Not doing happy dance as apparently those who liver farther away get their shipment last. I won't get my product for a month after street date. Starting to look like subscriptions aren't a benefit any more. I will repeat, subscribers shouldn't be treated as the dregs. It's not like I expect our product to ship quicker than to the trade, but it shouldn't be shipping with weeks later, especially to international subscribers.
Ok...I am just going to say this....
This is the first time I can remember any subsciption being this late. True I just started my subscription this year but my friend who has been a subsciber since the AP first started(I think he transfered his Dragon/Dungeon subs to it) has never complained about this before. As a matter of fact he convince me to subscibed (that and I just refuse to buy from my lgs anymore...but that is a different topic).
So this is I think the first time this has been a 'major' problem...I put major in quotes because I think it is at best a minor problem.
The only think I wanted to know is Pazio will look into preventing this from happening...which we got. And I believe they will find a solution.
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20 new products this month + GENCON = longer shipping time
I'm a bit frustrated by the abundance of 'Paizo is not taking care of the subscribers' posts. When did compassion and understanding get over-ruled by an entitlement to 'early PDFs' (that aren't even part of the subscription plan)?
Subscribers get FREE PDFs, not EARLY PDFs.
Show me a company that gives you the same benefits as a subscriber and does it better?
I'm not so bothered by the wait as the fact that the currency exchange rates are dropping. If I'd gotten my shipment today, I'd have paid about NZ$14 more than if I'd gotten it a week ago. It's still trending down, and I'm still waiting for my shipment... It's not Paizo's fault, but it is frustrating nonetheless.
*sigh*
Ah, well, after I was able to get a look at the Mythic Adventures rules, I am suddenly much less eager to get the Wrath of the Righteous adventure. These rules don't really fit my vision of the game, so it hurts less to still have to wait for three more days at least.
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Also waiting but as with Zaister not too worried as I'm not really interested in the Mythic rules but do want the rest of my subscription items.
On the point of delays, having been a subscriber from the start I can't remember a worse Gencon rush/delay but as long as it ships before September I'll be happy :)
On the point of delays, having been a subscriber from the start I can't remember a worse Gencon rush/delay but as long as it ships before September I'll be happy :)
Not only is it taking until almost September to ship an order created on August 9, it will probably be October before I'll actually get the package. It's big, over $200 in price and including $60 in shipping. And since Paizo's shipping process doesn't allow for an invoice to be glued to the outside of the package, that invariably means that a package of this size will be held up in German customs. They will then usually sit about two weeks on a package like this befor actually notifying the recipient to come an declare it. So 2-3 weeks shipping plus customs hold-up means that it'll be October until the stuff is here. Ah well.
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On the point of delays, having been a subscriber from the start I can't remember a worse Gencon rush/delay but as long as it ships before September I'll be happy :)Not only is it taking until almost September to ship an order created on August 9, it will probably be October before I'll actually get the package. It's big, over $200 in price and including $60 in shipping. And since Paizo's shipping process doesn't allow for an invoice to be glued to the outside of the package, that invariably means that a package of this size will be held up in German customs. They will then usually sit about two weeks on a package like this befor actually notifying the recipient to come an declare it. So 2-3 weeks shipping plus customs hold-up means that it'll be October until the stuff is here. Ah well.
My problem is I work away from home for two weeks straight on the rigs so if I don't get my subs before I leave I have a two week wait until I can read them.
Which makes me a bit philosophical about delays as I almost always have to wait to read stuff until I get home.
That includes PDFs as I can't download them while at work due to corporate Internet filters.
As a first time subscriber, I'm a little confused. Should AP subscribers already have their books?
It looks as if non-subscribers are beginning to receive theirs, I have the shipment email dated the 13 Aug (which I thought was just to get my pdf), but there has been no movement on the UPS site. Do I need to contact Paizo or are they still sending Subscriber books?
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I've been very quiet on this matter, but I'm a little put-off. I've had last week, and next week easy from work, and plenty of time to review my new products...if I had them. Even in PDF. I understand that logistics can sometimes create havoc, but if MY LONGTIME customers who pay my bills year round, not just once a year are inconvenienced then I find a way to make it up to them...Free delivery...free accessory...something to say, "Hey we messed up, so here's something to ease the pain". All I've seen is one more day...or maybe two more days...or maybe next week.
