Chief Technical Officer
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I didn't think that my change of address would make a difference because I put it in before the mags shipping date, but I guess it does.
Yeah—we have to generate the subscriber list for the printer a couple weeks before they actually ship the issue.
However, I also paid the post office $30 to have all my mail rerouted to the new address for the next months...
Ouch! Well, I have no insight into your mail system, but in the US, items to be forwarded often get all of the way to your old post office before they get redirected, so the further you move, the longer it takes for mail to find you.
-Vic.
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Vic,
I appreciate your efforts (and I'd hate to have to handle this particular aspect of your job), and your quick response to these sorts of problems speaks to the integrity of both yourself and of Paizo as a whole.
I actually tried to contact Canada Post today (and there's 2 hours of my life I'd like to have back, BTW). Needless to say, the results were less than spectacular. The consensus was that without a tracking number they couldn't help me. Unless I am greatly mistaken, your shipping method does provide such a thing.
Along with that helpful coment, I heard things like, "...the problem lies with the U.S. Postal Service/Canada Customs/U.S Customs/Homeland Security/etc.," as well as a host of other possible excuses (though they didn't try to blame it on a burning truck.)
We all know how govt--or any sizeable business--operates. It's always someone else's fault.
Vic, I don't want to be an ass here. I just want to have the magazines that I have subscribed for to be delivered in a timely fashion. I don't think that's too much to ask.
From my side of things, these problems have been recurrent since last fall. From the posts I've seen in the Customer Service section of the Messageboards over the last several months, I don't seem to be alone here. Perhaps it it time to consider a more efficient (and more expensive) method of delivery.
I can't speak for other Canuckleheads, but I'd be willng to kick in a couple extra bucks/per issue to upgrade the delivery method, if it would mean getting my mags before they turn yellow with age.
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Chief Technical Officer
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The consensus was that without a tracking number they couldn't help me. Unless I am greatly mistaken, your shipping method does not provide such a thing.
Yeah—periodicals rate is pretty much the opposite of trackable.
From my side of things, these problems have been recurrent since last fall.
And nothing has changed at our end, or at our printer. We're delivering stuff into the postal system in exactly the same manner as we were before you started experiencing delays.
From the posts I've seen in the Customer Service section of the Messageboards over the last several months, I don't seem to be alone here.
Keep in mind that each month, tens of thousands of subscriber copies are delivered without incident. At worst, a few dozen copies need to be reshipped (discounting the random truck fire). I can assure you, the problems you are experiencing are not global, and the fact that they have been consistent for you since a specific date suggests strongly that there's a major localized component to the problem for you in particular. I would seriously suggest that you consider having your issues delivered to a different address—one served by a different post office, if possible. (Did you, by any chance, get a new mail carrier around the time the problems started?)
Perhaps it it time to consider a more efficient (and more expensive) method of delivery.
Here's the problem with that. Obviously we couldn't just increase the price and upgrade the shipping method for everyone, because we'd lose subscribers. So what you're asking then means we'd have to initiate an entirely new and parallel subscription option. That would complicate everything from data entry to advertising to renewal notices to website messaging to the user interface in the web store to the subscription database, and that's just in-house. It would also complicate things at the printer, from printing labels to bagging issues to delivering them to the postal system, and, I'm sure, in other ways I can't even imagine. And the more complicated systems become, the more likely it is that more failures will occur, and the more likely it is that some of those failures will be larger in scope.
Further, there's the issue of popularity. If we went to all this extra effort to devise systems for multiple shipping methods for subscriptions, and only a small percentage of subscribers were to go for it, then the cost of servicing that small number would be fairly high (both in terms of dollars spent, and in terms of utilizing resources that could be spent doing something more useful to a greater chunk of our customers). On the other hand, in the (admittedly unlikely) event that a *lot* of people went for it, then the volume going through the regular system could potentially decrease to the point where the costs could go up for servicing those subscriptions, and then we've really lost.
We've thought about it and talked about it, but I honestly don't see us implementing a premium shipping method for subscriptions anytime soon.
-Vic.
