No BRB in the mail

[juliusb]

OK, before I begin my rant I'd like to say that I realize that I'm talking about a game that doesn't mean much in the big scheme of things. But I also think that GW needs to understand that they need to get their act together even though they're just an entertainment company.

I ordered the Gamer's Edition about a half hour preorders went up and I'm in Detroit, not Alaska or some far-off state. It is Saturday night and I don't have my book and yes, I'm really annoyed. I'll have to wait until next weekend to really dig into the book now. Again, I realize that I'm whining about getting a game book late and not about fresh water and food or some other important thing people go without; it's the fact that there's no reason for my book to be late.

All of this secrecy crap has to end with GW; it's absurd. GW has to learn that when you operate internationally with such a large fanbase, leaks are going to happen. The book has to go to the printers at some point before launch and some things will leak. Ask Apple or any other big company that attempts to keep secrets until the last moment; it's just impossible.

GW needs to ship early enough to GUARANTEE delivery on launch day with the understanding that some people might get it a couple of days early. Here's the risk/reward of their options:

1. Good: Ship on time and all customers are happy and some are THRILLED to get it early. Bad: some rules will hit the internet a couple of days early.

2. Bad: Ship late and most customers are happy but some are PISSED they got it late. Bad: some rules will hit the internet a couple of days early anyway because total secrecy is impossible.

So here I am being punished because I preordered the Gamers Edition from GW. I could have waited and got the book at a discount at a number of internet and local stores but I screwed up and forgot how dumb this company can be. Preorders are good for companies and most give bonuses; you often get the item a day/week early, sometimes you get a hat or whatever... I can't think of another company that makes preordering tangibly worse for loyal customers.

I'm not going to ditch GW for this or anything, I'm a rational person. But I'm not going to lie and say that I'm really annoyed on the Saturday night I had cleared to spend with my hobby...

Anyone else out there still waiting for their book?

[The AKH]

I ordered a Gamer's Ed. probably around the same time you did, from Canada, and haven't gotten mine yet either.

However, I seem to recall the little mouseover 'release date' info on the website saying that preorders placed ahead of a certain date would be shipped on 29 June, with any after that date shipped the Monday following.

In short, I don't think they're actually guaranteeing you product on launch day, unless you preorder via a company store. In all honesty, I preordered knowing full well I probably wouldn't have the book in hand yesterday. When I got the email notifying me it had shipped Tuesday, I became slightly hopeful that it might come through the post in time... but it's no big deal that I'm now going to have to wait til Tuesday (Monday is a stat holiday in Canada).

And at the end of it all, I do end up with a bunch of exclusives (having ordered the Gamer's Ed.) that were sold out within three days of posting, and I get the convenience of not having to leave my home to collect my parcel. Personally, I consider those valid reasons for preordering, even if it means having to wait a little longer. I don't think GW's handling of preorders is the best ever, but it certainly isn't something I'm going to complain vociferously about.

[eldargal]

Advance ordering for home delivery guarantees it will ship the monday following launch, if you want it on launch you need it delivered to a local GW store. It's right there in the advance order information.

[Gotthammer]

If you choose to ship to another address and place your order by the Wednesday before release we will ship this on the Friday (i.e. the day before release).

That's from the GW Australia site, and mine hasn't shipped...

[juliusb]

Yeah, I guess all that stuff is written on the website but I just figured they were covering their butts in case their was a problem. I was wrong when I thought it was just a dumb mistake; I guess it's a REALLY dumb policy.

[Mr.Pickelz]

Fedex is tellin me i'll get mine on July 3rd. :rolleyes: As long as i get it, and it's in good shape(aka everything is there and not torn up) I'm happy.

[RebelGrot]

Advance ordering for home delivery guarantees it will ship the monday following launch, if you want it on launch you need it delivered to a local GW store. It's right there in the advance order information.

Not true about the shipping. I ordered in store last Saturday in order not to miss the Collectors Edition. The guys there told me I'd definitely have it Saturday, and more than likely the day before as I was ordering it to go to my home address (I'm moving house so couldn't go to a store) and it was guaranteed for launch. Admittedly I didn't see the T&C on the site as they did it for me

It was shipped on Wednesday, four days after order and three prior to launch. I live in London; even second class mail should reach somewhere else in the UK within 3 or 4 days!

I almost don't mind it hasn't come, I'm not mad at GW for it being delayed etc. It's the fact I was promised it for yesterday so I didn't go and spend the day at the FLGS with my friends as I was waiting for the postman.

