This week I have had two books lost in the mail- one I was sending and one I was receiving.

I wrap my books really well, and in over three years of swapping this has never happened to me before now.

I received part of my wrapper back with a letter from the USPS.

Is this just a coincidence or are other people also having this problem?

Jennifer

I sent out 12 books this week and 9 of them have been received with no problem.  I did get a book last week that the package was damaged - but that was because they put it in a plain Kraft envelope that was double the size of the book with no padding - I PMd her and suggested she try other shipping materials to secure her books.

Kraft/manilla envelopes are not a bad mailing choice...IF the sender folds them down snug to the book and secure with packing tape.  They actually travel well that way, the paper is sturdy and rarely damaged if the sender doesn't leave excess for the sorting machine to chew on.  IIRC PBS specifically addresses this issue in mailing guidelines, so books mailed in oversized kraft envelopes could probably be RWAP'd 'damaged by sender' rather than 'damaged by USPS.'

No problems all summer. Only book lost was during holiday rush last DEC and it was only going 2 hours away!