Cos has promised to replace an issue of Pathfinder that got totaled in the mail. He is truly a great man with a big heart. How I love him so.
But I'm wondering (constructively, not critically) if there isn't something that can be done to prevent similar damage that doesn't increase the packing time and cost, or perhaps increases it less than consequent savings that could me made on their current replacement cost.
So I'm going to post a picture for you guys to look at, because the problem for me wasn't the envelope - I think it's the way stuff was riding in the envelope.
This is what I saw when I tore the top of the envelope:
It's like a bundle of sticks, except one of the sticks is sticking out - that's what sticks do I guess. The question is do books have to do it?
If that PF wasn't riding out on the side, which it will naturally tend to do in when the envelope is packed fat, maybe it would just have been a bent corner. Or maybe if the soft covers were all piled up straight and were loaded in some way that they don't change position in relation to each other, so they would all sit in the center of the envelope, maybe they wouldn't suffer as much damage. Maybe those edge scapes like I'm looking would not even get them.
Part of my job involves troubleshooting production in a very complex line and there's nothing I hate more that when managers tell me that a problem can't be solved efficiently.
So, I humbly ask, is there anything we can do to solve this that doesn't throw a wrench into Paizo's stuffing process?
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I have to agree. My envolope is the same or it has been folded or pressed in resulting to identical damage.
I know Cos is replacing and I asked if there was another postal packing option to decrease the damage. What I have fold to be successful from ebay and here is when a thickish cardboard is placed in the envolope to support the books. It stops them from moving. The next extreme which is very unlikely to do is to place some padding into the corners that can aborb the movement of the books.
I have had probably 2 or 3 subs replaced because of damage. Paizo always replaces freely. I just hope some system can work where Paizo doesnt keep replacing damaged books.
I realize it's not an option for everyone and it does actually cost a little more, but when you switch to UPS the packaging is different and it's better.
I used to have my subscription delivered via USPS and it came in those envelopes. During the CotCT series virtually every shipment had bent edges and/or creased spines. After I'd seen enough of this I switched to UPS, thinking that maybe it was the careless handling of the postal service that ensured every envelope got folded in some way. Maybe it was, but the packing makes an even bigger difference. The UPS shipments come in the same folders except they're placed inside a UPS mailer box. Sure, they can move around a little inside the box and you can get some minor corner damage possibly (although I never have), but the box is very sturdy and it doesn't get crushed. Since I made the switch I've been really happy with the condition of the shipments.
It costs more, but it might be worth it to those subscribers that can use it.
I realize it's not an option for everyone and it does actually cost a little more, but when you switch to UPS the packaging is different and it's better.
I guess I could cancel say... Companion and PF Modules... and that would pay for part of my UPS.
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For people that live in the US, UPS option is worth the extra cost. As I've stated before when I was a superscriber, I had USPS as my shipping option. It took up to the days it said (10 I think) & I live only a state away from Paizo! (I live on the eastern side of Oregon)
I switched to UPS & the items came 3 days (thou 5 if they were released on a Weds due to no deliveries on weekends).
Well worth the cost & it was always nice to see the big brown truck out front as Paizo was about the only products I bought that used UPS, LOL.
RM