I've been a subscriber since the beginning...Dragon & Dungeon conversion, and faithfully given Paizo my business, even on products I've no interest in, in order to have priority on product releases. That ends with this fiasco.
I work solid the next two months, and while I realize that Paizo has nothing to do with that, my products are not only delivered to me two weeks after everyone else can go to the store and buy them, but now with my work schedule it will be two months...Sigh. Again, I understand Paizo's position, and like and respect the entire company, but I think in this instance you've taken a "WOTC" type position, and forgotten where your bread was buttered.
Convince me to stay!!!
As a first time subscriber, I'm a little confused. Should AP subscribers already have their books?
It looks as if non-subscribers are beginning to receive theirs, I have the shipment email dated the 13 Aug (which I thought was just to get my pdf), but there has been no movement on the UPS site. Do I need to contact Paizo or are they still sending Subscriber books?
They are still shipping books to subscribers (subscribers dont actually get sent their books first necessarily, so even if some non-subscribers have a copy that doesnt mean the subscriber packages are finished). However, if you've received your PDF then your book has 'been shipped' (it may take a day or so after that to actually be picked up by the postal service).
As I understand things, there have been some glitches with the tracking of late but that doesnt mean your book isnt on the way - merely that it isnt being scanned and/or put up onto the system.
As a first time subscriber, I'm a little confused. Should AP subscribers already have their books?
It looks as if non-subscribers are beginning to receive theirs, I have the shipment email dated the 13 Aug (which I thought was just to get my pdf), but there has been no movement on the UPS site. Do I need to contact Paizo or are they still sending Subscriber books?
They are still shipping books to subscribers (subscribers dont actually get sent their books first necessarily, so even if some non-subscribers have a copy that doesnt mean the subscriber packages are finished). However, if you've received your PDF then your book has 'been shipped' (it may take a day or so after that to actually be picked up by the postal service).
As I understand things, there have been some glitches with the tracking of late but that doesnt mean your book isnt on the way - merely that it isnt being scanned and/or put up onto the system.
Thanks for your response, Steve.
I am gathering from your post, since I received my PDF nearly two weeks ago, I should have my book (I am domestic for delivery). So, I should send an email on Monday.
Yeah, that sounds like a long time to me (although I'm an international customer, so two weeks is par for the course, in my case :p).
When your PDF became available, you probably received an email that said something like:
"..is expected to ship from the Paizo warehouse by Friday, August 23 via USPS Priority Mail, estimated 6 to 10 business days in transit."
Typically, that means it's going out the door and will be picked up in the next day or two. In this month there has been protracted delays, so I'm not sure if that expectation holds - maybe they generated a bunch of orders just so subscribers could get their PDFs but fell behind later in the process..
An email or forum post on Monday would be a good idea, I think.
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On the point of delays, having been a subscriber from the start I can't remember a worse Gencon rush/delay but as long as it ships before September I'll be happy :)Not only is it taking until almost September to ship an order created on August 9, it will probably be October before I'll actually get the package. It's big, over $200 in price and including $60 in shipping. And since Paizo's shipping process doesn't allow for an invoice to be glued to the outside of the package, that invariably means that a package of this size will be held up in German customs. They will then usually sit about two weeks on a package like this befor actually notifying the recipient to come an declare it. So 2-3 weeks shipping plus customs hold-up means that it'll be October until the stuff is here. Ah well.
Actually I would suggest you, to split orders like this a bit, that way you might not have to go to customs at all. My packages usually arrive by German mail, with a sticker that they have been opened.
Only once, I had to go to my local customs area, but that was a huge order .... I had to pay quite a bit of tax on that, and it took ages.
Actually I would suggest you, to split orders like this a bit, that way you might not have to go to customs at all. My packages usually arrive by German mail, with a sticker that they have been opened.
Only once, I had to go to my local customs area, but that was a huge order .... I had to pay quite a bit of tax on that, and it took ages.
Unfortunately we don't have any influence on the way Paizo packages our subscription shippings. And more packages would probebly mean even more shpping costs.
Large orders to Germany from the U.S. are often a game of chance if your particular package is opened. But I concur that larger orders get inspected much more thoroughly. After all, those are the ones which weigh enough to draw curiousity in the first place.
