Hi all,
I usually order my Paizo books through Borders.com, and of late I've noticed something unusual -- it seems like every book coming out now (Ultimate Magic, Rivals, Broken Moon, and Hunt for the Space-Witch) are all being listed as "available July 12th".
Is there any particlar reason why it's going to take them so long to get these new books in? Or is it just a case of having to wait for the distributors?
They're usually pretty good about getting the new books in a wee or so after they becme available on the site here, so this new problem seems a bit odd.
Well Borders is having issues, so maybe it is from a change in the way they do or handle their ordering?
I thought they'd settled their problems?
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Well Borders is having issues, so maybe it is from a change in the way they do or handle their ordering?I thought they'd settled their problems?
Nope, still closing stores, even those that are profitable.
Doesn't Borders ship through amazon? I'm about 75% sure they do. They were getting beat up in sales over not having an online presence, and teamed with amazon instead of creating their own system.. At least thats what I read the last time I saw a thread about them announcing closings
You might want to check the amazon threads.
It's not just Borders though, I checked with Barnes&Nobles and they're getting Ultimate Magic on July 12 as well.
So I just went ahead and bought it at my FLGS.
My Amazon order was also delayed.
Big chains like those, they don't care about getting RPG books right at street date. The delays are all most likely caused by them only ordering a giant order from the distributor once a month or so. It didn't make it into this month's order, so it'll happen on the next one.
I could be wrong, but it happens to just about every RPG book around release. People make the same complaints about the 40k RPG books from FFG as well. I'm fairly certain it isn't Paizo or the distributor's fault, but the way the big chains order books.
Big chains like those, they don't care about getting RPG books right at street date. The delays are all most likely caused by them only ordering a giant order from the distributor once a month or so. It didn't make it into this month's order, so it'll happen on the next one.
I could be wrong, but it happens to just about every RPG book around release. People make the same complaints about the 40k RPG books from FFG as well. I'm fairly certain it isn't Paizo or the distributor's fault, but the way the big chains order books.
However it happens it's good news for the FLGS. When I picked up my copy the manager mentioned that I'd gotten the last copy and that it had just flown of the shelf.
When I told him that Borders and B&N wouldn't be getting UM in store or shipping it until July 12th he was surprised and pleased.
However it happens it's good news for the FLGS. When I picked up my copy the manager mentioned that I'd gotten the last copy and that it had just flown of the shelf.
When I told him that Borders and B&N wouldn't be getting UM in store or shipping it until July 12th he was surprised and pleased.
I'd do that myself if our local game stores actually ever bothered to stock Paizo material. The best I did was to get a copy of Pathfinder #5 (the Lamashtu article convinced me to pick it up) a few years back, and I haven't seen any Paizo books since then at the local game stores.
It's not just Borders though, I checked with Barnes&Nobles and they're getting Ultimate Magic on July 12 as well.
So I just went ahead and bought it at my FLGS.
That's because Borders, Barnes & Nobles and Waldenbooks are all owned by the same company.
Chief Technical Officer
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Hi all,
I usually order my Paizo books through Borders.com, and of late I've noticed something unusual -- it seems like every book coming out now (Ultimate Magic, Rivals, Broken Moon, and Hunt for the Space-Witch) are all being listed as "available July 12th".
Is there any particlar reason why it's going to take them so long to get these new books in? Or is it just a case of having to wait for the distributors?
They're usually pretty good about getting the new books in a wee or so after they becme available on the site here, so this new problem seems a bit odd.
If they're like Amazon, and they don't have stock when they think they'll have stock, they just make up a new date. I suspect that they'll actually get stock before July 12, and start shipping it right away... but that's just a suspicion.
That's because Borders, Barnes & Nobles and Waldenbooks are all owned by the same company.It's not just Borders though, I checked with Barnes&Nobles and they're getting Ultimate Magic on July 12 as well.
So I just went ahead and bought it at my FLGS.
or not.
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That's because Borders, Barnes & Nobles and Waldenbooks are all owned by the same company.It's not just Borders though, I checked with Barnes&Nobles and they're getting Ultimate Magic on July 12 as well.
So I just went ahead and bought it at my FLGS.
Borders and Waldenbooks are owned by the same people, B&N isn't... Borders was trying to get B&N to buy them out earlier this year
If they're like Amazon, and they don't have stock when they think they'll have stock, they just make up a new date. I suspect that they'll actually get stock before July 12, and start shipping it right away... but that's just a suspicion.Hi all,
I usually order my Paizo books through Borders.com, and of late I've noticed something unusual -- it seems like every book coming out now (Ultimate Magic, Rivals, Broken Moon, and Hunt for the Space-Witch) are all being listed as "available July 12th".
Is there any particlar reason why it's going to take them so long to get these new books in? Or is it just a case of having to wait for the distributors?
They're usually pretty good about getting the new books in a wee or so after they becme available on the site here, so this new problem seems a bit odd.
That's good to know. Here's hoping it works out this way.
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Hmmm, that's strange. I ordered Ultimate Magic from Barnes and Noble last week and they sent a confirmation email that it was expected to ship out June 3, which was later than I expected because they usually have releases fairly close to the release date, in my experience. But it certainly wasn't listed as coming in July.
I think that a lot of it has to do with the individual store. I ordered The Game Mastery Guide from a B&N what, about a year back? It took them FOR EVER and so I ordered a second copy...which came in almost immediately...along with the first copy I ordered. This was a store that had not previously carried any Paizo products and now does. I'd like to think I fixed their little red wagon. (Maybe B&N has a green one?)
