Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Call of Cthulhu => Strange Aeons => Topic started by: LidlessEye on 03 February 2014, 07:06:36 PM
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A bit of a good news/bad news update this month.
The Good!
We've finally caved in and added PDF editions of our in-print rulebooks to the UMW Shop (http://www.strange-aeons.ca/umw-shop/). Strange Aeons ($24), Morbid Adventures ($16) and Shocking Tales #3 ($12) are now all available in digital editions. There's also the 'Virtual Insanity' bundle, which nets you the whole range of SA rules for a mere $66.66.
"What prompted this sudden change of heart towards the gentle PDF?" you might ask? There's a few factors at work here. First, our out-of-print material has sold very well, indicating that the demand is strong, and that there isn't a noticeable issue with piracy. Second, there are quite a number of people who aren't keen on paying for shipping, which brings us to...
The Not Quite So Good
For a few years now, Canada Post's insidious rate creep has been persistently nipping at our heels like an insatiable Hound of Tindalos. Despite Mike's valiant effort to eliminate all Euclidian corners from his lair (at least that's what he told me he was doing - may have been he just needed to vacuum...), those foul beast finally have us in their clutches. Alas, the time has finally come to raise the UMW Shop shipping rates. Here's what things look like now:
CANADA
Expedited Parcel (2-7 business days): $12.00
USA
Up to 1kg: Small Packet Air (no tracking, approx. 1-2 weeks): $12.00
Over 1kg: Expedited Parcel (4-10 business days + customs): $25.00
ALL OTHER COUNTRIES
Small Packet Air (no tracking, approx. 1-2 weeks)
- Up to 0.25kg: $12.00
- 0.26 to 0.5kg: $18.00
- 0.51 to 1kg: $36.00
- 1.01 to 2kg: $50.00
Orders over 2kg will ship by Air Parcel (same timeframe, but with tracking) at a flat rate of $75.
On the plus side, I've refined the weights of a number of items, particularly rulebooks. This should (hopefully) minimize the impact of the new rates on overseas customers. I was looking to add Express options, but the shop is being very difficult with me about it, and I don't know that there's really much demand anyhow. I'll give it another go if enough people want it, but for now we'll stick with the options as they stand.
Oh, and for reference, new product weights:
Miniature Packs - 125g
Crypt/Puppeteer - 300g
Godling - 875g
Shocking Tales - 200g
Morbid Adventures - 250g
Strange Aeons - 400g
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Eip! Shipping is as much as a single blister pack to the US? Ouch! It would have to be a big order or no orders for me in the future. I keep bitching about the US prices, wow Canada just rips the sanity right out of you.
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Canadian domestic rates are bordering on insane. I couldn't ship a package the 10km from my place to Mike's for less than $11.
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I keep bitching about the US prices, wow Canada just rips the sanity right out of you.
Shipping from the US to Canada is just as insane.
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Message to the Canadian Mail service! lol
(http://www.thecoast.ca/binary/de08/1266261173-icehole_letter.jpg)
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Sounds like the PDF is a good idea. It is very likely to encourage me to pick Strange Aeons up and see what all the fuss is about! I would appear that postage rates are getting high everywhere. I wonder what the long term impact will be on the hobby and on the small(ish) traders?
I really do like your cultists and deep ones and have been pondering an order for some time. Are the new shipping rates in full effect now?
Cheers, Steve
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Well I say BRAVO on going .pdf with the rulesets and other goodies! A smart move that will help a worthy game to spread its influence further upon an unsuspecting world.
*engage sinister cackling* ;D
Canada Post... I weep for you. I weep for my country. Oh well, nothing for it but to listen to the Talking Heads and The Damned turned up full. That'll cheer me up.
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Yes, after a titanic battle with the shop's shipping module this morning, new rates are now in effect.
Styx, to be ever so slightly fair to Canada Post, in terms of actual cost I can send a very small package to you in Florida cheaper than to Peabody in Vancouver. What kind of sense does that make? The rates are averaged out though, so I don't need to have a dozen tiers for each zone, or per province/state rates.
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Yes, after a titanic battle with the shop's shipping module this morning, new rates are now in effect.
Styx, to be ever so slightly fair to Canada Post, in terms of actual cost I can send a very small package to you in Florida cheaper than to Peabody in Vancouver. What kind of sense does that make? The rates are averaged out though, so I don't need to have a dozen tiers for each zone, or per province/state rates.
Wow, that is crazy....but I also used to work for the US Postal Service...it makes you wonder sometimes...
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Styx, to be ever so slightly fair to Canada Post, in terms of actual cost I can send a very small package to you in Florida cheaper than to Peabody in Vancouver. What kind of sense does that make?
Canada Post only charges you to send it to the US border. That is why it is cheaper. Seems odd at first but they are actually being fair in only charging you their part of the shipping
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Uh oh...Canadian mail...what have you done? Now we need to spend more on our hobby...the wives won't like that...
(http://nakeddc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/south-park-blame-canada.jpg)
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It's ridiculous. I offered to send one of the members in Holland some Dust material if he paid for shipping. The cost of one large envelope to Holland? $15! Not even a parcel!
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Sorry Mike
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Not a political debate. It sucks and that is all...come on guys, I don't want to lock this thread for sedition.
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It does really suck, but it really demonstrates how important it is to buy local and support small companies. Uncle MIke is a great guy and a good businessman. I'll pay the added costs. My orders will have to be larger! :P
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That's the spirit! lol
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I'll just wait till I have at least $100 worth of goods to order then it won't really phase me at all. Thanks to UMWW for holding the line as long as they could. And lets face it, they could have raised the rice of the blisters but they didn't do that. I was just working out what I wanted for my next order actually and this doesn't change my mind about what I plan to order, it's just a couple extra bucks to see a company I like continue to put out new product.
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I was just talking with Uncle Mike, and I can be of service to Strange Aeons gamers in the USA.
My online shop, The Thrifty Wargamer http://thriftywargamer.com/ (http://thriftywargamer.com/) stocks Strange Aeons. I don't have the full range yet, but I hope to rectify that soon. Because I am located in the USA, shipping here is much cheaper (and free on orders of $100 or more).
Here is a link to the Pulp/Horror section: http://thriftywargamer.com/collections/pulp-horror (http://thriftywargamer.com/collections/pulp-horror)
Hope it helps!
-Rico
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At this point, the only really viable solution is to set up distributors or maybe use fulfillment. Try MiniatureMarket, and I'll ask my buddy who owns Wreck Age (www.wreck-age.com) and find out who else they use. I know he has a good NZ/Oz disty.
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superflytnt - To clarify, I get my Strange Aeons figures from a distributor. That is how I can carry and sell them. If you like Miniature Market and they carry Strange Aeons, by all means buy from them, but I am a legitimate business, and thus a viable alternative.
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Hi Thrifty,
Although I will continue to support and buy from UMWW, being a fellow Pennsylvanian I've bookmarked your site and will give it a try in the near future. Like to support the local miniature scene also (local as at least you are in the same state, live in the NE myself.)
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Thanks diehard,
As a new business, I welcome the chance to win you over as a future customer. Thank you for giving me a try.
-Rico