Over the past few days, I have had several emails asking me why copies of THE PORTABLE COLONIAL WARGAME are not at present available to purchase from anyone other than Lulu.com. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer other than to state that:
The paperback, two hardback, and the PDF editions are available to purchase via Lulu.com, but they are currently experiencing slower than normal production and delivery times for the printed editions.
To give you some idea of the impact this is having, I can give examples of my own experience with orders. I placed an order for some books on 2nd April; I was notified that they were ready to be dispatched on 11th April; and the tracking app tells me that the parcel is still awaiting collection by the courier company (a total of thirteen days to date). This compares with an order that I placed on 24th March, which was delivered on 2nd April (a total of ten days), and another – made when things were 'normal' – which was ordered on 20th October and delivered on 26th (a total of six days).
So, in answer to these emails, all I can say is be patient and the book will become more widely available in due course ... and for those of you who want to order a printed copy from Lulu.com, it is worth noting that they currently have a 10% sale price offer available on all printed books until 16th April.
- The paperback edition is listed on Amazon as 'unavailable'
- The hardback edition was listed on Amazon as 'unavailable' ... but the listing seems to have been withdrawn
'As the Coronavirus has spread, we’ve seen an increase in people shopping online. To serve you while also helping to ensure the safety of our employees, we have prioritised stocking and delivering items that are a higher priority for our customers. These are items such as food, health and personal care products and items needed to work from home. As a result, estimated delivery times for some items may be longer than usual at the moment. You can find updated delivery times on the product detail page.'Further information can be found on the webpage about Amazon and COVID-19.
The paperback, two hardback, and the PDF editions are available to purchase via Lulu.com, but they are currently experiencing slower than normal production and delivery times for the printed editions.
To give you some idea of the impact this is having, I can give examples of my own experience with orders. I placed an order for some books on 2nd April; I was notified that they were ready to be dispatched on 11th April; and the tracking app tells me that the parcel is still awaiting collection by the courier company (a total of thirteen days to date). This compares with an order that I placed on 24th March, which was delivered on 2nd April (a total of ten days), and another – made when things were 'normal' – which was ordered on 20th October and delivered on 26th (a total of six days).
So, in answer to these emails, all I can say is be patient and the book will become more widely available in due course ... and for those of you who want to order a printed copy from Lulu.com, it is worth noting that they currently have a 10% sale price offer available on all printed books until 16th April.
My advise is get the pdf and buy the book in a few months when this crisis is over! That's what I've done anyway!!
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteExcellent advice! It’s what I would have suggested myself ... if it hadn’t looked like me trying to push up my sales!
All the best,
Bob
I've had the Amazon product page sitting open in my browser for a week or so hoping for a change (and questioning their grammar as "back in stock" seems to imply they had had it in the first place). Taking your advice I went onto Lulu only to get puzzled as they showed me two - apparently identical - versions of the hardback, one at £19.49 and the other at £24.99. So I bought the paperback and am now waiting to see how long production and delivery will take.
ReplyDeleteFor Amazon, we are certainly not getting Prime "same or next day delivery" anymore but our experience has been pretty good. A book I ordered on March 17 - when they already had their "delays warning" notice up - arrived in 4 days (2 days earlier than promised) whilst my order for my elder son's birthday, which included 2 books, was placed on 5 April and arrived on the 10th. A few other orders - non book - have arrived in 2 or 3 days. So generally better than your experience.
From what I've read about the USA, Amazon's problem was the inward processing when restocking their warehouses to replace the goods being sold and they had asked that non priority deliveries - which included books and almost everything from marketplace sellers - be delayed. I imagine that they may have done the same in the UK.
There are also rumours floating around about paper shortages (not loo rolls in this case) impacting both POD and normal book production - and who knows what has happened to the big print run books that were supposed to be coming from China?
Mike Hall,
DeleteI must admit to finding the situation frustrating ... but I understand why, and my inconvenience is but a small price to pay if Amazon can really help those most in need,
There are two hardback editions of the book on sale at Lulu. The cheaper is printed in black & white on cream paper, and has monochrome images. The more expensive edition is printed on white paper and has colour images. I need to make sure that this is made clearer.
Some online deliveries are taking no longer than usual to arrive, and others are taking much longer. It seems to be a matter of luck - and what has been delivered to the warehouse - as to which will be the case with each order.
I understand that POD has been less affected than other forms of printing, and I suspect that the diversion of paper production over to disposable masks etc., as well as a reduction in print capacity due to plant closures will seriously impact mainstream publishing for some time to come.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
I ordered my copy as soon as I saw it on Lulu. It arrived after 6 days and I have to say that I am very impressed ! Not only with the delivery speed in these trying times but with the book itself. I'm not much of a colonial gamer myself but the chapters on campaigning, terrain, boats, trains tanks and planes mean that the "Revolution in San Guano" may start up again and continue for some time. Thanks for a fine piece of work.
