On the evening that Elizabeth Edwards died, I ordered her book "Saving Graces" from PBS. I don't know how many copies there were at the time available, but members could still order a copy after I requested mine. My request is still waiting for the sender to respond. I looked at her profile and it doesn't look like she has been active since May (has under 5 posted books and a couple of wishlisted books), but there is still hope until the 12th.

Now, since I requested the book, there are no more books available and there are at this time 11  14 wishers. If this sender does not respond to my request by the 12th, my request will then become wishlisted. My question is, will I become the first wisher in the list or go to the end of the line?

***UPDATE*** Dec.30th-- Finally got this book two days ago, yay! Now, I better start reading it and repost while there are still wishers.

Yes, you will become the first wisher in the line because your request predates the line formation. It's a drag, but at least you will be offered the first available book.

You return to your former position in FIFO line Connie, which is why you want to wait instead of cancelling and re-ordering.  Usually #1, but not always if there were other problem transactions ahead of yours.

Addendum to the question,

In a situation like this if there had been 32 people requesting a book with 12 copies posted (random numbers).  Do all members have to wait for the first request to be resolved, or would the first requester get "the sharp end of the stick" because the first book in the system was from an unresponsive member?

 Do all members have to wait for the first request to be resolved

no, once you have been offered a book you have entered into a transaction. You may go back on the list if the transaction times out or gets cancelled, but while you are in the transaction, the line moves along with other books and requests.

Thanks,

Makes me feel good for the way I did non-ISBN posts.

EDIT: Note I previewed all the non-ISBN listings, in fact several of these books haven't even been printed since the advent of 10 & 13 digit ISBN's (several had 11 digits that don't match in any way shape or form the current format for ISBN #'s aka began with a 3 or 6 and were an english translation).

(Looked for the WL'd ones that matched all information (pages, etc) and posted on that one).  I noticed that about 70%-80% of those timed out.

Chris, If I am reading this correctly, it sounds like you are posting books without an ISBN to ones that do have an ISBN...that is a no-no!

EVERYTHING has to match, including the ISBN. If it does not have one, it has to be posted under a unique ISBN. Might not be a problem to most members but if someone is looking for a specific book with a specific ISBN they could and should RWAP you because the book would not match. If I am not understanding what you wrote above, then just ignore me!

You would be put at #1 assumign someone who ordered before you didn't also have their copy time out or get cancelled for some reason-then they would be ehead of you. 

The member never answered my request which I figured would happen from what I described at the top. I am #1 on the wishlist out of 21 wishers now. It says that 4 wishers last week received the book. What upsets me is that I know I was early on requesting the book as there were other books still available and then 4 wishers came in and got their books after the other available ones were taken. All this happened while my request sat and waited for an inactive member for 5 days to answer something she more than likely never even saw.  This is when I dislike the 5 day waiting period requirement.

That would fry me, too, Connie.

I agree it's annoying. Trying to look on the bright side though, if 4 were posted last week, you should have another offer in a couple of days.

Bumping up

Strange how suddenly dying immediately an author becomes hot.  This popularity will soon die down.  As soon as you read it you had better post it.  The popularity of this book will not last long and it will soon become a stale book that will take months to get rid of.

Newest update in OP.

10 days during holiday shipping is extremely optimistic, I wouldn't even begin to wonder about the book until next week.

That's true, Melanie. With the holiday shipping and snow blizzards, there is still hope. I guess I was just thinking because my other books that were mailed later all came today. Now, I just have this one left.

Bumping up for final time.