So, I got a pm today from someone I sent a book to explaining that a mixup had occurred and they'd gotten two copies of the book I sent them and since I'm the second sender they'd like to send me the book back and have me return their credit. I'm normally pretty easy going about this and it sounds like perhaps it was a system glitch or an accident on their part. However, it happens to be a book that has been on my shelf for nearly a year and a half so I don't really want it back!  I thought about just offering her the credit, but lately my books have been going slow and I seem to have alot of wishlisted books coming in so I'm not quite sure what to do. Thoughts?

You are the second sender correct?  She needs to contact the first sender and ask them if they would do it, it would not have gone to you if they sent or marked their book sent in a timely manner.  I think you are not responsible for her duplicate order.  I would pm her back and politely ask her to direct her request to the first sender, that you sent the book on time and on good faith for the credit due, that you sympathise with her plight, and thank her for her understanding.

I'm not sure but it sounds like the first sender didn't mark it mailed (even though they did) and the request was then sent to the next in line - you.  If this is the case I don't believe she was charged  two credits so you don't "owe" her a credit.  She just needs to repost the second copy.

Thanks. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't being unfair or whatever.

Tammy T - I LOVE your quote at the end of your post!

It sounds to me likely that the first sender forgot to press "mailed" and they didn't catch it when the request rolled over to you. 

But that is an assumption.  Does it seem like you contributed in any way to the problem?

If they send the book back, you will be out postage on it and will have lost your position for the book on the queue.  So I would I suggest politely declining.   Point out that if they mail the book back and include stamps, etc. in the amount of the postage you paid to send it to them, that would probably exceed the cost of a credit, so wouldn't make much sense.   They would be better off posting it themselves or perhaps offering it as a freebie in the bazzar. 

-bret

There must be something in the Ether -- I'm on the receiving end of the "two books" dilemma today.  :-) 

I requested a book quite some time ago and it went through at least one other person, and maybe two, before it was accepted and mailed on 2 August.  Just before it went lost, I PM'd the sender to ask if it was mailed, but didn't hear anything, so when it went lost, I ordered another copy, and it's on it's way -- from Hawaii!  (How cool is THAT?!).  As luck would have it, this *was* a book I kind of needed "right now" so all the messing around was getting irritating. 

I got the book the other day, but the return address wasn't from the right state, and it was postmarked 26 August.  I PMd the sender and she didn't understand what happened, so I thought the book wasn't even from her, but maybe even another person it might have gone through -- but my transaction archive was no help. 

So I sent feedback to PBS and they answered right away and explained the whole thing.  So it *was* from her -- and now I'll have two books when the second request arrives. 

To the point -- finally! -- I'm just re-posting the second book.  There are 48 copies in the system, so I'll probably have it for awhile, but I can't don't think there's any better way to handle it.  Everything surrounding this request has been a comedy of errors.  I'm enjoying the irony of the situation given it's a book about effective time and task management by the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Princple-Centered Leadership!  LOL!!!!! 

I just can't help but laugh about all of this.  If this is the *worst* thing that happens this month, I'll be counting my blessings. 

She needs to take this up with the 1st person who neglected to mark the book mailed.  You don't owe her a credit back and she doesn't owe the 1st person a credit. 

Thanks Denise!  

I totally forgot that the requestor would not have been charged for the first book!  DOH!

I agree with Mary, she just needs to post one of the books herslef.