BookObsessed

zzz wrote:

zzz wrote:That's it?

By that I meant on the solution of the existing problem.

I think it's a matter of finding a solution that works for everyone and doesn't take up a huge amount of time. And that's proving difficult. And sadly most of the members who have books marked as mailed when they probably aren't, for LONG periods of time - not the few days or whatever people are talking about here - have not come to this thread and talked about it.

I am not just ignoring it though zeddy, I am thinking about it and pondering on what to do next.

giz-angel wrote:

zzz wrote:

zzz wrote:That's it?

By that I meant on the solution of the existing problem.

I think it's a matter of finding a solution that works for everyone and doesn't take up a huge amount of time. And that's proving difficult. And sadly most of the members who have books marked as mailed when they probably aren't, for LONG periods of time - not the few days or whatever people are talking about here - have not come to this thread and talked about it.

I am not just ignoring it though zeddy, I am thinking about it and pondering on what to do next.

Then how about that everyone check on Zoho books that are coming her/his way and to PM person who have sent it ages ago? I mean really there's no need to hide behind mod's skirt! After all those are the books that WE will receive individually. Plus it will save us the time immensely.
We could mention in the PM that there's been discussion on the forum about the issue and we have a deal to ask senders about the status of the traveling books.

I've been a little spazzy about journalling lately, but I try to look through the mailed books every so often to make sure I haven't inadvertantly left someone's mailed book in limbo. I cleaned my office yesterday to make room for a pregnant cat, so that will probably help me stay on top of things better.

I really do love the database, just to help me keep track of everything. Stress makes me terrifyingly disorganized.

I like the database but I have to admit I don't use it very often. When I do have the time to pack up books and make release notes on Bookcrossing I don't have time to go mark them mailed on the database or I just forget. I just never got used to it...sorry.

The only time I have used the database (when I find the link...remember my log in and password...) is to check who I owe books to. Although I keep a list on my computer so I don't need to do that very often either.

The database is great and I know it has been extremely helpful but I don't personally use it.

I the database, and all the folks who work so hard to maintain it for us! It is a very useful tool, but like any tool, can be misused.

I personally don't mark anything as mailed until I'm back from the post office, because I am a total Flaky McFlakersons, and sometimes I package something up meaning to take it to the post office the next day, which becomes the next week, which becomes the next month... it ends up sitting there forever before I finally get off my lazy butt and actually mail it out.

One reason why I wait to mark the book as mailed in the database is that I like to post the Delivery Confirmation # so that the recipient can use that to track the location of the book. I don't get a DC # until I take the book to the post office, so when I get home I stick the DC # in the Comments box.

zzz wrote:

giz-angel wrote:

zzz wrote:

zzz wrote:That's it?

By that I meant on the solution of the existing problem.

I think it's a matter of finding a solution that works for everyone and doesn't take up a huge amount of time. And that's proving difficult. And sadly most of the members who have books marked as mailed when they probably aren't, for LONG periods of time - not the few days or whatever people are talking about here - have not come to this thread and talked about it.

I am not just ignoring it though zeddy, I am thinking about it and pondering on what to do next.

Then how about that everyone check on Zoho books that are coming her/his way and to PM person who have sent it ages ago? I mean really there's no need to hide behind mod's skirt! After all those are the books that WE will receive individually. Plus it will save us the time immensely.
We could mention in the PM that there's been discussion on the forum about the issue and we have a deal to ask senders about the status of the traveling books.

This would be great! Ideally if people would try to make sure their own transactions, both sending and receiving, are properly entered and followed up on, the database would be in better shape. It's simply too large a task for one or two of the mods to try to contact all the people involved. It's a lot of work to simply keep up with the basics. So - I'd encourage everyone reading this thread to check and see if there is anything they can help with just with their own books - every bit helps!

BTW - just a note on Amber's post - it's okay to not actually use the database yourself if you are making Journal Entries as you mail and receive books. We do regularly go through the mailed - clicking through the links - and marking them received if the J.E. indicates such. We also click through the Owed and mark any mailed if the J.E. indicates they have been. Of course, for those who don't make J.E.'s, we can't update the database using that method.
We also mark books mailed based on posts in the Books Mailed thread or if someone pm's us with their mailing/received info.

I don't think there's a LOT of marking books mailed to avoid the 6 month list happening - if there was it would be more noticeable..... but there probably is some of that happening, because there will always be some people who try to find a way around anything, right?

Oh, and someone also asked about the people who go MIA owing a lot of books and what happened with them. The mods have made every effort to contact those people and get what info they can. We pm them through here, pm through Bookcrossing, email, and try to contact them through anyone here who may still be in contact with them. The problem is that most of those folks sever all ties with us here - and there is nothing further we can do......

nwpassage wrote:I personally don't mark anything as mailed until I'm back from the post office, because I am a total Flaky McFlakersons, and sometimes I package something up meaning to take it to the post office the next day, which becomes the next week, which becomes the next month... it ends up sitting there forever before I finally get off my lazy butt and actually mail it out.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with that problem.

I do have a few books that I have to assume are MIA, as they have yet to be journaled as received. Unfortunately, there is no way to know if they were received and just not journaled or lost in the mail. I had mailed a book to a member who has disappeared, owed this same member 2 more books, and, after trying repeatedly to contact said member, went ahead and marked these 2 books mailed and used the Notes feature to explain why I did so. Had I not done so, I would still be on the naughty list, but I do not mark books mailed just to stay off the naughty list. For the most part, I only mark books mailed when they have actually been mailed, though they may sit in my car for a while, as I don't always make it to the PO as planned. Most of my mailed books have been received/journaled and I am pretty good about marking books received myself. I love the database!