MAN, that UPS tracking is nice...

[WendellM]

quote:

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I open the case... The cd had broke in half!!!

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Wow, bad deal, man. I've ordered several games from Shrapnel (H&M, AOA:WDK2K, and now SE IV) and each time that I opened the package and saw the CD in its frail paper envelope inside the manual, I had a mild fear that it'd be broken. Well, it was more than mild for SE IV: the manual had been creased badly near the top due to shipping trauma (the manual and top staple were bent about 45 degrees), but fortunately the CD was still fine.

Sorry that it happened to you, but I'd guess that if you email Shrapnel and then mail the shards of the CD back to them, they'd replace it (that possible solution was in the back of my mind when half-anticipating this situation myself). You might want to email them again since you haven't received a reply yet - they're usually good about replying, so your first email might have gone astray. Best wishes!

[Psitticine]

Ouch! Bitter!

UPS should cover the costs on replacing the CD, I'd think. After all, it takes talent to crack a CD in a padded packet marked "do not bend"!!

[AaronEdward]

well I'll mail the parts back to them.. I dont know what ups will do.. It does take talent.. UPS is good at that from what i hear.. ok call me impractical, but would it not be better, just for a better chance of making it, that the cd should come in a hard case?

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Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.

[markgame]

Hmm... my SE4 came in a huge 11x14" UPS flat envelope with no internal cardboard or stiffening, and I don't believe that it had any warning labels on the outside (I might be wrong about this, since I pitched the envelope already). I too had a concern about CD damage, but luckily it was fine.

This is a rather disappointing shipping method. I have purchased Combat Mission and Mindrover this year, both independent games published by small houses, and both were shipped in cardboard (Mindrover actually had a nice little shipping box). If Shrapnel Games continues to rely on this method of delivery I will be reluctant to purchase anything else from them in the future. I'm not trying to be nasty or anything, instead I just want to express a consumer concern.

[This message has been edited by markgame (edited 16 November 2000).]

[Psitticine]

They put the CD inside the manual which helps protect it. I do think a bit of stiff cardboard would be a nice addition though.

[Richard]

Actually our shipper handles that sort of thing but it would increase shipping to go with another method.

I will talk to Tim about this since I think you can put a "DO NOT HAND STAMP" message on most packages and that will usually save such problems from happenning.

In either case we will gladly replace any damaged CD's.

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Sarge is coming...

Richard Arnesen
Director of Covert Ops
Shrapnel Games
http://www.shrapnelgames.com

[AaronEdward]

They finally responded!! Anyone who has a broken CD, when you email them, be sure to include your order number to make things go faster.. I wouldnt have minded paying more for a case, if that could've saved me all this hassle. The manual isnt really thick enough to protect it anyhow Psitticine.
the envelope doesnt have any warnings.. except: "Contents should be packed to ensure safe transportation." how ironic. I'm agreeing with markgame on this one.

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Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.

[AaronEdward]

Well I think we've got it all worked out.. Once Shrapnel got to my email they wouldnt let it go They said they'll re-ship on the 22nd. Thanks guys !!

[Possum]

Absolutely! Software Completions screwed up on this one, Shrapnel. That was grossly irresponsible of them to ship your game without a cardboard stiffener in the envelope. I used to work in the corrugated industry, I know how dirt-cheap those are, so I am NOT buying any excuses about how it would have been too expensive. We are talking 2 cents more per piece, at an absolute maximum.