I just read the posting about a sender getting slammed because the book she mailed had a postmark much later than when she actually mailed the book. I mailed a book yesterday (Saturday) at 2:00 pm.  The blue mailbox where I mailed it had a big sticker on it, which showed pickup times for the mailbox.  It looks like the next time the mail gets picked up from that box is Monday at 9:30 am.

Should I wait until Monday to mark it "Mailed", since that is probably when it will be postmarked, or just mark it mailed today, whereby the postmark will (hopefully!!) be just a day later?

You should be alright.  You dropped it in the blue-box, it's not as if you marked it mailed and then just waited to mail it.  Besides, things like this really have to pile up on your record habitually before it starts to reflect on you.  One book put through the proper steps a little awkwardly won't bring your account down.

Whenever you put a book into a blue box, a home or apartment mailbox, or even a box at the PO, it will be postmarked later than you actually mailed it.  Only if you take it to the counter and have the PO folks put postage on it will the mailing time and postmark times match (and I don't think ANYBODY wants EVERYBODY doing that.) 

So I suggest, Relax.......breathe deeply...............................

If you mark it mailed when the package goes out of your control, or a little earlier when you KNOW that's going to happen soon, I believe that is the way TPTB intended and expect the marking to happen. 

I think that only a pattern of mailing multiple days later than marked, without notifying the other member, would be considered a black mark.

(Example on hand: I have a stack of 7 packages here.  I figure I will mail them when I go out in a while.  But since I might decide not to today, I figure I will wait till after they go into the mailbox to mark them.)

<breathing deeply>   :-)  Ok thanks James & Linda, I"ll just relax about it.  Appreciate your feedback!

Hi Deb!  I never mark my stuff mailed till I've actually mailed it (at the PO, in a box, whatever) but the site rules say you actually have 48 hours after you mark it mailed to get it out.  (for stuff that comes up after you mark it on your way to the PO or whatever)

A book must be mailed within 48 hours of marking it mailed

• It is okay to mark your book mailed before you have mailed it if:

  • The deadline date falls on a postal holiday
  • Your computer/Internet access is unreliable
  • You plan to mail the book on your way out of town
• It is not okay to mark your book mailed and delay Mailing it for longer than 48 hours
  • We understand that sometimes circumstances interfere with prompt mailing!  But this should not be a habit.
  • If your mailing is delayed, you must inform the requestor as soon as possible, so that she doesn't think the book is lost in the mail if it was merely mailed late.
  • To contact the requestor from a book transaction: click or on the transaction, to send a Personal Message.

 So you're golden :)  Happy Sunday!

I mark it mailed the next time I on online after I have turned custody of the book to the USP--whether I handed to my carrier, took inside the PO, or dropped it in a blue box.

Hi Debbie, I'm the person whose book was postmarked way after I mailed it, but I didn't mean to make anyone paranoid!  : )

I just posted about it so people knew that it did happen once in a great while, so if they are dealing with a member that says they mailed on time they should keep in mind that they just might be telling the truth!  Keeping it in perspective, I've mailed out and received hundreds of books, and I rarely have problems like this, so it doesn't happen very often.  As long as you mark mailed once you've dropped the book in the box, you have done your part--at that point it's in the hands of the post office.

I should also probably mention that although I do complain about post office issues I've had, when you consider how many books they handle most of them come through on time and in good condition.  So thanks to the many postal workers who care about doing a conscientious job!