Dark Regions Press:

[Chuggers]

I know most of you get the PS Publishing newsletter in which was this bit that may be good news: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR CUSTOMERS OF DARK REGIONS

Since the news that Dark Regions Press are no longer trading we have been contacted by a number of customers who had pre-ordered a copy of 11-22-63 with them.

Whilst we cannot offer any financial redress for this unfortunate situation (if you made payments through PayPal or your credit card you may have access to a claim/chargeback process), we are able to make the copies that we had originally earmarked for Dark Regions available to customers with pre-orders.

If you would like to contact us with your details including order reference and your preferred number, we will make a copy available for you.

(This offer is only available to customers of Dark Regions Press)

PLEASE BE PATIENT, WE WILL RESPOND TO ALL LEGITIMATE QUERIES ONCE WE RETURN FROM FANTASYCON.

[Boggle Champion]

I received the bankruptcy letter yesterday as well. I think the return address was from the bankruptcy lawyer's office.

[Splync]

FYI - I received a notice from the bankruptcy court today that Chris Morey (owner of Dark Regions) has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Someone on Facebook also received a notice. I imagine I'll get my own notice soon.

[jsweet]

FYI - I received a notice from the bankruptcy court today that Chris Morey (owner of Dark Regions) has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

[Martin]

Thanks Martin! Wish this would help me, but unfortunately, I paid via Paypal and they only help with purchases 6 months or newer. Since the bulk of my outstanding DRP orders were much older, I am essentially screwed. A part of my strongly wants to call the number on that DRP paperwork just to vent and let Morey know what a dick he is for the non-communication, but I am trying to take the high road. Even if there was nothing Morey could do to save DRP or make things right, at least an "I'm sorry" would have been nice. Oh well, you live and learn. Going forward, I know that I will not be letting any pre-order lag past that 6 month Paypal deadline. At that point, I will cancel the order and ask the publisher to recharge the item as a new order so that I can keep my payment protections!

You may try to reach out to Paypal and ask. When The Nocturnal Reader's Box did this, I had two orders that were both beyond the deadline to dispute. My credit card issuer (granted they are a small local credit union) took my information and issued me refunds. Paypal may not be as customer friendly, but it also may be worth a try. There was some effort required though. I had to get them copies of my correspondence with the seller, including emails that were never answered as well as write a statement of fact and get it notarized but in the end, I was not out any money. Good luck!

[sholloman81]

Anyone still with outstanding orders from Dark Regions and needs documentation for your credit card company this link is to the paperwork filed August 12th with the state of Oregon dissolving the company as of
July 1st.
Content Manager WebDrawer - SOS - Corporation - Business Entity Filing Records - 87604691 (state.or.us)

PS: Chris Morey's phone number is on the document if you want to reach out regarding a refund.

Thanks Martin! Wish this would help me, but unfortunately, I paid via Paypal and they only help with purchases 6 months or newer. Since the bulk of my outstanding DRP orders were much older, I am essentially screwed. A part of my strongly wants to call the number on that DRP paperwork just to vent and let Morey know what a dick he is for the non-communication, but I am trying to take the high road. Even if there was nothing Morey could do to save DRP or make things right, at least an "I'm sorry" would have been nice. Oh well, you live and learn. Going forward, I know that I will not be letting any pre-order lag past that 6 month Paypal deadline. At that point, I will cancel the order and ask the publisher to recharge the item as a new order so that I can keep my payment protections!

[Martin]

Anyone still with outstanding orders from Dark Regions and needs documentation for your credit card company this link is to the paperwork filed August 12th with the state of Oregon dissolving the company as of
July 1st.
Content Manager WebDrawer - SOS - Corporation - Business Entity Filing Records - 87604691 (state.or.us)

PS: Chris Morey's phone number is on the document if you want to reach out regarding a refund.

[Ben Staad]

Yuck. Bad news indeed.

From author William Meikle:
"Still no contact from DRP with anyone as far as I can tell. At this stage I have to assume they're dead and gone. I've had all my DRP books pulled from Amazon to stop DRP selling them and not paying my due royalties . Other authors are doing the same."

Even the authors are in the dark about the whole situation.

 

[Splync]

From author William Meikle:
"Still no contact from DRP with anyone as far as I can tell. At this stage I have to assume they're dead and gone. I've had all my DRP books pulled from Amazon to stop DRP selling them and not paying my due royalties . Other authors are doing the same."

Even the authors are in the dark about the whole situation.

[Boggle Champion]

I always assumed that the free paperbacks and limited editions offered during these promotions were old DRP stock from before Chris took over. I figured there were some titles that just lingered in stock and this was a way of moving them out of the warehouse. I don't know how this promotion was even remotely profitable.

I checked my emails and saw that the offer was from January, right around the time the company was first put on sale. Sounds like he was desperately trying to raise some money at that point.

[saginawhorror]

According to my records I only lost out on the pirates of the old world ebook. I quit collecting them a couple years ago. 

[Sock Monkey]

In early June I received a copy of Atlas of Hell (Midworld) from Dark Regions.

I bought it on a promotion where you'd get a free paperback for every $20 spent, and a limited Hardcover for every $100, plus free shipping on orders over $100. I ended up receiving 3 Lividian paperbacks, 1 Dark Regions anthology, a Weird House Press book and Earthling's The Spirit of Place...all for $116 w/ tax.

...Yeah, not surprising that this was not a sustainable business model.

I always assumed that the free paperbacks and limited editions offered during these promotions were old DRP stock from before Chris took over. I figured there were some titles that just lingered in stock and this was a way of moving them out of the warehouse. I don't know how this promotion was even remotely profitable.

[Splync]

In early June I received a copy of Atlas of Hell (Midworld) from Dark Regions.

I bought it on a promotion where you'd get a free paperback for every $20 spent, and a limited Hardcover for every $100, plus free shipping on orders over $100. I ended up receiving 3 Lividian paperbacks, 1 Dark Regions anthology, a Weird House Press book and Earthling's The Spirit of Place...all for $116 w/ tax.

...Yeah, not surprising that this was not a sustainable business model.

Solid business model...

[Boggle Champion]

In early June I received a copy of Atlas of Hell (Midworld) from Dark Regions.

I bought it on a promotion where you'd get a free paperback for every $20 spent, and a limited Hardcover for every $100, plus free shipping on orders over $100. I ended up receiving 3 Lividian paperbacks, 1 Dark Regions anthology, a Weird House Press book and Earthling's The Spirit of Place...all for $116 w/ tax.

...Yeah, not surprising that this was not a sustainable business model.

[Martin]

Already reached out to Amaranthine. DRP never ordered the books, so they won't be sending any their way.

I'm going to see what can be done on the credit card side, but unfortunately I think we're past the window in which I could dispute the charges. We'll see though!

I agree with Ron's statement above. Sean's statement, that I attached concerns me that Dark Regions knew what they were doing and hoped to sell the business before the house came down. Basically, Dark Regions was taking customers money for pre-orders that they never actually ordered. That would allow him to claim that money as a profit since there was no matching liability. I strongly suggest anyone with a pre-order from another publisher reach out to see if your money was used to actually place the order. The reason is that your financial institution may look at that as merchant fraud and refund you even if the normal dates have passed.