DeleteYours,
Tony Jones
Tony Jones,,
DeleteYour book arrived quicker than mine did!
I’m very pleased to read that you found the book helpful, and I look forward to reading more about events in San Guano.
All the best,
Bob
San Guano started off as a campaign based on the old boardgame Junta , it was run by Gamers in Exile and as these things do , it grew. I once had the honour of commanding a regiment during the coup in Santa Mierda. All the best for these trying times,
DeleteTony Jones.
I picked up my PDF of PCWG and I grabbed a copy of Hexblitz too. One of my youngest boys has taken a shine to Stratego and so I've been slowly introducing more complex games over the stay-at-home thing. I figure we'll be playing TPGW and its different flavors soon enough.
ReplyDeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteThanks for your purchases. I hope that you reading the books and enjoy using the rules.
Good luck introducing your son to wargaming. From feedback I’ve received, young players seem to pick up the basic PW rules quite quickly.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI made the mistake of downloading the pdf version from Lulu today. I say mistake because I can see me spending a lot of money on new toys ;-)
I've got a question on the close combat rules in 'the Gatling's Jammed...'. The modified die roll to hit seems to be the reverse of what I expected. Is it the case that the 'Modified D6 die roll score = 2 or less: The unit is hit' mean that you are effectively dicing for the opponent's chance of hitting you? i.e. the lower your own die roll the more chance of your opponent inflicting a hit on you?
Nundanket,
DeleteThanks for buying my book!
The Close Combat system has evolved since the first book, and the one featured in the new book is effectively the inverse of the original mechanism. This was done in response to feedback where players pointed out that high scores produced good results and low scores mean poor results in the firing rules, but not in the Close Combat. I changed it in THE PORTABLE NAPOLEONIC WARGAME, and kept it in the latest book.
I hope that makes sense.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks Bob. Not sure I understand but to make sure I’ve got this clear, in the pdf version a high adjusted die roll is good in shooting but bad in close combat. Seems counterintuitive so I might just modify it in my house version.
DeleteNundanket,
DeleteIn both cases a high score is good. In firing, a high score is more likely to hit an enemy unit, and in a Close Combat, a high score means that your unit is more likely to escape unharmed.
Try it ... it makes sense once you begin to use the newer mechanism.
All the best,
Bob
Ah got it! I was a bit slow on the uptake. Thanks.
DeleteHi Bob -
ReplyDeleteI rather anticipated that deliveries might become problematic for the time being, which is why I haven't yet placed an order for the Portable Colonial Wargame. I have a feeling that the backlog that orders undeliverable for the time being might prove a happy hunting ground for the Making Orders Disappear Demon.
Meanwhile, I have so far received very good service from Lulu, which will remain my 'go to' site for online book purchases.
Cheers -
Ion
Archduke Piccolo (Ion),
DeleteWhen the lockdown first began in the UK, we had no postal deliveries in our area for a week ... and then a huge ‘dump’ of stuff arrived! Royal Mail has now sorted this problem out. (I think they might have recruited some new postal workers or reassigned people from other areas as it is obvious that the current delivery personnel are having problems with the eccentric house numbering on our street. We live at 84, there are no houses between 78 and 82, 90 is around the corner in what seems to be a different street... and 145 is opposite us.)
You’ll no doubt get a copy of the book in due course, and I’m sure that you’ll find it interesting ... at least, I hope that you do!
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Ordered be the PDF and print edition on day of release 😀
ReplyDeleteRead my electronic copy that day; my printed copy arrived today. The delay In this case was enroute; held up at the postal facility stop before my local post office.
Great book! Will see a lot of use; plenty of possibilities with Colonial war gaming.
Mike Taber,
DeleteYour print copy has arrived quicker than mine has ... although I understand it is not unusual for proper paying customers to get their books before the author gets their copy! (No bad thing, in my opinion!)
I’m very pleased that you’ve enjoyed reading the book and that it has generated lots of ideas for you to think about.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteTo add a bit to our exchange yesterday, I don't have a WSJ subscription but this URL: https://www.thepassivevoice.com/amazon-to-expand-shipments-of-nonessential-items/ gives an extract from an article covering Amazon's treatment of "non essential" items. For the USA of course, but the same may be happening here.
Mike Hall,
DeleteThat is a very useful article. It makes sense for Amazon to initially concentrate on supplying essential items before anything else. However, being a commercial organisation, it was only a matter of time before they gradually resumed their normal online retail services.
All the best,
Bob