dariustad Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Looks like Reaper just rolled a nat 20 on Diplomacy for improving the mood of all of the Bones supporters by at least two steps! Can't wait for my Bones to arrive! Woot! Hah, you apparently haven't read the comments on kickstarter :P Don't care. Whiners will whine. I never got into KS assuming everything would arrive in my hands on the first of the expected month, much less the final day. The important thing is they have started shipping in the month they promised, which is better than many projects with a far smaller funding group, and, certainly, with fewer options. I had a wild, fun ride on the Reaper Bones roller coaster. Reaper is shipping. Items will be delivered. I checked my sense of entitlement at the door. I will have fun using my miniatures in countless games over countless years. It did not cost me multiple limbs to pay for them all. I might even try painting some of them in the future. Diplomacy check succeeded! Happy! When I have Bones in hand, excitement will be mine! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buglips*the*goblin Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I'm certain I was about as excited by today's update as Reaper's glad that the logistical horrors of this kickstarter's coming to a close. But, my heart skipped a beat when they mentioned Canadian orders are being shipped by UPS. UH OH. I don't think I need to explain the abhorrent nightmare that's called UPS brokerage fees to Canada. Is there absolutely any alternative for us Canadians? I'd even gladly accept USPS first class over any kind of UPS service. Fear not, Canadian stuff gets shipped in a big truck to RAFM in Canada who then send it on to you (customs charge free) Oh why couldn't reaper have a partner in the UK (sigh)....... but as Bones are on the way I'm happy again anyway Edit: Ninja'd by a Goblin, how will I live this down According to the Kickstarter update, there is a good chance Canadian orders will be shipped via UPS: "We are working with UPS to arrange a special service where if we use UPS you won't have to pay any import taxes or duties. they will all be handled on our end. So, we may not be shipping from within Canada after all, if we can get it worked out quickly enough." - Creator, Reaper Miniatures In other words, we are boned. This sucks huge, UPS is a complete garbage company when it comes to Canada. I know the message says they are trying to arrange a way around import taxes and duties, and Reaper has been very good to it's customers, but I have been burned by UPS more than once and I don't believe a word out of their mouths. Awful, awful company, I really hope Reaper reconsiders. I never buy anything anymore that only offers UPS for shipping. I would like nothing better than to be completely wrong about this. The only major problem with UPS are the surprise fees, especially that brokerage fee. If Reaper assumes all that on their end, and we don't have to pay, then UPS would be the better way to do it. For actual shipping I've never had an issue with UPS. Or Fedex. Or DHL. But surprise fees? Those are a problem. So long as those aren't a problem, then I'm fine with the altered plan. Technically I suppose for myself personally I'd even accept the brokerage fee, but for Canadians as a whole it's better to avoid it. It's unclear if brokerage fees are covered by the "special service" but I'd imagine Reaper would be aware of those and work around it, otherwise there's no point in altering the plan since we'd all suddenly get extra fees we hadn't counted on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperbryan Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 We are working on details that would define us as an import broker, and responsible for our own fees. We'd bulk ship to ourselves in canada, pay our fees, and the UPS would pick up there and deliver. If it doesn't work that way, we will let people know. If it does, there will be an update to Canadian backers notifying them what to expect. We had not even realized this was an option until our UPS agent approached us last week, and so we're still working on it. Our goal is to make sure that you receive your parcels with both minimum delays and minimum fuss, and ideally zero unexpected fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suden Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 We are working on details that would define us as an import broker, and responsible for our own fees. We'd bulk ship to ourselves in canada, pay our fees, and the UPS would pick up there and deliver. If it doesn't work that way, we will let people know. If it does, there will be an update to Canadian backers notifying them what to expect. We had not even realized this was an option until our UPS agent approached us last week, and so we're still working on it. Our goal is to make sure that you receive your parcels with both minimum delays and minimum fuss, and ideally zero unexpected fees. Thanks for the update. I was way too negative in my original comment, but I the news came out of left field and caught me off guard. I do have faith in your abilities to get things done, I have been very happy with Reaper so far and I am still hopeful this works out well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buglips*the*goblin Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) We