SR4 LE Previews Available, It's ALIVE!!! Options

[nemafow]

WOOHOO! So they have reached Australian shores?

I heard MilSims got some in, and are sold out already.

Still awaiting on my pre-Order although my status at BattleShop has been updated to Shipped as of 8 May.

Now see this pisses me off, I pre-ordered this book and the biggest douche of a gaming shop in Australia received their books before me.

[Caadium]

I'm not really sure that it would get much response currently, but have you tried contacting anyone there? I mean, posting about that (wanting to hear from someone at CGL) here, I don't really think that'll get much response. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

If i get a response I will share. I sent a message to Tara Bills since she's the one that seems to have processed the pre-orders. If an owner won't give me an answer, nobody will.

Now see this pisses me off, I pre-ordered this book and the biggest douche of a gaming shop in Australia received their books before me.

I'm on the same continent as the distributor and I'm still waiting. Of course, I paid for the UPS shipping, so I expect that means mine will be one of the last delivered. I mean, paying the extra money for the shipping generally means others get upgraded for free and I should have to wait right?

[Prime Mover]

Of course, I'm sure there won't be a shipping refund for those that paid for the UPS costs; just a free upgrade for those that paid for USPS (whoever is responsible). I paid for the UPS, yet have still no received my copy. There are copies in Australia, but not at my place in Sacramento?

Seriously, I'd love to hear from someone from CGL to explain what I got for paying for UPS versus the USPS rates? Of course, I'm sure I'll get that answer right after I get told what took the book so long to begin with. We've already seen that CGL has no interest in making amends with customers; after all they had our money for over a year already.

For a long time now I've gone with free or lowest cost shipping available and I'll tell you why. I've spent crazy amounts of money trying to get things in 2 days or less only have those expenditures take 8+ days to arrive, in one case more then two weeks. With free shipping I've had things arrive in 2 days or less (not the norm but a nice change).

[FenrisWolf]

671 was delivered and happily received. Looks wonderful (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Method]

Just opened 733/1500!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Top right corner bent!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Warlordtheft]

See sig, item #4. Bought at my FLGS on Sunday.

[Enin]

I still have yet to receive mine and it was supposed to be USPS Priority Shipping, which shipped on 5/5???

WHYYYY???

And why don't they list a tracking number?

[Jhaiisiin]

Both mine and my best friend's LE's arrived today. He got 673 while I got 750. Bum!

His plastic packaging was torn and when he opened the book, some of the pages were bent which makes him think it was handled before packing, which is kind of annoying.

My packing was perfect. No idea on book condition as I've no plans to open it.

[RunnerPaul]

I still have yet to receive mine and it was supposed to be USPS Priority Shipping, which shipped on 5/5???

WHYYYY???

And why don't they list a tracking number?

To answer the last question first, if your package was shipped through the US Postal Service Priority Mail, there won't be a "tracking" number for it. The closest thing that USPS offers for that kind of mail is a "Delivery Confirmation" number which lets the sender of a package know when it has been delivered. This doesn't do the recipient much good, because at that point, you would already have the package. (They do say that the Delivery Confirmation barcode might get scanned into their system at intermediate points in the shipping process, but they only scan they promise is the one at the destination, and since when have you known a government contractor to do extra work they don't have to?)

However, you might have lucked out. Several other posters in this thread had also selected Priority Mail, only to find that the distributor had sent out the order by UPS Ground instead. If this happened to your order as well, there would be a tracking number. The reason it isn't listed, is because the person who updates the order status on the website and generates the automatic emails is actually halfway across the country from the warehouse actually shipping the books. At the end of the day, they contact her with a list of what orders shipped. If you send an email to quartermaster@catalystgamelabs.com, she should be able to get your tracking number from the warehouse and forward it to you.

[Caadium]

I still have yet to receive mine and it was supposed to be USPS Priority Shipping, which shipped on 5/5???

WHYYYY???

And why don't they list a tracking number?

When I emailed Tara Bills I was able to get a tracking number today. Of course, the book arrived this afternoon. When I get home I'll check it out and post an update. If yours still hasn't arrived, ask them to look into it.

[Caadium]

#375 is here and ready to be used. The book is all that I had hoped it would be. The only 2 physical issues I've found are this:

1. The silver "Where Man Meets Machine" is a little smudged, probably from pressing on the case. Such is life. I will actually play with this book so I don't care.

2. Due to poster being put into the book, the spine wants to open to that part of the book as if it had been pressed open at that part. I'm not a big fan of my books having a random page of no specific value being the default that it wants to open too. Perhaps use will erase this.

