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I have mentioned this a few times but gotten no response from anyone at Paizo about it. The subscription order page format always seems to generate a UPS-MI "Track this Package" link when the order ships, but of course that link never works since UPS has no reason to track packages that it never receives. My best guess is that Paizo is requesting and receiving a lot of useless package numbers from UPS when they ship subscription orders via USPS.
However, I have noticed that this problem does not seem to occur with non-subscription shipments -- they correctly show USPS shipments as "Not Trackable".
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UPS-MI links not working has been a bear for me. My issue is that our mail absolutely suck in my neighborhood. Because it's a community box, we're always getting everyone else's mail, and the package locker is often crammed so full that we can't get into it. The local USPS, however, won't move unless I can hand over a working tracking number to prove that something is either lost or in a locker that refuses to open.
I've considered upgrading my shipping, but part of me balks at paying that much for just a working tracking number.
As I understand it, Mail Innovations is a United Parcel Service program whereby the first part of a shipment's "trip", after it leaves Paizo's warehouse, is accomplished by UPS. At the end of this part, UPS turns the package(s) over to the US Post Office, which eventually delivers the shipment. It should, I think, be possible to track the first part of such a shipment, so that you would know when and where UPS turned it over to USPS. The second part, well, in general I don't think USPS provides tracking unless the shipper (which means the recipient) pays extra specifically for that, which I don't think Paizo does. So if it's shipped UPS-MI, you should get partial tracking, at least.
A package which is mailed, that is shipped exclusively via the Postal Service, would not get any tracking.
I have recently had a package mailed to me. The shipping email was annotated "tracking not available". I have in the past had packages shipped UPS-MI, and I got tracking information to the point the package was entered into the postal system.
YMMV - for one thing, I have no idea how UPS-MI would interface with international shipping.
I've never had consistent tracking with any package from any place, whether it be Amazon, Paizo, GameStop, Target, or Walmart.
It's a unicorn, it doesn't exist, except in our imagination.
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As I understand it, Mail Innovations is a United Parcel Service program whereby the first part of a shipment's "trip", after it leaves Paizo's warehouse, is accomplished by UPS. At the end of this part, UPS turns the package(s) over to the US Post Office, which eventually delivers the shipment.
This is all accurate, except the part about not being able to track in the USPS system. Often, the UPS MI tracking number IS the USPS tracking number—it works just as well when entered into the USPS system as the UPS system.
Unfortunately, the system generating Paizo UPS MI tracking numbers is using its own numbering system that only seems to work through UPS. Tracking updates are often very delayed within UPS MI. For my shipments, the PZ number almost never gets tracking updates before I actually have the package in my hands.
I've never had consistent tracking with any package from any place, whether it be Amazon, Paizo, GameStop, Target, or Walmart.
It's a unicorn, it doesn't exist, except in our imagination.
Amazon's tracking has always been great for me. I've never ordered anything from the others.
Wondering if the Battles line will be added to March's page. We know they are shipped separate, but wondering if they are going to be pushed off another month or if March is the month we get Anadi..... Still waiting for a Shooni warband :D
Times like this I wish the customer service forums were still up. Have a ticket in, but would be nice to know if others are having the issue or not with the Beadle and Grimm cleric pdf. The other pdf's downloaded just fine but the cleric PDF doesn't appear to finalize and when it does it is still coming in at 157 bytes and corrupted.
First responses lumped the issue in with the initial download issue, but because I don't know if others are having the issue I don't know if it is specific to my account or not.
Customer service forum had more uses than just submitting tickets. Miss that hive mind communication.
Thanks!
That is the original issue though, will follow up there. I never think of going there coz it's outside of where I normally hang out.
As I understand it, Mail Innovations is a United Parcel Service program whereby the first part of a shipment's "trip", after it leaves Paizo's warehouse, is accomplished by UPS. At the end of this part, UPS turns the package(s) over to the US Post Office, which eventually delivers the shipment. It should, I think, be possible to track the first part of such a shipment, so that you would know when and where UPS turned it over to USPS. The second part, well, in general I don't think USPS provides tracking unless the shipper (which means the recipient) pays extra specifically for that, which I don't think Paizo does. So if it's shipped UPS-MI, you should get partial tracking, at least.
