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Topic: Can't seem to get a book that is available

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Subject: Can't seem to get a book that is available
Date Posted: 6/13/2010 4:45 PM ET
Member Since: 5/29/2010
Posts: 1
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I am so frustrated.  I have a request in for a book by Piers Anthony, Bio of a Space Tyrant: Vol 1. The next person in line will not respond (I have requested it twice now) and the system will not let me request another one so I can actually get it.  Has anyone had this problem before.  It is really irritating the heck out of me.  I have volumes 2-4 in hand (which I requested at the same time), but can't get the first because of an inconsiderate club member and no response from the club yet.  GRRRRR.

rebeccam avatar
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Date Posted: 6/13/2010 4:47 PM ET
Member Since: 9/25/2008
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Members have five days to accept a request and another five days to mail. If you canceled a request and reordered the same copy it likely went back to the first member and they still get five days to respond to the new request.

dordale avatar
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Date Posted: 6/13/2010 4:48 PM ET
Member Since: 10/22/2009
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Deborah--One thing PBS teaches is patience!   I know it can be frustrating to wait, but if you let the order time out on it's own, your order will go to the next person in line after it times out.  If you cancel and try to re-order it'll just go back to the same person. 

PBS does take note of people who don't respond to requests and after so may non-responses will put their account on hold.  So by letting the order time out, you're also helping weed out the inactive accounts.

Good luck--and I hope you receive your book soon!  I know how frustrating it can be waiting for a book!!

melanied avatar
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Date Posted: 6/13/2010 5:17 PM ET
Member Since: 8/16/2007
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Yes, exercising patience will be required on PBS. All you need to do to get the book is submit the request and walk away. If the member doesn't respond within the 5 full days given to them, the system will cancel that transaction, remove the book from their shelf, and pass the request to the next person with the book posted; repeating until there is a copy on the way to you or no one else has it posted. If you try to do that on your own and cancel/re-request yourself, you are just going to keep requesting from the same person over and over.

5 days might seem like a long time, but some people aren't on the site all the time, some can only get on the site on weekends, some only the weekdays, life happens.

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Date Posted: 6/13/2010 5:23 PM ET
Member Since: 8/23/2007
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Also letting requests time out like that helps get the inactives off the site.

FlouncePony avatar
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Date Posted: 6/13/2010 8:17 PM ET
Member Since: 12/31/2009
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I know how you feel. I recently had the same problem with a VERY common book. There were so many copies posted here, that all the senders at the top of the list seemed to be inactive accounts. I went through about ten people and was pulling my hair out. Someone here suggested I post a request in the genre forum, and a member that had the book responded. I ordered it directly from him and he sent it out to me right away. smiley

So, if you're just dying to start the series, you might want to try asking around in the science fiction forum. A nice sci-fi fan that has a copy may just see your post.

gingerkitty avatar
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Date Posted: 6/13/2010 8:18 PM ET
Member Since: 4/25/2007
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You can search the shelves of Boxers and try a direct request.  I've done that a time or two when FIFO is just not working for me.