Pathfinder 1E A gripey letter to Paizo

[Glyfair]

I wonder if the problem is with the Post Office that Paizo ships from ?

Unlikely. If so, everyone would have the constant problems.

I have heard stories about post offiice employees who were fans of a particular magazine and would swipe them regularly. Usually it was a niche product. However, with the current security at post offices I think this would be particularly difficult to get away with (at least the major ones, I've seen some small town ones where this would be easily done by a dishonest employee).

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Been a subscriber to Dragon for many years even before TSR went under. I can remember at least one time that an actually-published issue (the magazine halted entirely for everyone after TSR died) failed to appear and I think that was simply because I moved and the change of address failed to get my mail to find me for a bit. It MAY have happened once more besides that, but I can't recall such off-hand.

Now, earlier this year there were several months after I re-upped my subscription that I started recieving TWO issues every month. I was actually hesitant to say anything as I was paranoid that in trying to eliminate one I would only succeed in eliminating BOTH. That problem fixed itself after a few months and my nephew was quite happy to get my extra issues to look at. He's really VERY interested in the game, but by his parents decree needs to develop much better reading skills before being allowed to join OUR game. If only the subscription were less expensive (not otherwise complaining about that mind you) it'd be a perfect means to kill two birds with one stone.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Been a subscriber to Dragon for many years even before TSR went under. I can remember at least one time that an actually-published issue (the magazine halted entirely for everyone after TSR died) failed to appear and I think that was simply because I moved and the change of address failed to get my mail to find me for a bit. It MAY have happened once more besides that, but I can't recall such off-hand.

Now, earlier this year there were several months after I re-upped my subscription that I started recieving TWO issues every month. I was actually hesitant to say anything as I was paranoid that in trying to eliminate one I would only succeed in eliminating BOTH. That problem fixed itself after a few months and my nephew was quite happy to get my extra issues to look at. He's really VERY interested in the game, but by his parents decree needs to develop much better reading skills before being allowed to join OUR game. If only the subscription were less expensive (not otherwise complaining about that mind you) it'd be a perfect means to kill two birds with one stone.

GACK! You got my issues!!!!!

 

[soulcat]

I work in a mailing house in the UK. We don't print mags, we recieve them from the printers and mail them out.

The problem I'm seeing here is VERY unlikely to a mailing problem. ie it is not likely that the problem is at the sending point. If it where then the problem would spread itself a LOT thinner and the same peson would not be affected as often, UNLESS, the people being affected are near the end of the run, and they regularly don't print enough mags.

This is a problem we see often when we are not supplied with enough mags for the subs. More often than not the printers will send more mags, and we'll finish the run. BUT it has been known for the printers to inform us that there are no more to be had. This however VERY rarely happens with mags that are also available 'off the shelf' as subs are normally handled first.

I see this problem as being at some point AFTER the subs enter the postal service.

I DON'T know much about the US postal system. I know the UK system very well, but we only really have one carrier at the moment, that covers the whole of our small island.

America is a BIG country, and the mail will 'I presume' go through many hands. Every time someone new handles it the chances that a mistake will happen, or a theft will occur, is greater.

If I were Paizo, I would keep and accurate record of when and where subs copies went missing, and POSITIVELY ADVERTISE that you're doing it. Ask customers to report the problems. Look for patterns. Why should the customer have to chase through the system to find why it hasn't been delivered? That's what they pay you for.

With our single carrier system in the UK we have the ability to insert Micro Chips in with the mags, that can be traced through the system. Then you can find where the problem is, when the mag enters a sorting hall, and doesn't leave, Royal Mail can track the problem. I don't know whether that is possible in the US, but we've used it in the past.


Just my thoughts.

Soulcat

 

[Steel_Wind]

I've started to experiencedelivery lag too.

The party which annoys me is that it seems to be completely unpredictable.

Here's the last Four months of delivery:

I start my subscription here, at #123. Age of Worms is comgin and I'm a little annoyed with paying cover price and maybe missing it.

