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I must admit that for some time now the official running joke at my place is that: "It's raining and Paizo has billed my credit card for my AP subscription, I bet I get it in the mail today." This week the joke wasn't funny. I've had soggy envelopes before from the rain leaking into the mailbox but never has there been anything to be sad about. This time, however, my favorite federal employee decided it wasn't necessary to close the lid of the mailbox before leaving my property. Below is the resulting PF 21: Warning to the squeamish, the images are distubing!
I can not express how much it saddens me that a federal employee who's salary is funded by my tax dollars and given flawless benefits is paid to destroy my property. Is it possible for paizo to offer a premium shipping option that includes shrink wrap. One itty piece of shrink wrap would have fixed this whole mess. I'd enroll hands down.
Oh man , I am angered for you...damn
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I believe if you file a complaint with the postmaster something should be able to be taken care of. At least according to my friend that works for USPS.
The USPS is taking the stance that unless the package was insured they are not liable. I figured that is how it would go. Perhaps Justin can enlighten us on this. Another question to Paizo: Is it possible to have you insure my AP subscription when mailing? (I'm still willing to bet that this is more expensive than shrink wrap.)
Why is your mailbox in the rain?
Director of Sales
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Al,
We do have some options for you going forward, but first of all, I'm putting a replacement copy of that book in with your next subscription shipment (along with the replacement Pathfinder #15).
Going forward, I have a couple of suggestions. My first suggestion is always to check with your local post office. Since it sounds like you tried that, and it doesn't look like it's going to do anything, I think you should try one of two other options:
1) Have your Pathfinder subscription delivered to an alternative address, preferably one served by a different post office/carrier. If you can easily get your mail somewhere other than home, such as a family member or work, then a different mail carrier may give you better results.
or...
2) Upgrade your shipping method to UPS Ground. It will cost you about a buck and a half more each month, but UPS Ground shipments are both insured and trackable. Our USPS shipping methods are not. Keep in mind that UPS shipments may or may not have a signature requirement upon delivery (a determination that is left up to the delivery driver at the point of delivery), so you may still need to have it delivered to work (or wherever) if there is not a secure enough place for a driver to leave it at your home address. However, since it is trackable, we will be able to know about this pretty much right away.
The first option will cost you some (or a lot) of convenience. The second option will cost you some money. But I think that one or both of them will solve your Pathfinder delivery problem.
You can make your choice and set it up for your next shipment on your My Subscriptions page.
thanks,
cos
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Director of Sales
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Why is your mailbox in the rain?you see... those of us who live in the country and not in areas with lots of tall buildings everywhere... we have our mailboxes by the road, not inside... on the plus side, when it's not raining, we can fit a paizo shipment in our mail boxes without bending it! :)
[Cityboy] But... but... my building IS on the street.[/Cityboy]
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Why is your mailbox in the rain?you see... those of us who live in the country and not in areas with lots of tall buildings everywhere... we have our mailboxes by the road, not inside... on the plus side, when it's not raining, we can fit a paizo shipment in our mail boxes without bending it! :)
And then there's the option of a PO Box...either at the Post Office or a Mailboxes type place...
Why is your mailbox in the rain?you see... those of us who live in the country and not in areas with lots of tall buildings everywhere... we have our mailboxes by the road, not inside... on the plus side, when it's not raining, we can fit a paizo shipment in our mail boxes without bending it! :)
(begin Southern accent)
Son, I used to live in Springfield, Wisconsin.Population 300.
Unincorporated town.
A town so small that when I called the phone company to establish phone service, they looked at my address and said, "Springfield doesn't exist, you're part of Lake Geneva."
My house was literally on the highway from Milwaukee to Lake Geneva; TSR folks driving in to work would see me shoveling snow out of my 30-foot-long driveway.
My house used to be the general store *and* the post office for the town.
linky
There was a guy who lived in our town that everyone called "Laughing Louie." His house was easy to spot--it was the one with a norma-sized mailbx marked "MAIL," and a huge oversized mailbox marked "JUNK MAIL." You could see it from the highway (just before you passed me shovelin' snow).
