Question

Here's something that has puzzled me a lot over the years.

How long does it take an agent/editor to decide whether they want to take on a book or not? I only ask because they can sit on your submission for months, yet the minute you send a letter/email asking if they've had a chance to look at it yet you invariably get an immediate reply saying the book is not right for them.

Or is it they just don't like authors who have the temerity to send a polite reminder?

Just wondered.