Agh. I'm somewhat peeved. I mailed a book last week (or was it two weeks ago) from the post office, using my own stamps. Saturday I get the book back with a sticker on it saying that I had to mail the books from the PO.

I am confused, because I did mail it from the PO.

I am mad because this has cost me a trade. I sent a PM to the recipient and she said she didn't want the book anymore :(

Now I am wondering how to get the trade canceled. Does she cancel it so I can send it to the next person (it's a wishlisted book)? If I cancel it I have to wait a while before I put it up for trade.

Help is appreciated. Thanks!

Did you stick it in the blue box at the P.O. or take it to the counter?  If it was a heavier book I think it's 13 oz + is the weight), I think you are supposed to physically take it in to be mailed, per USPS requirements. 

yes, to what Dawn said...you have to physically hand it to a USPS employee if it is over 13 ounces.

As far as the requestor say she no longer wants the book I would contact the PBS team about it...I would let them know what was going on but, other than that I'd just let the book go lost.  When and if you contact the PBS team they may go ahead and cancel the transaction so that you can repost it.

hope this helps.

If it is a wishlisted book, then this really hasn't costed you a trade.  Once you have pressed "mailed", I don't think there is any way for either of you to cancel.  The person who requested the book can mark it received and you can then give them back their credit and then repost the book for the next person.

I had something similar happen to me on a WLd book - except I hadn't posted it yet, but had accepted it and the WLd person wanted to cancel the book.  I contacted PBS and found that once I'd printed the wrapper, she couldn't cancel it, and if I canceled I'd I'd get the 'dreaded red X" which I didn't want.

I was told that she had to take the book, and then she could repost it if she wanted to.  It was also suggested that I use the PBS delivery confirmation (the Postal Service one doesn't count).  In this way, I got my credit as soon as it was scanned at the PO, and even if it was refused, etc., I still had the credit.

Not sure if that would be the case in this instance, but I'd contact my "GUIDE" and see what they said.

You did post it in good faith, but as was said above - you physically have to hand the package to a postal clerk if it's over the weight limit (this is also stated on all of the blue boxes).  Good luck.  

I've had this happen at the post office.  Even after handing it directly to a postal employee at the desk and having them tell me I was all set, I got my (non-PBS) large envelope back 2 days later with a sticker on it explaining the postal requirements about heavier items.  Now I stand there and watch them until they cancel it by hand or put on one of those other labels.  Making that extra stop after work is tiresome enough, I really don't want to do it twice for the same item.

I had posted a month or so back after receiving 2 books back with those stickers.  My husband had dropped them in a blue box in the big city for me.  It's a while, but they were both way under 13 oz.  When I brought them to my teeny rural PO, one of the workers said something to the effect that everytime they are shown videos on procedures and regulations, there are always more errors than before they saw the videos.

This is really quite annoying, isn't it.

I use the printed postage on the 13oz books.  The rest I use stamps.  I use the printed postage on ones that are close to 13oz just incase someone guestimates that it's 13 and sends it back to me. 

I would have her mark it received, buddy her a credit back and then repost the book.  You can probably reuse the stamps but I would take them into the PO and have them cancelled by a clerk after you explain what happened. 

Thanks for the advice all. I'll do as you suggested and ask her to mark received and I can buddy her a credit back.

I dropped it in the box inside the PO :( Thanks for setting me straight. The PBS wrapper said it was 13 oz, but my mailing materials (I use brown paper bag) must have put it over the edge.

As an aside, I have tons of old stamps. I think I'll take them to the PO and try to get refunded. I don't need the old ones if I am going to have to go to the PO every time I mail a book that's close to 13 oz. I'd much rather get delivery confirmation from PBS I think.

The post office will not 'refund' your stamps

I've had that happen as well, it is annoying.

They won't refund your stamps, but when you take a book in and have it weighed and they tell you how much it is, you can whip out those old stamps and stick them on the package.  Pat

Kate-13oz still has to be dropped inside if you don't use the printed posted.  Your post said your wrapping put it over but 13oz is included in that rule not just over 13oz.  PBS will put a warning when a book needs to go to a postal employee when using stamps.