Thanks, Dan!
Thanks, Dan!
Wanted list:
Ubris
Dan,
If you look back at the start of this thread, first post. You can get a sense of the disappointment, delays and frustration amongst the collectors of CD books! It would be nice to get some reassurance that the books we paid for will be released (before we pass) and our investment on CD and their products is safe and sound! It will be great to see some movement on many much delayed King books!
Thanks for joining the boards and responding! Glad you are at CD!
Kingfan24, Dan only has 3 posts. He can't PM or email yet using our site.
I suggest you email him via the address he provided and give him a chance to help you.
I very much understand being frustrated! Our delays have certainly hit an embarrassing length. I would love to give dates and schedules but I simply don’t have any specifics that I can guarantee will be realized. I can say I’ve held the early ARC(s) for The Stand and it’s a real (ridiculously massive) book, that Pet Sematary is in the process, etc, but that’s not hugely helpful to you all who have put in your money. We’re hoping to get some official updates on the production page in the next couple weeks regarding a few projects. Working on the backlog is our priority and the company is not combusting or anything, for whatever comfort that is worth! We’re trying to get back on course. A HUGE thank you to Brian who has been helping us fumble through the processes.
And as advised, if you have specific questions/requests regarding your order (refunds, updates, etc), please reach out to me(email is fastest). I will do my best to respond quickly, and always with honesty and respect.
The reassurance needs to come from Richard Chizmar. He’s like a slumlord who doesn’t care that the house is crumbling on the people who pay him rent. He’s completely ignored all the complaints and criticisms and puts others in the line of fire to take bullets for his bad decisions. Yes a printer going belly up in the middle of production on Sleeping Beauties and the resulting log jam was out of their hands. But there needed to be a redoubling of efforts and some messaging from the top that the ship is not sinking. Instead Chiz is chasing a boogeyman through his idyllic childhood.
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As for Exorcist/Legion traycases, our number of books is greater than our number of cases, sadly Have none free to get out your way, sorry!
I will advise to Rich that a message of confidence would be appreciated, but would most likely be delivered via progress updates as I don't think we’re much for public statements. Excuses exist galore, but they don’t particularly help, certainly not as much as results. Short of that, I hope you can find some confidence in the expansion of the paperback line (which actually has kept to schedule!) and the refocusing on delivering those things promised vs making new promises.
Yes, I’ve regained some confidence with Lucia and you entering the scene and the engines primed on the trade line. Im no mogul but even I understand a business’s need for cash flow. So that goes a distance to brightening the light at the end of the years-long tunnel. And I appreciate (greatly) your continued communication.
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DAN F.,
Can you share any insights on this grab bag that was originally to ship fall of 2021? I originally bought the Grab bag with McSweeneys a primary factor and I have since obtained one when available.
I do understand you all had to deal with the delay of it's initial release, however from what I have heard in rumors is McSweeney's might have/had to do a second printing due to sales. Did CD get the McSweeney's with "Willie the Weirdo," as promised in grab bag? Will it be a 1st or later printing?
I appreciate your efforts and responses here. With my lack of knowledge of all you are dealing with I just wondered if perhaps this is a baglog item that might be one that could be cleared easily? Again, Thanks for any info.
We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot -
I suppose it's possible emails could be going to spam is the reason they aren't being responded to. That being said, the writing was on the wall when BJF left. And now Dan H. too apparently. Or his role has been diminished.
You don't know my kind.....You don't my mind.....Dark necessities are part of my design.....
" I hope you can find some confidence in the expansion of the paperback line (which actually has kept to schedule!) " Really ??
( I think they call this misdirection )
Dan,
I'm sure you're a really nice guy & all but if I was going to offer any advice right now it would be.. go back and read what you just put in print.
Unless I'm missing something, your post essentially says nothing, other than "Buy more stuff from us" and don't look behind the curtain.
No disrespect intended but your song sounds the same.
I have no skin in this game anymore, I think because I saw the writing on the wall a long time ago.
But.. a few of my friends on this site have thousands of dollars at stake here and I hate seeing them getting screwed over.
As the new "Front man" why don't you try a different approach like actually giving a date of when any past book will be published. "preferably a book of substance"
By the way CD's update page is ludicrous.. why bother ?
“The battle between good and evil is endlessly fascinating because we are participants every day.” - Stephen King
I think you may misunderstand my role. Im NOT the appointed front man. Im a person who wants to hear your issues and try to answer them/help to the best of my ability. I wasnt directed to come here. I am not PR. Im a warehouse manager who is trying to learn the production side to help right the wrongs.
My post was primarily to give an avenue of approach for those with inquiries, particularly in light of absurd delays. Several have contacted me already and I’ve either answered or am pursuing answers to their questions. As I understand it, Dan Hocker used to, when he was warehouse manager. He was good at his job, I want to take up his mantle. Brian is incredible at… er… everything. I want to take up some of his role too.
I have no hard dates and no clear quarterly schedule and Im not going to give you a number or timeframe if I don’t believe it to be entirely accurate. Wanting one is fair and understandable. If I had the answers, I would give them. I cannot. I simply do not know that sort of specificity and if I cant guarantee it, I will not say. Makes me a bit useless in that capacity, but I can see where things are, just not where theyll be and when. I cannot control that part.
