably even mail it that day. You just never know what life is going to throw at you.  Yesterday I ran out of packing tape and had to hold off on mailing a couple of books today until I could buy some more.  I have even let book requests sit for a few days before accepting them because I was worried about having the time to get to them in the mail.

I think I'll switch to "Mail Later".
I frequently check PBS account very late PM or early AM,
as I'm a night nurse, making me a night owl!

Staying home tonight due to after-effects of emergency root canal.

Mail 3 days later works better for me than 2 days,
so switching to I can mail later should solve the timing issue.

jansails