Hey Everyone!  Please let me start by saying I mean no disrespect to anyone living in Puerto Rico or Hawaii... and I know people living there deserve to be able to swap too.... buuuuuttttt

I just got a wish list fulfilled today for a book I've been waiting so long for and it is coming from PR, with the message from PBS that it'll take longer than normal to arrive, the estimate is a month and 4 days away.  I know from experience after waiting on a book coming from Hawaii that it will indeed be a long time... that book went past the "lost in the mail" time limit, it did finally arrive and I was able to finish the swap via Transaction Archive.  But I so don't want to wait that long for this book.  The book is being posted fairly often so I know that others in line behind me on the wish list will receive their copies before me, which is a bummer. 

I had the book on Auto Request so it's already been accepted and they've already marked it sent, so I can't cancel, but... honestly.... if the choice were given before hand I wouldn't accept books from far away like that.  Of course I wouldn't want to loose my place in line either. 

Just wanted to know everyone else's opinion.

Thanks!

I've never received a book from that far away, but I did just send my first book to PR. It arrived before the lost date too. I was a bit worried it wouldn't, but I mailed it First Class and I think that helped.

I agree it would be hard waiting for a book a little longer than normal; however, I would rather it happen that way instead of a book going lost. I had two books go lost the other week. I've reordered one now that it's been two weeks. They've marked it mailed, and I'm hoping so hard it was actually mailed this time. I swear, if this one goes lost too I'm going to scream because that will mean over two months of waiting for one book.

So I understand your frustration, but just remind yourself it could be worse. And maybe they sent the book first class!

I just mailed a book to HI - took 24 days to get there.  Last summer I received one from HI in 4 days.  Go figure.

I suppose you could put in your Requestor Conditions that you don't want books from PR or HI.

I live in Hawaii....and unless it's a heavy hardcover, I automatically upgrade to first class. The cost is never more than a few cents (and is often cheaper than media), and peace of mind knowing it will arrive in a timely manner is priceless.The longest I've waited for one is about a month. 

...but it was worth it!

chele

I've sent and received numerous books to and from HI and PR.  There has never been a problem.  It may take a week longer, but it's the same USPS we all use for the other states.

I have sent and received from both PR and HI and don't mind at all. Only one ever went passed the lost date and I simply went in and marked it received in the transaction archive.

I have SO many books to read that taking a month to get to me isn't a problem!

I've had books from Hawaii and Alaska (and sent to there) and from APO/FPOs and some of them got to me before books sent from other places. Can't speak about PR because I haven't received a book from there yet. I think I may have sent one there and I don't know that it took much longer than a book going to another state far away. Now I have to check to see where I've gotten books from !

edited--Nope, no books to or from PR. Darn it, now I want one from there!

I think it would be awfully unfair to the people living in PR and HI to be able to deny requests from them because of where they live.  I've had books take nearly a month from one state away so someone being closer to you is no guarantee of a faster delivery.  If you need a book that quickly then buy it somewhere.  I don't mean to sound harsh it's just that many of these people are military.  They shouldn't be made to feel bad because their books might take a bit longer to be delivered.  They already have people who turn down their RCS and book requests for this reason. 

I'm just happy to get a WL book and I don't care where it's coming from or who is sending.

I think it would be awfully unfair to the people living in PR and HI to be able to deny requests from them because of where they live.  I've had books take nearly a month from one state away so someone being closer to you is no guarantee of a faster delivery.   If you need a book that quickly than buy it somewhere.  I don't mean to sound harsh it's just that many of these people are military.

I'm just happy to get a WL book and I don't care where it's coming from or who is sending.

ITA with you, Mary.  I've had books sent within the continential US take nearly a full month, and others going to the same state only take 8-10 days.  Sent one within state that took 3 days.  The OP can of course set whatever RCs she wants, but  she asked for others' opinions so yes, I think she's being foolish in this respect. 

The book is being posted fairly often so I know that others in line behind me on the wish list will receive their copies before me, which is a bummer.

AYFKM?  This is totally ridiculous.  As long as you will still be getting the book, what's the issue?  Are you in some reading contest where you want to read it before others?  If you are that impatient, I think you need to get it from the library or buy it. 

I live in Florida, so I would welcome a book from PR, since 90% of the mail to and from PR moves thru FL.

On the other hand, I shudder whenever I see a book coming from California - it takes forever.  But I know it will get here eventually - I just learn patience.

wc

Actually the mail to Puerto Rico is fairly fast, I sent a book via media mail from NH and it was received within three days.  I have had to wait longer for books from New Jersey.

You may be pleasantly surprised.

Angie

But I so don't want to wait that long for this book.

Just splurge and buy it.