These are minor and trivial. I truly love the 2 bookmarks and the book is actually all that I had hoped it would be. I just wish it didn't take so long. To every person that was involved in making this book a reality (writing, graphics, layout, concept, etc), you have my gratitude.

Here is what Tara said when I asked her about the UPS shipping and the delays.

1. In order to get the book to all customers sooner they upgraded everyone to UPS. Great news for those that were more willing to wait and wanted to save money; tough shit for those of us that actually paid for it though. When I had suggested that perhaps upgrading everyone to overnight would have had a better affect of pleasing and trying to make amends she said that upgrading to UPS was only $1-2 for those being upgraded, whereas it would be closer to $20 per person for overnight. This times 400 would mean a cost that she claims would have delayed production of another product.

2. She wouldn't really give a reason as to the delay, or how they've changed things. She hinted that part of it was a fight to get it printed at the quality CGL wanted for a reasonable price. As to what will prevent it in the future she said that the recent changes in staff (both their choice and those that left CGL on their own) means they've had to streamline their processes. She finished by saying that any future LE's would be approached from a bigger project perspective based on this.

In a nutshell, not really answers to me. I do appreciate that she was actually willing to respond, even if she didn't really say anything. Telling someone that things took a while because there were general complications and that now things have been streamlined is akin to a politician saying "vote for me, I don't like taxes." I also strongly suggest to CGL that they consider using just 1 shipping method for their orders. After all, if they are going to charge various rates but actually only use 1 then some customers wind up getting the short end of the stick.

[tweak]

I received mine. It's awesomeness.

[MJBurrage]

Upgrading all 400 customers to overnight shipping at $20 each is $8000.

Upgrading some customers shipping (say half) at $1–2 each is ~$300. Given that this also save the labor of sorting orders by shipping method, and its net cost is even less.

So, CGL not bumping us to overnight gives them $8000 more to pay freelancers. Sounds good to me.

Aside from all the production delays, the fact that other customers were given a slight bump in shipping also does not bother me; I got the shipping I paid for.

As for it being in some stores before it shipped to me; I pre-ordered the book from CGL (rather than my FLGS) to ensure I got one, and I did.

[graywulfe]

The closest thing that USPS offers for that kind of mail is a "Delivery Confirmation" number which lets the sender of a package know when it has been delivered.

You are very much wrong. USPS does do tracking on some packages. ATM I don't remember if it is a separate service you purchase or if certain types of shipping have it automatically applied, but they do have it. However it is not automatic on normal mail/packages like it is with UPS.

Graywulfe

[Seriphen]

761 showed up yesterday. It is beautiful.

[merashin]

863 showed up last night, and aside from a dent in the case it is awesome.

[Larsine]

Just got a confirmation e-mail from my FLGS, they have one waiting for my in the shop. I'm going to pick it up tomorow if things work out.

Lars

[BlueMax]

Stupid question,

Where is the poster supposed to be?

BlueMax

[Grinder]

Mine was placed in the book, between the first two pages.

[Man-of-many-Char...]

Mine too. And I think it's quite nice with these two sides.

[The Canterbury T...]

Copy 571 arrived today in Canada via USPS. Perfect condition with the exception of the book being glued into the slipcase due to being placed into it before the glue had a chance to dry. It resulted in some gum residue on the cover, which rubbed right off. It was fun getting it out though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Dixie Flatline]

Mine arrived yesterday. Somewhere in the 600s.

It's in pristine condition, which I appreciate lots.

It's... the shadowrun corebook in a slipcase with a number on it. It's nice, and I like it and am happy with it, but it's not awe-inspiring.

It's precisely what they said it would be at the beginning of this thread.

Except that the cover isn't leather from what I can tell, but I think I own two books total that have a leather cover, and I collect a lot of hardcover books.

[svenftw]

I'm pretty sure all the descriptions have used the words "faux leather" or "imitation leather" or something of that nature.

I got mine yesterday, #837. The UPS guy threw it over my fence.

[svenftw]

I was wrong, he certainly does say "leather" in post #1. I have to agree that it most certainly is not real leather, but I wouldn't expect it to be either. I think it is "Leatherette."

[MindandPen]

Number 556 has arrived and is in perfect condition.

I've opened it and looked it over, there are no physical defects I can find at this point. It will go on my shelf.

I've been drooling over the PDF for a year now, so I am very pleased with the condition of this book.

To everyone who was involved in producing this, a very big Thank You! It is all I had hoped it would be.

-M&P