are working on details that would define us as an import broker, and responsible for our own fees. We'd bulk ship to ourselves in canada, pay our fees, and the UPS would pick up there and deliver. If it doesn't work that way, we will let people know. If it does, there will be an update to Canadian backers notifying them what to expect. We had not even realized this was an option until our UPS agent approached us last week, and so we're still working on it. Our goal is to make sure that you receive your parcels with both minimum delays and minimum fuss, and ideally zero unexpected fees. I appreciate the extra effort, and the clarification. It's weird stuff to try and sort out, and it gets weirder the more commercial websites move away from USPS. I order from Squadron and they'd switched to FedEx. Got it fast, no fees at the door, and a bill sometime later . . . for which I had to call in or mail payment, because there was no credit card option on their website to pay my fees (that struck me as almost medieval). Later I order from Noble Knight, chose DHL, and when it came I had to pay at the door. With exact change. So it's the sum of the hassles that make it . . . well, such a hassle, when courier services get involved. I mean, even when I know and expect extra fees that doesn't mean paying them off will be anything like easy. With USPS it's processed at the local post office, and if I have to pay they have multiple options. But that you're even investigating the option is a pretty swell touch. Edited March 28, 2013 by buglips*the*goblin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suden Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 We are working on details that would define us as an import broker, and responsible for our own fees. We'd bulk ship to ourselves in canada, pay our fees, and the UPS would pick up there and deliver. If it doesn't work that way, we will let people know. If it does, there will be an update to Canadian backers notifying them what to expect. We had not even realized this was an option until our UPS agent approached us last week, and so we're still working on it. Our goal is to make sure that you receive your parcels with both minimum delays and minimum fuss, and ideally zero unexpected fees. I appreciate the extra effort, and the clarification. It's weird stuff to try and sort out, and it gets weirder the more commercial websites move away from USPS. I order from Squadron and they'd switched to FedEx. Got it fast, no fees at the door, and a bill sometime later . . . for which I had to call in or mail payment, because there was no credit card option on their website to pay my fees (that struck me as almost medieval). Later I order from Noble Knight, chose DHL, and when it came I had to pay at the door. With exact change. So it's the sum of the hassles that make it . . . well, such a hassle, when courier services get involved. I mean, even when I know and expect extra fees that doesn't mean paying them off will be anything like easy. With USPS it's processed at the local post office, and if I have to pay they have multiple options. But that you're even investigating the option is a pretty swell touch. The exact change request at the door is crazy, it's happened to me a few times. You are coming to my door and asking for $73 dollars, you haven't previously notified me, and you expect I'll have exact change? Plus they won't take credit cards, cheques or debit. I've had to turn them away a couple times, and give a big tip another. I don't see why vendors seem to dislike USPS, I've never had a problem with their shipments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buglips*the*goblin Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 That's actually "our" own fault, partially. I think some of it was increased shipping fees, and some of it was the alarming number of packages to Canada winding up "missing". On eBay, especially, this sort of scam was fairly frequent - which is why when I was hunting Parthas I built a network of "no international" sellers who would vouch for me so I could get an exception. Each time one took the chance and I paid out, I asked if they'd give me a reference for the next time if they didn't have the item. I'd work down the chain in order of exception granted, and if I had to add a new link I'd have 20-odd people willing to say "yeah, this dude's cool". With a courier service, there's not much chance of this scam happening - and since all the shipping and fees are user-end, no cost to the company. Possibly in lost sales, but with the volume of items, and the price of items, being scammed it's probably a net gain. So, in short, some bad apples ruined funtimes for the rest of us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristof65 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 The surprise UPS brokerage fees are not something that just Canadians see. It happens to Americans getting things from Canada, too. I contract to a Canadian company that frequently has to send me and our mutual US customers parts from Calgary, and occasionally someone messes up the UPS shipping info. I get reimbursed for the fees, so that part doesn't bother me. What annoys me the most about is that the drivers have no way of leaving me any sort of receipt or copy