What happens if someone uses PBS postage but never sends the book? Do they automatically get their credit? I'm sure this has been asked a zillion times but I wasn't sure the best way to search for it. I know I will eventually get my credit back, but I'm wondering if they get to keep theirs? 

And yes, I know it is _possible_ that the book never got scanned _and_ somehow mysteriously got lost in the mail, but I doubt it. 

Just curious. 

Yes, they get their credit if the printed with postage. If the just printed with DC and the book was never scanned, then no, they didn't get a credit.

I'm not sure how you as a receiver can tell the difference between printing with postage and printing with just DC, though. They both look the same to the receiver.

I don't think it's real common, first because in order to print with postage, the sender would have had to spend real money on the postage. What would be the incentive to, then, not actually mail the book? And second, if a sender has too many "instant credits" where PBS has to issue a refund because it's never marked received, they investigate that too.

PBS Printable Postage users have that little (speedy) flag in their header (like gold key and donation apple) and on their profile page.  Not that that guarantees they use it for every package. 

Otherwise, what Sara said.  Yes, the keep the credit but there's no incentive to keep the book b/c postage and fees are aready paid.  And PBS will review the account if too many go missing without enroute scans.

I have never used PBS printed postage-

I have mailed over 1,000 books in almost 7 years.

I have had only a few books lost in the mail. It is not worth it for me to pay the extra money. I stick to the bare minimum expense.

Remember when we could mail a book for less that $2.00 , before the postage went up ?

PBS counts how many books go lost from our account.  They have been known to put a member on hold while contacting them if the statistics flag an account. 

I thought I read on here a while ago that some members don't get the instant credit with printable postage because of problems with past transactions.

From the help Center:

My header displays the speedy flag indicating that I use printable postage, but I do not use it on every transaction, only when I can't get to the post office for a few days or with multiple book requests and I have had members complain when they received their books that I didn't use printable postage...one went so far as to state that she only requested the book from me because I display the printable postage flag (hmmm, with the FIFO system I don't know how she managed that...). But I have used printable postage, mailed it from my mailbox and it got delivered without a single scan until the delivery scan, so it can and does happen.

.

But Ruth, that's OK ... they do that case-by-case for people with good sending records. If the person has a good sending record, then chances are, she really DID mail the book, and thus, having no scans at all is likely to be a PO mistake somehow.

I have had members complain when they received their books that I didn't use printable postage...one went so far as to state that she only requested the book from me because I display the printable postage flag (hmmm, with the FIFO system I don't know how she managed that...).

Sally, the person could have come across you and your icon in the forums, then went to your bookshelf and ordered directly from you.

Oh you're right, maybe they only printed the DC. I don't use either so I forgot that was an option! Thaks everyone for the replies :) 

I'm not sure how you as a receiver can tell the difference between printing with postage and printing with just DC, though. They both look the same to the receiver.

Here's how you can tell by looking at the DC # shown on the Details pop-up.

If it starts with:

• 94001 -- then it's printable postage, First Class, trackable at usps.com
• 94521 -- then it's printable postage, Media Mail, not trackable at usps.com
• 420 + your ZIP code + 94001 -- then it's eDC, First Class, trackable at usps.com
• 420 + your ZIP code + 94490 -- then it's eDC, Media Mail, trackable at usps.com

Good one Cathy, I'd forgotten those services use different number series.

I know on Swap a DVD they started only giving a fraction of the credits for multi DVD sets instantly to prevent people from printing postage and never mailing.  I wouldn't think it would be as big an issue on PBS unless someone printed postage for several books to one address and didn't send then because you could buy a credit for less than you would spend on postage for a book plus PBS fees.

Some time ago, I ordered a book, sender used PBS DC (and maybe postage, I don't know).  Book never received.  Contacted sender to let them know I'd mark it appropriately when it did arrive.  Sender PMed back that the book had never been sent.  Notified TPTB and her account was suspended.  I'm presuming it was later reactivated when they contacted her about it.  Having said that, if you KNOW a book wasn't sent and PBS postage and/or DC was used, do let TPTB know.  They will look into it. Pat