Convince me to stay!!!
Take this one anomaly and hold it up to the years you've been a subscriber. Have you been satisfied during those years (seriously, years!)? If so you should stay and shouldn't let something like this sour an experience you've been happy with for so long.
If not, I think you should absolutely look elsewhere for your purchases (which might not be with your 15% discount and free pdfs).|
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I love Paizo, but I think they dropped the ball on this one. Sure, they had a ton of products and Gencon to deal with. However, they also had months to plan around this and make adjustments. Half of their warehouse people being away at a conference? No excuse when they had plenty of time to hire and train temps to help with shipping. In my opinion, Paizo is getting too big to just keeping on doing things as they have in the past, and it might be time to rethink parts of their business model.
Also, "free" pdfs for pre-ordering or Kickstarting is getting to be pretty standard for rpgs these days. I definitely appreciate getting them from Paizo,but its not enough for me to overlook other faults.
...Paizo is getting too big to just keeping on doing things as they have in the past, and it might be time to rethink parts of their business model.
And Lisa Stevens has said that they're planning on doing just that, at least when it comes to shipping.
...When this sub run is done, we will sit down and see if there is anything we could have done differently to make this a smoother and less stressful situation for everyone...
So Paizo is aware that this hasn't been optimal and that some things need to change. Sure, the post I quoted from relates to shipping specifically, but I'd be surprised if Lisa Stevens and her crew aren't constantly evaluating the various processes that keep Paizo running.
Guys, as multiple representatives of the company have already mentioned, Paizo's just as frustrated as we are by this ordeal. It isn't optimal and they know it. Cut the guys some slack, and trust that things'll look better come GenCon '14. :)
I'm not raging at Paizo here, just venting some frustration, that's all.
I'm not raging at Paizo here, just venting some frustration, that's all.
Hehe, I've been there. My PDFs were unlocked on Friday but until then I was the very embodiment of frustration. So much goodness this month, and I didn't have access to it. So I understand perfectly. My response was directed more toward those who've been more aggressive in their response to this unique delay, threatening with cancellations and such. :)
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Guys, as multiple representatives of the company have already mentioned, Paizo's just as frustrated as we are by this ordeal. It isn't optimal and they know it. Cut the guys some slack, and trust that things'll look better come GenCon '14. :)
Don't get me wrong. I love Paizo products and don't have any plans to cancel my subscription. However, when I feel I receive less than adequate service on a particular transaction I will make it known. All reasoned feedback is good, particularly when it is critical in nature.
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32
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Guys, as multiple representatives of the company have already mentioned, Paizo's just as frustrated as we are by this ordeal. It isn't optimal and they know it. Cut the guys some slack, and trust that things'll look better come GenCon '14. :)Don't get me wrong. I love Paizo products and don't have any plans to cancel my subscription. However, when I feel I receive less than adequate service on a particular transaction I will make it known. All reasoned feedback is good, particularly when it is critical in nature.
This...
I've been a loyal customer and multiple subscriber of Paizo for years I have never complained or been dissatisfied with Paizo (except for their rules on firearms :P). This is the only time I have felt let down by them. I understand that they have bitten over more than they can chew at this one instance, but I am really disappointed in the constant delays of the August subscription shipments.
On another note, Thank you Paizo for your honesty and hard work in trying to rectify this misreckoning.
I am more annoyed at the USPS...I'm in Wash. state...same as Paizo...it takes longer to ship my stuff across the state than it seems to take to ship to the east coast.
I'll give Big Brown a chance to get my stuff here faster...By Crom they can't be slower than snail mail!
Not only is it taking until almost September to ship an order created on August 9, it will probably be October before I'll actually get the package. It's big, over $200 in price and including $60 in shipping. And since Paizo's shipping process doesn't allow for an invoice to be glued to the outside of the package, that invariably means that a package of this size will be held up in German customs. They will then usually sit about two weeks on a package like this befor actually notifying the recipient to come an declare it. So 2-3 weeks shipping plus customs hold-up means that it'll be October until the stuff is here. Ah well.
