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Topic: moving question

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not-another-mom avatar
Subject: moving question
Date Posted: 6/12/2010 6:13 PM ET
Member Since: 7/27/2007
Posts: 1,424
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Hi! I recently moved, and my new address (it's new construction) is not accepted by PBS. My neighbors' houses all show up, so I'm hoping that mine should start to work soon. Anyway, I had to leave my old address in my account, and someone sent a book with DC to me. What will happen to it? Thanks!
melanied avatar
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Date Posted: 6/12/2010 6:31 PM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
Posts: 15,234
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You need to put ordering on hold until you get a valid address on your PBS account. That book will probably be returned to the sender with return postage due if it was sent Media Mail. MM doesn't include forwarding or returnpostage, it only pays for the trip to the address on the package so whoever gets it often ends up paying the full postage again.

Here is the Help Center info on address validation:

Address validation

enacted 2/7/2008.

Address validation:

  • Each address on a PBS account must match an entry in the USPS database of "validated" addresses
    • The address needs to match the validated address exactly (this may be a simple matter of correct abbreviation or specifying an apt number!).
  • All accounts which have addresses that do not match USPS's database have been temporarily suspended and members are being told to go to USPS to get the validated form of their address and provide it to us.
    • This is being done to make swapping run more smoothly: these addresses will not work with DC or Printed postage, and may result in books being returned to sender.
    • This is affecting a very small part of the club (the PBS registration page does validate addresses with USPS, but this has not always been the case)
  • If your account is suspended with the message that your address could not be validated with USPS, please:
    • Go to this site (http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp)  and enter the address
      • This is the same database that USPS uses to validate addresses
    • The address is valid if it is listed with the heading "Full Address in Standard Format", and it is the only listing shown under that heading.
    • If you cannot find the validated version of your address, you can call 1-800-ASK-USPS or contact your local PO for help with this.

Note: if you have received a piece of mail from any source at your address that had a 9-digit ZIP code on it, that was probably your validated address.  You can provide that address to us at librarian@paperbackswap.com and we can change your account address and reopen your account.
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Date Posted: 6/14/2010 10:28 AM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
Posts: 26,510
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I agree: don't order any  more books until you figure it out. Put your WL on hold.  If any books get sent back postage due, you should refund their credit.  I would give a credit even if they wasn't sent back postage due because this person used packaging supplies and spent money on postage.  Then anotehr credit if you want them to send the book to you again to cover the additional postage.  I'm moving mid-July and I've already put a stop on any book ordering. 



Last Edited on: 6/14/10 10:28 AM ET - Total times edited: 1
not-another-mom avatar
Date Posted: 6/14/2010 6:24 PM ET
Member Since: 7/27/2007
Posts: 1,424
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I had already contacted her about reimbursing her if it gets returned. Your information on how forwarding is handled is incomplete. My move was local. I am still serviced by the same post office, which means that my mail SHOULD get forwarded, even parcels and media mail, but not catalogs.

From the usps.com: Package Service Mail (includes Parcel Post, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail), with no endorsement, is forwarded locally for 12 months at no charge.

The book sent with DC should have been sent on to my new address, but it appears that it was sent back. Does DC count as an endorsement? The link on usps.com for undeliverable mail endorsements went to a blank page.

The delivery supervisor at my local branch was out of the office when I went in today and they were not able to locate the book for me before it went back. Hopefully I can get this resolved tomorrow.

I hate that this has caused a problem for another member. I wish the rules regarding media mail were better known and applied. I am going to put my account back on hold until this is resolved. Thankfully my son got the books he wanted, so I have a happy 7-year old.

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