SST Publications

[Boggle Champion]

My shipment of Cold in July finally arrived! Just over 2 months from when I first received the shipping notice...definitely the longest I've waited for a package to arrive, by far.

I was worried about the condition the book would arrive in after all this time, but the book and box were both fine. Hopefully everyone else still waiting receive their copies this week as well.

[TacomaDiver]

SST's shipments have always been surprises. I've gotten them in a few days, a week, two weeks. But never two months (week is fast approaching.) I had books from Blackstones, Goldsboro, and Waterstones very recently only take about 9 days to get here. And then some random books from some of the UK YA imprints take two days (but they ship those DHL for some random reason.)

It's not just international shipping, I have had some bizarre shipping times domestically, even after COVID. Priority Mail still gets stuck in LA for weeks at a time, and sometimes Centipede (Jerad is literally down the road from me) has take over a week to get here.

[swintek]

Yeah, same experience with his shipping boxes- they always look rough. Luckily, he packs the books well, so- no issues. I do wonder why SST's books do take so long to get over here as opposed to PS, or Sarob, Tartarus, etc: I always get those pretty darn quickly. Don't think I'm paying more either. Incidentally, that previous SST book I referenced above that took over six weeks to get here (I believe, ultimately, it was 8): I had emailed Paul and he quickly sent out a replacement, with my same number since it was in a series. Then, of course, 2 weeks later- I got the original shipment. We decided that I would cross out one of the duplicate numbers- which hurt, but had to be done. I then threw it in, gratis, with another book I sold to someone. I felt like an ass for complicating things so much, and it was right after that that Paul sent out a general email basically saying that he couldn't be jumping the gun replacing books that might eventually show up, and that we needed to give things more time. All by way of saying: I'm just hanging in there for now, hoping they show up.

[TacomaDiver]

Once I hear something, I'll be sure to update here.

Like I said, I usually don't worry - and knock on wood - haven't ever had an order go missing from anyone - but six weeks is a bit longer than normal.

And like Chuggers above, I have had some BEAT TO HELL boxes from Paul before. I don't know what the box manufacturers are like over there, but I think he should find a new one - they're pretty flimsy.

[swintek]

I still haven't seen my books that I got shipping notification for back on February 21st.

I'm going to send off an email and ask Paul if I should be worried. Never had anything take this long before so I'm hoping it's just an anomaly.

I'm still in the exact boat you are. 6 weeks and counting is a long time. I did have one of his books take this long before so still holding out hope that they'll show up soon. Please post here if Paul said that you should be concerned at this point.

[Chuggers]

I got mine in a little less time than I expected but that box had been through hell (books were fine though!)

[RonClinton]

I still haven't seen my books that I got shipping notification for back on February 21st.

I'm going to send off an email and ask Paul if I should be worried. Never had anything take this long before so I'm hoping it's just an anomaly.

I’d give it a bit more time before becoming concerned …two weeks doesn’t seem like a long wait for international mail these days.

EDIT: Sorry, I was off a month…thought it had been two weeks, not six.

[TacomaDiver]

I still haven't seen my books that I got shipping notification for back on February 21st.

I'm going to send off an email and ask Paul if I should be worried. Never had anything take this long before so I'm hoping it's just an anomaly.

[Boggle Champion]

Has anyone who was still waiting on Cold in July received theirs yet? I ordered the grab bag/sampler pack SST put out last week and that one already arrived, but still waiting for Cold in July.

[swintek]

Thanks for trying to set my mind at ease.

I know that untracked Royal Mail to the US says they aim for 42 day delivery, but I've never experienced that before. Paul was going through some family things, so maybe the actual mailing of the parcels was delayed. I know other publishers have taken weeks after generating a tracking number (your order has shipped!) before actually mailing the item.

Still waiting on mine as well, same Feb 21 ship date. Was starting to get a little nervous about it, but guess these are just on a "slow boat".

[TacomaDiver]

I received my copy of The Pallbearer's Club last week; so, hopefully, you'll see your copy soon. I have had some of their books in the past take that whole 40-day delivery window, but that's only happened once or twice. Normally it takes SST books about two weeks to reach me once shipped. That being said, I currently have something else shipping internationally and it's been stuck awaiting clearance in customs for over a week with no movement; so, maybe there's a back-up in international mail at the moment for some reason.

International delivery is so spotty at best. Makes USPS seem super reliable, and that's spotty at best too. I've had some books sent via DHL that got here in two days, and then some books from LA that took a month via Priority to Denver.

Also have a book that was sent from UK that's been in Customs in LA for about 10 days - it'll get here soon.

SST's deliveries are always surprises. I get a shipping notice, they don't show on my Informed Delivery service, and randomly they show up.

Fingers crossed this is the week!

[sholloman81]

Thanks for trying to set my mind at ease.

I know that untracked Royal Mail to the US says they aim for 42 day delivery, but I've never experienced that before. Paul was going through some family things, so maybe the actual mailing of the parcels was delayed. I know other publishers have taken weeks after generating a tracking number (your order has shipped!) before actually mailing the item.

I received my copy of The Pallbearer's Club last week; so, hopefully, you'll see your copy soon. I have had some of their books in the past take that whole 40-day delivery window, but that's only happened once or twice. Normally it takes SST books about two weeks to reach me once shipped. That being said, I currently have something else shipping internationally and it's been stuck awaiting clearance in customs for over a week with no movement; so, maybe there's a back-up in international mail at the moment for some reason.

[TacomaDiver]

I'm still waiting on my copy of Cold in July to arrive as well, and I think I received my shipping notification earlier than that. Just last Sunday was the update from SST that all copies have been shipped, so perhaps the package only got picked up last weekend?

I'm going to give it another week or so, and I'll post back here when the box arrives.

Thanks for trying to set my mind at ease.

I know that untracked Royal Mail to the US says they aim for 42 day delivery, but I've never experienced that before. Paul was going through some family things, so maybe the actual mailing of the parcels was delayed. I know other publishers have taken weeks after generating a tracking number (your order has shipped!) before actually mailing the item.

[dannyboy121070]

Have you read Malorie by Malerman? Worse than that?!

Haven't read MALORIE yet, but, in an odd coincidence, I almost started reading it yesterday on my KIndle, but went for Malerman's SPIN A BLACK YARN instead. Your post is making me think that was a good idea.

[Boggle Champion]

For anyone who ordered The Pallbearer's Club and/or Cold In July - have you received your copies yet?

I got shipping notifications on 21 February, and haven't received the package yet. I've never had any issue with books from SST not getting here, so this is definitely an outlier. When should I start getting concerned?

I'm still waiting on my copy of Cold in July to arrive as well, and I think I received my shipping notification earlier than that. Just last Sunday was the update from SST that all copies have been shipped, so perhaps the package only got picked up last weekend?

I'm going to give it another week or so, and I'll post back here when the box arrives.