Wow, it's been forever since I've been in these forums and I thought I'd seen it all by now.  Today I received the wrong book from a sender.  I did request a book from this person, just ordered one book and received a different one.  I PM'd the person to ask how to handle it, read the help section, etc.  However, this person's account is on hold and they are a new member (since April 2008).  I can't see their bookshelf to check if the book that I did order is still on her bookshelf, I can't really do anything unless I hear from her.  What do I do if I hear nothing, her account is on hold so she may or may not be checking her PM's?  A little bit baffled here . . .

maybe they are on vacation and can't reply?  give them a week and then try PM'ing them again. 

Do NOT mark the book as RWP.  Keep the one you requested pending.  Most likely she sent your book to someone else and their book to you.  If the book goes lost, you'll get your credit back.  If they respond to your PM, you can arrange for them to buddy you a credit to cover postage and mail the book to the right person.  The other person can send your book to you.   If you get no response-you can order the book again after it goes lost and you get your credit back.  I would wait a couple weeks incase the book shows up.  She could be on vacation, so give her time to respond.

Wait to see if you get an answer. If you do not get an answer, or if it is not a case of mixed up books that can be swapped to correct the mistake, then you should be marking the book RWP, wrong book received. Yes, this then requires you to argue to get your credit back, but a book received must be marked received unless it is a mix up in sending and the correct book will eventually make its way to you. If you will be keeping the wrong book, it needs to be marked RWP, if you will be sending it on to the correct receiver, then you mark nothing until you get the book you ordered.

You may want to check out the Help Center on this problem and chant with a tour guide if you do not hear from the sender within a week. Also may want to send feedback to PBS, they may have the persons account on hold for some reason.

I would give the other person a week to respond and then send a feedback to the PBS Team. They should be able to see if the person is really on vacation and for how long, or if they've been kicked off the site for some reason.

I wouldn't mark the book received.  You didn't get the book, how can you mark it received?  What if the right book makes it to you and it's damaged?  What if they never send it out, then you're out a credit and have a book you don't want.  You won't get a credit for the wrong book unless you post it and spend postage money to send it out. The help docs say to PM the person. There's no mention of marking the book RWP.  The Wrong Book Received option is for when someone sends you the wrong binding-you ordered hardback and they send paperback etc..., Plus maybe seeing the Lost Book pop up on their record will inspire them to respond if they've been ignoring your PMs. 

Receiving the wrong title is in the list of official problem swaps that should be marked as RWP. It DOES say that you do not mark it that way prior to contacting the person to try to straighten out the swap. If it is not straightened out, then you have an official problem swap and those are supposed to be marked RWP.

Here is a link to the Help Center section about this:

I received a book I didn't request!

Lisa, since you have already determined that this is the right person, wrong book, this would be the most applicable info:

• If there is a book that is listed there as coming from the same state, click on the transaction and send a Personal Message to this sender asking if she sent you this book by mistake.

• If she did,
• and sent your book to another requestor, she can offer each of you credit or postage to send the books to one another; the sender can provide the addresses in Personal Messages.  When each of you get the correct books, you can mark them received.
• and she still has the book she was supposed to send you, she can offer to send the correct book to you. You are not obligated to send the extra book back to her, but it is a nice thing to do if the sender is a new member.

There is, of course, more info at the HC, this is just a clip.  One the "hold" issue, lots of members use the hold even when they are active here..for a variety of reasons.  One of the most common is that they have X dollars for postage a week/month and once it is used up, they put their account on hold until payday.  As mentioned, the member could be on vacation.  The HC says in various places to wait a week, as mentioned,  and if you get no response, go ahead and send in feedback.

I hope you get it all straightened out!