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Hey sports fans,
I just wanted to suggest the following, in light of delays to the Pathfinder product lines, this months August 2012 releases.
Separate the PDF availability from the shipping process, have a date/time when the PDFs become available to subscribers, and have a fixed release date for PDFs to become available a week or so later to non subscribers. This way at least during times where shipping is difficult because of weather, hike in orders or even the holidays, your fan base will at least have something to have and feel good about.
I can see the reason behind delaying releases for another week until preorders and subscriptions are sent out, but to delay the profits from the PDF sales is unnecessary. Having a hardcopy is great, but I feel a great deal of people, myself included are just as psyched for the PDFs mostly cause you don't have to wait for them to ship to you, they are available then and there. A benefit kinda diminished when delayed.
Thanks
While I personally feel the same way, Paizo feels that they should have equal opportunity for all of those who wish to buy one of their products. To sell the PDF while the hard copies are unable to be sold would be seen as unfair to those who exclusively buy the hard copies. I personally am upset about not being able to purchase UE or PoP today, but I commend Paizo for doing the right thing and remaining fair.
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I could see room for a solution where all subscribers get acces to the pdf when the first books are shipped, but even that would be complicated.
It's not perfect, but I think subscribers should get their pdf at least some days before everyone else, or at least at the same day as everyone else can buy it.
We totally understand the frustration over the release dates. However, the situation where we push it back days before initial release is very, very rare (I can't recall another time we've done that since I've been here). We do grant access to our subscribers as their products are shipped, and our warehouse is working as fast as possible.
Was this announced anywhere? I just logged in to buy and found the new available date, then I had to come to this thread to determine that it was a delay and not just me being confused. I might just be missing it, but if there hasn't been an official announcement I'm going to go ahead and recommend one.
But the date should be fixed, that way even if the shipping is delayed Paizo's taking care of their direct subscribers.
Since a subscriber's PDF is linked to the date their package ships, and not the PDF release date, this is not true.
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Ross Byers
Since a subscriber's PDF is linked to the date their package ships, and not the PDF release date, this is not true.Samuel Grundy wrote:
But the date should be fixed, that way even if the shipping is delayed Paizo's taking care of their direct subscribers.
Sorry a slight miscommunication on my part, in this instant where the shipping has been delayed (so the subscribers PDF is delayed) the release date of the public PDF has also been pushed back. I might be jumping the gun by assuming both delays are related to one another, but if they are because of the delayed shipping I feel the delay is kind of unnecessary.
My question is whether there is a reason the PDFs for subscribers needing to be linked to the shipping? I know it's been said that it is connected, but no one has really explained why it's the case beyond process.
Also I apologise if I appear frustrated, I am more curious that frustrated at the situation. Received my personal copy a few days ago but I through the issue might be brought up none the less.
@Crillitor
Yeah being in Australia's harsh too, standard postage means I usually get my books around the time the following month's available.
My question is whether there is a reason the PDFs for subscribers needing to be linked to the shipping? I know it's been said that it is connected, but no one has really explained why it's the case beyond process.
It is because we cannot grant the PDF until we have charged the customer. And due to our credit card agreement (and various other logistical hurdles) we cannot change the customer until the book has shipped.
However, pushing back the PDF release dates is not just to protect the subscribers ability to get things first. My understanding is that product is also being slow in reaching some retailers (though I am unclear on why), and it is unfair to those retailers to sell PDFs when they have been unable to get physical product on their shelves.
Chief Technical Officer
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My understanding is that product is also being slow in reaching some retailers (though I am unclear on why)...
One of our August products arrived a week later than expected, and since we release all of our products for each month at the same time (which saves *tons* of money in aggregate shipping costs for distributors, retailers, and direct customers), that meant we had to push the release date for all of our August products by a week.
They don't get charged until your order is shipped. Once you've been charged, you'll have access to any PDFs in the order.
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As I understand it, Paizo doesn't actually charge any money before they actually ship your books. What you may see prior to this is an authorization where Paizo makes sure that the money is there to be charged. But no money is actually charged until your package is ready for shipping.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but that's my understanding of it.
EDIT: Dammit, ninja'd!
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I can see how that works. Also perhaps it's my misaprehension but don't the credit cards get charged around the beginning of the month? or is that when the funds "should" be in the charged account?.
They have a hold(can't think of the correct term it is 4am here) put on your funds, basically it is to check to make sure you have funds in the account. But our accounts are not actually charged until the day our physical books are put in the mail and we get access to the PDF's.
I can see how that works. Also perhaps it's my misaprehension but don't the credit cards get charged around the beginning of the month? or is that when the funds "should" be in the charged account?.
That's called an authorization, which every bank or credit card company handles a little bit differently. Basically, it means we ask if the money is there because we're planning on charging it in the near future.
Oof, I'd rather the money was deducted in one move instead of the authorization check. I saw the money come out of my account last week for my huge shipment this month and factored that into paying additional bills... Then this week, I see the charge again, noticed that the prior charge had vanished, and that I had just skated the thin ice on my checking account.
If every bank handles such authorizations differently, then it's yet another reason for me to dislike my current bank. >.>
If every bank handles such authorizations differently, then it's yet another reason for me to dislike my current bank. >.>
Different banks handle authorizations differently (in the duration in which the hang around your account), just like different banks handle charges made over the weekend differently (with old bank, a charge wouldn't reflect until monday, but with my new bank, they show as pending). It's just like some gas stations will put a $1.00 pending charge once your card is swiped, but it'll change to the full amount once it's processed. It's something to discuss with your bank because how it handles authorizations will be different from another bank (not just authorizations from Paizo).
One of our August products arrived a week later than expected, and since we release all of our products for each month at the same time (which saves *tons* of money in aggregate shipping costs for distributors, retailers, and direct customers), that meant we had to push the release date for all of our August products by a week.
Which product was it, out of curiosity? Or if you told me, would you have to kill me?
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One of our August products arrived a week later than expected, and since we release all of our products for each month at the same time (which saves *tons* of money in aggregate shipping costs for distributors, retailers, and direct customers), that meant we had to push the release date for all of our August products by a week.Which product was it, out of curiosity? Or if you told me, would you have to kill me?
I'm going to guess the new novel, as it's printed in the US, so would be coming seperately.