A book was mailed to me on February 20th. Clearly, this book has been lost in the mail since I've received other books within a week or so. Do you still have to wait until the date that says it should have been received by? I did pm the sender, but received no reply.

Yes, PBS says wait until such a date to contact them and they mean it.  it can come in any time.  I've had things delivered from CA (to me in VA) within 3 days and one from within state take 6 weeks.  Postage from PO to prove it!

Ruth

Waiting is about all you can do. No one is really going to "do" anything until the system action date. At that point, the automated system will mark the book lost (I think it's after 26 days or something similar) and at that point you get your credit refunded and you can reorder the book if you want, but I would personally wait a couple of weeks at least. It may turn up. If it was a wishlisted book, you will go back to the front of the line.  Most books do arrive within a week or two, but occasionally they take longer for whatever reason. Sometimes people live in rural areas that aren't near a distribution center, and media mail bins only get sent along when they are reasonably full, so it may sit there in that tiny PO for a whole week before moving on. You just never know. I had a book that took 7 MONTHS to get to me once--it arrived in perfect shape, the postage sticker indicated that the sender had sent it just when she said she did. Who knows where it went!? If only the book could tell a story!

Just out of curiosity, what did you PM the sender about? I mean, they marked the book mailed--once it's out of their hands, they really can't do anything about a book that takes a long time to arrive.

Cheryl

Did you check where the book was coming from? Media mail from Hawaii and Alaska to the continental US can take up to 6 weeks.

I've had one or two turn up on the day they were meant to go lost and both of them were from states very close to mine.  Just wait until the lost date and then if its a WL you'll be put at number 1 or else you can request the book.

The sender might not have replied because the lost date has not come around. 

Yeah, just be patient. Media mail works in mysterious ways. Sometimes I'll receive a book from the other side of the country in just 3 or 4 days & other times it takes 3 weeks to get one from the next state over. I once had books go lost, & then about 2 months later show up. They were indeed mailed when the person said. Who knows where they were for those 3 months!?!

Or maybe the person marked it mailed, but really didn't mail until a later date. As frustrating as that is, it happens. Just wait for it to go lost & then PM the sender and maybe even wait another week or so before ordering another copy (if it's avaliable in the system).

Sometimes I PM the sender when the book is really slow, but before it goes lost, just to say something like "Hasn't shown up yet -- still watching for it -- just letting you know I didn't receive it but forget to mark it received" ... in case they are wondering if the problem is on the to-be-the-receiver's part.

Sometimes I get Media Mail in a day, and others it takes weeks.  I once watched (via DC scans) a book I'd sent from NJ to RI stop in Michigan for a while.  The logic of Media Mail is something I've just accepted I will never understand.  I hope your book shows up soon!