Hi all,
I received the latest issue of Pathfinder this week and the good news is that it's a great read.
The bad news is that it's the fourth issue in a row that, by the time it's arrived at my house, has been beat up pretty badly.
I realize you're mailing out x number of issues to x number of subscribers but you're trying to mail a perfect bound "book" in a mailer designed for a stack of 8x10 papers.
The mailer isn't, at least for me, proving to be sturdy enough for the task at hand. My copies have been folded in half twice and all of them have had beat up corners. One copy was clearly bent by someone stuffing it in the shipping envelope.
I'm not trying to increase your overall cost per mailing but your current solution isn't one that delivers a product that is close to the condition of the copies of Pathfinder that I can buy at my local gaming store. I'm not sure based on your descriptions of the other mailing options that any of them offer a sturdier solution.
Amazon is currently selling all of the existing issues of Pathfinder at a 25% discount. To see how what sort of shape I would receive it from Amazon I ordered the 1st issue this past week. (The issue that I didn't receive when you rolled over my Dragon and Dungeon subscriptions.) It arrived in two days flat and in flawless condition with a shipping cost, no handling, that was comparable to Paizo.
Help me understand what my incentive is to re-subscribe to Pathfinder through Paizo. While Pathfinder has been nice so far I can't say that it's arrived in any better shape than my old subscription to White Dwarf that used to arrive in little more than a plastic bag. For a flagship product it's a bit disappointing.
Thanks
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I have yet to have a bad copy come through. I've had issues shipped both by USPS & by UPS. The mailer has held up everytime. This also included a Gamemastery module in each shipment as well.
My latest shipment will have 2 Pathfinders & the latest GM module. I'll expect it to come the same way. Thou I'm not sure how that will come thou.
Sorry to hear about the problem thou.
Chief Technical Officer
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Yojimbo,
I'm sorry to hear that the post office hasn't been kind to you. We mail out several thousand copies of Pathfinder using those very same mailers, and we get *very* few complaints about damage.
While we will replace the occasional copy that isn't handled properly—and, of course, any that appear to have been damaged in our packing process—when we hear about a pattern of continued mishandling by your carrier, we obviously can't send replacement copies every month when you and I both know that they're likely to suffer the same fate, so we have to fix the problem before we can replace the damaged products.
I have two possibilities for you. The first is to complain to the post office. Show them your dinged corners and your damaged books. Point out the large "DO NOT BEND" on the label, and show them the folded envelopes you've received. Let them know that they need to fix this, and that you'll go to the regional inspector if need be.
The second option is to use UPS shipping. It will cost you a little more, but you'll gain a few things. First, our mailer is placed into a UPS box for added protection. You also gain speed and trackability, though I don't know if those are important to you or not.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Yojimbo,
I'm sorry to hear that the post office hasn't been kind to you. We mail out several thousand copies of Pathfinder using those very same mailers, and we get *very* few complaints about damage.
While we will replace the occasional copy that isn't handled properly—and, of course, any that appear to have been damaged in our packing process—when we hear about a pattern of continued mishandling by your carrier, we obviously can't send replacement copies every month when you and I both know that they're likely to suffer the same fate, so we have to fix the problem before we can replace the damaged products.
I have two possibilities for you. The first is to complain to the post office. Show them your dinged corners and your damaged books. Point out the large "DO NOT BEND" on the label, and show them the folded envelopes you've received. Let them know that they need to fix this, and that you'll go to the regional inspector if need be.
The second option is to use UPS shipping. It will cost you a little more, but you'll gain a few things. First, our mailer is placed into a UPS box for added protection. You also gain speed and trackability, though I don't know if those are important to you or not.
Hi Vic,
Thanks for the reply.
I see my local post office staff at least a couple of times a week and can count one of them as my neighbor. I've spoken to them in the past but will talk to them tomorrow.
The UPS box sounds like the better shipping option. (Something you might want to clarify on the website to ensure safe arrival.) I think I'll give you a ring tomorrow after I speak with the USPS.
Best,
Jim
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just a follow up
UPS came today with Pf 5 & 6
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Hgman's N
UPS box in shipping shape(nothing wrong just banged up a bit from the trip), but the books are in mint condition as they were inside a USPS Priority sleeve.
thanks guys, got some readin material tonight!!! One reason why I switched to UPS over USPS--orders are quicker & I've yet (knock on wood) to have a damage item from them.
speakin of those Do not Bend stamps, friend of mine showed me a model decal that was practically ripped in half (mailer as well), inside was a note saying "We Care" :eyesroll:
RM
I have been very happy with the UPS option. I had trouble with the first game mastery modules this past summer with USPS. The problems with my local branch of the post office were not satisfactorily resolved but I am happy as a clam with the current delivery.