I just received an email from PBS canceling a transaction for a book that was supposed to be on its way to me. The member never marked it mailed after repeated emails from PBS so they (PBS) gave me back my credit and said they were putting my request for this book back on the wishlist.

I just checked my wishlist and I am now 3rd out of 57 members wishing for this book. Shouldn't I be first? I mean, I was at the top of the line before and PBS canceled the transaction, not me...so shouldn't I go back to my place on the line?

I'm not too familiar with PBS... but I did see a post similar to this (only it was about moving backwards in WL line).... from my understanding, depending on how much time lagged between your WL book being granted and the cancelation, it is possible that people who initially had thier accounts on hold have taken it off.  I guess that when you put your account on hold you retain your place in the WL line and so it is concievable that if you were 2nd in line, placed your account on hold then took it off again, you would stay 2nd in line.  Perhaps that happened? 

It's possible that before the book was offered there were two people who were technically ahead of you but had their accounts on hold.  If that were the case, and if they took their accounts off of the vacation hold, then maybe they were placed back at first and second in line.  I'm not sure if this is correct, but it sounds plausible in theory.  I would ask PBS through the Contact Us link, they should have an answer.  If you really should be first in line they can fix it, I believe.

The rules don't actually state that you will be put back at "first" in line in a situation like this, it actually states that you will be returned to your former place in line and that might not have been first. 

Things that could affect your place....

If you were third in line when this book was offered and the first two had RC's that were declined so, you were offered the book.  In this case yes you'd go back to the third spot.

If you were third in line and one was passed over for RC's and the other took their account off Vacation Hold.

You might have been first BUT, someone that had been ahead of you got a damaged book and was put back ahead of you and someone else had a book cancel out or go lost that was ahead of you...they would bump you back to third place.

You were first but, two people that had their account on Vacation Hold took their account off hold and they were ahead of you, you would be bumped back.

I am sure there are others and multiple combinations of the ones I listed....but, the bottom line is when something like this happens you don't always go back to first.

btw...sorry this happened to you!!!

Or the 2 other folks have already been offered the book but have not yet accepted so they are not removed from the wishlist as it's still on 48 hour hold.

Many variables.

Thanks, everyone. I don't have any RC's so I forget that other members do. I'm sure that is probably what happened...I must have been third on the line all along. Oh well, 3rd out of 57 isn't too bad. I guess I was just frustrated because the member accepted my request and then couldn't be bothered to mail the book!