The product update page is monitored and kept up to date pretty consistently from my understanding. I know they tweak it fairly regularly since it was overhauled a month or so back. I also know you probably want hard dates not just progress reports—and we dont have hard dates. Any specific questions Im happy to inquire regarding.
Im not saying to buy more or that your complaints are invalid. I’d prefer to keep someone as a customer but Ive neither marketed a product nor suggested an intention to obfuscate at any point. All Ive said is we dropped the ball, we're trying to fix it, reach out to me if i can help.
As for the suggestion of misdirection, my statement regarding paperbacks and adjustments to our goals was meant to illustrate that the company is not simply sinking and efforts to improve our paradigm are being made. Nothing more, nothing less. Both keeping a schedule and not backing further up are indicative, to me, of a favorable shift. I apologize If it came across elsewise.
Positive rep sent to Dan for showing up here and doing his best.
We have around half the McSweeny books, from what I can remember! On vacation so can’t check atm. The official memo was “summer” but it’s August and I don’t know when the rest will come in. Hopefully soon. You can certainly cancel/receive a full refund for the products, and if youve obtained them elsewhere Im not sure it still holds value for you. Id prefer to ship all at once, but if that becomes untenable and we trickle it out piecemeal, i’ll advise on your order status
Your effort is commendable but, as you state, you are not the point person which is the problem. The fact that you felt compelled to step up points to a complete breakdown in the leadership team (likely one individual) at CD. Although CD isn't much for public statements at some point one is required. Paul at Suntup, Pete at PS Publishing, Jerad at Centipede and Bill at SubPress have all addressed issues on this site as well a maintaining communication with customers via newsletters, blogs, email etc. Those are examples of leaders whose main focus is their publishing business and whose actions show their commitment. While you and your colleagues are doing your best to fill the leadership void it's a losing battle if the person at the top is disengaged from the business. Leadership is about action, not words, and until something changes at the top the trend will likely continue.
We just need to believe that Rich gives a Chiz about his business (or “biz” if you’d rather have the mnemonic/bumper sticker). And until Rich steps away from the living gaze in the mirror steps up to the mic to address the people who have funded his career—his shareholders—then confidence will be at an all-time low. The last communication I’ve seen from him that didn’t relate to his personal projects was when he announced The Listener.
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Dan, I have nothing but respect for your jumping in and trying to help in areas that you can. One thing I will correct is the believe that the Product Update Page is kept up to date pretty consistently. I will give some examples:
A Face in the Crowd states 'This title is being designed now, with proofreading to start by the end of January.' I believe it said that through multiple updates since last year. Either proofreading has begun, is behind schedule or is not scheduled until 2023. As stated, the update page is dated July 13, 2022. If I were reading this update for the first time, I would expect no proofreading to begin until 2023. A last update for each title would help with this.
Eleven titles on the Product Update page state that the title is now ready for the printer. Based on the current printing backlog there really is no useful information in that statement. Those titles cover many years of sales. My oldest pre-order with CD is included in that category and was ordered in February 2007. I believe most people understand the issues over the last two years and appreciate the efforts to catch up. Although the current supply chain issues are impacting things, this is not a new issue created in the last couple of years. I can understand that books come along that must bump other projects but that also can't explain the current situation. I also understand with the current issues CD is unable to say when a title will move from 'ready for printer' to 'sent to printer'. Some sort of tier stating that the book will go to the printer near term, mid-term or late term will at least provide something to go on.
I believe someone mentioned looking at the start of this thread. I believe it contains a lot of grumbling about Legacies. That was one long delayed title. Mr. Chizmar communicated information about that title a couple of times a year. Then it was through a mailer. The current backlog has much longer delays and many more titles yet Mr. Chizmar chooses to remain silent. I get that he chooses to avoid these forums, but a statement written by him and posted to the CD website and the forums may help the situation. Granted the only thing that will resolve the situation will be the delivery of the titles but engagement from the owner of the company will go a long way.
Again, I appreciate your efforts and respect that you do not control the situation but thought I would give you my thoughts.
Thanks,
Martin
Pet Semetary? Did I miss an announcement?
Looking for FAB8 CD Number 439
Along with the option to pre-order all of the books at the beginning, they gave some people the opportunity to order Pet Semetary when they had another offering of The Stand. As far as I know there hasn't been an option to order it separately for those who purchased The Stand earlier. I know I haven't gotten a matching pre-order yet.
Wanted: Human skin edition of The Book of the Dead. Will accept PC copy.
Ah! The part regarding the product update page, yeah, there are a whole lot of items ready for the printer that are not at the printer. I misunderstood. Let me know which ones you want me to lobby for and I’ll give it a shot! Obviously when the Doubleday ones are available, they go, but some smaller projects are seemingly inert. I’ll try the squeaky wheel approach.
Interview, Caretakers and some graveyard editions are the next-up books, from what I can tell.
I will ask around for the most recent info on Face in the Crowd. That one had been planned for this year, but I would bet money on it being a 2023 considering the pace of printing these days.
As for Pet Sematery, it is creeping along! The Stand is up next for the Doubledays, believe Night Shift was last year, lettereds still waiting on cases.