I requested some books from the same member two weeks ago.  They mailed the books 10 days ago and put DC on them.  The little map comes up when I click on the green arrow and I can see where the books are.  However, for the past week, the truck has been in the same spot on the map and hasn't moved.  When I click on 'details' I only see that the books were scanned when they were first mailed out.  I'm not sure what could be taking so long.

Three days ago, I requested a book from someone else and got it today.  7 days ago, I ordered 5 books from someone and got them today(they also put DC on them and I could track with the map.  No problems there).

I've never had this problem before, so I'm just curious as to what could be going on.  Should I call the post office and ask them about it?  Or should I just wait?

You should just wait, Jasmine. It may be that the books are moving merrily along the way but haven't been scanned again. Delivery Confirmation means that the book will be scanned upon the delivery, not necessarily in every stop it makes. Some books are scanned in every stop and others get to their destination without ever having been scanned.

That map doesn't really reflect any part of reality unless there are actual scans showing in the details. The truck is merely an amusing estimate on the possible path and time the book could take. If the first package is bigger and going media mail, it could very well be passed up by smaller packages.

I wouldn't worry about the package until it gets close to the lost date in the system, PBS gives 26 days before marking a book lost for a good reason - sometimes it actually takes that long. There is not rhyme or reason to how media mail travels so you'll just drive yourself crazy watching packages and trying to guess travel time based on what other packages are doing.

Oh, I should add that on the map, the truck looks like it's right under the red dot that marks the 'final destination.'  That's why I'm confused as to why I haven't gotten them yet.

Here is a screenshot of the map: http://i28.tinypic.com/flypae.png

The map is not always accurate. I have had the map show the book traveling toward me and then turned and going in the opposite direction. And the line from the truck to the final destination on your map is still grey.

Right, don't look at the map, look at the details. What are the exact records you see there?

If the only thing you see is "Electronic Shipping Info Received", than that just means a barcode was printed, it does not mean that it was scanned. Real scans say "En Route", "Acceptance", "Arrival At Unit", "Delivered", etc.

If the package was never scanned, you can send a PM that says something like "I just wanted to check that these books were actually mailed. I see that USPS has never scanned the barcode, and I know sometimes packages can get misplaced. If you haven't yet sent this one, can you please let me know?"

Details for the books:

Delivery Confirmation Events

USPS DC#: 9101165561353017068246

• 7/2/2010 4:00 PM - Electronic Shipping Info Received - PALM BCH GDNS,FL

Delivery Confirmation Events

USPS DC#: 9102165561353017061284

• 7/2/2010 11:00 AM - Electronic Shipping Info Received - PALM BCH GDNS,FL

All you (and the PBS system) know at this point is that the person printed a label with DC on it. I always assume that the sender did what they were supposed to and the book is on its way, it just hasn't had any scans yet. The only scan required is the Delivery scan so it is not unheard of for a book to never get a scan prior to that. The only way for that little truck to be even close to actual is if there are scans, since there are none, the truck's location is meaningless. The existance of the map might make one think that they can track the travel of a book, but that is just an illusion and there is no way to know anything unless there is a scan.

You are only 10 days from the mailed date. It is very reasonable to not have a book in 10 days. I wouldn't even bother looking at the transaction until it gets closer that  lost date at the end of the month. I wouldn't PM a sender before 7/28 or 7/29 to check on the book either. PBS requires us to practice patience.  Media Mail is unpredictable - you can send something across the country and it will get there in 2 days and something going within your state can take 3 weeks.

Don't pay any attention to the guy driving that little truck -- he often appears to take a "martini lunch" and drives his truck around in the Atlantic Ocean, takes the land route from Hawaii to the mainland, etc.  If you look at my maps, you can see he delivered one to the waters around Puerto Rico

Thanks for all the help, guys.  I guess I'll try and be patient, but I am seriously lacking in that department.   I'm definitely not used to waiting 10 days to receive a couple of books, so I guess that's why I kinda freaked out about it.  lol.  If nothing happens in the next 10-14 days or, I'll probably send a PM.

They may just be caught up in one of those wonderful little postal black holes that seem to exist all over the country...