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Topic: What should I do?

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twomanybooks64 avatar
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Subject: What should I do?
Date Posted: 7/9/2008 12:43 AM ET
Member Since: 11/21/2007
Posts: 9,796
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A WL book came up for me last week, which I wanted. The member that posted the book printed the mailing label but did not mark it mailed. The request timed out.  I sent that person a PM telling them I still wanted the book. Their response was that the book was mailed and they were having computer troubles which is why it did not get marked mailed.

Because the request timmed out without being marked mailed, the book was added back to my WL. Tonite someone else posted the same book. So, should I accept the new WL offer or decline it and hope the 1st one accually mailed the book and it does not get lost in the mail??

JimiJam avatar
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Date Posted: 7/9/2008 12:56 AM ET
Member Since: 6/4/2007
Posts: 2,941
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This is a tough one because on the one hand, you could easily receive the first book and simply mark it as such on the Transaction Archive.  On the other hand, if you cancel the second book you'll lose your spot in line and if the first book doesn't actually arrive then you'll be back to square one on all fronts.  I really don't know what you should do, but what I would do is get the second book and then if two books arrive post one for other wishers.  I have no idea if this is absolutely appropriate or not, but it'd definitely be covering all your bases.  I'm not the relaxed type, though.  If you happen to be, then your best bet would be to just wait for the first book and mark it received in the Transaction Archive.

Patouie avatar
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Date Posted: 7/9/2008 2:13 AM ET
Member Since: 8/26/2006
Posts: 9,542
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James' way of doing it is perfectly valid.  

If I felt that I believed the first sender, which I would tend to do, I would cancel the second request.  But that's just me.  If I was desperate for the book, however, two books wouldn't sound like such a bad thing, because I could immediate repost the 2nd one.

I guess it's a personal decision--whatever you're more comfortable with.

patticom avatar
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Date Posted: 7/9/2008 3:57 AM ET
Member Since: 11/3/2007
Posts: 416
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If it's waitlisted I'd go ahead and get the 2nd copy, as others have suggested... this has happened to me a couple of times because of my longer mailing times--the first copy is declared "lost in mail" and it goes on my waitlist then is auto-reordered before I get online to cancel the 2nd (I've learned this happens only for books not in the system, btw--if there are other copies it will go to reminder).  The duplicate copies go pretty quickly though, so the only thing I'm "out" is essentially double credits (or an extra $2 for postage, depending on how you look at it).  If it's a book that's worth $4 instead of $2 to me, which most usually are, it's not such a big deal.  Annoyed the snot out of my at first, but I've gotten over it.  ;)-

Princess65 avatar
Date Posted: 7/9/2008 7:41 AM ET
Member Since: 7/31/2007
Posts: 2,697
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First, I would say if the first person did not mark the book mailed and they did not contact you then you are not obligated to give them a credit....

From the Help Desk...

    The system canceled your transaction because you did not complete the sending process by clicking "Book Has Been Mailed" on the transaction to mark the book mailed before the deadline. Canceled transactions cannot be reactivated.

    If your book has been mailed:

  • Contact the requestor by Personal Message to ask if her request was passed along to another member.
  • If her request was passed along and the wrapper has been printed for the new transaction, she cannot cancel this, and she will end up with two copies of this book!
  • If her request was passed along and the wrapper has NOT been printed for the new transaction, she may agree to cancel the new transaction and give you a credit when your copy of the book arrives. (For an explanation of how credits can be transferred between members, see How do I give credits to other members?)
  • If her request was not passed along, she may agree to give you a credit when your copy arrives. She is not obligated to do this. She should take her copy of the book off her Wish List to prevent receiving future offers of the book.
  • You can send a Personal Message to the requestor from the canceled transaction for this book. Your list of canceled transactions is available via a link at the top of your Transaction Archive page.