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Anyone else search Borders for "pathfinder" today?
I just saw the first signs of the October releases for Paizo.... before I saw them anywhere here at paizo.com
Pathfinder Campaign setting: Lands of the Linnorm Kings
Pathfinder Module: Feast of Ravenmoor
Pathfinder Adventure Path: Jade Regent - Night of Frozen Shadows
Pathfinder Tales: Master of DevilsProbably more if you look hard...
MSG
PS: thank you for the Lands of the Linnorm Kings Book!!!
The have been listed here since March. Linnorm book.
Borders and Waldenbooks are owned by the same people, B&N isn't... Borders was trying to get B&N to buy them out earlier this yearThat's because Borders, Barnes & Nobles and Waldenbooks are all owned by the same company.It's not just Borders though, I checked with Barnes&Nobles and they're getting Ultimate Magic on July 12 as well.
So I just went ahead and bought it at my FLGS.
Ah thanks, I had some bad info.
Worked at Borders in their inventory team until late February. My experience was in the time I worked for them that they consistently received Paizo material 2-3 weeks after street date, at least in store, even if special ordered by managers.
I will also note that their distributor for Paizo material is one they have had the most difficulty settling accounts with in the past, and at one point shipments from the distributor were completely cut off to the company due to lack of payment.
I'm not certain what the current SOP is as far as new material, but the company is still absolutely in trouble. They are in the middle of bankruptcy in an attempt to move towards being solvent, but are not there. Many distributors are currently wary of shipping them new releases.
I wouldn't assume however that their current difficulties are necessarily to blame for this change, since it seems to go across the board (Amazon did the same thing).
Oh, and they used to ship with amazon. They cut that out at least two years ago.
Worked at Borders in their inventory team until late February. My experience was in the time I worked for them that they consistently received Paizo material 2-3 weeks after street date, at least in store, even if special ordered by managers.
This has been my experience as well for about the last six years, not just for Paizo products but for anything gaming related, and is one reason I do not depend on Borders for obtaining newly released products.
Worked at Borders in their inventory team until late February. My experience was in the time I worked for them that they consistently received Paizo material 2-3 weeks after street date, at least in store, even if special ordered by managers.This has been my experience as well for about the last six years, not just for Paizo products but for anything gaming related, and is one reason I do not depend on Borders for obtaining newly released products.
Wow, I remember in the early 2000s when Boarders regularly put out material a couple of days befor its street date.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Worked at Borders in their inventory team until late February. My experience was in the time I worked for them that they consistently received Paizo material 2-3 weeks after street date, at least in store, even if special ordered by managers.
I will also note that their distributor for Paizo material is one they have had the most difficulty settling accounts with in the past, and at one point shipments from the distributor were completely cut off to the company due to lack of payment.
Even though Paizo only sells to one book trade distributor, Diamond Books, Diamond in turn sells to two other distributors that Borders orders from: Ingram and Baker & Taylor. (I gather they tend to buy new releases direct from Diamond, and restock mainly through the other two.)
It's true that Diamond cut off direct sales to Borders for a few weeks around the new year, but I know that they were still getting in new Paizo product from Ingram and/or B&T during that period, and they have since come to terms with Diamond.
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When I managed a Walden 2 years ago they were getting Pathfinder stuff via Diamond directly for manager orders. I can't remember but I'm pretty sure that Planet Stories was coming from Ingram.
Nothing was ever on time, but I did get a chance to promote the first few AP issues and modules before my Walden closed.
So, is Diamond giving out this July 12th date to the two "sub"-distributors, or how is everyone getting this date?
It's just odd that three different resellers (Amazon, Borders, B&N/Waldenbooks) are all touting the same release date, and would seem more likely that this is a date they've been given by someone farther up the supply chain...
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Chief Technical Officer
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So, is Diamond giving out this July 12th date to the two "sub"-distributors, or how is everyone getting this date?
It's just odd that three different resellers (Amazon, Borders, B&N/Waldenbooks) are all touting the same release date, and would seem more likely that this is a date they've been given by someone farther up the supply chain...
That is an excellent observation. We'll look into it. (I wonder if they're all getting it from Ingram?)
Updated dates from Amazon on the copy I pre-ordered for a buddy:
We have received new release date information related to the order you placed on April 01 2011 (Order# XXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX). The item(s) listed below will actually ship sooner than we originally expected based on the new release date:
Paizo Staff "Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Ultimate Magic"
Previous estimated arrival date: July 14 2011
New estimated arrival date: June 09 2011
Curious if Borders and B&N will update similarly.
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Chief Technical Officer
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That is an excellent observation. We'll look into it. (I wonder if they're all getting it from Ingram?)So, is Diamond giving out this July 12th date to the two "sub"-distributors, or how is everyone getting this date?
It's just odd that three different resellers (Amazon, Borders, B&N/Waldenbooks) are all touting the same release date, and would seem more likely that this is a date they've been given by someone farther up the supply chain...
It turns out that Diamond makes a distinction between *release* dates (which we give them), and *ship* dates (which we just want to be ASAP), and they gave their book trade customers a ship date of 6/7. The retailers then apparently make up their own release dates based on those ship dates, which seems awfully silly to me—especially when they're apparently adding more than a month to it.
They verified that 6/7 is the ship date Amazon has in their database, and noticed that B&N has a July date, which they'll try to get fixed. Borders apparently doesn't use Diamond's data—they use Baker & Taylor's, but that should be coming from Diamond as well.