Shipping update April
about 2 years ago – Fri, Apr 08, 2022 at 05:05:20 PM

Hello,

Another quick update - I believe we have now secrued a shipper for the books - we had slight set back last month as I contracted Covid19, but work has progressed. 

Right now, if you've seen the news in the UK, you'll be aware there are huge delays on trucks coming from the continent, and we've had to do a lot of negotiating, and putting up various securities to get a spot on a truck. Brexit continues to cause extra hurdles, but I think we're there.

What seems to be the last piece of paperwork was completed today, and I'll be back in touch if we get a collection date.

Thanks as ever for your patience. It's been a very strange process which should not have been this difficult. Hopefully we're closing in on that finish line.

Jon

Shipping woes continue...
about 2 years ago – Thu, Feb 24, 2022 at 11:39:55 PM

Hello,

As you may have noticed we are yet to deliver your copy of Art Adventure. In our last update we related how we'd been told that the books were being collected from the German warehouse the very next day. And then a problem arose with the paperwork - which was very annoying, since shippers of the size we're using, one would think, would have their ducks in a row when they say they're ready to collect. 

The issue seemed like something we could overcome relatively simply. That turned out, over a series of unfolding events, to not be the case. The rules of moving goods between the EU and the UK changed (again) in January, and it seems this has caused a huge amount of confusion and delays throughout the system. 

Ever since, we've been struggling to get clear information to share about exactly what's going on. I finally found out yesterday, after a great deal of persistence, that our German partner's warehouse has also been in quarantine for weeks thanks to an outbreak of covid 19, which explains a lot of the bumps in communication - no one has been there to speak to us.

None of this is in any way ideal, and we're all very frustrated. We have now made some new plans, and we're hoping there will be news today or tomorrow with a schedule for getting things moving.

I can share that Ralph is deeply unhappy about all this, and very worried about disappointing you all, and I certainly share that frustration. Between Covid and Brexit we seem to be facing some huge challenges here, and every one involved in the logistic chain is under huge pressure right now.

None of which especially helps you.

So, in light of this, we've put some time and work into making a PDF version of the book so that you can at least get something to enjoy while we resolve this logistics situation. It'll be made available to you today via Backerkit - you should receive and email giving you a link to the file.

You may remember that initially we didn't think that we'd be able to produce a digital version of appropriate quality, especially for a book this complex. However, since we feel we want to do something for you all while you wait, our team has put the work in to make just such a PDF. It's still a large file, but it should give you a sense of the book. 

Thank you all for your continued patience. These really are trying times, but rest assured, the books exist, we just need to overcome some bureaucratic hurdles, and then we'll get them to you.

Jon & Ralph

February Update
about 2 years ago – Fri, Feb 04, 2022 at 02:04:45 PM

Hello!

Gosh, Omicron and Brexit have both been working together with the ongoing global shipping crisis to vex our efforts to move these books from Germany to the UK for dispatch.

Now. I thought I was going to be writing an apologetic update today, and that I would attempting to explain further delays that I hoenstly don't really understand, beyond "shippers don't want to bring things to the UK anymore, and it takes a long time to get them to move a shipment of our size - too big to be couriered, too small to fill a whole truck." 

However, things change fast, and we have just had confirmation that the pallets are being collected in Germany tomorrow. It should take about a week to reach our fullfilment partners, and I'll let you know as soon as it arrives.

I'm also reliably informed that dispatch of EU books will begin in the next day or two.

Our apologies for this rather confusing and vexing delay - it's certainly not been our intention to mislead when we beleived things would be sent out prior to Christmas - it looked entirely possible at that point, but shipping is constantly in flux right now. But I am now cautiously optimistic we'll see some real movement.

It's not the greatest of times to be trying to fulfil a kickstarter, so thank you so much for all your patience and support, it is truly appreciated.

Jon & Ralph.

January Update
over 2 years ago – Mon, Jan 10, 2022 at 02:55:20 AM

Hello!

Happy New Year!

Let's get right down to business - somewhat predictably Omicron is kicking the backside of global logistics, so we don't yet have our books in the UK to begin UK fulfilment. The truck drivers heading out of Germany have had to quarantine for 5 days if they come to the UK, meaning that not so many want to do that run. Especially in late December!

However, things remain in progress, we have good lines of communication with all our partners, and I will of course let you know as soon as the books arrive with us in the UK.

The good news is our planning "fails safe", so we know precisely where the books are, and they're in friendly hands, which is excellent news. And EU fulfilment is about to begin. I like to try to keep things "together" as far as possible, so once the UK/ROW/US books leave for the UK, we'll kick off the EU fulfilment. That way we should keep the window of arrival for everyone to a reasonable size, rather than things happening spread across huge swathes of time, which can get super confusing.

Of course this isn't an ideal situation, and it is additional delay, for which we can only apologise (in as much as apologising for the continuing echoes of an ongoing global pandemic means anything! :( ). 

But speaking to colleagues in the publishing world, things could be far worse. We have a series of small hurdles to cross, rather than the titanic ones that some of our contempoaries are facing moving books around the world. Fingers crossed it all happens sooner rather than later.

That's it for now. I hope you had a good festive break, however you might have celebrated, and that you managed to get some rest time.

Oh! Don't forget to check out Ralph's Patreon for monthly prints and all kinds of cool business!

https://www.patreon.com/RalphHorsley

Jon 

We have physical books on hand!
over 2 years ago – Thu, Dec 09, 2021 at 05:12:41 PM

Hello!

We've taken delivery of some advance copies of Ralph's book here in the UK! Dispatch is about to begin in earnest to EU addresses, and a big shipment of books are en route to the UK right now, to be dispatched to US, UK, and "Rest of World" addresses. 

It's taken a little while to plot the best course through all the current hurdles with international shipping, but we're happy we have the best plan in action now.

I'm absolutely delighted with how the book turned out:

These photos are considerably higher contrast than the reality, and I'm super happy with the print quality (as expected - we use this printer a lot.)

Other stuff

A few people never completed their surveys, so we don't have their addresses. Orders are now locked on backerkit, so you'll need to drop us a line via [email protected] if you'd like your book. We'll concentrate on getting them all sent out, and then chase up this handful of remainders.

That's it for now. Don't forget to check out Ralph's Patreon if you're interested in art prints, process videos and supporting your friendly local fantasy artist! There's are some really cool early bird deals - not sure if they're still available, so you'll need to hurry!

Thanks again for all your support on this campaign, we're really looking forward to getting you those books.

Jon