New Mailing Procedures

Troll Lord · Post by **Troll Lord** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:49 pm

Well folks,

We are going to abandon the time honored media mail. This last bulk shipment of packages has ended very frustratingly. It seems to be taking the bulk of the packages 10-20 days to get to their destination. So many screens were lost it is boggling my mind.

So here is what we are doing:

1) We have installed a meter machine in the mail room. This will allow us to give each package a tracking number. We will use this as much as we can in order to allow us to track packages.

2) All packages will be sent first class or standard.

3) Book boxes for shipping small quantities of packages are being purchased and will replace the padded envelopes.

4) Shipping prices will go up marginally. We have, for a long time, kept our shipping rates at 3.50 for just about everything, but we will have to raise that a little as that only covers the packaging and a media shipping rate.

So, look for these changes in the coming weeks. Hopefully it will help us get a better handle on the shipping issues.

Thanks for the continued patience.

Steve

Troll Lord
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:31 pm

Very nice. I'd gladly pay more for non-media mail. Good buisness and good to finally hear, Trolls.
...........................................Omote

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Post by **Breakdaddy** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:22 pm

I will continue to opt to have mine shipped HAND-MAIL, thank you very much.

Orpheus · Post by **Orpheus** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:40 pm

Your attention to service during this little mishap has been most appreciated. Thank you for resolving the problems for those of us who didn't receive our screens. I'll definitely pay a little extra for good mail service. I always do.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 5:38 pm

Orpheus wrote:
I'll definitely pay a little extra for good mail service. I always do.

Agreed.

jman5000 · Post by **jman5000** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:26 am

I will too - considering that I haven't seen Crusader #5 yet. Anything to get more reliable deliveries would be much welcome news.

Cheers,

J.

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:15 am

I suport this totally. No problemo with slight increases.

Thanks again to the Trolls for all their efforts!
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torren · Post by **torren** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:51 am

I agree totally support your decision....as my last package was open and while my C&C screen was in good shape, not the best thing for shipping.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:35 am

Oooo a tracking number. Sounds so... modern. Welcome to the last 20 years.

Good news, Steve.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:00 am

Don't get too excited about the tracking numbers. The post office doesn't actually guarantee that they will actually use the tracking number, only assign it one. Truth.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:19 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
Don't get too excited about the tracking numbers. The post office doesn't actually guarantee that they will actually use the tracking number, only assign it one. Truth.

True. If these tracking numbers are for the United States Postal System, they are pretty much only used to say whether or not a package was delivered. Tracking it "along the way" is next to impossible.

.............................................Omote

FPQ
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:23 pm

On a side note, I know people want to be smart about spending money efficiently with cheeper postage rates, but honestly charing more for Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Flat Rate (for the big orders) is so worth it to know that you are going to get your stuff. I'm not even oppsed to UPS costs for shipping... that way I can totally track my packages directly from the TLG home offices!

.................................................Omote

FPQ
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DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:27 pm

One thing to consider as well, reasonable rates on Priority Mail. Noble Knight manages that and I order from them almost exclusively because of it. Its dependable and FAST service. When Noble Knight e-mails me saying they shipped it, I can guess what day I'll receive it with 99% accuracy because it is a reliable service.

Problem with priority, is most people that offer it offer it a far higher rate than they should.

Troll Lord · Post by **Troll Lord** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:28 pm

I'll check with Davis about the priority mail and find out about the cost. That may be the next approach.

Best way would be UPS as they have a grossly effecient machine. But the cost would be about double normal shipping rates I think.

Steve
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He who sits on the elephants back

Castle and Crusade Society
troll@trolllord.com

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 1:50 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
One thing to consider as well, reasonable rates on Priority Mail.

Don't get me wrong, NKG is a great but don't kid yourself on their shipping. They make money on their priority mailing service Their POS system caculates Priority Mail shipping coasts based on approx weight, product dimensions, +X. That is a happy, healthy bottom-line X too.

Steve is right, UPS would be expensive ~ and in the end it only gives users a nifty tracking tool anyways. USPS is damn good too. Priority mail being about $4-5 bucks for envelopes or smaller boxes/packages. But for the USPS flat Rate Box ($8.95) you get a lot of room to pack stuff. You could put like 30 C&C mods in there or 6-7 PHBs, or 3 CZ1s. PLUS, its priority...
.............................................Omote

FPQ
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Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:56 pm

UPS may be efficient in the US ... but as soon as they see an opportunity to cross into Canada, you get stiffed with extra 'Brokerage' Charges at the border which, in my experience is as much (give or take a couple of bucks) as shipping!

However, USPS is really cool and I've hadn't had any issues when they've passed it off to the Canadian Postal Service. When I order from Noble Knights, I like the Global Priority envelope option... at $7.95 USD and the ability to ship a bunch of modules or a hardcover and a couple of modules... etc. It helps my needs.

Actually, which the exchange rate and cost of shipping plus the slight mark down that Noble Knights gives, I end up not paying more for the same product should it actually appear in one of the games stores here (where I also have to pay taxes on top of it all).

Moriarty the Red
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DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:41 pm

Omote wrote:
Don't get me wrong, NKG is a great but don't kid yourself on their shipping. They make money on their priority mailing service Their POS system caculates Priority Mail shipping coasts based on approx weight, product dimensions, +X. That is a happy, healthy bottom-line X too.

I'm sure they do, but what they charge to ship, I've seen several retailers charge 2-3 dollars more for the same shipping.

Plus, Noble Knight has given me stroe credit SEVERAL times when the shipping price they charged me was to far out of line with what it actually cost.

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:23 pm

Imho,

I've been selling and buying on ebay and other trading forums for as long as I remember and I've ONLY ever had problems with UPS and FedEx. It costs so much and things never quite arrive as quickly as you'd think they would. (or in the best condition)

I'm an avid supporter of USPS and good old Canadapost. Even so I have to say I love USPS. Global Priority Mail hasn't failed me yet. *crossing fingers* You americans have a great mailing system over there.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:28 pm

Quote:
You americans have a great mailing system over there.

Don't tell that to the people who work within it, like my to-be mother-in-law. There are incredible horror stories.. and it gets even better when they start closing something down, or decide they should redirect mail from one place to another. Of course, that's the USPS, and not one of the "companies" so maybe they're better.... but I doubt it.

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:49 pm

angelius wrote:
Imho,

I've been selling and buying on ebay and other trading forums for as long as I remember and I've ONLY ever had problems with UPS and FedEx. It costs so much and things never quite arrive as quickly as you'd think they would. (or in the best condition)

I'm an avid supporter of USPS and good old Canadapost. Even so I have to say I love USPS. Global Priority Mail hasn't failed me yet. *crossing fingers* You americans have a great mailing system over there.

I agree with your comment about UPS and Fedex with Fedex holding a slightly higher spot on my scale.

I love the USPS though.

Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:41 pm

Sounds like a good upgrade at Troll HQ. The increase in shipping is understandable. (I have ordered only a few things direct from the Trolls, but everything has arrived save and sound.)
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