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I don't know whether there's a new mail carrier on my route or not. However, I suppose that it is a possibility.
(There was the incident discovered in Montreeal last year, where a mail carrier hadn't been delivering most of his mail for years. When they authorities went to his house, they were astounded to find over 20,000 pieces of undelevered mail in his garage. "That's nothing," said his wife. "He's got over 50,000 more at the cottage.")
I appreciate your comments. I suppose a priority mail delivery of some kind is just wishful thinking. It is interesting though, that the re-mailed copies of the mags always arrive at my door, and usually with only the most minor of delays.
Sigh! Today's Friday, and when I get home there'll be no copy of #139 waiting for me. I NEVER get any mail delivery on Fridays. My postie appears to take the day off (which is why I don't think I have a new deliverer.)
BTW: no copy of the latest Dragon yet either.
We're nearing the end of september, Dungeon #140 has been announced...
And (sigh) still no sign of Dungeon #139 in my mailbox.
Please don't leave me (or my players) without my Savage Tide Adventure Path!
We'll resend.
On behalf of me and my players (who bought their pirate suits two weeks ago) mucho thanks.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Just to keep my favourite thread alive, I should point out that I STILL haven't received Dungeon #139!
However, Dragon #348 arrived yesterday. Hoody-hoo! (BTW: This is an exclamation shouted out in a somewhat unenthusiastic tone, since that mag is also late.)
The replacement for 139 went out on the 19th.
Since we now know that your postal system can't even deliver non-periodicals postage in a timely fashion, I'd say at some point soon here, we're just going to have to agree that we can't serve you at your current address for some reason. You need to either have your issues sent to a different address served by a different post office, or we need to refund the balance of your subscriptions and let you rely on your local game store, bookstore, or newsstand.
-Vic.
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Ultradan, we'll reship yours.
I just recieved my copy, thanks!
Ultradan
(Be patient guys, there IS light at the end of the tunnel...)
Out of curiousity, did it come in a plastic bag or an envelope? (If it's a plastic bag, that's the original copy the printer sent out; if it's an envelope, that's the replacement copy we sent out.)
-Vic.
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It came in a plastic bag... So I guess it's the original shipment that arrived incredibly late.
What shall I do with the envlope one when I get it? I could always send it to someone who hasn't recieved one...
Ultradan
Well mine finally arrived today, better late than never. Cheers
Lo and behold, issue 139 arrived at my house today (I checked over lunch - wee). It was in a plastic bag so it was the original copy. This works out to 5 weeks and three days for delivery; meaning, I can expect 140 to arrive by Oct 27th. Alas, this means that 138 did indeed go missing as I've never received it (Customer Service reps - I did receive emails stating replacement for 138 and 139 were sent - so I'm good - thanks!).
So long as they arrive roughly one month apart I can adjust my expectations to a new arrival date. Its the terrible unknown that upsets me.
Dave Roulston (I like the Canuckleheads phraseology), it may interest you to know I tried contacting Canada Post as well as my local Guelph distribution centre and got much the same kind of reply as you did. My immediate reaction was suggest to Paizo they offer a premium shipping option. I'd be willing to pay for it! But, I've seen the response so I'll hold my breath.
Cheers,
C.
Ooops! I just checked my order history (gotta love the internet!) and saw that the 138 replacement order was cancelled. Admittedly, I asked Vic to do that - my bad. I think its now safe to say 138 was lost; so, if you would be so kind as to send a replacement I'd be awfully grateful - sorry for the confusion. At least I have 139 to keep me occupied ;-)
Cheers,
C.
just got my re-issue #139 today. Many thanks!
Unfortunately I too have yet to recieve my copy of Dungeon 139. I've been holding out, but once I saw the cover for the new issue on the site I figured it was time to come calling for a replacement!
Much like many of the posters to this thread I believe that patience is a virtue.
But if issues are being resent on demand then I need to put in a request, as mine has not arrived yet.
Thanks in advance.
We'll get you on the list.
-Vic.
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Thanks.
Double Whammy!
I just received my replacement copy of #139 and to make it more special Dungeon #140 was also in my mailbox.
Thanks you guys!