Hi,
The second installment of Pathfinder came yesterday and unfortunately it has some water damage on it. The cardboard envelope has large stains on it and apparently some water had leaked through. The top and bottom edges of each page in the book is wrinkled and wavy. The damaged area is about one inch wide.
What is the usual procedure with this kind of things? Should I contact my post office? The damage could be worse and the book is fully readable but I'd prefer my Pathfinders shiny new and undamaged...
I've had stuff like this happen before, but with UPS.
In most cases, the fault is put on the carrier. Paizo has no obligation to give you a refund or exchange once it is sent. It's not like it's a DVD and it was broken or scratched when you opened it. With something like that, it could have been possible it was like that when Paizo sent it out. But Paizo didn't send you a damaged book.
My dealings with UPS were absolutely horrible. In fact, it's happened twice now that I think about it.
The first time was with a TV that I had shipped. The TV didn't work... PERIOD. As well there was a huge dent on one of the corners of the box. I contacted the company I bought the TV from, and told them the situation. Luckily, they were willing to give me a full refund, and I wasn't required to pay the shipping to send it back to them. But... I had to do it through UPS. I called UPS, told them the situation, and they asked for the box tracking number. I gave them the numbers listed on the UPS STICKER, and I was told, by UPS, that was NOT a UPS number. Long story short, I talked with the UPS driver next time he came to the house and he got it straightened out. I got my refund. (As soon as I told UPS that my package came damaged, they acted like there never was a package in the first place.)
The second time was with a package I ordered from Barnes and Noble. The driver hands me the package, and it was WET, and one of the corners was ripped! Every book I had was damaged. The driver told me to call customer service. I did, and UPS wasn't very willing to help me out. This time they were willing, but it was a VERY grueling process. I then called Barnes and Noble customer service, told them the situation, and they were more than happy to send me the order AGAIN, and this time they sent it USPS, 2 Day! FOR FREE! But... the deal was I had to return the damaged books. Naturally, when they sent my new books, they also had a self addressed package for me to send the damaged books in.
I've found it that whenever you get something sent to you, UPS, USPS, whatever... it's always easier to talk with the company that you bought the stuff from. You'll end up in a loophole or a dead end with the carrier trying to get them to help you out.
Like I said above, Paizo doesn't technically have to help you out because they aren't at fault. But I've also found that they are always more willing to help you out in the end, and quickly. Paizo is a great company, and I really hope they help you out in your situation.
The same thing happened to my PF2 envelope. It's not distracting, but it is a shame that the book is't shiny and new any more.
I have the added problem of not living in the US. how do I go about solving this?
I got my PF 2 days ago....it was pouring all day. I was dreading where I would find the shipment. It was in a plastic bag, inside my storm door, hooked on the doorknob. Thank gods my mail carrier has a brain......
No water damage, but my #2 got jammed into my mailbox despite the "Do Not Bend". I took photos in case it happens again. Ended up bent, but not too horrible.
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Same thing with the water damage... and also living abroad. It's a terrible shame, my upper right corner of my PF#2 isn't shiny anymore and the first few papers either. Seems to me that it happened a week or more ago the water damage since it's all dried up now.
Same with my gamemastery module, that one is even all bend from the moist.
I can live with it, it's still usable the pathfinder module, the gamemastery module is most hurt since the water damage is in the bind there.
Would Paizo be willing to put the pathfinders and gamemastery modules in a plastic bag or overlay since that way even if the cardboard gets wet the books are safe. I am willing to live with 1 lightly damaged pathfinder and gamemastery but if it is a sign of something happening frequently I'll have to review my subscription.
I'd like a respond to this or an e-mail from customer support please.
Ok, what is the difference between Pathfinder Standard Shipping ($5.00) and USPS Package Service ($6.86)? I have currently chosen the first option. If I change to USPS shipping, would the probability of getting undamaged Pathfinders increase? I'm living in Finland, Europe.
I too would like to hear official word from Paizo on this issue, please.
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Ok, what is the difference between Pathfinder Standard Shipping ($5.00) and USPS Package Service ($6.86)? I have currently chosen the first option. If I change to USPS shipping, would the probability of getting undamaged Pathfinders increase? I'm living in Finland, Europe.
I too would like to hear official word from Paizo on this issue, please.
Until someone from Paizo can get a chance to chime in here, this thread has some answers from Vic about this very question.
Thanks, Ungoded! Ok, it seems that Standard Shipping vs. USPS doesn't matter. I guess I can just hope this water damage is only one time incident and does not happen anymore. The fact that others have suffered from the same problem worries me a bit though.
My PF #4 and Gamemastery module arrived damaged in this way, and I was rather annoyed, especially since my mail box is big enough to accept packages of that size. I suppose I'll just buy another copy from my FLGS, but they only carry PF, not Gamemastery modules. Also, any way I can avoid this from happening in the future?
My Pathfinder #4 came damaged as well. The envolope had ice on it, and was wet all the way through. The book has a ripple through it, the pages are stuck together and curling, the covers are curling, and the back cover is actually separating.
I understand this isn't really Paizo's fault; it just sucks to be looking forward to the book so much, to get it on Christmas Eve, and to have it be in that condition.
Randy
My Pathfinder #4 came damaged as well. The envolope had ice on it, and was wet all the way through. The book has a ripple through it, the pages are stuck together and curling, the covers are curling, and the back cover is actually separating.
I understand this isn't really Paizo's fault; it just sucks to be looking forward to the book so much, to get it on Christmas Eve, and to have it be in that condition.
Randy
Hi Randy,
A replacement Pathfinder #4 will be sent with Volume #5.
As to what you can do to prevent this from happening again, usually the best way is to speak with your local post office. While it is true that mail can sometimes arrive damaged to their offices, they have a better idea than we do where the damage may have occurred. They may also have some idea on how to prevent the damage from happening again.
We definitely want everyone to enjoy their Pathfinder and GameMastery shipments every month, without the worry that their subscription materials will arrive damaged!
Hi Randy,
A replacement Pathfinder #4 will be sent with Volume #5.
As to what you can do to prevent this from happening again, usually the best way is to speak with your local post office. While it is true that mail can sometimes arrive damaged to their offices, they have a better idea than we do where the damage may have occurred. They may also have some idea on how to prevent the damage from happening again.
We definitely want everyone to enjoy their Pathfinder and GameMastery shipments every month, without the worry that their subscription materials will arrive damaged!
Whoa! That's awesome. I really appreciate that.
I love you guys. You really know how to make me want to give you more money.
Randy
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Maybe the pathfinders can be shrink wrapped or magazine bagged. I got pathfinder 1-4 today in a box and they had minor ripples, nothing major but they may get worse with single issue delivery. Its one thing when its a 5 dollar magazine, but a damaged 20 dollar (pathfinder and shipping) book every month will quickly lead to a cancelled subscription.
I've only had trouble with them getting forced into the mailbox twice (the mail was kind enough to leave the parcel outside my door othertimes). Fortunately the books themselves are so durable that they never sustained any permanent bending. I've received damaged packages but every time the book was fine.
For these more extreme instances of mail carrier failure, is there any way the wrap options could be opted in with UPS or USPS as part of the shipping agreement? Perhaps another option on our subscriptions page...
