I didn't mail through PBS but I did have delivery confirmation from USPS: 9102 7850 9140 1242 3898 36
 

The book was marked lost today and when I looked it up the item was last scanned :

Processed through Sort Facility, September 24, 2011, 10:36 am, BELL GARDENS, CA 90201

Am I out of luck on this one?

Sorry to say, but yes you're out of luck on this one. Bell Gardens is notorious for holding media mail. I've had a couple of packages sit there for a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, you are out of luck on this one... for now.

However, I live in California, and I've noticed that there are often processing delays for packages that go through the Bell Gardens distribution center, so that's why I'm saying that you are only out of luck for now.  Because it often happens that the packages that disappear into the "black hole" that is the Bell Gardens distribution center do often make it back out again and eventually get delivered.  When it is delivered, your Requestor will be able to mark the book as Received from their Transaction Archive, and you will receive your credit for it.

If however, it stays "lost" and undelivered to your Requestor, then you really are out of luck.  USPS Delivery Confirmation does not guarantee your credit at PBS; only PBS Delivery Confirmation (which, by the way, is less expensive than USPS DC) will guarantee your credit if a book goes "Lost in the mail".

Ah, the black hole of Bell Gardens.  So many of my books have had extended vacations at that location.

Like most situations, PBS guidelines have some suggestions Anny:  A book I sent is lost in the mail!

Basically, yes you still have options.  Read all the info and use what applies to your situation.  And hopefully the requester will put the book on hold for the recommended 2 weeks, because Bell Gardens has been known to spit lost packages back out later.

FYI, if you are going to the expense of using USPS DC anyway, have you considered using PBS DC?  It's cheaper, can be tracked directly thru PBS, and comes with credit assurance.

Thank you for all the rapid responses! I normally print my labels through paypal and for some reason thought it was cheaper than PBS but I will look into it for my next book. I'd never heard of Bell Gardens but have now added it to my "Never Visit" list ;)

It is cheaper through Paypal because PBS collects an extra fee to cover the credits they have to refund when one goes lost.  Which is why they only refund when you use PBS DC.