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It has happened again... My PF has arrived destroyed. As there have only been 9 of this printed so far and this is my second total loss (spine ruined to the point of being nearly unreadable... same injury both times...) I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem.
I ask because I am considering changing my shipping method, but I already selected what I thought was the better option...
So here is the question... If you have had a shipment damaged please indicate here what method of shipment you used. It will help me decide which way I should go in the future.
My Paizo orders are usually shipped to France using USPS Package Service. When the books (usually a Pathfinder and a Pathfinder Chronicles issue) are shipped with the sturdy envelopes, things generally arrive in good shape. The exception being PF#9 and the Gazetteer that arrived yesterday with a corner of PF#9 badly bent.
The one and only time Paizo put everything in a box because it didn't fit in an envelope (PF#7, Curse of the Crimson Throne Player's Guide, Harrow Deck & Guide to Korvosa) was a disaster: one of the books was ruined and I had it replaced (great policy regarding damaged goods, by the way). The problem with boxes is that they are too large and items get to move a lot during transport. I also had my first Pathfinder issues and the Shackled City hardcover shipped in a box using USPS Priority and the SC book had a tear in the spine.
I hate boxes.
Hey man, that's rotten luck, I hope that's the last time you get anything damaged.
I had one missing product once (was promptly shipped after the first; was the GM Init thingy) and one damaged - one of the books had a dog-ear (which I didn't rate high enough for me to complain about it).
I use the cheapest shipping method, since that's already not that cheap (greedy postal bastards - shipping over an ocean can't be that bad that it warrants such prices ;-)).
I think the dogear came in a parcel.
We had problems with missing issues when it was Dungeon and Dragon, but pathfinder has been fine so far (Paizo was great about shipping out replacements ASAP). Most of the problems that I have have to o with the post office, not how Paizo ships stuff. I own an internet business and the post office is my worst problem. I have a constant problem with them not notifying me of when packages arive. I recently bought a very expensive comic book on Ebay, and when it arrived at my PO box, the postal worker who put it in my little tiny box decided to roll into into a tube to cram it inside. I spent half an hour yelling at the supervisor.
Most damage I find comes from poor or lazy handling at the post office, not from how the item is packaged.
Director of Sales
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Benjamin,
Given that you are located here in the States, you actually do have a couple of better options for delivery of your Pathfinder subscriptions. Right now, your subscriptions are set to ship via USPS Standard mail, for <$3.00 more, you can have your subscriptions shipped via UPS Ground. UPS Ground shipments always come in a box which, despite Fayries's experience above (which is, in and of itself cause for concern), generally protects the books much better than the rigid, white, paperboard envelope of the USPS methods. Furthermore, UPS shipments are insured and trackable. USPS shipments are neither.
Above this, you can select USPS Priority Mail. This method, while it is shipped in the envelope, is shipped via a higher class of mail and therefore (presumably) is less likely to fall victim to shipping damage.
This is not to say that USPS Standard mail is fraught with damage. Far from it, in fact. A vast majority of shipments via Standard Mail (which is the most popular choice by a large margin) arrive quickly and safely. I always want to point this out in a thread like this, as the perception can quickly become fouled by only hearing from people with problems.
Obviously, however, the USPS shipping method is not working for you. I suspect (as is the usual in these cases) that the damage occurs somewhere near the end of the line between us and you. Therefore, if you are not interested in spending more on shipping and handling, the usual first step is to contact your local post office and ask them to treat your packages in a manner more in line with the great big "DO NOT BEND" printed on the front. If this doesn't work, you can also change the shipping address for your subscription to somewhere served by a different letter carrier or even post office, like work or a family/friend. This may be more trouble than it's worth, however.
Regardless of what you choose, I will get a replacement copy of PF#9 put in with your next subscription shipment.
thanks,
cos
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Hello cos,
Thanks for that fix! I now have twice the reason to look forward to my next shipment... You sure do have a great way with sales... first you use the word box, and then the word insured. I will be changing to UPS right away.
I agree that the problem is likely very close to the point of delivery. I talked to the postman about it and he seemed a bit annoyed and said that he is always careful and that he delivers it like he recieves it, so I went to the local PO, and I got an apology and after determining that the package was not insured, a quick dismissal. I do not think much has changed there.
Thanks,
Benjamin
UPS Ground shipments always come in a box which, despite Fayries's experience above (which is, in and of itself cause for concern), generally protects the books much better than the rigid, white, paperboard envelope of the USPS methods.
What I observed with books in boxes is that they move a lot even if you add shredded paper when packing the box. As a result, they collect a lot of tiny scratches on covers, and that makes me sad. Books in envelopes don't move at all.