Begin

#123: I got it LIGHTNING FAST. Announcement from Paizo that it had shipped to customers. I got it 5 days later.

I'm happy and I'm wondering why everyone is complaining about delivery times. "Works fine here".

#124: It shows up 10 days after announcement it ships and I chalk up my previous delivery to luck. Still 5-10 days? That's in the zone I want to be in.

#125: Paizo announces it ships...and I wait...and I wait. And after my first experience above, I'm getting worried. I even gripe here a little and Erik Mona says "not on the stands yet - it's not late yet"

It shows up 14 days after announcement of shipping. Hmm.

#126: Paizo announces it shipped July 19. Today it's August 6. I make that 18 days. It's due on the stands on Tuesday.

And I *still* don't have it.

So...what's up with the progressive slide? 5, 10, 14, 20+?

I don't get that. The laws of physics don't vary month to month, so why this random factor?

It's not Paizo's fault wht the US Postal Service (and Canada Post) does with this stuff - but it really makes me go "huh"?

 

[Davelozzi]

I have heard stories about post offiice employees who were fans of a particular magazine and would swipe them regularly.

Yep, when I moved to Seattle back in '98, I made the foolish mistake of shipping all of my D&D stuff via the post office and labeling the boxes so I could more easily sort them when I unpacked. A whole box labeled "old Forgotten Realms stuff" showed up sealed but empty. I had packed it myself at home so I know the stuff was in there, so it seems pretty clear that som postal D&D fan grabbed it on purpose. What is weird is the way they taped the empty box back up and kept it moving through the system instead of just tossing the evidence.

Yeah, you don't have to laugh, I felt dumb enough at the time.

 

[derbacher]

#125: Paizo announces it ships...and I wait...and I wait. And after my first experience above, I'm getting worried. I even gripe here a little and Erik Mona says "not on the stands yet - it's not late yet"

It shows up 14 days after announcement of shipping. Hmm.

#126: Paizo announces it shipped July 19. Today it's August 6. I make that 18 days. It's due on the stands on Tuesday.

And I *still* don't have it.

I'm right there with you. I was hoping it would make it today. Still not here. Maybe it's lost in the same place as the Age of Worms Overload (June 25 and counting.... When exactly is "some time this week"?) :\

 

[kilamanjaro]

Age of Worms Overload has been up since yesterday.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

I feel I should chime in. I've been subscribing to Paizo for over 2 years now.

I'm 2 issues in to my 3rd yearly subscription.

I have always, always, always had incredible service and respect from paizo. I've not received issues but maybe 3 times, and each time they have replaced them.

I almost always get my issues on time, and the practically always come before they are on shelves.

At the first Gencon So Cal, told the lady at the Paizo booth how the airport lost my luggage from Gencon Indy, and with it my special issue of Dragon with the new Pazio 3.5 DM's scren, she gave me a replacement issue and DM's Screen (I think it was Dragon 300 or 301, i cant remember) right on the fracking spot with a "there ya go, enjoy!" and a smile! When I told her it wasnt nessasary she just told me not to worry about it.

Most recently, when I re-subscribed I wasnt getting my issues. I emailed and within a few hours a customer service rep replied to confirm the problem and set about to fixing it. HE even double checked MY error (i made a typo on one issue) by confirming WHICH issues I was talking about, so he could send me a proper replacement copy.

This is why I've re-subscribed for a 3rd year. Its service like this that keeps me happy and a subscriber even when I cant afford it. I dont NEED either Magazine. And sometimes I'm not too exited by whats in em. But I feel that paizo deserves my subscription. I like having them to read, I like having them as a resource. Despite being 2 months behind on bills I still scraped up enoug to renew (thank god credit cards!)

eruh....no more flaming moes before bed...............

P.S. exuse my intoxicated state of rambling, but I mean every word up there. Keep up the good work Paizo!

 

[derbacher]

Age of Worms Overload has been up since yesterday.

AAGGHH! Well, it wasn't up when I checked Saturday morning, but it sure is up now. Thank you EnWorld News page for the heads up!

Now, let's see, how do I get my foot out of my mouth, again....