Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

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Lindsey
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Lindsey »

I'm waiting, too. Wondering if it has to be signed for etc.etc. and what happens if someone tries to deliver it when I'm out in the garden :???: :???:
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Mike P »

Hi Lindsey
You normally are left a card saying please collect from the sorting office or arrange for a new delivery time.... I find it very difficult to fit in with their restricted 8:00 - 12:00 opening times being at work all day so I now try to have anything I deem too large for the letterbox delivered to my work address. I read quite a chunk of it yesterday and have now got used to the writing style. The quality and range of the images is far better than any other Mesemb. book I have seen. maybe Keith dispatched them a few at a time?
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Keith L
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Keith L »

For the sake of clarification, those who ordered the book from Russell either as an original subscriber or subsequently will have it despatched by Russell from the USA - I am only supplying copies purchased direct from me.

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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by cactuspip »

Apart from Mike Partridge, has anyone else in the UK received their copy from the US yet?
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Lindsey »

Thanks, Keith.... for clarifying the situation from your perspective.
I ordered my copy direct, on 3rd April 2012.
cactuspip wrote:Apart from Mike Partridge, has anyone else in the UK received their copy from the US yet?
Cactuspip, you're a mind-reader :eek: I thought it was only me! :oops:

Suzanne Mace received a review copy "express delivery" - she posted (above, on p.3) on 1st Feb.
Mike P received his on 27 Feb.
Astro (profile country USA, I notice) on 27 Feb.

I guess we are accustomed to using Amazon for book and other purchases (I speak for myself) and the questions I would ask include:
How were books shipped? Surface mail, airmail or what?
Is there any tracking for the shipments (online or otherwise) between sender and recipient's postal addresses?
Is there any insurance/compensation in case of non-delivery?
Were they all shipped at the same time? If not, when was the last one sent out?
Does it make a difference whether the copies were pre-ordered (subscriber's name on list) or not?
How long should we leave it before notifying non-delivery?
How do we notify non-delivery, physical damage in transit, or (heaven forbid!) printing/binding problems?

NB.......... I do NOT intend this as in ANY way a criticism of the Little Sphaeroid Press, much more likely to be problems with Royal Snail :snal: or Parcelfarce. But these seem reasonable questions for a costly and specialist book production, which would apply to other publications for the succulent plant market, wherever they are produced.
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Aiko »

I can't recall: but was there an option to select the type of delivery (express, or regular)?
If so, I am sure I have chosen the cheapest one (I am Dutch after all...). So not so strange I have to wait a while. Have waited about a month for a book to arrive from the UK two years ago. And that's with just a sea in between, not an entire ocean.
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Mike P »

I ordered mine from Keith not from the US and it arrived a few days later.......
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by cactuspip »

Update - I contacted Russell Wagner earlier today. The copies for the international subscribers will be posted today. I guess they are going through a learning process with the first volume. Hopefully this will improve with the subsequent volumes.
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Jim_Mercer »

cactuspip wrote:I guess they are going through a learning process with the first volume.
Learning process works two ways, I now know that I will get the next book in the series quicker by ordering from Keith L....
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Re: Steven Hammer's Mesembs book series

Post by Lindsey »

I know nothing about the world of book publishing :shrugs: , but the idea of subscribing to a book seems to be about (a) supporting the author, and (b) raising funds for production of a realistic print run of the publication (it was a pity that Steven's Conophytum book "Dumpling" was remaindered! )

It seems unfair that subscribers have to wait longer to see their copies than someone who orders theirs from a different source. (Exception: I think it is entirely appropriate that a few review copies are sent out in advance of general distribution.)
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