So, I get a TRIPLE request for 3 Sandra Browns from the same member, whoohoo!  I was so delighted, as I am credit poor at the moment, that I sent them first class the next day, cost me $4.50 but I thought" what the heck, how NICE of the requestor!"  I was going to include ANOTHER book, but didn't at the last minute, as the requestor only had one wish book listed.

2 weeks later ..........NO ANSWER....................the requestor should have gotten them in 3 days, tops.  Nothing, nada.  And at the time, I almost used the postage thing, but I've never done it before and just didn't.

So, I sent a pm........"Hey, how you doing?  Any sign of Sandra Brown showing up yet?  I sent her first class, what's up?

Nothing, no reply.  Since I'm now curious, I looked for a profile.  NOTHING> 9 books listed.  oh boy.  Wish I had used the postage thingy.  I took down the address and info because once the books are declared lost, everything disapears.  Oh well....................they could still turn up.

I sent three packages to the same person, first 2-media mail with DC, last one the next day First Class no DC, I figured that one would beat the other two there. Guess which one went lost this last week? I don't send anything without DC anymore unless it a book I just don't care if I get the credit or not.

Hopefully this missing person stays missing, if the books go lost and the account had been inactive, they will automatically get marked as received and you will get your credits. More waiting for them, but at least there is a chance you will get them.

just because someone doesn't have a profile doesn't mean they are no longer a member. I remember how long it took for me to set one up when I joined.  I don't send books without DC anymore- its just so much more convenient and the credit is instant. It is possible that the person really didn't get the books yet especially if you sent them across the country or something. Maybe they didn't get to the site yet to mark them mailed. I would give it some time and see what happens.

Oh Ann,

Your situation sounds like one I have going on right now.. I wonder if it is the same person.  I mailed a book last week with delivery confirmation and I know it was received but the person has not marked it received.  Her profile is gone, her home page comes up with an error and no response from my PM.  I'm hoping it is just that she hasn't been on PBS and will show up before it goes lost or I am out...

hmmmm.........

I mailed a book on the 25th first class, still hasn't been received.  I pm'd the sender 3 days ago and no reply.  I've had it where people have went on vacation,  but it's interesting that others are having the same issue with first class.

There must be something going on with media mail this month.   I sent out books on the 29th that are about to go missing (first time, ever), and I'm also waiting on two books to arrive, mailed at about the same time, that don't look like they're going to come, either.   This shipping/receiving batch has been the first time, ever, that I've had anything go lost either coming or going.   For no reason at all, really, I suspect that all of the books will turn up, even if they time out of the system.   

I'm hoping they can still be marked received after they have timed out.  I think I read that they can.

Donna B

Hi Donna,

Yes, they can be marked received after timing out.  Just need to go to the Transaction Archive to do it.

Deb

I live in NJ, I sent them to NY. ugh.  I know when I send or receive to Texas it's like it has to go via Mars to get to me.  They are always just so late! 

Well, I was glad to read that if this person does disapear, I may still get my credits back. Just got a request for an audio book, so that will help!  I'll try the postage thing this time.

I hope you get your credits.  That would suck.  I try to use DC on people whom I'm not sure about, just in case.  If they've been around forever and have a profile and I've seen them on the forums then I usually forgo the DC.  But if they have no profile and 9 books, then definately I'd use the DC.  Better safe than sorry. 

WoW!  JUST GOT THE CREDITS!  TODAY< ONE DAY AFTER STARTING THE DISCUSSION.. iS THAT WEIRD OR WHAT???

I can't tell you how amazed I am.  I had given up.

THank you Lord.  The members computer was down......................thank you thank you thank you

I am still going to start using the postage.................did one today.

I generally don't PM anyone until the books officially go missing through the system.  As a sender, it's annoying to be bombarded with premature PMs "Did you get my books?  Did you get my books?"   Some people simply don't understand that A) Media mail takes time and B)  Most people are dilligent in marking their books received. 

(Not that you were harassing the receiver - just another perspective.)

As for DC, IMO, it's a waste of money.  I have sent 590+ books and had 2 shipments go missing. If you do the math, it's definitely not worth the "insurance" of DC.

Usually the USPS is pretty good about first class mail. But certain things can slow it down. Such as:

- During the xmas season, starting about Dec 1, things slow down.

- If a servicing center is hit by a natural disaster, I do not know if the USPS reroutes mail around that SC or if mail just piles up at the affected SC. For example, what if an SC was affected by tornado, hurricane, power outage, or something else? One SC in Washington DC was shut down for 1 or 2 weeks because they thought anthrax had gone through that center for a congressman.

- Mail gets stolen or lost. Bags fly out of loose doors, people steal mail (a felony I think). Did anyone see those 60 Minute shows about all the IRS forms going missing? I mean bags and bags of them never got to the IRS. People were paying their income tax and there were hundreds of checks and forms just gone, misplaced, pushed in a corner, etc.

There are other things that can affect the recipient such as:

- Their computer is down. (They could, however, go to the library and use one for free for 10 minutes and give the sender a credit.)

- Person has a sudden illness and cannot use the computer.

- Recipient's relative dies and they have to make funeral arrangements. Or relative of recipient has illness and recipient has to go help them for a couple weeks.

- ISP may be down or affected by a natural disaster (kind of rare though). ISP usually relocates to a physically different server and has service within a few days.

Well, I've been using the PBS postage for the convenience of sending out books from my mailbox or a dropbox, but if I really needed to be sure I got the credit for a book (money tight, needed credits, etc.) I'd pay the extra for the DC.

And sometimes first class DOES take the full time.  I sent a book last year first class that came within one day of going "lost."  Things happen.  I am so glad that it worked out for you, Ann, and now you have three wonderful credits to spend!