How long is it appropriate to 'wait for a member' to respond to a request? I'm new here, just signed up on Friday, June 19th (09) and I immediately had several books requested from my bookshelf - I've already sent 3, and have 2 more packaged to go. I have requested 4 books from 3 other members, and only one has been accepted. The other 3 books are listed as 'waiting for member'.

How long should I wait until I cancel? I read that general requests transfer to other members, but what if it is a request from a specific bookshelf?

Still learning the ropes - sorry if this is answered somewhere else and I missed it!

The request will automatically time out and go to the next person in the FIFO line after I think 5 days.  If you cancel it before then and re-request it, it will go back to the person you are currently waiting on.  It's best to wait it out and let the system move on for you.

I am waiting also - it is summer so I am hoping they haven't been on that much or were away for the weekend.  I checked their profile and they have been a member for some time and they have traded books - so I am waiting to see if they respond.  There are 77 copies on the site -so it is just matter of time...

That's the most difficult thing for me to do - Wait for Member.  Gads, I want them to respond right now!  But, as other people will say life gets in the way at times.  Some people don't have access to a computer every day either.

So long as there are more copies you'll get the book.  I had one that went through four people before I finally got a member to accept it.  People will tell you that you're helping to weed out inactive people.  I don't care I want them to accept it now!   LOL

How long is it appropriate to 'wait for a member' to respond to a request?

The PBS program takes care of everything for you.

How long should I wait until I cancel? I read that general requests transfer to other members, but what if it is a request from a specific bookshelf?

If a book request from a specific bookshelf times out, your request will move onto whoever is first in the FIFO line. 

Thanks so much. Very helpful, and so awesome that the system works like that. I am a little anxious, b/c I'm requesting books I can't get at my local library, and I read very fast in the summer...so I'm always in need of a new book. But, I can be patient if needed... but I don't have to like it!

Will check on if there are more of my requested books in the system. Thanks again!

PBS is an awesome site but it will teach you patience.  Around here, patience is a requirement!

PBS is an awesome site but it will teach you patience.  Around here, patience is a requirement

It's also a great excuse for keeping a sizeable TBR pile around!

Just so you know you will have to learn some more patience after learning to wait for them to mark it accepted, then they have another 5 days to mark it mailed! I know it is terribly hard to learn to wait for the books, but when you realize that sometimes that waiting has been nothing compared to what the PO is going to put you thru -- sometimes as much as FOUR WEEKS -- you'll learn to accept the members time because the PO is just going to take their merry sweet time (or maybe ship it in two days from clear across the country and surprise the dickens out of you! You just never know)

Many new members wonder WHY did PBS give senders so much time!?! Isn't 48 hours enough?? Afterall, that's all you get to make sure you accept your WL book in!

Some people don't have pay schedules that allow them to mail more than once ever 11 days or so. Some like myself are disabled, and have a disable spouse, so I have to wait on him to get my books, then to wrap & mail them, and some days/wks he's just very slow because of his pains.

The best advice ever given to a new member of PBS is to learn patience. The second is to go to the Help Center (above in the gray bar) click the second item in the drop down (BROWSE HELP DOCS) and read no less than all the articles under the first 5-6 topics on the left. As much more as you can will REALLY help. Nearly every question asked on these forums could be answered from the HC. It is key word and phrase searchable, and will answer nearly all you want to know.

If you don't understand or still can't find your answer in the HC, always remember you first have your own personal Tour Guide (she'a already on your Buddy list for quick axcess to answers) or an of the other Tour Guides that are online at the moment by going back up to that HC tab above, and clicking Live Help, and choosing one of the TGs listed there.

Hope that helps!

And even with all the waiting sometimes you'll get a surprise in your mailbox... a book arrived in record time!  You never know what to expect.  This happened yesterday, I swear someone teleported that book for it to arrive so fast!

Welcome to PBS!

Woo Hoo! I'm getting some books!  So excited. :) I guess a little patience goes a long way... :)

My patience is being challenged - I got hooked on a new series so requested the next five books, and of course the one where I'm "waiting on member" is the next book in the series I need to read.  I've received all the others so I'm just waiting for that one.  So frustrating, but I know when I finally get it I'll be able to read them all in a row, which will be fun!

Lani, the PBS system is so efficient, you may not even notice if a request rolls over to a new sender.   Which can make the wait seem even longer.  Welcome to PBS, and hope you get lots of good books soon :-)

How about this?

I requested a book off my reminder list. The system showed 2 or 3 copies. The first one in the FIFO sent me a PM saying her copy has underlining in some of the pages. This is neither a textbook nor a cookbook, so that violates PBS posting guidelines - as well being one of the 2 mandatory no-nos in my RCs.

At least she PMed me first, right?

Well, it is still showing as Waiting for Member in my main page. If I cancel the order, I cannot re-order it without the order going right back to her. I asked her to decline my request (and take the book off her shelf, since it does not meet PBS guidelines) - so far, no response.

 What if someone else orders the other copies while I am waiting? Obviously, PBS is not going to hold those copies to see if this member accepts the order - so, it looks like I may be first in now, but this other member can cost me my spot in the line.

Is there something that can be done here? Or am I stuck until the 5 days rolls around or until she does the right thing?

I think you are stuck if she doesn't decline.  Can't force it.  It's a shame, but waiting the few days is worth it, after all, it will be taken off her shelf when it times out.

Ruth

I requested a book which was accepted within what seemed like an hour before the time ran out (5 days), then was marked 'will mail by'... (4-5 days more). Then I got an email saying the book was not available. I went to the list the sender had available and this book was only one of 12. How would this hapen? There was no other message in the email. Just 'not available'.

Why do members post books then not accept by the time available? Isn't there a vacation hold? Most of my transactions have been great, but I'm confused about the other ones.

Leslie

This would only be speculation, but she may have promised it elsewhere, or more likely not finished reading it or didn't really mean to put it on her bookshelf.  I'd vote for not having finished reading it.

Ruth

Thanks Ruth. That makes sense and, of course, I never thought of that! I noticed when I mark a received book that there is an option to keep on list... I guess that would be one.

I've read some topics and this is definately not a biggie compared to a lot of other transactions, lol.

Leslie

Ruth (and others),

Okay, the latest on my Waiting on Member when I asked her to decline because her book does not meet PBS guidelines OR my RCs --- she mailed it !

I received an email a short while ago and had to sign in to confirm - she marked it mailed ! After I asked her via PM 3 times to decline my request !

Well, her original PM (in which she said it had underlining "but not a lot") says she "could" mail it and then I could decide if I wanted to give her a credit. What is going to happen is that I already gave up the credit when I requested it and she will have to agree to give it back (I WILL mark it RWAP, after she flagrantly ignored my RC AND the PBS guidelines)

And I still have to wait to re-request it, so I lose my spot in the FIFO list ! This is, as the young kids are so often heard to say, NOT FAIR !

Oh well, I guess I can just wait -- since she has left me no other options, anyway. (walks off muttering...)

50 is the new 30. (My motto for this year - since today (6-27-09) is my 50th birthday, I am adopting this motto until I turn 51.)

Bummer Tim, that was rude.  The upside, is that once the book is received and you mark it RWAP 1) PBS admin will have record of the transaction & PM's, and 2) you will go back on FIFO at #1...eventually! 

Does one really go back to #1 in FIFO if you mark a book RWAP?  I thought it only happened if a book went lost (or if the sender cancelled before mailing). 

I've had numerous RWAPs and am always put back at #1 in FIFO.

Tim...just curious but what book are we talking about?