I sent out a book on the 8th of this month (June) with about 9 other books that were received long ago. (I've got to stop listing so many books because I'm going broke!)  I sent the requester/receiver a PM asking if the book has been received, and if not to please let me know and I will go through my papers to see if I have a DC on it. I've had no reply and it still has not been marked received. I suppose it is not 'mandatory' for a reply, but you would think it would be common curtesy to do so... It's just 1 book, but I'm a little curious as to what others may think.

Leslie

Leslie,

There is always the possibility that they are on vacation.  I have two books that were delivered over 14 days ago (I use PBS-DC), but haven't been marked received.

I've put my account on vacation hold because I injured my self and may end up in the hopital.  So I put the why's of being on vacation hold in the blue header of my bookshelf and in my about me profile.  I don't know that anyone will see it, but at least I tried just in case I suddenly disappear.

Ruth

I mailed a book out on the 13th with dc, when I checked the dc  on the 22nd it said it was delivered on the 18th but still has not been marked recieved.  I'll wait a few more days and pm them. I did check and they are not on vacation hold.

I hope you feel better Ruth and it isn't a long hospital stay.

Thank you, jubead!  I'm resisting going to the hospital because it becomes a cascade of problems that I usually barely live through.  So if my foot and ankle aren't any better by Monday morning, I'm calling the orthopedic surgeon who patched me up in 2005 to see if he'll see me first just to make sure I don't have to make the time and $$ and pain expenditure of going to the ER.  I absolutely HATE hospitals.

Ruth

Let's see...you sent the book on the 8th, and today is the 27th....not even 3 weeks yet after it was mailed. PBS gives the USPS almost a month to deliver books before declaring the book "lost."  And you sent the PM to the other member how long ago? I assume it's been at least a few days without a response PM back (surely you wouldn't expect an immediate response?) which means that it was probably only two weeks or so after you mailed the book...really too early to start PMing about whether a book was received or not, IMO.

Books can take a wide variety of times to get from one place to another. I've had books get clear across the country in 2 days and other books sent to somewhere in the same state take 3 weeks. There is no predicting how fast (or slow!) media mail is, and there's a whole bunch of variables that can affect delivery times. Which is why PBS asks not to be contacted until AFTER the book is marked lost in the system. I would use that same general rule of thumb with contacting other members you've sent books to. After the book goes lost (or is just about to) then it is certainly fine to contact the member, but I wouldn't do it before then. Let the system do the work. PBS sends e-mails to people at select intervals asking them "Have you received...." and reminding them to mark it received if they have. There could be many reasons why they're not answering your PM; maybe they're just irritated that you're bugging them about it, as I would be.

And Ruth, hope you feel better and don't have to do the hospital thang.

Cheryl

I had one that wasn't marked received until the very last day.

I get so antsy when the book isn't marked received.  Just like when you're waiting for a book to get to you, you've got to be patient about people marking it received.  I can say the other day we had bad weather - I wasn't online.  The next day clean up after the storm - not online again.  Could be computer trouble troubles too.  Or someone who just didn't think to put their account on vacation hold because they were just going for a day or two.  Patience, patience, patience, sigh.

Ruth, gads, no hospital!  I hate 'em!  Hope things get better!!!

Thanks for the replies:) All of them were great. I believe there is a week before the time runs out. I wasn't trying to be a pain, just asking after a book I mailed a while ago. This is the first time it's taken this long and if it's lost, NP with the point. I would be ansy waiting for a book and still not receive it after 3 weeks, and if the sender were to send me a PM asking about it, I wouldn't mind the question. Some are different though:)

I'm usually a patient person, but I know how the mail system can get with books. Especially media mail...

Just a simple question... nothing to have to do math over.

I hope you feel better Ruth. Can't stand going to hospital either. Passed a kidney stone BEFORE I got some lovely pain medicine, lol.

I thank everyone for the well wishes.  It's always my first response - not going to any hospital.  It's not always been a good idea, but at least once I got there I got immediate attention.   So although this could result in a bad outcome, I'm still conscious and not in that much pain. 

Back on topic - I just got a PM from a person who ordered a book from me and it had been scanned in at the destination as delivered.  A week ago.  So I just sent a PM because it worried me even though I used the PBS postage and DC.  I just got an answer - he'd been on vacation and thought it might take longer than it did to get there.  It probably  arrived the day he left!  LOL!!  So all is well.  I hope this turns out well for you.

Ruth

Thanks! It's a pleasant surprise when a book arives a day or two after it's been mailed!

Leslie

Just because someone's not on vacation hold doesn't mean they're not on vacation and away from home.  I've been on vacation and away from home since last Monday.  Didn't put myself on vacation hold because I have my laptop with me and all my hotels have internet access so I can check in at least once a day.  I am not home to receive my mail though so any or all of the 3 books on their way to me could be at the post office waiting.

It didn't make sense to me to go on vacation hold since I could still get any request from my shelf shipped within the timeframe PBS allows if I waited a day or two to accept the request and picked the farthest day out to mail.

I had a book take six weeks to get from Kansas to Oklahoma.  Figure that one out.  LOL. 

I too sent several books out on June 8, and there's still one that hasn't been marked received yet.  Hopefully, it didn't get lost.  Pat

I follow up with senders and with customers.  I use DC on all but my first class shipments.  I had person I checked in with a week after receipt and it was vacation.  Another got the book but their 2yo lost it and they didn't know which of several they'd ordered was lost.  Another no response, but they marked received.

I had one coming my way with no DC on it so neither the sender nor I knew where it was.  Knowing the date sent, I did PM the sender and let her know I had not gotten the book.  Sometmes people mail them much later than they claim (I had one arrive postmarked 10 days after the claimed date).  Just when both I and the sender had given the book up for lost, it arrived!  YES!

Now I have 2 books heading my way both with DC.  They are hing up for DAYS at one postal facility!Gah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am so frustrated!

I do wish there was a way that PBS could allow Vacation hold to be visible for all.  Say on our PM accounts, like an auto email vacation notice.  That way senders wouldn't be left wondering if the whole thing was a black hole.  Stuff happens and boths sides should stay in touch if possible.