1j3tang
This is a rant more than anything, but I placed my first order to FS on 16 June 2022. I had purchased 6 books with express shipping and after placing the order, noticed that the free notebook was not included. I reached out to FS and they responded very promptly and addressed it by placing a no-cost "order" under my account for the free notebook with express shipping.
About 10 days goes by and I login to my account to find that nothing has happened to that order, the shipping label was created but it never got shipped. I reached out to FS support again and very promptly they responded and apologized, and then did the same thing to place a no-cost order for the notebook again. Shortly after, I noticed the same thing happened again -- shipping label created, but no movement. And at this point, there are 2 orders like this on my account.
Ok, reached out again to FS ... and again, the support was very apologetic, they said maybe there's something wrong with the express shipping, so they said they'd try to do this with standard mail. A few days go by and there's nothing on my account in terms of a 3rd order by standard mail, but then suddenly I received a DHL email indicating there was a package being sent to me. Seems like they didn't do standard mail, and maybe didn't put it through the system? But it looks like everything is working just fine.
Fast forward 2 days later (today), DHL contacts me and says I need to pay $25 customs before they can deliver the package ................... *face*palm*
About 10 days goes by and I login to my account to find that nothing has happened to that order, the shipping label was created but it never got shipped. I reached out to FS support again and very promptly they responded and apologized, and then did the same thing to place a no-cost order for the notebook again. Shortly after, I noticed the same thing happened again -- shipping label created, but no movement. And at this point, there are 2 orders like this on my account.
Ok, reached out again to FS ... and again, the support was very apologetic, they said maybe there's something wrong with the express shipping, so they said they'd try to do this with standard mail. A few days go by and there's nothing on my account in terms of a 3rd order by standard mail, but then suddenly I received a DHL email indicating there was a package being sent to me. Seems like they didn't do standard mail, and maybe didn't put it through the system? But it looks like everything is working just fine.
Fast forward 2 days later (today), DHL contacts me and says I need to pay $25 customs before they can deliver the package ................... *face*palm*
2SF-72
>1 j3tang:
I had a similar problem with a replacement for a damaged book DHL wanted customs fees for. I contacted them and forwarded the email contact with FS. It was a huge hassle with some back and forth and filling in online forms, but in the end they delivered the book without extra fees. The way I understand it, DHL refuse to accept packages that are marked as free of charge, never mind if they actually are. I wish FS would stop using DHL Express - they're absolutely awful when it comes to the whole customs thing.
I had a similar problem with a replacement for a damaged book DHL wanted customs fees for. I contacted them and forwarded the email contact with FS. It was a huge hassle with some back and forth and filling in online forms, but in the end they delivered the book without extra fees. The way I understand it, DHL refuse to accept packages that are marked as free of charge, never mind if they actually are. I wish FS would stop using DHL Express - they're absolutely awful when it comes to the whole customs thing.
3treereader
>2 SF-72:
DHL is a horrible delivery service in the states. Unless you paid for and created the actual shipping order, you mean nothing to them. You might think you paid indirectly via Folio when they charged you shipping. You are right. But since your name isn’t Folio Society, they won’t even talk to you, let alone help you. They will gladly leave a box of books in a pile of snow or uncovered in a rain storm. It’s their pleasure to do so.
DHL is a horrible delivery service in the states. Unless you paid for and created the actual shipping order, you mean nothing to them. You might think you paid indirectly via Folio when they charged you shipping. You are right. But since your name isn’t Folio Society, they won’t even talk to you, let alone help you. They will gladly leave a box of books in a pile of snow or uncovered in a rain storm. It’s their pleasure to do so.
4mr.philistine
>3 treereader: DHL... won’t even talk to you, let alone help you.
GDPR rules (CCPA in the USA?) prohibit mail carriers from revealing any details of your parcel to anyone but the sender, including the outcome of any claims - which can only be initiated by the sender.
Regarding the latter part of your statement, I have received 'help' from DHL customer service in the form of profuse apologies for violation of their SLA.
Large mail carriers like DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT etc.. are notorious for high additional charges in the form of 'brokerage/ customs duty/ warehousing fees'. Smaller carriers like DPD or Aramex appear to have proportionately lesser delivery charges.
All things considered, national mail carriers like USPS, Royal Mail, La Poste etc.. are the most reasonable. But 'parcel delivery comparison websites' like ParcelMonkey/ Parcel2GO/ Interparcel can spring a few surprises with drop-off economy services inclusive of tracking and insurance up to 50% cheaper than their above-mentioned counterparts.
GDPR rules (CCPA in the USA?) prohibit mail carriers from revealing any details of your parcel to anyone but the sender, including the outcome of any claims - which can only be initiated by the sender.
Regarding the latter part of your statement, I have received 'help' from DHL customer service in the form of profuse apologies for violation of their SLA.
Large mail carriers like DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT etc.. are notorious for high additional charges in the form of 'brokerage/ customs duty/ warehousing fees'. Smaller carriers like DPD or Aramex appear to have proportionately lesser delivery charges.
All things considered, national mail carriers like USPS, Royal Mail, La Poste etc.. are the most reasonable. But 'parcel delivery comparison websites' like ParcelMonkey/ Parcel2GO/ Interparcel can spring a few surprises with drop-off economy services inclusive of tracking and insurance up to 50% cheaper than their above-mentioned counterparts.
