I requested a book on 11-15.  It kept saying waiting for member.... then today 11-21 it STILL says "waiting for member" but the request date reads as 11-21 no longer 11-15.  I checked the reminder list to see if there are more copies of the book and the request just moved to the 2nd copy, but the reminder list says ZERO copies available.  Does it re-request because the member posting went on vacation or something???

Probably, there were two copies available on the 15th.  The first person never replied, therefore, after a certain number of days,  it moved to the next person offering the book.  Zero copies are available, because you have the last copy that was listed.

Hope you get this one!

Yes, the system automatically requests the next copy if a request is declined or goes unanswered.  As to why it does that, the assumption (and I think it is a reasonable one) is that you want the book, so the system is set up to automatically try to get you the book as soon as possible.  You generally have the option of canceling up to the point where the wrapper is printed by the sender if you decide you no longer want the book, or removing the book from your wishlist if no other copies are currently available.

I cna't stand waiting for the book order/request to go the next person!!  I have been waiting on a book through 2 people now!!

Well I'm all for weeding out the inactives by letting books time out. But one time when it was on day 3 of the 2nd person I went ahead and cancelled the request. I checked out the person's bookshelf first. Only 3 books posted several months ago, no prophile, no WL, no info on how many transactions they've had.  It just screamed inactive to me. I cancelled the transaction and posted in book bazaar the book I wanted.  I ordered directly off someone's shelf and it was mailed the next day. I figure I did my part weeding out the 1st inactive one. 

what happens to people who don't respond to the request?

the book is removed from their shelf automatically by the system if they don't respond.

Deb - when people don't respond and the order moves on to the next in the system, the book is removed from the shelf of the person that didn't respond (which also means they lose their place in the FIFO line).

I always wait the full time for requests to time out.    It doesn't require any effort from me & it helps clean up PBS.  :)

Also be aware that if you cancel the request before it times out and then order it again from the FIFO system it will just go back to the person you cancelled it from in the first place.