Hi everyone! I ordered some books for hubby and had them mailed by the publisher (Bible studies he asked for). I ordered them December 28th and as of last Friday (Jan. 11th) he still hadn't received them.:confused:

What has been your experience in sending books? Is this normal? If I call the prison (Grimes) will they let me know if they are there?

You have to make sure they are delivered by standard mail. Parcel Post and UPS don't usually make it through because they require a signature. I would say 2 to 3 weeks for that delivery, so he should be getting it anyday Sandtrob. Did the publisher give you a delivery estimate? I send my son books all the time and they all have made it through but one and I can not remember what the problem was with that one.

I sent my brother some books and they took a really long time (about a month or more) to get there, but he said that they have to go to Pine Bluff to be approved or something before they are delivered to them. He did finally get his books though.

I guess I am lucky. I pretty much use Amazon exclusively. I send so many books that I went ahead and signed up for Amazon Prime. There is a flat fee charge once per year but anything that comes directly from Amazon is free shipping with most being free second day air. Mine goes through UPS and I have never had a problem. I can order on a Sunday and she will have the books usually by Thursday evening at the latest. I did have some returned that came from independent book retailers where the packaging was not very good and possibly there was not an invoice inside. Other than that, no problems.

I guess I am lucky. I pretty much use Amazon exclusively. I send so many books that I went ahead and signed up for Amazon Prime. There is a flat fee charge once per year but anything that comes directly from Amazon is free shipping with most being free second day air. Mine goes through UPS and I have never had a problem. I can order on a Sunday and she will have the books usually by Thursday evening at the latest. I did have some returned that came from independent book retailers where the packaging was not very good and possibly there was not an invoice inside. Other than that, no problems.

That is good to know about Amazon Prime because they said they can't guarantee how their packages will be delivered and most prison's will not accept when signature required. I was leery to use anything but those that state standard shipping. I may try Amazon Prime myself then.

I've never even heard of Amazon Prime! I need to check that out! The company I work for has a publishing house so I can get some books for him at 65% off retail! I called today and they said they have known it to take up to 6 weeks at the standard postage book rate.

Well this post couldn't have came at a better time. Hubby wants me to send him some books and I thought that I would as a V-Day gift or whatever. I'm not sure how to do that though, any suggestions? Do I just put his address in the sending address or what? *I swear I can't wait to actually be able to go to Barnes & Noble with him,UGH!*

Yes, the books can come from any bookstore, online or local as long as they are packaged properly and have an invoice or packing slip inside. Just use the same address as you would send a letter making sure to include is ADC # after his name!!

The only problems I have had or my in-laws is when we have sent books from a bookseller from either Abe's books or Amazon Used Books and only then when one of the booksellers happened to have the same last name as my wife and packed the books in a "Betty Crocker" cake box! Needless to say the mail clerk sent those back. Other than that, no problems. Abe's and Amazon Used are usually the cheapest but again, you want to make sure they package them properly!

Good luck and I hope that soon you will be able to go to Barnes and Noble together. I hope that for myself and all the others too!!

Hey Bat! Have you known it to take this long? I ordered the books Dec. 28th. He still doesn't have them, and the publisher has not received them back.

No, they should be there. Did the bookstore send you a tracking number or a ship date? If they shipped soon after you might try calling the mail room at the unit where your loved one is. I know that if books I send to the unit arrive on a certain day, then she always gets them within two days after that. So I count on # of days for shipping + two days in handling at the unit although she usually gets them the next evening after they arrive the day before.

Good luck!

He finally got all my books! It only took five weeks!

I sent my hubby a racing form last week though snail mail I mailed myself...
Will he get it?