So I know a bit about the rural areas.
To clarify my question, "Why don't you have a shelter for your mailbox? A roof, umbrella, or other sort of thing to keep the rain, chupacabras, and gubbermint away from your mail?"
:)
People in Springfield, Wisconsin speak with a Southern accent?
Or is that "South Wisconsinan" accent?
;)
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To clarify my question, "Why don't you have a shelter for your mailbox? A roof, umbrella, or other sort of thing to keep the rain, chupacabras, and gubbermint away from your mail?"
:)
Oooh Sean if I could only have a mailbox shelter that swanky. I rent a very small house in the city. I've been dealing with this issue with my landlord for a bit. (I saw the leaky mailbox as a smoking gun some time ago) The mailbox is of the normal townie variety but big enough to hold a full size mailer. There is however no overhang above my front door. I've been trying to negotiate small steel overhang so that I don't get wet when I'm trying to unlock and so that my mail isn't at risk when the box isn't closed on rainy days. But you know how those things go... Maybe I'll send him your link and ask if he can build something on the side of the house. :P
we have an accent here and not many shelters on the mailboxes
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Al,
We do have some options for you going forward, but first of all, I'm putting a replacement copy of that book in with your next subscription shipment (along with the replacement Pathfinder #15).
Going forward, I have a couple of suggestions. My first suggestion is always to check with your local post office. Since it sounds like you tried that, and it doesn't look like it's going to do anything, I think you should try one of two other options:
1) Have your Pathfinder subscription delivered to an alternative address, preferably one served by a different post office/carrier. If you can easily get your mail somewhere other than home, such as a family member or work, then a different mail carrier may give you better results.
or...
2) Upgrade your shipping method to UPS Ground. It will cost you about a buck and a half more each month, but UPS Ground shipments are both insured and trackable. Our USPS shipping methods are not. Keep in mind that UPS shipments may or may not have a signature requirement upon delivery (a determination that is left up to the delivery driver at the point of delivery), so you may still need to have it delivered to work (or wherever) if there is not a secure enough place for a driver to leave it at your home address. However, since it is trackable, we will be able to know about this pretty much right away.
The first option will cost you some (or a lot) of convenience. The second option will cost you some money. But I think that one or both of them will solve your Pathfinder delivery problem.
You can make your choice and set it up for your next shipment on your My Subscriptions page.
thanks,
cos
Cos,
I thank you again for Paizo's supreme generosity. I was resolved to use my free pdf copy. My first ever copy of the D&D 3.0 Players Handbook slid out of my pickup truck and directly into a mud puddle on the way home from the gaming store as my then girlfriend opened her door. Sometimes life just does that to you. I am just elated that my replacement copy of PF 15 was not also in that package!
I have changed my delivery address to my place of employment. That should solve everything (rain doesn't normally get into mailboxes within shopping centers). I find this a much easier solution than paying extra or wrestling with my landlord. UPS was an attractive option but I'm home so little I think receiving at work would be better.
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I had a case of ginseng juice (comes in little 8oz packets here in Korea) shipped home to Alaska a year ago. They finally arrived, sans 80% of the packets shipped, in a new box, that was soaked through from the liquid of an untold number of burst packets. The box itself was in a clear USPS bag, and there was a brief form with a semi-apology explaining that damage had occurred and the shipment had been repackaged by the Postal Service. I had not insured the box, so they would do nothing else. In fact, they told my wife that it was only a few years ago that they would have charged us for the new box and containment bag.
I insure everything now :-(
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Really sucks what some idiot did. But, postal workers are not paid from taxes. I'm a part-time carrier (no benefits) for the USPS and I do what I can to keep the mail safe (close boxes, etc). We're not all bad, but carriers like yours give us all a bad rap.
Like I said, sorry.
I have to officially apologize about my tax rant. I did not know that the USPS was 100% privatized. You learn something new every day. I did not mean to offend.
