I requested a book, it was granted, the owner printed the label and marked it as 'shipped' and now they have sent a PM asking if they can mail it at a later date due to their 'financial situation'.  How the heck can that happen?  What shoudl I say?

I think this sort of thing is really supposed to be worked out before they mark it mailed.  If they realized they needed to mail it later, they should have PMed you before they marked it mailed to make sure that was OK with you.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't know if there's anything that can be done now if it's already marked mailed...? 

If I hadn't mailed their book yet I would tell them that I will go ahead and hold theirs too until they get yours to you.  I would also remind them that they shouldn't mark it mailed until the actually have the task done.

Can they cancel it on their end so you can order it from someone else?  I know everyone runs short at times, but I think it was irresponsible of them to mark it "mailed" when it clearly had not been.  Short of them having an unexpected emergency that cleaned them out, surely they can afford $2.33 in postage within the next day or so?

Do you want to wait to have them send the book later?  If not , maybe there are other copies you could oreder now, it can be canceled. You will have to tell the sender to contact TPTB and ask them to cancel the request

From the help center -If you need to cancel a book after you have marked it mailed
* Please contact us and specify the book title, so that we can cancel the transaction for you

Yeah - I dont htink they should have marked it as mailed either. Hmmmm.  well I think I will ask them to cancel the order so I can get it from someone else.

Thanks!

Well if they don't actually mail the book out-it'll eventually go lost and you'll get your credit back.  But then you don't have your credit or your book for a month. 

When did they say they were going to mail it out?  It's  a tough one. On the one hand you want to be nice and give them some extra time.  But on the other hand you want your book or your credit back. 

Some folks may be having hurricane-related issues.  I know of at least one person who is having payroll processing issues -- the processing place is in the swath of destruction left by Ike -- and her paycheck has been delayed.  If something like this is the problem, the poster may have marked the book mailed to keep it from timing out, and PM'ed you.  Just a thought.

Ann - an understandable circumstance, BUT  the sender should have PMed first.  If it were me, I would tell them that the rules state the book has to be mailed within 48 hours of being marked mailed, per Help Center rules.  She shouldn't have marked it mailed if she had no intention to mail it.  I would have her contact PBS to cancel the transaction.

we worked it out. He finally sent it. I think he just ran into a situation where he markedit mailed yet it wasn;t really 'mailed'. Someone gifted me a credit whiel I waited so I paid it forward and gifted someone else a credit!  It worked out in the end :)  Wish we could exchange credits for postage - THAT would be cool!!!!  I have over 70 credits to spend right now.

oh!! I didnt know that! Off to check it out!  THX :)

I have the exact same situation going on right now. The book was marked mailed on the 9th but still hasn't been sent; I got a PM yesterday that it would for sure be sent this week.

I've wondered if it's an attempt to get postage $$ from me. Since the book is a wish list book, I haven't cancelled it, at least not yet.

If I'm not in town and can't mail books, I put my account on vacation status; anyone without the $2-plus for postage really should do the same until they can scrape up enough to mail a book.

And this particular person is in California, not impacted by the hurricanes.

I have to wonder if it's the same person.

I marked a bunch of books mailed one day when I was on my way to the post office thinking they would be mailed within the next hour. Only to have my credit card declined because their CC system was down. I knew I didn't have the money in checking to cover $60 in postage so I had to wait and go back on Monday because it was Friday and my PO isn't open at all on weekends.

I wouldn't have a big issue with marking the book mailed on Friday and not getting it out until Monday, but marking it on the 9th and finally mailing it on the 23rd is a little much.

Things do happen, but if you know you can't mail a book, don't say that you can.

I still say it shouldnt be marked 'mailed' till it's been mailed. There is no button for 'gonna mail shortly' or 'think i will mail '  :)

I never mark 'mailed' until its AT THE PO or in my mailbox waiting for the carrier.  This person actually TOLD me that he marked it mailed (2 days prior) and then ran out of money to mail it. So I say thats' not fair play.  Just my thoughts.  Anyway - now its on its way apparenlty!