of the invoice. And I've had drivers get all huffy with me when I've asked to go downstairs to my office to make a copy for my records - one of the drivers even stormed off once when I asked that. Since I have to have a copy for my records to get reimbursed, I find it rather annoying (and opening the potential for scams) that they haven't figured out a way to provide receipts yet. At least when they mail them to me three weeks later, I can make a copy of the bill for my records. Our mutual US customers get all pissy about it when it happens to them - they think we're trying to double charge them for shipping or sent it COD or something. One thing we discovered about this is that it's pretty much only with UPS ground shipments. We've never had it happen with Overnight shipping, so a couple of years ago, the company revised their shipping policies to the US - other than a select few customers and me, they don't ship ANYTHING to the US via UPS ground. It either goes via Canadian Post (which is exceptionally slow, and doesn't have the tracking capability customers like) or UPS overnight (which starts at $65 - of course, when you're ordering parts that are hundreds of dollars to get machines running that costs tens of thousands of dollars, that sort of fee seems a lot more reasonable than for miniatures). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Goodchild Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 We are working on details that would define us as an import broker, and responsible for our own fees. We'd bulk ship to ourselves in canada, pay our fees, and the UPS would pick up there and deliver. If it doesn't work that way, we will let people know. If it does, there will be an update to Canadian backers notifying them what to expect. We had not even realized this was an option until our UPS agent approached us last week, and so we're still working on it. Our goal is to make sure that you receive your parcels with both minimum delays and minimum fuss, and ideally zero unexpected fees. Just out of curiosity, why the last minute change of heart/plan? Did something happen to shake your faith in RAFM? Did UPS offer a better and/or cheaper alternative? I'm not concerned mind you, just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goblyn Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 We are working on details that would define us as an import broker, and responsible for our own fees. We'd bulk ship to ourselves in canada, pay our fees, and the UPS would pick up there and deliver. If it doesn't work that way, we will let people know. If it does, there will be an update to Canadian backers notifying them what to expect. We had not even realized this was an option until our UPS agent approached us last week, and so we're still working on it. Our goal is to make sure that you receive your parcels with both minimum delays and minimum fuss, and ideally zero unexpected fees. just for canada? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristof65 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 We are working on details that would define us as an import broker, and responsible for our own fees. We'd bulk ship to ourselves in canada, pay our fees, and the UPS would pick up there and deliver. If it doesn't work that way, we will let people know. If it does, there will be an update to Canadian backers notifying them what to expect. We had not even realized this was an option until our UPS agent approached us last week, and so we're still working on it. Our goal is to make sure that you receive your parcels with both minimum delays and minimum fuss, and ideally zero unexpected fees. Just out of curiosity, why the last minute change of heart/plan? Did something happen to shake your faith in RAFM? Did UPS offer a better and/or cheaper alternative? I'm not concerned mind you, just curious. Having dealt with UPS and FedEx enough regarding international shipments, my guess would be that it had more to do with UPS stepping up and saying "Why are you doing it that way, we can do this for you", and little to do with their faith in RAFM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperbryan Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 UPS stepped up and offered the alternative, and we had had problems with the previous shipment, so we decided to revisit the plan. I'm on my way to the meeting where those in the UPS meeting will tell me what went down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orlando_the_Technicoloured Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 I have this horrible feeling they'll have offered to do Almost everything you need, but not quite (as is the way of companies offering to do stuff) but good luck, and look forward to hearing back (even tho I'm not Canadian and so not involved, I'm just plain nosey ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kultus Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Is anyone else checking their email every 15 minutes? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTJ Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Is anyone else checking their email every 15 minutes? Yup. Also, I'd be interested to hear how this all applies to international backers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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