We should have an international law every country is required to follow, which allows the torturing and killing of postal workers if they screw up.
I mean you're not to kill the messenger but in some cases, they deserve it.
I had an envelope in my mail the other day, stating "application papers - do not bend", which was folded in half and stuffed into my mailbox. Luckily it was only an application to be my new drill and jigsaw (i.e. advertising from the tool company I once got a free pencil with "KaeYoss" on it from).
I'll have to devise a mailbomb that explodes if the trigger is bent.
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My dad worked for the Post Office for 30+ years, and worked there during the transition from government agency to private company. I grew up in a town of 12,000. Dad walked the same route for fourteen years. The dogs loved him and followed him around. He knew two generations of dogs in that neighborhood, and could tell you who the father was of most of 'em. He had to keep his hair cut short, wear the full seasonal uniform with patches properly placed and shirt tucked in, and he made sure that folks got their Sears Christmas Catalog without a bend on the corner. He hated Christmas and tax form time -- his back hurt for days. Luckily, the federal employees had awesome insurance at the time. (Sorry, Justin...)
Anyway, not only would he have delivered your latest Judges' Guild order from Wargames West (ordered from a typewritten ad in the back of the latest Dragon Magazine), he would have treated it well on the journey. (In fact, I think he told me that Federal law prohibited him from putting mail in a mailbox that was not in good condition.)
You should have heard my dad on my end of the phone when the preacher from the biggest local church called my Dad to tell him that I was going to be possessed by a demon for playing D&D. Dad, a conservative religious man himself, took the guy apart without raising his voice. If I had a transcript I would publish it.
Kept a pulp sci-fi novel or short story collection in his hand if he wasn't working in the yard. I would sneak Dangerous Visions and Again, Dangerous Visions to my bedroom at night. Being a dad now, I know he knew the whole time.
Anyway, all of my Judge's Guild stuff arrived mint. Wargames West did almost as good a job at getting stuff to you quickly as Cosmo. It was always opened when I got it. 'Cause he opened it on the way home from the P.O.. Never played, but he read all the books. When I came running up in the bookstore with this brand new book with the Dragonlance logo on it, he turned his nose up. He was a sci-fi snob.
Small towns. Good times. Miss you, Dad. You'da loved Planet Stories.
I believe if you file a complaint with the postmaster something should be able to be taken care of. At least according to my friend that works for USPS.The USPS is taking the stance that unless the package was insured they are not liable. I figured that is how it would go. Perhaps Justin can enlighten us on this. Another question to Paizo: Is it possible to have you insure my AP subscription when mailing? (I'm still willing to bet that this is more expensive than shrink wrap.)
Was this the position of the counter clerks or the actual postmaster?
Make an appointment to talk to the local postmaster. Even if they choose to repeat the same sorry excuse, argue with them and make a point of taking up their time, because time is money, and that way you can be assured that having ruined the postmasters day, they will go out of their way to ruin the lazy mail carrier's day, who via laziness ruined your day and thus the circle of life will be complete.
No apology needed. I should'ved worded things better so as to not sound like an upset d-bag. I do admit, until I myself became a postal worker, I thought some of their pay was from taxes.
I have to officially apologize about my tax rant. I did not know that the USPS was 100% privatized. You learn something new every day. I did not mean to offend.
Can we change the rant to "Those damn deadbeat lame-asses who are paid by the money we pay on postage (which isn't that low) should do a better job instead"?
Though unless USPS is different from DP (which I doubt), it's not just the bad mailmen: It is, in part, the companies themselves, who cut corners wherever they can, assigning bigger and bigger routes to fewer and fewer postmen.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8
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Right now, it's classic 'death spiral' syndrome -- economy worsens, so you cut jobs and hours -- which reduces the amount of money people have to spend -- which causes the economy to worsen more -- which causes more jobs and hours to be cut .... etc., etc., etc..
