Darkening of Mirkwood - Print version arrived!

[Jon Hodgson]

I'm still waiting for my Heroes of the Solar System pre-order despite the book having been in UK shops for two weeks now. Apparently the shop stock was sent just before the UK pre-orders were due to be sent. There were also problems with the Rocket Age core book pre-orders. I'm not holding out much hope for my Darkening of Mirkwood pre-order...or Fourth and Fifth Doctor Sourcebooks for that matter.

Hi Wulgar/Gordon - as we've let you know there seems to be a specific problem with your copy of Heroes - it has fallen through the cracks somewhere - and as I let you know yesterday I'm personally chasing that up to find out what happened. We'll make sure you get a copy as soon as possible. I should be able to up date you this morning in the customer service forum.

This has no impact on any other pre-order you have made.

The Darkening of Mirkwood and Fourth Doctor are en route to the UK now, and will be with UK pre-orderers as soon as possible.

[Jon Hodgson]

Hi Tim,
Andrew has given you the best advice already, but rest assured we will make sure you get your copy of Darkening of Mirkwood, and work with you to make sure your'e available to receive it.

[Jon Hodgson]

When we set up the new forum we added this thread in the customer service forum that gives everyone details of how preorders work.

To be really clear, here's what a pre-order with Cubicle 7 offers:

We will send you a copy of the game you have pre-ordered as soon as we have it in our regional warehouse.

If it comes in to the US first, US pre-order customers will be the first to be sent copies, and then stock will head to the UK/Europe.

If it comes into the UK first, UK pre-order customers will be the first to be sent copies. Then stock will head to the US.

Then stock is dispatched to retailers in that region. This usually all happens on the same day.

So - UK pre-orderers got Doctor Who Card Game and Hobbit Tales first. More often, due to the logistics and financial considerations, stock comes into the US first. This lets us sell you our games at the price we do.

We cannot, and do not, promise pre-order copies before stock hits stores.

Chances are in most cases that you will get your pre-ordered copy prior to stores in your region getting their copies. But sometimes, for a wide variety of factors involving the timing of the various legs of the shipping process, stores will get their copies first.

I'm going to review our communications on this today, since clearly that stickied thread hasn't done it's job. Let's see if we can add in some of this information to store confirmation emails so that you guys get the information you need.

[Jon Hodgson]

Ok, I am fresh off the phone.

I've updated the thread in Customer Service about Heroes of the Solar System for Wulfgar.

Tim, we have come up with a good solution. Nick will be in touch shortly.

[timb]

Thanks Jon.
Yeah, I have to admit there is confusion over pre-orders, I'd expect to get a pre-order before ANY store has it (UK or US), but like you said, it can't always work out.

This one occasion isn't really about that side of things (so apologies for the grumps, just a personal bugbear of mine!), just a personal situation for this one order. I've pre-ordered all the TOR line and this one time round there is something different happening from my side of things.

[farinal]

I got the Heart before many European countries last time so I am hoping for that again, fingers crossed.

[Celebril]

Wait, I just read the books come from China to the US and then are distributed. I would assume that is here on the West Coast of the US. I live in California and I still haven't received my copy. Where is the warehouse? Do the books have to be shipped by train to the East Coast of the US and then shipped back to the West Coast to the customers?

[trystero]

Celebril, I'm on the US east coast and haven't seen my copy of The Darkening of Mirkwood show up yet either. I think there may just be vagaries of delivery.

[Andrew]

The warehouse is in Rivendell* (you've seen the map of Elrond's halls - he has plenty of space for a sideline in logistical fulfillment), so that's one helluva journey to get over to the West. At least 5 fatigue tests, and that's if a courier doesn't roll an Eye and foul the whole thing up.

*Or maybe Atlanta. I always get those two mixed up.

[Celebril]

Haha Andrew! That was awesome.

I heard from Nick today. The problem is that they mislabeled the package. They put "Erik Inc" on the package. Hopefully, since I had it delivered here to work that it is still floating around Apple Receiving some where.