Is it normal for PBS swappers to NOT fulfill their trades? 

Since I have a boat load of credits, I have taken to watching the new arrivals, maybe once a week, and find some interesting titles. So I request these books that were just listed within the previous 15 minutes to half hour. It isn't like these books have been sitting on someone's shelf for months and months and gotten misplaced or thrown out or given away or something.

But, for some reason, around 1/3 of my requests are timing out. PBS give the sender a full week to respond to a request for a book that has been posted for trade. But, these members don't complete the trade. And they don't even PM that the book doesn't meet my one RC: smoke/mold smell. There is just this week long of nothing. Seriously. You could hear crickets chirping. Is this common or is this just me?

I have never not responded to a request. Even when a members RC is so outragious and insulting that I am offended, I will let them know why I am not letting them have my book or risk my credit. 

This has happened to me a couple of times along with people printing the label and then not mailing. In this digital age 5 days to do something is too long.

It isn't like these books have been sitting on someone's shelf for months and months and gotten misplaced or thrown out or given away or something.

What you are looking at are books that just had a NEW copy posted into the system.  When you request the book, the request goes to the first person who entered the book in the system - and that may have been someone who hasn't been active at PBS in awhile.

I have 4 books right now that are going to time out tonight. It looks like they are inactive members. As tempting as it is to cancel my requests, it's good that PBS may look into these inactive accounts, so I will let them time out. I agree with Britney that just because you see them as new arrivals into the system, they aren't coming from that member, as they are coming from the first one in the FIFO line which could very well be inactive.  

Okay, I get the FIFO component.  And that is annoying, but I guess, understandable. I don't guess there is a way around this, such as ordering multiple copies, is there? 

But, it is also happening to me with book that on my wish list. They happen less frequently, but they do happen. Those are really infuriating.

With extra credits buring a hole in your pocket, I like to check out the Book Bazaar.  The only copy in system or only 2 copies in system threads are good places to check for interesting books and members looking to move them.  I have gotten quick responses when ordering from those threads. 

The BB is a great place to keep those credits from burning a hole in your pocket.  Also a great place to add to your credits by offering deals. 

I recently went on a spree picking up some series I've been interested in.  I burned through about 10 credits in a couple of days; thing is my deals plus some regular orders set me up so that I've got 12 credits that will be rolling in over the next several weeks (except for one book that is going to Hawaii that I'll be lucky to see a credit by this spring).

-RD

Well and you know when you shop a bookshelf of a forum member they are active members. I always tell myself I am helping to weed out inactive members by letting them time out. It is hard when you go thru 2 or 3 people just to get one small book.