So, to the OP, I feel your pain and I too am not happy!

[UltramarineFan]

Advance ordering for home delivery guarantees it will ship the monday following launch, if you want it on launch you need it delivered to a local GW store. It's right there in the advance order information.

Actually I'm fairly sure the UK website said it would be with you by Saturday if you placed the order before Wednesday, if you ordered them after then they are shipped out on Monday.
And no, I haven't got mine so going to have to wait till tomorrow and yes I, like the OP, am pissed about it.

[UltramarineFan]

It was shipped on Wednesday, four days after order and three prior to launch. I live in London; even second class mail should reach somewhere else in the UK within 3 or 4 days!



Not forgetting the GW website says that for the UK standard shipping should take 2-3 working days.. grr

[energongoodie]

I really thought it would turn up on Saturday. It did not. I'm gutted :(

[Cpt Codpiece]

my friend ordered the gamers ed and i ordered the cards and templates (im waiting for the box game) about the same time online 20 mins or so after they went up.

we were both expecting the deliveries yesterday, but alas GW shipped them too damn late. we are not that bothered TBH but it is a let down in the days we live in where you pre install a game on your PC and have it the storke of mindinght on release day, then to have to wait for a delivery that should have been sent even a day earlier so it would be there on day of release.

[Corvus-Master-of-The-4th]

Wait... Just one thing, isn't alot of this dependente "early"on the reliability of the shipping companies? I am pretty sure i've had stuff shipped in time for a arrivial on a certain day for it to come a couple of days later... I mean Games Workshop may share said blame, as they may have released it late but even if it was released earlier, the postal services aren't perfect :S

[Wildeybeast]

I'm surprised how many people have got this one wrong, including EG I'm afraid to say (you were on the old system, they seeme to have changed dispatch day). I checked this on both the UK and US sites. If you ordered last weekend for delivery to a store, they guarantee it will be there for release (not sure what happens if it isn't). If you ordered for delivery to another address, they said they would ship it on Friday (29th). They gave no assurances about when it would be delivered, only when it would be shipped. The T&C's were clearly stated, so I don't know why people are moaning about not having it, you knew what to expect. Most UK computer game retailers operate similar policies, guaranteeing dispatch in advance of release but not necessarily delivery, so GW are hardly alone in this policy. This is because, as Corvus states, unless you pay for courier who guarantees delivery, you are left to the vagaries of the postal system.

[Gotthammer]

Well mine isn't even dispatched, so despite ordering it on the Saturday, it was not shipped on Friday as the website says it should be.

[Wildeybeast]

Then you have evry right to complain and I would be banging down the doors deamnding compensation. I'm not an expert on autralian law, but under British law they made a contract and have violated the terms.

[Gotthammer]

Yeah, customer services will be getting a 'please explain?' phonecall tomorrow from me at 9am sharp (and why I was chargedd shipping during a free shipping period).

[Watchman13]

I too am another disgruntled custome : (
I placed my order as soon as it became available on their website and noticed it had been despatched Thurs at 01:41 so I thought "Nice one, I should get it Saturday morning... release day." Nope! Still waiting for mine and when it does arrive I'll be at work which means I'll have to go collect from the PO at some point.

[Wildeybeast]

I sympathise, but that is hardly GW's fault. They dispatched as promised, blame the postal system.

[Gotthammer]

Update on my rulebook:

I called GW customer service and apparently my order got flagged as a New Zealand order somehow and sent through to their warehouse (we share customer service with them apparently), thus the shipping charge and price discrepancy. And NZ had a delay on part of their last shipment, including some rulebooks, thus the book not being shipped yet.
Customer service had sent out emails to affected orders manually, but I probably got missed due to country hopping or something, but my order is now on its way and they have refunded the price differential and the shipping cost, so it's all (somewhat) worked out in the end.

[juliusb]

I received my "shipped" email Tuesday 26 June and I'm still w/o BRB a week later. I know GW's US distribution center is somewhere in the SE US (Georgia or Tennessee I believe) and it doesn't take a 3-legged donkey/human hybrid 7 days to get to drag it's abomination of a physique to Detroit; let alone a USPS mail-carrier.

I believe GW is having a quality-control problem with mis-printed books and they don't want to own-up to it. Whatever it is, it's not the mail carriers. Disappointed in GW; if they want to be the elite-quality miniatures company they need to have elite-level customer support too.