Hi, I'd appreciate a little light shed on the cancelled transaction  I just had.

A member requested a book from my list on Oct. 21st.  I think it was the only copy in the system.  I marked I would send it in fIve or six days;  I often choose that time limit and end up getting it out in a day or two, but it's nice to have the extra time because of life's unexpected variables.

Today, the request was cancelled by the requestor.  Here are the details listed:

Request Date: 10/21/2007 9:48 PM ET Alternate Date: 10/27/2007 11:00 PM ET Date Canceled: 10/24/2007 11:53 AM ET

What is the "alternate date?"  Does it mean the requestor is out of credits or something?  And what would I have done if I was out at the post office mailing the book, came back, and found the request cancelled?  I didn't know people could cancel days after requesting the book, was it always this way?

Thanks so much for your help!

The alternate date is the date you agreed to mail the book by (5 days after receiving the request) .  Once you print the label, the receiver is unable to cancel the order (they can cancel up until that point). The receiver got her credit back since she is the one that cancelled the transaction.

From the help center ~

A requestor can cancel a request by clicking up until the time the sender accesses the address information (= prints the wrapper)

Which is why the first thing I do is print the label when I get a book order(after accepting it, of course). 

The requestor should not have been able to cancel the request once you had printed the wrapper.  Look in your Transaction Archive and see how it describes the cancellation, as far as who they say cancelled it.   The sender shouldn't even have a button allowing them to cancel once you have printed the wrapper.  You may need to contact R&R.

if you accepted but did NOT print the wrapper they can cancel the order which may be what happened.  They may not have wanted to wait or something happened.

I too will print the wrapper after accepting the order so that way I can put it with the book even if I can't mail it that day.  I like to have a stack ready in case there is an influx of orders due to posting of WL'd books

Hm. I usually print the wrapper right away as well. I didn't realize that meant they couldn't cancel. I usually choose the last possible date and but most times mail the next day. I like the option of having the extra days in case life gets in the way.  Like when my car broke down a couple weeks ago and I had a bunch of books to mail. If the weather had been bad I would not have wanted to make that 30m walk w/10 books to the blue box.  I usually look just to see where it's heading and I'm nosy. 

According to the details the OP gave  it doesn't appear the label was printed. If it had been there would also have been a line that says "label printed on...."  So the receiver was able to cancel the transaction.

Request Date: 10/21/2007 9:48 PM ET Alternate Date: 10/27/2007 11:00 PM ET Date Canceled: 10/24/2007 11:53 AM ET

I've done this before, and I'll tell you why.  There have been a number of people who have posted on the forums that they deliberately don't accept a book request until the last (5th) day, then mark that they will mail it on the 5th day after that, then take the extra 2 day grace period - leaving the requester (me) hanging for 12 days before they even pop the book in the mail.  Since I don't request books I don't want to read, this is a little frustrating.

I'm well aware that the system allows this, and that it's perfectly acceptable under PBS rules.  But the system also allows me to cancel if I suspect this is happening, and that's also ok under the rules.

Sharon: I don't think it's fair to do that either.  Someone suggested that another member do that because they didn't always have postage $$. I say if you don't have the time or $$ to mail the books then your shelf should be on hold until you do. Media mail takes long enough sometimes w/o the sender tacking on more days.

I appreciate all the feedback-- you're right, I hadn't printed the label and didn't know that I was leaving myself open for a cancellation.  I always thought that accepting the request was enough to "make the contract" as it were.  Well now that I know that, I will at least open the address window so it will be marked as printed. 

The whole thing was just a little irritating since the requestor had a bunch of conditions, and I was able to accept since the book is like new.  Then they go and cancel anyway... sheesh!

[I'm a lot more likely to browse the bookshelf of someone I've ordered from who's responded with an 'accepted' or a date to ship than I am to use the 'order more' button on someone who's on the fourth day and no response. No use putting another book in possible limbo at that point.]

I know exactly what you mean, Cindy.  I just had a WL book pop up that went to 5 days.  I had ordered another book from that poster's shelf, but when I didn't get a reply I cancelled the second book and ordered it from someone else.