Right. So next time you dial a number and a computerized voice says, "Please listen carefully as our menu options have changed" press 0 and speak to a real human being. I want real people on the other end of the phone earning a real paycheck.
At least, that's the opinion of one "damn deadbeat lame-ass." ;)
So you confess? Because I was just targeting those who are doing a lousy job. Since you call yourself a ddbla, you must be one ;-P
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I'm jumping on the bandwagon for mail... this is what I received yesterday from the mailman:
It looks like it has been through some distress...
All four corners are ripped right through.
Some water and peeling damage, but not as much as I expected seeing the envelope:
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
(sorry for the blurry cell-phone pics. :( )
I think I'm going to switch to the UPS option too. :(
I had not insured the box, so they would do nothing else. In fact, they told my wife that it was only a few years ago that they would have charged us for the new box and containment bag.
I insure everything now :-(
I ordered some minis last year, shipped USPS. The company that shipped them had the Delivery Signature option selected (which allows tracking the package online), but not insurance. The box never showed up, but the online tracking showed it had been delivered. The postal carrier came by, and told the Postmaster (and us) that he didn't deliver a package to our house, even though he signed that it was delivered, so he must have delivered it somewhere else. Even so, the postal service said they owed us nothing because we didn't insure the package.
I insure everyhing now, too.
I had not insured the box, so they would do nothing else. In fact, they told my wife that it was only a few years ago that they would have charged us for the new box and containment bag.
I insure everything now :-(
I ordered some minis last year, shipped USPS. The company that shipped them had the Delivery Signature option selected (which allows tracking the package online), but not insurance. The box never showed up, but the online tracking showed it had been delivered. The postal carrier came by, and told the Postmaster (and us) that he didn't deliver a package to our house, even though he signed that it was delivered, so he must have delivered it somewhere else. Even so, the postal service said they owed us nothing because we didn't insure the package.
I insure everyhing now, too.
That's ridiculous. They admit that they messed up but won't pay unless you play along with their protection rackett?
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I've never had a problem with the USPS shipping, in fact, I've had tremendous problems with UPS. I had a craft business for a long time until the economy ruined it, and it got so every second package I got through UPS was smashed. Once, there was a foot-shaped and foot-sized hole punched in the side of the box, crushing the contents
And then they charge you exorbitant amounts for their wretched service. In fact, I've started using the expression "UPS white boot treatment" to mean the opposite of "white glove treatment."
Also, once, when a USPS delivery confirmation parcel I had sent -- uninsured -- went to the wrong address, in Texas, the Post Office there tracked it down, retrieved it, and delivered it to the proper address within one day. By contrast, when a UPS parcel went missing, it took them 2 1/2 weeks to find it, and it turned out to be sitting at the UPS facility one hour from my house the entire time.
I'll take USPS every time, personally. UPS just doesn't give a damn, whereas USPS has less problems and is far more responsive -- and cheaper as well.
Strange it's exact opposite for me, USPS takes forever to find lost package while UPS took only 1 day.
The truth of the matter is that NO shipper is going to take your word on how much your package is worth unless you insure it for that amount. Go to UPS, ship a box uninsured, have it get lost, and then go to them and claim that it was worth $2,000, and see if they pay you. Especially when their system shows it as being delivered.
One of the reasons that UPS shipping costs are higher is that each Ground shipment is automatically insured up to $100.
In addition, if they leave a package on your doorstep and someone steals it, or if it is lost somehow in transit, they will reimburse the shipper after an investigation to try to find the package. If it was worth more than $100, the money will be taken out of the paycheck of the last UPS employee to scan it, usually your UPS man.
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I get mine sent via the "UPS Ground 2 days in transit" option, where they ship it in one of those "break your fingernails off trying to open it" boxes. I haven't had a damaged package yet. But technically, I go by that option because I hate waiting for my physical copy of the adventure to arrive, and the quicker options rapidly spiral into "cost prohibitive" territory. The box is just a side benefit.
Just throwing in my two cents.
Oh, and I have nothing against the USPS, so please don't throw rocks at me. :P