5rose2214
Hi there, I was wondering if anyone has a (spare) copy of the most recent notebook that you may not need anymore? I didn't get one with my eligible order and would love to have one. Thank you.
6j3tang
>5 rose2214:
This is exactly the fiasco my post is about .. i didn't get one with my order and emailed them about it and they sent one out separately and now this free notebook is going to cost me $25. I'm still debating whether I want to pay for it at all -- what kind of a notebook is this? Is it even worth $25?
This is exactly the fiasco my post is about .. i didn't get one with my order and emailed them about it and they sent one out separately and now this free notebook is going to cost me $25. I'm still debating whether I want to pay for it at all -- what kind of a notebook is this? Is it even worth $25?
7What_What
>6 j3tang: Only you can answer that question.
8Kainzow
>6 j3tang: Well, chances are you'll be among the few people who'll own it. I mean you won't find anything similar in any shop.
I like mine, and I'm still wondering what I can write in it to make it special.
But as >7 What_What: said, only you can tell if it's worth it. :)
I like mine, and I'm still wondering what I can write in it to make it special.
But as >7 What_What: said, only you can tell if it's worth it. :)
11SF-72
>10 folio_books:
That's another option, of course. In my case FS had offered to pay the tax plus the DHL fee for charging the tax for something that should have been tax-free, but I just didn't see why DHL should rip them off like that. I could get the tax etc. dropped by contacting DHL and proving that it was actually a free replacement. That was some hassle, though.
That's another option, of course. In my case FS had offered to pay the tax plus the DHL fee for charging the tax for something that should have been tax-free, but I just didn't see why DHL should rip them off like that. I could get the tax etc. dropped by contacting DHL and proving that it was actually a free replacement. That was some hassle, though.
12English-bookseller
>11 SF-72: Maybe this ridiculous situation is a good reason for The Folio Society to use another delivery firm like Fedex or UPS?
14j3tang
I'm so confused, and I'll preface this by saying I'm new to Folio, so if I'm supposed to know what the notebook looks like ... I can say that I definitely don't.
Only notebook from Folio I can find online looks like the cover is from the Little Prince set .. is that what I'm getting?
>9 SF-72:
Phoned DHL and spoke to 2 people, and neither have any interest in seeing the email. They said to take it up with Canadian Border Services.
>10 folio_books:
I've told Folio customer support about it and they said they'd send another out by standard mail.
This is somewhat amusing, but at the same time frustrating. I'm not eager for the notebook, but if it ever shows up, great.
Only notebook from Folio I can find online looks like the cover is from the Little Prince set .. is that what I'm getting?
>9 SF-72:
Phoned DHL and spoke to 2 people, and neither have any interest in seeing the email. They said to take it up with Canadian Border Services.
>10 folio_books:
I've told Folio customer support about it and they said they'd send another out by standard mail.
This is somewhat amusing, but at the same time frustrating. I'm not eager for the notebook, but if it ever shows up, great.
15wcarter
Here is what all the fuss is about. A simple notebook 15.4x10.9cm. with plain unruled pages, a page marker ribbon and elastic book closure strap.
16j3tang
>15 wcarter:
Thanks for settling this once and for all. I’m glad I didn’t spend the money on the import fees.
Thanks for settling this once and for all. I’m glad I didn’t spend the money on the import fees.
18elladan0891
>15 wcarter: Judging by the Eagle St address, this is one of the older notebooks. I'd even guess it's pre-2014, as I think - although not 100% sure - I have all their notebooks since 2014.
The current one has the binding copying the Murukami design as >17 Kainzow: mentioned, but with colors reversed - red binding with a blue dot. There is no ribbon, but it does have an elastic closure strap. Pages are not ruled. The binding is clothbound, but it's a much more flimsy affair than some of the other notebooks they gave away in the past - the boards are thin and bendable, probably plastic inside. I much prefer older buckram-bound hardbacks with designs like Breakfast at Tiffany's or The Singing Sands. Those were ruled, which I prefer.
The current one has the binding copying the Murukami design as >17 Kainzow: mentioned, but with colors reversed - red binding with a blue dot. There is no ribbon, but it does have an elastic closure strap. Pages are not ruled. The binding is clothbound, but it's a much more flimsy affair than some of the other notebooks they gave away in the past - the boards are thin and bendable, probably plastic inside. I much prefer older buckram-bound hardbacks with designs like Breakfast at Tiffany's or The Singing Sands. Those were ruled, which I prefer.
19wcarter
>18 elladan0891:
I received the black one above with an order earlier this year. Maybe they found some old stock and are getting rid of it. I also have the notebook issued with the Philip Dick short stories logo on the cover that I received last year (see below).
This is in the style mentioned by >18 elladan0891:, and not nearly as sturdy as the Black one above.
The FS has done multiple notebooks in this style, with different covers reflecting books published that year.
I received the black one above with an order earlier this year. Maybe they found some old stock and are getting rid of it. I also have the notebook issued with the Philip Dick short stories logo on the cover that I received last year (see below).
This is in the style mentioned by >18 elladan0891:, and not nearly as sturdy as the Black one above.
The FS has done multiple notebooks in this style, with different covers reflecting books published that year.