Now, when the package is thrown from the plane to the truck and the guy in the truck misses it, it looks like (in my experience) the corners of the envelope are able to absorb shock much better than the corners of boxes. Or maybe envelopes are not thrown from the plane and treated more gently? In my experience, books that arrived in envelopes were in better shapes than books that arrived in boxes.You're right, of course, to emphasize that problems are marginal and that things usually arrive 1) very fast, and 2) in great shape even if they've travelled over the US and an ocean.
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My packages come in via USPS. Six of my Pathfinder APs have shipped by themselves. Of those six, four of them came in dog eared on at least one of the right side corners. The USPS packages are pristine, just the books are damaged. It appears single books are too thin to be held in place by friction and move around inside the package. This is why I like to have all my subscriptions ship once a month; the more books in a package, the less they will move.
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What I observed with books in boxes is that they move a lot even if you add shredded paper when packing the box. As a result, they collect a lot of tiny scratches on covers, and that makes me sad. Books in envelopes don't move at all.
ahh - but subscriptions shipped UPS get put in an envelope, which is then put into the box with the shredded paper (as long as it fits in the envelope) the only time this didn't happen to me, is when there were too many items to fit in a single envelope...
ahh - but subscriptions shipped UPS get put in an envelope, which is then put into the box with the shredded paper (as long as it fits in the envelope) the only time this didn't happen to me, is when there were too many items to fit in a single envelope...
I'm not sure USPS Priority Mail sent to an international address uses UPS. The two boxes I received using this method were just the books, shredded paper, a Paizo catalog and a Gamemastery Items Card booster in a box. No envelope…
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Of the 9 PAP subscription shipments, all but one of the envelopes (USPS Standard) have had a 1/2 inch bite out of one corner. So far this has not damaged any of the books in any way but I wait, fearful of the day it arrives and I find the book damaged by this strange cardboard eating monster that lurks in the postal system.
To prevent any head scratching by the customer servants if they notice I do not have any subscriptions, they are in my roommate's name. My subscription to PAP replaced my Dungeon and Dragon subscriptions as my birthday gift last year. :)
About half of my Pathfinders have bent corners (it's the same to either Canada or China). Not much I can do about it, seems.
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Director of Sales
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Of the 9 PAP subscription shipments, all but one of the envelopes (USPS Standard) have had a 1/2 inch bite out of one corner. So far this has not damaged any of the books in any way but I wait, fearful of the day it arrives and I find the book damaged by this strange cardboard eating monster that lurks in the postal system.
This is definitely something that you should show to your local post office and get stopped.
To prevent any head scratching by the customer servants if they notice I do not have any subscriptions, they are in my roommate's name. My subscription to PAP replaced my Dungeon and Dragon subscriptions as my birthday gift last year. :)
Oh... I know... :)
thanks,
cos
I had a bit of a crease near the upper right corner of PF#9, but that's it so far. Everything else came through in good shape. I'm using the standard USPS method.
When enough items ship that a box is required, the envelope within a box method seems to work well.
I'm actually glad that my PF#9 and my Gazetteer came as separate shipments. I'll refer to the Gazetteer a lot more often than a single PF volume, I'd be sad if it had a dent in it.
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This is not to say that USPS Standard mail is fraught with damage. Far from it, in fact. A vast majority of shipments via Standard Mail (which is the most popular choice by a large margin) arrive quickly and safely. I always want to point this out in a thread like this, as the perception can quickly become fouled by only hearing from people with problems.
I second that, Cosmo. I had several subscription and non-subscription orders in the past month and never had any reasons to complain about the condition of the envelopes, boxes etc. . Everything arrived in good shape; and I live half a world away (Germany)! I'm very pleased with the way Paizo packs and ships the items and with the great customer service.
Every issue of Pathfinder has arrived in perfect condition, except for number three, which has a crease in the middle thanks to my postal lady rubber banding it between the open mailbox door and the metal handle. No complaints here.
I switched to UPS on suggestion by Cosmo a while back due to problems that it turns out was caused by my mail carrier. My mail frequently arrives late and or damaged. In fact i had an identity issue that i suspect was caused by her. (REALLY PSYCHOTIC MAIL LADY!)
While this is an extreme issue, I have never had a problem with the UPS delieveries. The envelope in a box has been wonderful for preventing damage. Its much better for piece of mind and is well worth the extra 3-4 dollars per shipment.
Now the harrow deck that i ordered i had a brain blank and accidentally selected USPS. and i had to practically use a crowbar to get it out as the RPML crammed it into the box. No damage to the product thank goodness but it underscores the point.