Got a message this morning (dated 00:55:02 PDT) confirming that my preordered core rulebooks finally shipped. I chose the free shipping, and it says they'll arrive on the 5th, but they shipped out of Springfield MA and I'll be surprised if it takes that long to get to Boston.
I've worked for the USPS and this is pretty untrue. We work 24/7, and that includes holidays and sundays when carriers aren't actually delivering the mail. There is never a time, ever, when the system collectively strips down to its skivvies, has a barbecue and lets your mail sit in a warehouse somewhere.You might see them on the fourth, but I've found the days before federal holidays, the USPS doesn't really work too hard.
I'm sure I'm not the first to say so but I'd be surprised if this "delay" or "shortage" of books isn't fictional but instead artificially created by WotC in response to all the talk over the months leading up to the release of the books of people buying them via Amazon as opposed to paying full price (or close to) at FLGS'. There was a time there where it seemed like at least half of prospective buyers were going with Amazon.
Just a thought.
You might see them on the fourth, but I've found the days before federal holidays, the USPS doesn't really work too hard.
The Free Shipping is using USPS Book Rate. That's right above pack-mule. I'd wager if you don't see them tomorrow, you won't see them on the third or fourth, and so they'll show up on the fifth.
I've had some things with free shipping come media-mail rate, and other times not. No idea how they decide. I'm not really in a hurry, as someone else in our group bought the core set individually, and I went to my local store day-of and bought the PH (can't hurt to have another for the group). And that's the point at which I switched to the free shipping, 'cause at this point, what's a few more days?