D&D (2024) Hobby Store Exclusive (Special Cover) PHB Pre-Orders Cancelled

[mach1.9pants]

First we had notifications, here in NZ, that there was a delay on the delivery. And now I've been told they didn't make enough - so my PHB pre-order cancelled. I have cancelled all of them as I want a set. Now I will just wait for the later print runs with all the errata in them.

Our supplier has advised us today that they are unable to supply our full allocation of Dungeons & Dragons - Players Handbook (2024) ~ Hobby Store Exclusive as the manufacturing of this product has been problematic and they have produced far fewer quantities than originally intended. We had been informed that a second wave would also be available, but this has also been announced as cancelled.

Unfortunately, this means we are having to heavily allocate this product and as such we cannot supply your order(s). This product has been removed from your order(s), and if any payments have been made they will be refunded to the payment method used or if you have used Bank Transfer, we will need your details to provide a refund for you.

We listed this product for sale on Mighty Ape on the basis that it was going to be made available and we're very sorry to have learned that is no longer the case. We have spoken at length with the supplier regarding this release and have advised that we have been allocated as much stock as possible, however, this has resulted in cancellations with a lot of customers.

Please accept our sincerest apologies for any inconvenience caused.

PS: Dungeons & Dragons - Players Handbook (2024) (Non-Exclusive Edition) has suffered similar manufacturing issues, however, as this is intended to be an ongoing release, new waves of this Edition will be available for Pre-Order soon. At this stage, we have decided to de-active this listing temporarily, but it will be made available once more. This is regarding the Standard Edition only and not the Exclusive.

 

[Christian Hoffer]

FYI - I have asked Wizards about this.

 

[mearls]

Weird. It's two weeks post-release in North America and there are plenty of copies, some discounted 20%, available on eBay.

I wonder if there was a logistics mistake, given it's been a few weeks. When two products are so similar in specifications - weight, size, etc. - it's easy to get them jumbled in the supply chain.

 

[kunadam]

There is a delay and shortage of the alternate cover in Hungary as well. I hope the normal one arrives soon.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Weird. It's two weeks post-release in North America and there are plenty of copies, some discounted 20%, available on eBay.

I wonder if there was a logistics mistake, given it's been a few weeks. When two products are so similar in specifications - weight, size, etc. - it's easy to get them jumbled in the supply chain.

I had heard before this, and the quoted text in the OP seems to confirm, that this was a quality control issue. I guess the printer borked the books HARD and thousands of them had to be scrapped, leading to massively reduced quantities.

I had also initially heard this was mostly an overseas problem, but when I called by FLGS they said they might be affected too, they won't know til Thursday when their shipment arrives.

 

[mearls]

I had heard before this, and the quoted text in the OP seems to confirm, that this was a quality control issue. I guess the printer borked the books HARD and thousands of them had to be scrapped, leading to massively reduced quantities.

If that's true, then I expect you'll see more books printed. In my experience, there's a certain threshold of errors you expect in any manufacturing process. However, if you go above that percentage there are contractual obligations that can kick in. The manufacturing might need to refund some percentage of a publishers costs or provide replacements within a certain time period.

I'd expect that if there were problems with printing a limited edition book that the printer would produce more books to replace the messed up ones.

 

[Bacon Bits]

I wonder if there was a logistics mistake, given it's been a few weeks. When two products are so similar in specifications - weight, size, etc. - it's easy to get them jumbled in the supply chain.

On Reddit people were saying that there had been much higher than expected QC issues, and a significant amount of the print run was not something they could release. Whether or not that's true I have no way of knowing, but it's very sad if they're not going to do anything to fix the problems and satisfy pre-orders.

 

[Zardnaar]

WotC can't do anything right. Our pre-order at mighty ape got canceled fml.

 

[beta-ray]

Is it just a region or printer that serves a certain region? Our local store got them, they look nice (I got the regular version though).

 

[Demetrios1453]

Weird. It's two weeks post-release in North America and there are plenty of copies, some discounted 20%, available on eBay.

I wonder if there was a logistics mistake, given it's been a few weeks. When two products are so similar in specifications - weight, size, etc. - it's easy to get them jumbled in the supply chain.

Yeah, when I missed out at my local shop (who had gotten plenty, but they sold out quick), I just went to eBay, and found they were selling at a discount, so I snagged one there.

It does seem that something in the logistics did go awry...