My shipment to Germany is still pending, too, like yours, but I think we will enjoy it much earlier than you fear, and here is why: Since it is a big shipment, we will almost certainly get a priority mail instead of the normal standard mail, and so the parcel will reach us in just over a week (and not in the 3-5 weeks as usual). Of course, this time customs will most likely intervene, but even then one can never know if you are actually forced to go your nearest customs agency to pick up your shipment, or if you are lucky and the customs will be collected by your post delivery man (as was the case with my July delivery).
My shipment to Germany is still pending, too, like yours, but I think we will enjoy it much earlier than you fear, and here is why: Since it is a big shipment, we will almost certainly get a priority mail instead of the normal standard mail, and so the parcel will reach us in just over a week (and not in the 3-5 weeks as usual). Of course, this time customs will most likely intervene, but even then one can never know if you are actually forced to go your nearest customs agency to pick up your shipment, or if you are lucky and the customs will be collected by your post delivery man (as was the case with my July delivery).
Might be possible... we'll see.
Customer Service Dire Care Bear Manager
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Back in the office after a lovely weekend. Fired up and ready to go! I can here the warehouse moorlocks mooring away. A couple notes, this may be the longest your individual subscription has taken but it is not the longest we've ever had for shipping. In the past 3.5 years that I have worked for Paizo we have had other occasions where shipping has pushed a bit over 2 weeks. It *is* quite rare though. Second note, the CS inbox has roughly 500 emails. I usually try to avoid discussing our workload, but I've been mentioning it in this thread a bit to help communicate that CS is taking much longer to respond to requests than usual. I will update this thread as I get updates from the warehouse on how shipping is looking. Thanks again for your patience and have a wonderful Monday!
Okay, I just got a shipment email for my august subscription order, but its only shipping the bestiary 2 box? My stuff typically ships with my Adventure Path subscription, so when the Pawnbox wasn't out yet I expected it to all ship late, but everything else is still pending.
Okay, I just got a shipment email for my august subscription order, but its only shipping the bestiary 2 box? My stuff typically ships with my Adventure Path subscription, so when the Pawnbox wasn't out yet I expected it to all ship late, but everything else is still pending.
You might want to make this its own thread so that CS doesn't miss it all the way down here :).
I received my "in the next week or so letter" on August 9th, and still haven't received my purchase confirmation email... (sigh)...
I was at the local hobby store on Saturday (Aug. 24th) and everything that I subscribe to was on the shelf... AP, Modules, Companion books, and the new pre-painted Minis, everything. I was more than a little miffed. Another customer actually mocked me for being stupid enough to subscribe and didn't see the advantage to it since I don't even have the pdfs yet and retailer has all the books on the shelf... (sigh)... I pointed out the pdfs were free, and.... (I'm sure you all know the drill).
I'm in Canada and I expect to wait when items are shipped, but I do expect to at least have access to my pdf copies before the retailers have the actual books on their shelves... (longer sigh)...
Another disgruntled voice...
(sound of thumbs being twiddled)
As it approaches end of day, it appears I will not be getting my shipping notice today. *Le sigh* I will continue to be patient.
My order just went through... Thanks Paizo folks
And it is official no shipping notice for me today.
Well, I did get a second shipping notice this afternoon for the other items. Which is weird, I've had stuff ship in separate packages before and still only received one email.
I've had both, sometimes the split package ships on the same day, sometimes a couple of days apart. I suspect it's just the computer working out that splitting the order will be cheaper for you - then the luck of the draw as to whether those two orders ship together or not.
I must be the very last one in the queue, I think.
I'm likely to be behind you. I've had to get customer service to fix a glitch in my order already, which I suspect got it sent to the back of the queue. I'm just hoping that it didn't end up stuck in pending purgatory needing still more intervention to get it moving.
I must be the very last one in the queue, I think.
You are not alone... BTW, judging from these last three posts one could almost think that Charter Superscribers are processed last :P
I'd bet they were going for maximum numbers of orders shipped as fast as possible. In other words, smallest first.
Well, at least my credit card will have a few more hours of rest before the storm ;)
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I must be the very last one in the queue, I think.You are not alone... BTW, judging from these last three posts one could almost think that Charter Superscribers are processed last :P
Who knows? I also haven't received the email as well. I've also noticed that even in "normal" months, I tend to always be at the end of the shipping window.