Can Missing Issues Be Avoided?


Customer Service


Today marks the 14th day since Dungeon #134 has shipped and I have yet to see it. I'll give it a couple more days before I ask for a replacement issue, just in case it shows. But, I wonder, is there anything that I as a periodical subscription consumer can do to assure that my issues don't get lost in the mail?

I don't blame Paizo, in fact they've been very helpful when I've lost issues in the past (3 so far, if memory serves, in a year of both Dragon & Dungeon) so the blame must fall somewhere between the publication shipper and the USPS. Should I contact my local postmaster to see what, if anything, is wrong? My letter carrier seems a decent fellow so I don't imagine he's pitching it in the trash or keeping it himself (though if he was keeping them, I'd assume he's a gamer and I'd just ask him to join our group and stop pinching my mags.)

Is it just the nature of magazine subscriptions? Are they particularly susceptible to the lost mail otyughs (or the re-jobbed No S.A.S.E. Ogres...remember them?)? Has anyone addressed this with success before? Either way, I'd appreciate some advice so I can hopefully improve my and possibly others' subscription enjoyment.

- Chris Shadowens

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Chris Shadowens wrote:
Should I contact my local postmaster to see what, if anything, is wrong?

It's worth a shot. If that doesn't work, you could always try sending your issues to address servced by a different post office—that can help.

Chris Shadowens wrote:
Is it just the nature of magazine subscriptions?

Periodicals-rate is low-priority, which equals slow, and slow means there's more time to lose them in the system.

-Vic.
.


Vic Wertz wrote:
...you could always try sending your issues to address servced by a different post office—that can help.

Not for nothing, Vic, but that'd defeat the entire purpose for why I bought (and renewed) a subscription in the first place: to have the magazines delivered to my house instead of trying to get the the bookstore to pick up the issues each month.

According to the USPS site I can call 1-800-ASK-USPS to have someone there research the problem (the other solution they have is to make sure the publisher has my correct information, which you do.) As this isn't a constant problem (though it does take longer now that I moved to Magnolia than when I lived in Queen Anne, I'd wager due to Magnolia's smaller post office) I don't know that they'd be able to find much trouble-wise. I'll wait and see what this month brings then make the call if I feel I need to.

- Chris Shadowens

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Chris Shadowens wrote:
Not for nothing, Vic, but that'd defeat the entire purpose for why I bought (and renewed) a subscription in the first place: to have the magazines delivered to my house instead of trying to get the the bookstore to pick up the issues each month.

It's a solution that works better for some people than others, for sure. (They deliver to work, or a relative.)

Chris Shadowens wrote:
I'll wait and see what this month brings then make the call if I feel I need to.

Please do keep me updated if you do contact the USPS.

-Vic.
.


Chris Shadowens wrote:
...the entire purpose for why I bought (and renewed) a subscription in the first place: to have the magazines delivered to my house instead of trying to get the the bookstore to pick up the issues each month.

...I've sent an email request for a replacement of Dungeon #134. I can now assume it's lost in transit in that not only have I received the current issue of Dragon first (which was shipped a week later than Dungeon) but my local super market has received their copies of the new Dungeon issue (which I think is odd in that A: why does QFC carry Dungeon? and B: why not carry Dragon as well?)

- Chris Shadowens


Chris,

I'm in the same boat at you. Ever since I moved to San Francisco from Chicago my subscription has made it to my apartment perhaps 30% of the time. When it does it shows up four to six weeks late. Its gotten to the point where the only way I can get an issue is to have Paizo priority mail it to me once I'm sure its lost.

I've been to the local post office and they claim the problem can't be on their end. I've made sure Paizo has my correct address. At this point I'm at a loss.

Anyways... just wanted you to know you're not the only one.

Shade325


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Guess you're not the only ones then, Chris and Shade. I also haven't received Dungeon #134 and have already received Dragon #343. I just sent an email to Paizo for a replacement issue for Dungeon.

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