A package which is mailed, that is shipped exclusively via the Postal Service, would not get any tracking.
I have recently had a package mailed to me. The shipping email was annotated "tracking not available". I have in the past had packages shipped UPS-MI, and I got tracking information to the point the package was entered into the postal system.
YMMV - for one thing, I have no idea how UPS-MI would interface with international shipping.
Here's the thing, though: It used to work.
For a long while, my tracking numbers absolutely worked on the USP-MI site. I'd watch as they'd sit around in various locations and joke about being stuck in Bend with everyone else. Sometimes it updated late... but never _not at all_.
Heh. The VA recently implemented a deal with USPS whereby we could order refills to be mailed from the pharmacy (which is about an hour's drive from here, so refill by mail is good). I recently ordered a refill, and since it'd been a while, I thought to check the tracking. The post office said "they sent us a note saying they were gonna send you some drugs, but we don't have 'em yet". That was about four days after the VA said "we mailed 'em already". Yesterday I got a notice from the PO - "your package is here, it'll be delivered tomorrow". And it was, so that's good. Still there's an aura of "where your stuff is, well, that's a secret". :)
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Hi Team/Heather,
Are we still on track for March subscriptions? What about book 6 of the Strength of Thousands?
Thanks!
They released a blog showing all the stuff coming up in the next few months and SoT 6 was there with the following quote
" Pathfinder Adventure Path: Shadows of the Ancients (Strength of Thousands 6 of 6) is finally here after months of delay."
So it does indeed to be on track for March :)
Four APs are being released this month. Is this a record?
Director of Community
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Four APs are being released this month. Is this a record?
It may be :)
We sent out the subscriber email today and I've updated the first message to include our final slate of products for March. Unfortunately Book of the Dead didn't make it to us in time, nor did the SF Alien Archive cards, but everything else, including the long-awaited Strength of Thousands book 6 did!
Was there a Starfinder AP volume the month that all of Fists of the Ruby Phoenix came out?Going by my file timestamps, that month (2021-06) saw the release of The Gilded Cage and Planetfall, so that would be a 5-AP month.
My order history confirms this.
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I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed everything is going swimmingly ready for order generation this week :-D good luck Warehouse and Customer Service teams and keep up the great work
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For those wondering: order generation is a go! My watch has begun.
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Order Generated. My watch has Begun.
I've got my ticket for the hype train at the ready :-D great to hear generation has started
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Countdown to finally running book 6 of SoT has begun! Hopefully my fiancé can continue to survive the wait.
My watch begins. SOON!
Shipping begins today
And so my watch begins.
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I want them to post the April thread SO BAD!
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I’m so keen to see the “I’ve given the green light to the warehouse team” message here, hopefully all good to start today *fingers crossed*
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We have given the warehouse team the thumbs up to begin shipping orders :)
Heroes!
Niente oggi
Perhaps the Ides of March will bring more luck?
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Aaaand my watch has ended. I've been lucky with the shipments recently. Thanks Paizo!
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The Ides of March were indeed lucky for me.
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Great to hear they are chugging along at a wonderful pace, fingers crossed for myself today ;-)
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Can't wait to finally get book 6 of SoT. Definitely stalking my email inbox this month.
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Also waiting, and delighted that the ("new") EU import fees are paid upfront now. Which means I immediately pay the full price and the local post office does not get another handling fee. With that I do not mind the dealys on SoT and the Starfinder APs, because I think this shipment will be overall cheaper than if I had gottem them monthly, with the previous setup. (Where the post office had to look into the import tax and then I had to pay that plus a handling fee on pickup.)
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Also waiting, and delighted that the ("new") EU import fees are paid upfront now. Which means I immediately pay the full price and the local post office does not get another handling fee. With that I do not mind the dealys on SoT and the Starfinder APs, because I think this shipment will be overall cheaper than if I had gottem them monthly, with the previous setup. (Where the post office had to look into the import tax and then I had to pay that plus a handling fee on pickup.)
Excellent to know about the upfront payment for EU. I might resume ordering some physical books in the future once money comes my way again.
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My watch has ended!!