I mailed my first two requested books out on the same day - one of the requestors promptly marked theirs received earlier this week, but the other requestor has not.  I know I am a little antsy since I am new to the whole paperback swap, but what is considered proper PM'ing etiquette?  Should I wait a week or two to PM the other requestor to see if they received their book?  Is it OK to PM the other requestor now?

I generally won't think about pming until the book is about to go lost in the system.  I think PBS teaches you patience.  Some books arrive quickly, and other books bounce around for weeks (I've watched them on USPS  tracking- I had a game book go from NJ to Maryland by way of Michigan once).  Also some people don't get mail or have computer access everyday, and it's summer vacation season.  I know it can be frustrating, but I've only had 1 book in over 200 that I sent declared lost, and that one was marked received 3 days later when it finally arrived.

Welcome to PBS :)

If you did not have Delivery Confirmation on the book showing a delivery scan, I would not PM the requester under it gets within a day or two of the lost date (2 days prior to the system action date). The system gives the book 26 days because sometimes thats what it takes.

With Media Mail there is no rhyme or reason to how long it takes and the other book having been delivered means nothing. The assumption should be that the receiver will mark it received when they do, not that they have the book and just aren't marking it. Many members get annoyed by PMs long before the lost date because they feel it is obvious that since it isn't mark received, it hasn't been.

If you use a DC, then I would wait a week after a delivery scan before PMing.

Welcome!  The PBS system will send reminder messages after a time to the receivers to remind them to mark the book received if they have received it.  I just had one not traveling that far from me take til almost the very end of the time period to be marked as received.  I have no idea if they forgot or if they had something happen or if the book just took that long.  I know it is hard because you launched a book out there and you want to see it arrive, but so far, I have only had one or two books go lost and they were coming to me.  I have had two books take FOREVER to get somewhere though, and I was convinced they are going to be lost.  Swapping does teach a lot of patience. 

I certainly wouldn't PM now since you haven't even been a member for 2 wks.  Some books take 2 days to go cross country-some take 3 wks to travel 6 hrs.  You just never know.  And getting pms from someone that early asking about a book is kind of annoying.  Also keep in mind that it is vacation season.  Most members probably hold off on ordering when a vacation is coming up.  But if a WL books is offered before you've put your shelf on vacation you have to accept or  you lose your place in line. 

Welcome to PBS Manon!  

What Melanie said.  Without DC the earliest I would recommend is the last week before the PBS system marks it lost.  If using DC, maybe 4 to 6 days...some POs use incorrect scans (like delivered instead of arrival at unit) or scan 'delivered' but members report actual delivery 2 - 4 days later. 

Media Mail doesn't run on a schedule like the other mail rates, so the times vary alot (and distance isn't always the most important variable).

ETA - remember the season, as some members are on vacation or super busy with summer activities.  They may not be checking in as often, or not home to receive mail.   But most often these slower books arrive just fine.

Welcome to PBS!

I'm basically going to say the same thing, which is ... give the mail a chance!

I've mailed out more than 600 and never had any go lost. I would say that most are marked received somewhere in the 2nd week after mailing, though. Next most common are probably arriving in the third week and the first week after mailing. Relatively few arrive in the fourth week, but I have both sent some and received some that took the whole 4 weeks.

So, basically, just give it a little more time! I am sure your books will arrive without any problems.

Also...they system will automatically send out an e-mail to members who haven't marked received...I'm not sure when these go out--either two or three weeks after you makred the book mailed and then another a week later.

So the receiver is getting reminders all ready.

Thanks to everyone!  I'm going to be patient!  I am loving this so much so far.

I handle it by sending a PM right before a book is going to go lost that is worded to reassure that I did mail the book on time.  With details if I remember them. 

Have received PMs that demand that I mark a book received.  When I have not received it.  Nasty taste in my mouth over that.  (Once, the substitute mailman scanned a bunch of books as delivered, but did not actually deliver them.  Got a big pile when my regular mailman came back from vacation.  Boy, was he pissed at the sub.)