Right now I'm sitting here very confused and baffled. This is what happened... I got a communication from a member that I requested a book from. This book went lost about a week ago. I didn't message the member or do anything, because the rare  books that go lost eventually turn up in a week or so.

Anyway, so I clicked the link in the PBS e-mail to read the comment left by the member. It was a very brief message that said that the book they mailed to me was returned because the post office was not able to forward it. And then the member wrote that the address used was the one provided by PBS.

The thing is, I don't know what to say. I've lived at my current address for the last 20 years. And I'm positive the address provided by PBS is accurate, because for one, I just checked it the other day, and two, every single one of the books I've requested have reached me. I've never had this happen.

I just finished messaging the member exactly what I just said. Plus I said that I have no idea how to proceed from here. I'm sure she's out the postage she used to mail the book.

Has this happened to anyone else? Do I need to contact R&R? I feel bad this person is probably out the postage, but on the other hand, there was no reason for the post office to send it back. I've never moved!

Natalie

This hasn't happened to me here but I used to send out a bimonthly newsletter to over 300 people across north America and a few times a year I'd get one back with "Unable to forward" or "Address Unknown". In every case these were addresses I'd been sending to for a few years and which hadn't changed. I'd put the newsletter in an envelope, readdress it, send it off - and it would get there just fine. And all subsequent newsletters would too. The folks at my own PO could never explain to me what had happened. Just one of life's annoying mysteries...

jan

This was mentioned at one time or anohter in the Postage forum. She needs to go back to her PO and tell them that she has verified that the address on the package IS correct and that no forwarding was ever needed. If I remember correctly they PO workers that answer Qs over there said it will be re-sent at no charge to you with some sticker on it. But, do go over there and post your problem with my comments, and see if one of them will verify that I'm remembering right.

Sherry, your memory is working at top speed!! That's exactly what was advised!

Yes Sherry you are correct.  I sell on ebay and one time had a similar issue with a package.  When I took it back to my PO they shipped it back out with no charge to me.

Yes, if it's a USPS mistake, it should be sent again at no cost to her.

A useful phrase I learned from something similar (a package returned "no such address" although the USPS website verified the zip+4 for that address) can be "would you send it under cover to the postmaster for this address and ask them to look into it?"

"Under cover" means they put it in an envelope addressed to the postmaster for that zip code.

I have had this happen to me on both ends, I book I mailed and one sent to me, both had the correct address however the one I was to get the zip had gotten blurry slightly and the machine didn't read it right and the one I sent I wrote the return one address large than the send to and the machine read it wrong. So it does happen and usually it will be sent back with no charge due to it not being their mistake.

Yes, something similar happened to me, too.  I got the book back, an unable to forward.  Member had not moved.  PO put a new $0.00 postage sticker on it and sent it on back.  Member eventually received it just fine.  Very mysterious.  But obviously not a unique situation, just unusual.