Really, if you can't wait a couple more weeks on a WL book, when it could have taken months more for it to be offered to you, then it's time to just break down and buy it new or used on-line and save yourself the frustration.

Then you'll be happy, and when you're done if you don't want it you'll have a book probably still on someone's WL. So a good thing times two.

This is a great place to get books, but not ones you've got to have within a certain amount of time. It just isn't the place for that.

What are your feelings about receiving books from PR & HI?

Like others, I'm just happy to receive a WL book, no matter where it's from or how long it takes.

I have only had one or two take the full length of PBS mailing time, not worse record then any other state.

If you don't want to receive books from those states, then cancel your request. I don't think its going to be any skin of their backs if they send to the next person in the Wish List line instead of you. You would be removing yourself from the Wish Line so your wait would probably be longer than getting it from one of these places and having the mailing part take a month, but if it aggrevates you that much that would be your option. The site isn't going to limit the membership based on the fact that it could take longer for it to get to its destination because it really doesn't consistantly take that long.

I got a book from Puerto Rico, sent first class, and it came within a week. Like others have said, it would probably take longer for a book to get to or from California (I'm in Virginia). It's just a matter of where you are, I think.

I've received books from Hawaii with no problem, so I wouldn't worry about it.   I also received a book from Guam, and that book made it to me in 5 days!  

"with the message from PBS that it'll take longer than normal to arrive, the estimate is a month and 4 days away"

PBS sends this message so you WON'T stress out,  and says that it is only an ESTIMATE of the travel time.  You might be pleasantly surprised and receive your book much faster than you thought.  

I have received a book from Japan and one from Alaska.  The one from Japan arrived in a week.   The one from Alaska didn't take terribly long either.  I had one from a nearer state get stuck in Dallas for two weeks.   I just thought it awesome that I was getting books from Japan and Alaska! 

I can understand your excitement over getting a book you really want.  I have to calm myself when the mail takes a long time.  But, it is so random which books make it quickly and which take the long route.  I wouldn't have any qualms about ordering a book from anyone from any area.  It's quite fascinating to me where some of the books come from. 

Hope your book arrives soon!

I've sent books to Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Alaska, and received books from all three places. Shipping time has never taken as long as the estimates.

It takes a little longer, but not usually the whole time they allow before it goes lost. I think I've had just one or two that went lost before they finally turned up, but they were hardcovers sent media mail. I would not have any qualms about receiving books from there.

If you want more control over who you get your books from, it's best to not have your wishlist auto-requested. I have all mine on auto request and many a time I get up in the morning to find a couple of books that have been posted, printed and marked mailed before I even know they've been ordered. But I don't mind that at all.

Cheryl

Kuddo's to the Hawaii member who printed and mailed promptly!  Whether near or far, the speed of Media Mail is out of our hands and not worth stressing over.

Thanks for all the encouraging comments and reminder that it might not take as long as I first thought!  And thanks for all the comments from you all who have gotten books from these places already, it really helps to hear others experiences.

Some of the comments were harsh, a couple extremely so... I almost wished I hadn't asked the question.  Why did you guys take such offense?  I kind of felt attacked... I just wanted to get an idea of others feelings and opinions, I was completely opened minded and had NEVER said I wanted to limit swappers who live in those areas!  I come from a Military family and support them & their families in any way I can so any suggestion that I'd not want to receive books from them really hurt me.  I don't feel like my question was foolish at all.

If people can't come to these boards and use their fellow book loving sisters as a sounding board and bounce stuff off each other without getting pummeled then I say there's a minority of us who will forever keep our mouths shut and not participate in the boards.

Maybe a couple of you woke up on the wrong side of the bed or answered my post before your Java or something, gosh!  I only wanted to know how others felt, wasn't trying to start a bash PR/HI thread, (don't even know how the military families got thrown in there anyway) 

I'm greatly encouraged now by some of the posts that my book will arrive in time and as another poster pointed out... I can concentrate on books that I have already received... so thanks for that much I guess... maybe we could all try to be a little nicer?  You know the old saying... "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar".

I lived in HI and can concur that Media Mail can take longer but transit times are erratic.  I always have a supply of envelopes and packing available so would mail promptly.  I also discovered that certain Post Offices 'move' media mail quicker than others, so I tried to send from these whenever possible.

I would also send a note to the requestor  as follows: "As the transit time can be so long, many of my books get marked ?Lost? in the PBS system but eventually show up.  Patience is required

 The TV show ?Lost? is filmed in Hawaii? coincidence? LOL!!"

If I used tracking, I would send the DC but even then it could take 2-3 weeks before anything shows up on the USPS scan, usually when the book had arrived in CA by slow boat across the Pacific.