I'm waiting for two books that normally would have been here by now.  One of them will be "lost in mail" in 5 days, the other a few more than that. I've only received a book this late once before in the year and a half I've been a member, and I'm wondering if it could be because of all the problems with the printable postage and the post office.  Has anyone else had this problem?  I'm just thinking if it's a trend, I may just wait a bit before ordering again until it's running more smoothly.

I don't think it's a problem with the printable postage.  I've been using that feature almost exclusively since it was introduced, and have had only very minor problems, and no real delays associated with it.  I think that it's just the usual unreliable postal delays.  I find that the good ole USPS is quite inconsistent, and books can often (in my experience) be marked as lost only to show up again later.

Thanks for the reply.  I don't use printable postage myself, so I didn't know if that might be the cause or not.

I guess I've just had more than my fair share of good luck up until now.  ; )

Yep, I haven't had a problem with printable postage. Probably just something with the USPS - they can be rather quirky! There was also Columbus Day this week, so that can slow things down too.

I've also been using the printable postage almost exclusively and have had no problems at all with lost or late books. I would have to say that overall books are getting around faster if anything. Or maybe it just seems that way to me...before, I would only be able to get to the PO one day a week due to the PO hours and my work hours being almost identical, so if a book was ordered on a Monday, I didn't send it til Friday (my day off) unless I happened to have stamps. Now I just print the postage, wrap the book and drop it in the blue box in front of my work the next morning. Wheeeeeeee...on its way!

I have one that was mailed about 2 1/2 weeks ago (incoming to me, without DC) that I've gotten the first auto-email asking "have you received this book?" but that does happen from time to time and usually the book gets here just fine. I have to say that 9 times out of 10 when it gets here very late or goes lost, it's because the sender mailed it well after they clicked that it was mailed...so if it DOES go lost, I'd hold off on ordering another copy for a few weeks, otherwise you may end up with two. (Speaking from experience, here! LOL)

Cheryl

I think a lot depends on where it's coming from and I'm not talking distance. For some reason books from Texas and Maine have a hard time finding Nevada. Books from New Jersey and New York show up in 2-3 days.

Also, as mentioned above, the book isn't actually mailed when the sender says it was. 2 weeks ago, I ordered a book from someone 40 miles away and it took 10 days ... then I looked at the postmark and it had only taken 2 days. (I am not upset about the delayed mailing ... stuff happens ... I am upset that they didn't PM to let me know.)

One of the books is coming from Kansas.  In the meantime, I've received a different book (from a different member) from Kansas that took 4 days to arrive.  I know it can be pretty random, and there are lots of possible factors involved.

I won't rush to re-order.  I probably wouldn't even give it a second thought, except that one book is for someone else, so I don't want to disappoint them.  Ironically, the one other late book I got in the past was also for someone else.  Maybe I should just be selfish and only order books for myself.  ; )

Sorry for wrongly suspecting printable postage.  I don't want to give it bad rap (or is it rep?) or anything.